Kilmarnock F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Kilmarnock Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Killie | |||
| Founded | 5 January 1869 | |||
| Ground | Rugby Park, Kilmarnock | |||
| Capacity | 17,889 | |||
| Owner | The Kilmarnock Football Club Ltd. | |||
| Chairman | Billy Bowie | |||
| Manager | Derek McInnes | |||
| League | Scottish Premiership | |||
| 2015–16 | Scottish Premiership, 11th | |||
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Kilmarnock Football Club, often called Killie, is a professional football team. They are based in the town of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The team's current manager is Derek McInnes, who started in January 2022.
Since forming in 1869, the club has won several important titles. Their most recent big win was the 2011–12 Scottish League Cup. They beat Celtic 1–0 at Hampden Park in 2012. In 2022, they also won the Scottish Championship title.
Kilmarnock Football Club is the oldest team in the Scottish Premiership. It is also the second-oldest professional club in all of Scotland. Their home games are played at Rugby Park, a stadium in Kilmarnock that can hold 17,889 fans. Kilmarnock played in the very first official Scottish Cup match in 1873. They played against a team called Renton, which no longer exists.
The club has played in European competitions nine times. Their best result was reaching the semi-finals of the 1966–67 Fairs Cup. They were eventually knocked out by Leeds United. Kilmarnock is one of only a few Scottish clubs to have played in all three major European club competitions. These are the European Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, and the UEFA Cup.
Kilmarnock has a long-standing football rivalry with Ayr United. Both teams are from Ayrshire and play in the exciting Ayrshire derby. They first met in September 1910. Kilmarnock has been more successful in this derby, winning 189 times out of 256 matches. The club's nickname, Killie, is a Scottish name for the town of Kilmarnock.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
Kilmarnock Football Club began in the early days of organized football in Scotland. A group of local cricket players wanted a sport to play when it wasn't cricket season. So, they decided to form a football club. On January 5, 1869, the club was officially founded at a meeting in Robertson's Temperance Hotel.
At first, they played a game more like rugby. This is why their home stadium is still called Rugby Park. It was hard to arrange rugby games, and Queen's Park (another club) became very influential. Because of this, Kilmarnock soon switched to playing association football. In those early days, the club played games at different places. These included Holm Quarry, the Grange, and a spot near the current Rugby Park.
After Scotland's first football clubs formed in the 1860s, football grew very quickly. However, there was no official structure, and matches were often arranged without much planning.
Queen's Park, a Glasgow club, took the lead. In 1873, they put an advertisement in a Glasgow newspaper. Representatives from seven clubs, including Queen's Park, met on March 13, 1873. Kilmarnock also sent a letter saying they wanted to help form the Scottish Football Association.
On that day, these eight clubs created the Scottish Football Association. They decided to form an association to promote football using the rules of The Football Association. They also agreed that clubs would contribute money for a challenge cup to be played for every year.
Kilmarnock also played in the first-ever Scottish Cup tournament in 1873–74. Their 2–0 loss to Renton on October 18, 1873, is believed to be the first match ever played in the competition.
Kilmarnock joined the Scottish League in 1895. After winning the Second Division title two years in a row, they joined the top league in 1899. In 1920, Kilmarnock won the Scottish Cup for the first time. They beat Albion Rovers at Hampden Park. They won it again in 1929, beating the strong favourites Rangers 2–0. That game was at the national stadium in front of 114,708 people.
They reached another final against Rangers in 1932 but lost after a replay. The same thing happened in the 1938 final against East Fife. This time, Killie was the team that was upset.
Later 20th Century Success
In the 1964–65 season, Heart of Midlothian and Willie Waddell's Kilmarnock battled for the championship. Hearts were three points ahead with two games left. Hearts then drew with Dundee United. This meant the last game of the season, with the two teams playing each other, would decide the league winner.
Kilmarnock needed to win by two goals to take the title. Hearts were the favourites, having a statistical and home advantage. They also had a strong history of winning trophies. Kilmarnock, however, had often come close but not won. They had finished second in the league four times in the previous five seasons. Killie had also lost three cup finals during that time.
In the final game, Kilmarnock scored twice through Davie Sneddon and Brian McIlroy. Hearts' Alan Gordon had a great chance to win the title for Hearts in injury time. But Bobby Ferguson made a diving save, pushing the ball past the post. The 2–0 defeat meant Hearts lost the title by a tiny difference in goals. This is the only time Kilmarnock has won the Scottish championship.
In the 1980s, the club faced difficulties and was relegated to the Second Division. Kilmarnock returned to the top division in 1993. They won the Scottish Cup for the third time in 1997. They beat Falkirk 1–0 in the final.
The club has played in European competitions nine times. Their best result was reaching the semi-finals of the 1966–67 Fairs Cup. They were eventually knocked out by Leeds United. Kilmarnock is also one of only a few Scottish clubs to have played in all three major European competitions. These are the European Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, and the UEFA Cup.
21st Century Challenges and Triumphs
Kilmarnock reached the 2007 Scottish League Cup Final. However, they lost 5–1 to Hibernian. After selling Steven Naismith to Rangers for a club-record fee in August 2007, Killie struggled. They finished 11th in the 2007–08 Scottish Premier League.
In January 2010, Kilmarnock was near the bottom of the league. On January 11, 2010, Jim Jefferies left the club. Jimmy Calderwood became the new manager. Kilmarnock then won against Celtic for the first time in nine years. However, poor results continued. On the final day of the season, Kilmarnock played Falkirk to avoid relegation. A goalless draw was enough for Kilmarnock to stay in the top league.
After Calderwood left, Mixu Paatelainen became manager. Even though many thought Kilmarnock would be relegated, they finished fifth that season. Paatelainen then left to manage the Finland national team. His assistant, Kenny Shiels, took over as manager.
Kilmarnock reached the 2012 Scottish League Cup Final. They won against Queen of the South, East Fife, and Ayr United. Kilmarnock won the League Cup for the first time by beating Celtic 1–0 in the final. Dieter van Tornhout scored the only goal. Goalkeeper Cammy Bell was named Man of the Match. In June 2013, Kenny Shiels left the club.
Allan Johnston became manager in June 2013. He was sacked in February 2015. Gary Locke took over as interim manager. Kilmarnock lost seven of their last eight games but avoided relegation. They secured their spot in the top league with a 4–1 win over Partick Thistle.
The 2015–16 season was tough. Locke was removed as manager in February 2016. Lee Clark replaced him. The team finished 11th and had to play a relegation play-off against Falkirk. They lost the first game 0–1 but won the second 4–0 (4–1 overall). This kept them in the Scottish Premiership. Clark left for Bury in February 2017. Lee McCulloch became temporary manager. He was sacked in September 2017 when the club was at the bottom of the league.
The Steve Clarke Era
In a surprise move, Kilmarnock hired Steve Clarke, a former coach for Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion. This was Clarke's first time working in Scottish football in 30 years. His arrival led to a big improvement in the team's performance. The club finished fifth, and Clarke won the SFWA Manager of the Year award.
The 2018–19 season marked Kilmarnock's 150th anniversary. The team continued their strong form. On the last day of the season, they played Rangers at Rugby Park. Kilmarnock won 2–1, securing a third-place finish in the league. This meant they would play in European football for the first time since 2001. The team also set a new record for points and achieved their highest league finish since 1966. The next day, Clarke left to become the head coach of the Scotland national team.
After Steve Clarke left, Kilmarnock had three managers who stayed for short periods. First was Angelo Alessio, a former assistant coach for Juventus and Chelsea. In Alessio's second game, Kilmarnock lost in Europa League qualification to a Welsh team, Connah's Quay Nomads. Alessio was sacked in December 2019. Alex Dyer, who had been an assistant coach, took over temporarily. All football then stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dyer signed a new contract in June 2020. However, after a poor start to the new season, he left the club in January 2021. In February 2021, Tommy Wright became the club's third manager in two years.
Relegation and Promotion
On May 24, 2021, Kilmarnock lost a play-off game to Dundee. This meant they were relegated to the Scottish Championship, ending their 28-year stay in the top league. Tommy Wright was sacked in December 2021. The team was in fourth place in the Championship at that time.
Derek McInnes, a former manager of Aberdeen, quickly became his replacement. Results improved, and by the end of the 2021–22 season, Killie was promoted back to the top league. They beat their closest rivals, Arbroath, 2–1 in a dramatic last-minute win.
Club Ownership and Management
Since June 1906, Kilmarnock F.C. has been owned by a private company called The Kilmarnock Football Club Ltd.
Since 2014, the main owner of the club is Ayrshire businessman Billy Bowie. He oversees all the club's operations. Kilmarnock became debt-free under Bowie's leadership in 2017, after several years of financial struggles.
In May 2018, Kilmarnock made an important step. They appointed Phyllis McLeish, a commercial director, to the club's board. She became the first female board member in over 20 years. Later that month, the club appointed its second female board member, Cathy Jamieson. She was a former Member of Parliament for the Kilmarnock area. She is also a lifelong Killie fan. Her appointment came after The Killie Trust Initiative raised over £100,000 to have a trust member on the board.
Board of Directors
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman and majority shareholder | Billy Bowie |
| Director | Cathy Jamieson |
| Managing Director | Phyllis McLeish |
Management Team
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Derek McInnes |
| Assistant Manager | Tony Docherty |
| First Team Coach | Paul Sheerin |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Fraser Stewart |
| Recruitment Manager |  Russ Richardson |
| Head of Academy | Paul Di Giacomo |
| Reserves, U18s and Intermediates Coach | Chris Burke |
| Head Physiotherapist |  Alan White |
| Sports Scientist | Stuart MacFarlane |
| First Team Analyst | Greig Thomson |
| Club Doctor | Hamish Simpson |
| Kitman | Kevin McNeill |
Ayrshire Derby Rivalry
Kilmarnock's biggest rivalry is with their neighbours, Ayr United, from South Ayrshire. Together, they play in the Ayrshire derby. This match has been played 256 times since their first game on September 14, 1910. Killie has won 189 of these matches. This rivalry was renewed in the 2021–22 season when both clubs were in the same division.
Team Colours and Badge
The earliest known Kilmarnock kit from 1879 was an all-blue jersey with white trousers. The shirt had a crest. This crest showed a hand with two fingers up and the thumb out. This was similar to the historic Clan Boyd family crest. The hand rested on a bar above a ball marked KFC.
Between 1887 and 1890, Kilmarnock wore black and white striped tops. After that, the club mostly played in blue and white striped or hooped shirts. They wore these with either blue or white shorts. Sometimes, the club has also played in plain blue or plain white tops. The club's away colours have changed a lot over time. Yellow is often used as the main third colour. However, white, red, and purple away kits have also been seen in recent years.
From 2008 to 2014, the club made their own kits under their brand, 1869. After that, the Italian company Erreá made their kits. Nike made Kilmarnock kits between 2016 and 2020. The current kit maker is the Danish company Hummel. You can only buy these kits from the store at Rugby Park.
The club badge is a modern version of older club badges. It shows a football with a hand in a blessing position. Two red squirrels are on either side of the hand. The club's Latin motto, confidemus (meaning "we trust"), is written above the badge. This is similar to the Clan Boyd family motto, confido (meaning "I trust"). The club started using this badge in 1992. This was after The Lord Lyon said the old badge, which looked a lot like the town crest, broke old Scottish heraldic rules.
In October 2018, the club showed a special badge for its 150th anniversary.
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Kit Manufacturers
| Manufacturer | Years |
|---|---|
| Umbro |
1977–1985 |
| Matchwinner |
1986–1995 |
 Le Coq Sportif |
1995–1998 |
 Puma |
1998–2000 |
 TFG Sports |
2001–2007 |
 Lotto |
2007–2008 |
| Killie 1869 |
2008–2014 |
| Erreà |
2014–2016 |
 Nike |
2016–2020 |
 Hummel |
2020–present |
Shirt Sponsors
| Sponsor | Years |
|---|---|
| AT Mays | 1983–1984 |
| Mitchell & Struthers | 1985–1987 |
| Tourhill Joinery | 1987–1989 |
| A-Plant Hire | 1989–1990 |
| AT Mays | 1990–1997 |
| Sports Division | 1997–1999 |
| JJB Sports | 1999–2000 |
| scotlandonline.com | 2000–2001 |
| Seriously Strong | 2001–2006 |
| Galloway Cheese | 2006–2007 |
| Smallworld Cable | 2007–2010 |
| verve.net | 2010–2012 |
| QTS | 2012–2020 |
| Brownings The Bakers | 2020–present |
Club Mascot
The club's mascot is a squirrel named 'Captain Conker'. This name comes from the squirrels found on the club's crest. In the past, the 'Killie Pie' mascot also regularly appeared at Rugby Park on matchdays. Before Captain Conker, the mascot was Nutz the squirrel. This role was played by a long-time Kilmarnock fan, Ian Downie, who passed away in 2020.
Rugby Park Stadium
Kilmarnock first played football matches at the current Rugby Park location in 1899. However, this is actually Kilmarnock’s fourth home ground. The Grange, Holm Quarry, and Ward's Park all hosted matches before the club moved to Rugby Park in 1877. This was not the current stadium, but one located nearby. This earlier ground was shared by cricket and rugby teams. Kilmarnock had played these sports before. The connection with rugby gave the ground its name. This name was kept when the club moved to their present stadium.
During the 1994–95 season, the stadium's seating capacity was greatly reduced. Three new stands were built: the Moffat Stand, the Chadwick Stand, and the East Stand. Once these were finished, the stadium could hold 17,889 fans. The new stadium opened on August 6, 1995. This was for a friendly match against English champions Blackburn Rovers. Mike Newell scored three goals, and the home team lost 5–0.
A FIFA 2-star FieldTurf artificial pitch was installed at Rugby Park. This was ready for the start of the 2014–15 season. The pitch can host rugby matches as well as football. A new artificial hybrid surface was put in during the 2019 off-season.
In February 2019, Kilmarnock got approval to add a new safe-standing section. These sections were in parts of the East and Moffat stands. The installation was finished in early December of that year.
Club Records
- Second oldest club in Scotland
- Biggest competitive win: 13–2 vs Saltcoats Victoria, Scottish Qualifying Cup 2nd Round, September 12, 1896
- Worst defeat: 1–9 vs Celtic, Scottish League Division 1, August 13, 1938
- Highest home attendance: 35,995 vs Rangers, Scottish Cup Quarter-Finals, March 10, 1962
- Most League goals in a season: Harry Cunningham (34 in 1927–28) and Andy Kerr (34 in 1960–61)
- Highest transfer fee paid: £340,000 for Paul Wright from St Johnstone, March 1995
- Highest transfer fee received: £2,200,000 for Greg Taylor to Celtic, August 2019
Club Honours and Awards
National Competitions
- Scottish Football League (top league):
- Winners: 1964–65
- Runners-up (4 times): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64
- Winners: 1964–65
- Scottish First Division / Scottish Championship (second league):
- Winners: 1897–98, 1898–99, 2021–22
- Runners-up (6 times): 1953–54, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1992–93
- Winners: 1897–98, 1898–99, 2021–22
- Scottish Second Division (third league):
- Runners-up: 1989–90
- Scottish Cup:
- Winners: 1919–20, 1928–29, 1996–97
- Runners-up (5 times): 1897–98, 1931–32, 1937–38, 1956–57, 1959–60
- Winners: 1919–20, 1928–29, 1996–97
- Scottish League Cup:
- Winners: 2011–12
- Runners-up (5 times): 1952–53, 1960–61, 1962–63, 2000–01, 2006–07
- Winners: 2011–12
- Scottish Qualifying Cup:
- Winners: 1896–97
Other Awards
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup:
- Semi-finalists: 1966–67
- International Soccer League:
- Runners-up: 1960
- Tennent Caledonian Cup:
- Winners: 1979–80
- UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking:
- Winners: 1999
- Ayrshire Cup (44 times): 1884, 1885, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 (shared), 1960, 1962, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998
Source:
Hall of Fame
2014 Inductees
- The Founding Fathers – Founders of Kilmarnock Football Club
- Kilmarnock FC 1964–65 Squad
- Hugh Allen M.B.E. – Club Physiotherapist 1968–2002
- Willie Culley – All time record goalscorer
- Alan Robertson – Most Scottish League Appearances
- Mattha Smith – Scottish Cup Winner 1920 & 1929
2016 Inductees
- James Fowler – Captain 2012 League Cup Winners
- Tommy McLean – Golden Era Award
- Stuart McLean – 2nd Highest League Appearances
- Ray Montgomerie – Captain 1997 Scottish Cup Winners
- Eddie Morrison – Highest Post-War Goalscorer
- Manuel Pascali – 1st International Award
2018 Inductees
- Frank Beattie – Golden Era Award
- Paul Clarke – Legends Award
- Frédéric Dindeleux – International Award
- Ronnie Hamilton – Legends Award
- Garry Hay – Legends Award
- Derrick McDicken – Legends Award
- Willie Waddell – Manager 1964–65 League Championship Winners
- Bobby Williamson – Manager 1997 Scottish Cup Winners
2022 Inductees
- Kenny Sheils – Manager 2012 Scottish League Cup Final
- Alan McCulloch – Former Goalkeeper
- Kris Boyd – Scored 121 League Goals
Club Anthem
The song "Paper Roses" is the club's anthem. It was originally a hit song by American singer Anita Bryant. American singer and actress Marie Osmond, who is also famous for recording this song, surprised fans in February 2013. She performed at Rugby Park and met players and fans, signing autographs.
Images for kids
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A history of Kilmarnock FC's overall league position from 1895 to 2019
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A scene from the 2012 Scottish League Cup Final where Kilmarnock beat Celtic 1–0
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Steve Clarke, appointed manager in 2017, led the club to 3rd place in the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership and secured a place in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League
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The 150th Anniversary Badge from 2018–2019
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Rugby Park stadium, situated on Rugby Road, home of Kilmarnock FC
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Panorama of Rugby Park looking towards the Chadwick (Away) Stand
