Celt Out?

The last game of the season at Rugby Park is going to be a really tense affair, especially if results go our way and we are still in with a chance of third place. As it stands currently, the league championship is going to the wire and Celtic could possibly win it at Rugby Park on the last day of the season, four days after their UEFA Cup final appearance, and as you can imagine the demand for tickets is high.

The allocation for away fans, 9,000 tickets, has already sold out. The moral dilemma for the club now is whether to sell tickets for the home end to Celtic fans rather than leaving empty seats. It goes without saying that the club shouldn't have to give it a second thought, but how strictly are they

going to police the sale of tickets? Not very is the
answer to that.

This was a conversation overheard in the club shop last week. Punter: "Four tickets for the Celtic game please". Assistant: "Sorry the tickets for the away end are sold out". Punter: "That's okay, it's tickets for the Kilmarnock end I want". Assistant: "Okay, do you want them for the East or West stand?" Punter: "I'm not sure, which stand is better?" The so-called Killie fan then walks away with four briefs for the match.

The Celtic match is in grave danger of turning into a riot. It's impossible for the club to vet every punter buying match tickets for the home end to make sure they are Killie fans but they could at least try a little harder or they are going to be faced with a potential disaster. The safety of supporters should top the list of the club's priorities, people not pounds, and unless the club take preventative measures to re-enforce the segregation then all hell could break loose.

The police and the stewards are the last line of defence and it must be made clear to them that under no circumstances should fans wearing Celtic colours be allowed into the home end. There can be no excuses or apologies after the fact this time. Everyone is well aware that it is a powder keg situation and steps must be taken to ensure that it's only the players on the park that kick off.

Killie's Greatest Fan?

Now there's a question that has been discussed in pubs and clubs across Ayrshire and of course there is no definitive answer. One well-known Killie fan was once asked what he would do if Killie were playing on the moon. Quick as a flash came the reply "The rocket leaves the boozer at half past seven on Saturday morning".

However it was interesting to read a discussion on killiefc.com last week prior to the Rangers game at Ibrox. The subject matter was whether someone traveling to Ibrox on Sunday was a better fan than someone who chose to watch on TV. Many fans get into the "hopelessly addicted" state of mind and travel to watch our beloved team regardless of the circumstances. It gets to the stage where missing a game is almost a criminal offence and some fans are prepared to risk losing their jobs just so they can travel to Aberdeen on a freezing cold Tuesday night in December. This is normal behavior for numerous footie-holics and following your team through thick and thin is a trait to be admired.

Alternately through personal experience many fans are pig sick of being charged inflated prices and treated like second-class citizens. They respond by refusing to travel to places like Ibrox, Parkhead or Easter Road. Many Killie fans headed to the Park Hotel on Sunday to watch the Rangers game rather than fork out £19 for a ticket. One Killie lad reckons he is doing more for Killie by watching in the hotel than someone who goes to the game. He was delighted to be spending his money at his own club rather than benefiting one of our SPL rivals and in the current financial climate that viewpoint is hard to argue with.

The bottom line is that no Killie fan is better than any other and everyone's personal circumstances has a major bearing on how they can support the club. Many fans simply want to watch Killie regardless of price and the treatment they receive. Others will pick and choose games to suit whilst giving the club money in other ways. There are also hundreds of Killie fans abroad who love the club like the rest of us but simply cannot attend many games. There are thousands of Killie fans who simply can't afford to go along but hopefully the season ticket campaign will entice these fans back next season.

Like every other club in Scotland Killie are battling to stabilise the financial side of the business and they need the fan's backing more than ever. It's time for Killie fans everywhere to show the rest of Scottish football that we really are "Killie Till We Die". Anyone who adopts that attitude is a great Killie fan in my book.

Season Ticket Update

Tickets are now being sold on a first-come-first-served basis and the girls in the office are run off their feet. We are still sorting out the finer details of the leaflet drop with David Heath and hope to have more news in the next couple of weeks. If you want more information call us on the number below. Contact Sandy on 0774 771 8754.

Player of the Year

The members of the website having been voting for their player of the year for two weeks now and the results are now in. It was very close between Stevie Fulton and Greg Shields but Baggio got the nod in the end. Likewise our young player of the year award, Peter Canero and Kris Boyd were neck and neck going into the final straight but Boom Boom just edged it on the final day of voting.

The player of the year award dance season is upon us so if any of you want your big night out advertised just contact one of the two fat laddies and we'll stick it in the column next week. Our night out and presentation is Saturday 24th May in The Howard, everyone is welcome to drop in and buy us beer!

The killiefc.com Challenge Cup will being contested the same day at Loudoun Super 7's grass pitch just outside Galston. The match between Bazcelona and Killie's IFA team, Kickin' Squirrels, will kick off at 1.00pm. Bazcelona new signing Monty will be sure to attract a record crowd, once again everyone is welcome and it's free to get in.

Hearty congratulations to the Kickin Squirrels on their British Cup quarter final victory down in Watford last week. Goals from John Kirkland and Neil McKay sent the home team crashing out of the tournament and guaranteed Killie's name going into the draw for the semi finals and hopefully final which will be played at an English Premiership stadium over two days later this year.

Read the B&H column in the Kilmarnock Standard every week