Latest KSA Meeting

THURSDAY saw the final KSA meeting of the season at the Park Suite. Many fans came along to fire some questions at invited guest Jamie Moffat but the chairman called off leaving Colin Fraser and Anne Clark to face the long list of questions. Colin opened the meeting by explaining the new season tickets would be on sale from June 1, but that date may change as it turns out that it is a Wednesday and the club feel the Saturday launch may be better.
Here is a list of prices with the first price shown the discounted price if you purchase the ticket by Sunday, July 24:

Adults - £260/£290

Students - £170/£190

OAP - £130/£150

Youth - £130/£150

Under 16’s - £60/£80

Moffat Family (2 adults and 2 kids,
old firm games not included) - £300

There are a couple of new categories being introduced that may appeal to many fans:

1 adult and 1 child ticket for East/West stand - £300

1 OAP and 1 child ticket for East/West stand - £180

Anyone buying their ticket before Thursday June 30 will be entered into a draw to win a brand new car, sponsored by Bicketts. The season ticket will be in voucher book form and will include various discounts similar to what we had in previous years. There will be a further £5 discount for all Killie Trust members so there is another great reason to join the Trust.

One fan pointed out that before the “Buy one get one free” deals, affiliated supporters clubs got two free season tickets that helped raise funds for their buses. Colin will investigate if there is a possibility of this being re-introduced. He also stated that the SPL are looking at introducing a scheme whereby under 12’s who travel to away games will be admitted free of charge.

One fan was very concerned about rumours circulating that the youth set-up was in danger of collapsing due to lack of finance. Colin and Anne took a note of this issue and will forward it to the chairman or general manager for a response.

One fan felt the Hearts cup replay caused a lot of damage and many fans have not been back since that game. He stated fans do not see anything being done at board level to halt the decrease in numbers at Rugby Park. He stated we need a “Bobby Fleeting” type leader who can get the fans and the community interested again and who would greatly improve the club’s public relations. Anne stated it was very difficult as the administration staff numbers had been reduced due to cut backs. The staff work very hard but in the current climate it is not the best place to work.

The next question concerned what the “management committee” had contributed to the club as we have never heard any updates on anything they have achieved so far. This was another issue that was taken away to be answered at a later date.

The club’s perilous financial situation was the next topic with fans requesting that the chairman keeps us more regularly updated on how things stand. Colin stated there may be an announcement in the next week or two as Jamie Moffat looks at a possible “refinancing” of the club but could not elaborate any further.

On a more positive note Colin stated that corporate income was up on previous years and that the club have been working hard to get school kids to Rugby Park. They have secured excellent sponsorship for a scheme that will see at least one class from every school in East Ayrshire attend a “Killie day out”. The kids will get some football coaching before going to Rugby Park for a healthy lunch and a tour of the ground. They will also be given a ticket for a future game and it is hoped many kids will be bitten by the Killie bug during these visits.

Colin confirmed that the proposed mini-tournament was no longer on the cards however Killie will still face Ayr United at Rugby Park on Saturday July 23. Sunday July 24 sees the annual Open Day and will include the launch of the new away strip, from what we hear it will be mainly sky blue. Our first pre-season match of the season will be on Friday July 15 when Southampton travel to Rugby Park. Entrance to this game will be £10/£5. No other fixtures have been confirmed as yet. With no further questions from the floor Anne and Colin left the meeting having handled some very difficult questions in a frank and helpful manner.

There was little other business although several fans expressed how difficult it had become to run buses to Killie games. Clubs like Ayr & Prestwick and Ardrossan also try to run buses to home games but due to lack of funds this is becoming increasingly difficult. This is an issue we are well aware of and we will see if there is any way that we can generate some financial assistance.

The meeting ended with Anne Reid (Chairperson) announcing that the next meeting will be the AGM in the Park Suite on Saturday June 11 at 2:00pm. It goes without saying that everyone is welcome.

POTY News

WE WERE kindly invited to the Ayr & Prestwick Supporters’ Club Player of the Year presentation in The Park Hotel last Saturday. The lads and lassies do a fine job in running buses to Killie games whilst trying to convert some of the poor souls in that part of the world. Kris Boyd was the recipient of the award and he turned up along with Killie legend Ray Montgomerie. A great time was had by everyone and Charles Galloway would like to thank everyone who has supported the club throughout the season – new members are always welcome.

Elsewhere the Irvine Valley bus has ran throughout the season and will be on the road again in 2005/2006. Their Player of the Year dance will, as usual, be in the Morton Hall, Newmilns on Saturday August 20 – we will give full details nearer the time. The half time draw on the pitch was not the only raffle last Saturday as simultaneously we were asked to do the Irvine Valley ‘signed strip’ draw. The lucky winner was Jim Fulton form Crosshouse and Valley legend (in his own lunchtime) Eric Brown will be in touch with Jim about collecting his prize.

Can we just add that we were pleased by the club’s response to our wee problem the other week with the strip sponsorship. We stand by what we said at the time but credit where its due, we appreciate their efforts to try and put things right. A big up to Alan Johnston and Gordon Greer who turned up at the pub with said signed strips after the game on Saturday and hung around and chatted to the punters for a while despite having a night out with the other players arranged for the same evening. The same goes for Naisy who took time out to present the prizes at the Hurlford Boys Club Player of the Year function. Its that kind of publicity that does wonders for the club and should be encouraged.

Super Killie

WITH nothing at stake some fans chose to give the Dunfermline game a body swerve last weekend but they missed out on one of our best performances of the season. A makeshift Killie defence saw James Fowler at centre back and Gary McDonald at right back but you would have thought they had played there for years. With Naismith and Dodds outstanding we passed the ball around with confidence and the score line certainly does not flatter us.

McDonald’s goal was a sublime piece of skill and made sitting through that rubbish SPL programme on Monday night almost worthwhile. We won’t get carried away with our good finish to the season but it does give us some optimism for the next campaign. Hopefully that victory will still be remembered when it comes to buying season tickets over the summer. Please remember that without our loyal fans the club would be nothing so we hope as many of you as possible will stick by Killie next season and getting your season ticket is the first step.

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