Park Hotel - 1pm Saturday

WE MAKE no apology for once again urging the fans to head over early on Saturday and see how they can play a vital part in the “Fifty for the Future” campaign. The FFTF working group continues to raise funds for the club’s youth set-up and you’ll be able to see a presentation of what we have achieved and what our targets are now.

It is vitally important that as many Killie fans as possible show up at the meeting on Saturday as we need all Killie fans to get involved. It is well documented that we do not have much faith in the powers-that-be who have been left running the club, but we do have faith that when push comes to shove the supporters will be left carrying the can. We must make a start on stabilising the club by each and every one of us doing a wee bit to boost the Fifty for the Future fund...and making sure that our Youth Development system does not get under funded.

We don't think that it is too much to ask punters to come to the game just a tad earlier than usual when you consider that the fans putting all the work in are doing so to ensure that we still have a club to support. Let’s get the word out to all Killie fans that this meeting will be crucial when it comes to maintaining the Killie we all know and love – BE THERE.

Fan's Forums & Boot Sales

THE CRISIS at the Theatre of Pies is becoming more apparent to many fans who are now starting to get off their backsides and become proactive in helping the situation. Robert ‘oboab’ Hamilton sent us an e-mail us this week to let us know what he’s been up to. After speaking to the club he has come up with a couple of ideas that will help raise money and generate publicity for the club…money raised will be going to the youth set-up. Firstly oboab will be organising fans’ forums – here is a copy of his e-mail:

“Just to keep you up to pace…I have been setting up a series of Fans Forums around Killieshire over the next three months. The plan is to have a series of ten covering Mauchline, Ardrossan, Beith, Irvine, Prestwick, Stewarton, Newmilns and three in Killie itself to take in North, Central and South. Dates are still to be confirmed but they will mainly be Tuesdays when there are no CIS or midweek games. The Chairman, Manager, General Manager and Commercial Manager and some players will take part in rotation. A poster and media campaign will be undertaken as will a phone campaign (mainly by me as I want to make sure it happens).

This is the plan before Xmas. If these show a bit of success then next year will see a move out to other places like Newton Mearns, East Kilbride, Dreghorn etc. We can confirm that the first forum will be in the Mauchline Supporters Club on August 16, but we’ll give you full details nearer the time."

Secondly young Mr Hamilton has come up with an idea to hold car boot sales at Rugby Park to make more use of the stadium. Once again here are the details from the e-mail we received:

“Would you kindly mention in the B&H column that there will be a series of car boot sales at Rugby Park for the Youth Scheme funds? The first few dates have been confirmed as 6th and 20th August, and 3rd and 17th September…all dates when Killie are away from home. The cost of a sales area is £6 and the sales will be from 10am - 2pm, phone Bobby on 01563-537993 to book.”

We’ll be travelling to watch the troops on these dates but most fans simply don’t go away from home any more so head over to the club and sell your goods or get bargain hunting.

The Gulf of Ayrshire

WE ARE not talking about a new stretch of water on the west coast but the gulf in class between Killie and our lowly neighbours south of Symington. Our recent record against A*r has been less than impressive but their fans have been well and truly silent this week. The game last weekend should have ended in a cricket score with A*r having to rely on many ex-junior players to face the Killie dream machine. It’s fantastic to watch us totally destroy our county rivals but we’d love to have the chance to do it on a regular basis. That would mean us both playing in the same league and although there is a degree of uncertainty at both clubs, it could be a very long time before we appear on the same fixture list.

Killie fans are in two separate camps when this topic of conversation is raised. One set of fans wants to see them as far down as possible struggling against teams who can’t get four figure crowds. However many fans would like nothing better than looking forward to a few competitive derbies every season that would create huge local interest and much needed income. For the time being it looks like we’ll have to settle for pre-season friendlies and the occasional cup tie to show that there truly is only one team in Ayrshire.

Double Yahoo

AS WELL as Boomer crashing four past the pikeys (that’s one we picked up from our West Ham mates) the Killie IFC internet team also rattled a few past their counterparts and lifted the IFA Ayrshire Cup at the weekend. Robbie Lindsay (2), Steven Allison, David Rennie (2) and Neil Mackay (2) were on target for Ayrshire’s finest in a feisty 7-3 victory on the Loudon 7’s grass pitch which no doubt set the tone for the WestSound Trophy win to follow. The bragging rights are now back where they belong.

The lads also fared well in the ‘Worldnet’ tournament in Leeds but never quite made the final. They progressed through the group stages with 1-0 wins over Partick and Dunfermline (both goals by Kris Ferguson) but lost out 0-2 against QPR. They were knocked out of the competition on the golden goal rule by Fulham at the next stage after a tight scoreless draw in normal time…probably their best performance given the strong Fulham side they faced. You did Killie proud lads, better luck next year.

Hippo Apology

DUE TO attending a wedding in Harlow last weekend it was left to big Stuart to sell the new copy (issue 47) of the Killie Hippo. This meant the Hippo was only on sale at one end of the ground and many fans may not have the chance to grab a copy. We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience but things will be back to normal this weekend when we entertain Hearts. This will be the only other home game when issue 47 is on sale so don’t miss it or you’ll miss out!

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