Do You Remember ?

John Russell 1950-56

Born: Mar 15th 1923 (Passed Dec 2005).

Signed:  John was signed by Malky MacDonald (right) in July of 1950. One of the conditions for Malcolm to take the Killie job was if he could handpick a few players and John was one of them. Russell was sent a wire when he was honeymooning in Dublin with his bride, that he was to being sold from Motherwell to Kilmarnock, for a hefty £1,000

Interesting Fact: Malky MacDonald became John's manager & team-mate for one game on Jan 13th 1951 Vs Queens Park, when Malky came out of retirement for two games (scoring 1 goal), as injuries & illness hit the Killie playing squad.

Previous Clubs: Pollock Jnrs, & Motherwell (£1,000)

First Game:  12/8/50 in a 3-1 win at Rugby Park Vs Dunfermline (SLC)

Last Game: Dec 3rd 1956 against Falkirk in a 4-4 draw at Rugby Park. (SD1). This match was also memorable from the point of view that a teenage Frank Beattie scored a double for Killie that day.

After Killie: Emigrated to Canada, in 1957.

Position: Right-Half

Club Honours: 52-52 Scottish League Cup Runners Up Medal, and 53-54 Scottish "B" Division Runners Up.

John Played for Killie between 1950 & 1956, and was a member of Killie's promotion winning team in 1953-54! After leaving Killie John emigrated to Canada, in 1957.

The "Who's Who of Kilmarnock FC" had this to say about John's playing days at Killie........ "A hard working player, John used the ball to good effect and was often outstanding in the old second division, as he helped Killie to that elusive promotion place."

John sadly passed away in Dec of 2005. It is/was his family's wishes to have John's ashes scattered at Rugby Park  the following summer of 2006.
Thanks to Sherry his daughter for the rare 50's images below.

1950-59 Killie History - Here  Killie Team Pic's 1879-2005 - Here

John's daughter, Sherry Russell, who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, would be interested in Killie fans who knew of her father to get in touch via e-mail at ...  russherry@hotmail.com

1951-52 Killie Team  (John is right of the goalkeeper)

1950 Peebles Hydro Training (John is on the right)

1950-51 Killie Team  (John is right of the goalkeeper)



Aug 2006 Russell Family Spread John's Ashes at Rugby Park

Melody (John's daughter) tells us of her families visit in Aug 2006 to spread her fathers ashes at Rugby Park.....

"KFC were wonderful to us.  Anne Clark is such a gracious lady.  She arranged for us to tour the Clubhouse (she even contacted John Livingston to come and do the tour so that someone knowledgeable could respond to my Mum's memories)...followed by complimentary tickets to the first home match on Aug. 5th 2006.  It was a wonderful day, my Mum really appreciated sitting in the stand again, and Killie did win (not easily either.  They were totally outplayed in the first half.  The Hibs were all over them.  Then they changed ends for the second half, down a goal but we knew that they were going to win because they were now shooting into the goal my dad (his ashes) was in. Yep, you bet.  He sucked that ball in twice for them LOLOLOLOL.  That's our story and we're sticking to it :-P."

Melody