In his testimonial
season (1998-99), we spoke to Ray at length about his time at
Kilmarnock Football Club. 'I joined Kilmarnock in
August 1988, I didn't really leave Dumbarton on the best of terms
as Kilmarnock actually made a bid for me the season before and
Dumbarton had refused to let me leave. By 1988 I was out of contract
when Killie came in for me again, but Dumbarton were determined to
hold on to my registration so I actually had to more or less walk out
on them. At the time it was probably a step down for me as Dumbarton
were always challenging for promotion. We actually got promoted in
1984 and from then 'til 1988 we were always either second or third in
the league, but with me being a local lad I knew the potential at
Kilmarnock. They were a far bigger club and it's where I wanted to be.
It's just a pity I hadn't got there earlier.
That first season it was
clear we didn't have the greatest team in
the league. After a dismal start to the season, Eddie got the sack and things weren't going too
well. A lot of changes were happening at that time, there was the
boardroom takeover and we had the appointment of Jim Fleeting, Jim
McSherry and Frank Coulston. The club went full time and they added a
lot more professionalism. Jim Fleeting knew my position away from
football - working in my father's business and he thought it would be
an ideal opportunity to combine them both. So we had talks and I
decided to go full time. Sadly we got relegated
at the end of that
season and that was definitely the lowest point of my career. We'd
gone to Queen of the South on the last day of the season needing to
win by six goals only to discover later that Clyde in their game had
scored a penalty in injury time. I always remember coming up the road
from Dumfries that day, Kilmarnock scarves were littered all over the
road. The fans had thrown their scarves away in disgust at the club
dropping into the depths of the Second Division.
Luckily we managed to get
out of that division at the first attempt which was an amazing
achievement. The last game of the season we needed to win against
Cowdenbeath and we beat them
2-1
at Rugby Park in front of 11,000
fans. I think that was a record attendance for a Second Division match
at the time. There were some celebrations that day. Whilst in the
Second Division a significant signing was that of Tommy Burns. It
showed considerable foresight by Jim Fleeting and the board, and Tommy
proved to be instrumental in where the club is today. Back in the
First Division we struggled badly and
found it hard to establish ourselves again. We failed to win promotion
to the Premier League and this resulted in the manager being sacked.
Jim had done a tremendous job at Kilmarnock and I think he's probably
one of the best coaches in the country, it was
disappointing because he was a nice guy and very hard working.
The interim manager was
Tommy Burns who took charge for the last six games, we went undefeated
and he managed to secure
the
job. In our first full season under Tommy we managed to get out of the
First Division, again we left it to the last game against Hamilton
Accies. We drew
0-0
again in front of a
full house at Rugby Park, although there were a few nail biting
moments like Hamilton hitting the crossbar early on but we managed to
come through it and deservedly got promotion. The work that Tommy
Burns and Billy
Stark put in and the superhuman efforts of the players during that
time was astonishing. 1994 and Killie were back in the big time, we
had a good season culminating in a Scottish Cup semi final only to be
defeated by a dubious goal (right..."never in")
against Rangers in the replay at Hampden. The last game of that season
was at Easter Road on a blistering hot day where we achieved the draw
we need to retain our place in the Premier League, this was a very
happy period at Kilmarnock.
On the subject of team
mates at Kilmarnock I would give a special mention to Mark Reilly, I
think he's a bit of an unsung hero. Mark's done a tremendous job in
midfield over the years and hasn't had the praise he's due, not only
on the park but the way he conducts himself off the park as well.
Another would be Gus McPherson who's made the right back position his
own over the years, the season just passed proved to be his best yet,
he's showing a lot more consistency now than perhaps earlier in his
career.
Ally Mitchell
for his relentless running, a lot
of people don't seem to notice. He's had a few good seasons at
Kilmarnock now and he's been inspirational in what we've achieved. As
soon as he loses possession he's the first man back to make a tackle
and whatever side he's playing on he always helps out the full back.
Obviously Tommy Burns for what he brought to the club and his appetite
for the game. We all learned and took something from Tommy and
needless to say a lot of credit goes to him for where we are today.
I'd also like to mention Andy Millen, I felt we formed a really solid
partnership and should have gone on for a number of years but sadly it
didn't work out that way.
The manager,Bobby
Williamson
also played a big part. He's been here a few years now and he's got a
bit of a feel for the club. He did a tremendous job in our first
season back in the Premier. We played with one man up front that year
and he was occupying defences himself. He actually stopped playing
sooner than I thought he should've done, but he wanted to get into
management, and when you look at it now he probably made the right
decision. He's had a great start to his managerial career and it's up
to him to build on it and I'm sure he will. He's got the respect of
all the lads he played alongside and also the young lads as he worked
with them for two or three seasons when he was reserve team coach
under Alex Totten.
That brings us on to the
24th May
1997
and what was undoubtedly the happiest day of my football
career, it will remain with me for the rest of my life. It's a day I
will never forget, not only for myself but everyone connected with
Kilmarnock Football Club. From the
girls in the office to the
directors in the boardroom. People like Gus Hollas who does a lot of
hard work at Kilmarnock, Hugh Allan who's been there for years.
To
bring the Scottish Cup back for these people was amazing. As well as
for our old secretary, Jean Milloy, who was a dear friend of mine, it
was such a shock when she died. I'm sure she was there looking down on
us from above. When I actually lifted the Cup it felt so light, I felt
that thirty or forty thousand Kilmarnock Supporters were lifting it
with me.
It's been a very quick
ten years, that's probably an indication of how good a time I have
had, it's where I have always wanted to be and I have enjoyed every
last minute of it.'
Monty served over
10 years in blue and white stripes, scoring
seven goals, and was
fittingly awarded with a testimonial vs Celtic in the summer of 1998.
Despite reaching the highs of European football in the later years of
his career, Monty had a tough start to his Killie career and was part
of the team who were relegated on the last game of season 98-99
despite mauling Queen of the South 6-0. This was a bitter blow to the
club but they bounced back even stronger with Monty at the helm.
Under the
management of Tommy Burns, Monty was part of the team who found glory
and brought Kilmarnock back into the top flight in the early nineties.
In the years that closely followed Monty played an integral role in
staving off several nervous relegation fights and helped the club find
consolidation as one of Scotland's leading clubs.
Monty sadly
departed Rugby Park at the end of season 1998-99 (his testimonial
season) continue his career
with Partick Thistle where he again found success before finally
retiring from professional football in the summer of 2001.
Monty, who made 390
appearances for the club, including 24 as substitute, admits that he
left the club with a heavy heart after being told that his services
were no longer required.
Monty
Returns
On
July 1st 2002 the chief executive and the board announced the
appointment of Ray as the new Public Relations & Matchday Manager at
Killie
"I'm
really delighted about being given this opportunity to come back to
work at Rugby Park. I've spoken to David Heath several times already
and he really seems to have a good grip on things and know what he's
doing. My remit is to be the bridge between the supporters and the
club and the fact that I'm a fan myself should make that a bit easier.
The club have kindly agreed not to announce anything until Monday
because I want the chance to thank my friends and all the guys who
have supported me personally."
“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” I
was approached a couple of weeks ago and asked if I’d be interested in
the job and I can tell you that I didn’t have to think for very long
about my decision.I had a great rapport with the fans when I was there
as a player and the fact that I have an affinity with them will stand
me in good stead in the future.
“Everything I gave Kilmarnock
on the playing side I will give on the administration side. I’m
delighted to be coming home again.”
“I couldn’t come to terms
with the fact that I’d be leaving. It was a very emotional time for me
and I couldn’t even bring myself to say cheerio to everyone at the
club, neither on the playing side nor among the office staff.I always
wanted to return in some capacity and was delighted to get the
invitation to work with the club again.”
“When I was playing with
Killie there were a few people who said that I might have been missing
out on the financial side because I wasn’t with a bigger club. But
there were other ways I received a payback, one of which was the
relationship I had with the club’s supporters. I can’t tell you how
good it feels to be returning, and you can guarantee that I’ll give
the job my all, just as I did when I was a player.”
More
Monty in May of 2003 made a brief appearance for
Bazelona Vs the Kicking Squirrels....Good On Ya ...Monty!
| Do You
Remember... These
articles were extracted from the "KTS" (Kissin' the squirrels)
KFC fan magazine and are the ownership of ; KTS, baz, &
Killiefc.com. Unauthorized reproduction is not permitted without
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