2002 Year in Review

Jan  2002

TJ & Co Celebrate their Point Vs Rangers

Stevie Murray (below) wins the SPL young player of the month for Dec 2001. Killie open the New year with their first match of the year being postponed Vs Rangers. The game is made up at the end of the month and Killie take their only point of the year off of the Old Firm with a spirited performance, coming back from 2-0 down (with 8 min's remaining), to effectively kill any remaining Rangers title aspirations. Boyd (sub) & TJ from the spot in the final min did the damage! Also in Jan a fine 3-0 Cup win over Airdrie is recorded, along with two 0-2 losses to Celtic at home in Sat PM SKY matches, one in the SPL (where Killie outplayed Celtic for long periods), and the second in the Scottish cup.  Our other two Jan results were Hibs (A) where we picked up a last min equalizer from a McGowne header, and a very disapointing loss at Motherwell 0-2 in a drab mid-week match. Paul di Giacomo was lost for the season in the Hibs match with knee damage. David Merdy is released from his contract. Killie close the month with tieing up their future as their young stars... Boyd, Hessey, Fowler & Murray all get new/extended contracts.

Feb  2002

"All Change"

Killie get 2 fine away results to open Feb at Dundee Utd 2-0 & Aberdeen 1-1, before the vital Hearts home clash. This match, as we look back became manager Bobby Williamson's last match in charge of Killie! Leading 3-1 with only 6 min's remaining Hearts pull 2 back to leave Rugby park with a share of the points, and this result come the SPL "split" ended up meaning Killie would not make the "top 6" . Chris Innes said it all .... "We blew it !!" Jerome Veraille is released so he can join Airdrie, where Mark "Mavis" Reilly is already on loan. On Feb 22nd Frank Sauzee is fired as Hibs manager after only 69 days in charge, and within 24 hours have approached Williamson (with Sir John Orr's blessing) to become the next manager. Williamson resigns to take the Hibs post, and Jim Clark & Gerry McCabe also leave for Hibs also.  Do you remember Bobby Williamson HERE ? Killie then within 4 days appoint Jim Jefferies to replace Bobby Williamson. Tommy Burns was rumoured to have been a potential candidate, but turned out to be a non-starter as he was not interested in interviewing with Killie. Baz is interviewed on BBC Scotland's "Off the Ball"..... and states ...."the Killie fans WILL get behind who ever our board appoints as manager" Also in Feb Christophe Cocard is "free'ed" from his contract. Billy Brown is also named to become Jefferies No2, and Ian Durrant is also welcomed as a Killie coach.

Mar  2002

Dargo & Bully Celebrate Vs Livingston

A new era dawns with Jim Jefferies taking the reigns at Killie, and in his first match he pulls off a real "coup", in bringing on Andy Mclaren as a sub against Dundee, and he goes on to score two 2nd half sub goals, as Killie get a last gasp 3-2 home win! This would be Killie's last win prior to the "split" and their challenge fades as we only took 1 out of a possible 9 points, a loss a Dunfermline 0-2, a home draw 1-1 to Livingston , and 0-5 thrashing at Ibrox. Killie finish the "regular" season tied with Hearts for 6th, but Hearts pip us on goal differential, so it's 7th place at best now for Killie!

Apr  2002

Bobby Returns in April

The SPL "split sees Killie playing in the "bottom 6", and get wins over Hibernian (H) 1-0, & St Johstone (A) 3-0, and suffer losses to Dundee (A) 0-2, & a spirited (just into liquidation) Motherwell side at home 1-4. Greg Shields is brought in on loan till the end of the season from Charlton Athletic.  The Hibs match was clearly the most noteworthy of all the post "split" games as former manager Bobby Williamson returned to Rugby Park, and received a warm welcome from the greater majority of the Killie faithful. He left with more than a little "egg on his face" as his former signing Michel Ngonge, scored the games only goal for Killie. Alan Mahood (pictured left with Allan) is the killiefc.com 'Player of the Year" as voted by this site's members, and attends the "Day Oot" function at the Howard Arms in Kilmarnock, to pick up his well deserved award.  Mikel Pizzo is "free'ed" so he can return to France.

May  2002

Durrant Bows Out

Mark "Mavis" Reilly quits Killie after his loan expires with Airdrie. Kevin Collins decides to vacate his Club Sec post. After the SPL break for the Scottish Cup Final, Killie finish up their season with a 2-2 draw to Dundee Utd at home. Ian Durrant makes a cameo last 5 min appearance as he retires as a player ! He will continue as part of the Killie coaching staff. Ian is seen above wearing the new 2002-03 season "top", with Ally McCoist & Sir John Orr (right). Barry McLaughlin is signed from St Mirren to a 2 year contract. Out of contract players Ngonge & Baker are informed they are free to find new clubs. Killie are reported to be keen on signing up Greg Shields & Tommy Johnson, but will have to wait and see how the SPL TV discussions get on, before spending money the club does not have. Jim McSherry leaves the club.

June 2002

 

 

Stevie Fulton Signs For Killie In June

The SPL TV deals fall through, and Killie have to juggle their budget to accommodate less revenue coming in, and therefore Tommy Johnson among others cannot be afforded. Jim McSherry departs as commercial manager- Here Midfielder Antonio Calderon leaves Kilmarnock by mutual consent. Killie head to Italy for their pre-season warm-up's & then to Ireland it is announced. Most of the nation becomes Brazil fans, as they take on Ingerland in the 2002 World Cup. Killie then sign midfielder Stevie Fulton - Here

July 2002

 

Monty Returns

Killie legend Ray Montgomerie returns to Rugby Park as the new Public Relations/Matchday Manager - Here. Gary McSwegan is taken on trial till Dec - Here Kevin McGowne becomes the latest cup hero to exit Rugby Park - Here  Killie win the Scottish Brewers Challenge Cup at Annan when they beat Queen of the South 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Kris Boyd struck woodwork twice, during regulation play, for Killie. Killie then an finish an unbeaten preseason with matches Vs: QoS 2-1, Lisburn Dist 2-0, Glentoran 1-1, Sheffield Weds 2-1 & Morton 3-0.

Aug 2002

Andy McLaren Celebrates His Goal Vs Rangers

Killie handed in their resignation from the SPL at the league's headquarters in Hampden Park, the start of a two-year notice period. The ten had wanted the Old Firm to scrap the existing 11-1 voting majority in favour of  8-4, but the Glasgow duo would not agree. Killie open the season with a creditable 1-1draw with Rangers at home, with Andy McLaren  coming off the bench to save Killie. Jim Jefferies signs Gary Locke  - Here  Up next for Killie were the Arabs away and won 2-1, thanks to goals from Dargo  & Boyd, both of whom came on as subs.  Forth placed Killie then hosted Motherwell and had 3 men sent off (McLaren, Locke & San Juan) while losing 0-3. Killie left the field that day to standing ovation, and out-played Well for the last 30 mins of the match trailing 0-1 with 9 men. Kris Boyd was named SPL young player of the month for Aug as his 2 goals helped Killie grab 4 away points with a 1-0 win at Livingston & 1-1 draw with Hearts.

Sep 2002

Peter Canero Scores The Winner Vs Thistle

Peter Canero scores for Killie in a 1-0 win at home over Partick Thistle, to start Sept in fine fashion, however the writing was starting to be on the wall when it took a Barry McLaughlin goal in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Aberdeen, after Alan Mahood had opened the scoring.  This would begin a seven game win-less run for Killie. Away losses at Hibs 0-2 & Celtic 0-5 are recorded while also being dumped out the CIS Cup on pen's by Airdrie Utd after a 0-0 120 mins! Killie are really missing Andy McLaren & Craig Dargo at the moment as they are both out hurt. Off the field Bill Costley, a former  Kilmarnock chairman and lifelong supporter, resigns from the board along with  fellow directors Jim Murdoch and Brian Sage, after disagreements over the directions of the club.

Oct 2002

Boyd Helps Killie Get Their Only Oct Point

Only 1 point out of nine is gained in Oct as Killie fall 1-2 at Dundee despite short term contract signing Sammy Boutal scoring on his debut. Kris Boyd then grabbed Killie's only point of the month as Killie comeback twice Vs 3rd placed Dunfermline to draw 2-2 at Rugby park. Greg Shields also scores his first Killie goal in that match. Killie then finish the month at Ibrox and are destroyed 1-6 by Rangers, while Stevie Fulton grabs his first goal for the club.

Nov 2002

Killie Applaud Their Fans After The Win At Motherwell

A strange start to Nov see Killie lose one, then win one with last min goals being scored! The first was a cruel 1-2 loss to Dundee Utd at home with former Killie-Striker Jim McIntyre shooting through Gordon Marshall's legs in injury time, after Stevie Fulton has tied the game up for Killie. Now in 8th place Killie went to bottom of the league Motherwell looking to avenge their 9 man loss to Well from Aug. Again it was Kris Boyd to the rescue, as Killie win 1-0. Killie then go on to record 3 more  SPL wins in their next 5 outings to take them back up to 6th! Livingston are beaten for a second time while Killie wear their "lucky" 3rd red tops 2-0 at Rugby Park, with Paul Di Giacomo opening the scoring for Killie and sub Gary McSwegan grabbing his first Killie goal into injury time. Killie finish Nov with 2 bad results at home 0-1 to the ever-jammy Hearts, and a dismal 0-3 drubbing at Partick. Some good news that both Craig Dargo and Andy Mclaren are both due back after injuries have kept them each out for the last 7-8 matches. On the fans front the Killie Board reject fans "Killie 125" proposals - Here

Dec 2002

Gary McSwegan Scores Killie's Winner At Aberdeen

Nobody knows why the SPL schedule Killie to travel to Aberdeen on a Tuesday night of all things, but Baz & co duly aboard the "party bus" and a great time is had by all of the 250 fans in attendance as Gary McSwegan scores the matches only goal as Killie win 1-0. The schedule now brings 3 home games on the trot with Dundee being first who were dispatched 2-0 with goals from Stevie Fulton & Kris Boyd. This marks Killie's 4th & final time of wearing their "lucky" 3rd choice red tops, Killie's record in red was; played 4, won 3, drew 1, & lost 0. One disturbing note for the Dundee game was the attendance of only 4,810, which represented Killie's lowest SPL crowd in over 10+ years!  Kris Boyd, Stevie Murray, Craig Samson and Sean Dillon are all named to the Scotland Under 21 team to Portugal from 6th-14th January. Pint sized striker and former killiefc.com player of the year Craig Dargo has just signed a two year extension to his contract ending speculation that he would be offloaded in the winter break before his current deal ran out.- Here Champions Celtic were next to come calling and even though they hit the woodwork on 4 occasions, it was Killie who held on for a deserved point, after Andy McLaren had opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw. Killie's great Dec run continues with a fine 2-1 win over Hibs at home, with our ex-jambos "doing em in"! Fulton scores the winner with 2 mins remaining, after McSwegan opens the scoring. It is announced after the match that Gary will be offered an extension to his short-term contract, thru the end of the season. Killie finish up Dec with a fine 2-0 away win at Dunfermline (again wearing their "lucky" red.....a 5th outing for this "top" which required SPL approval!) on Boxing Day with the duo of McSwegan & super-sub Boyd grabbing the goals against the 3rd place Pars. To close year Killie fall 0-1 at home to Rangers, but this is not enough to stop Jim Jefferies winning the Dec SPL manager of the month award (above).

Calendar Year in Reviews   2006 2005 2004  2003

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