Jan 2004
Sweg's Nets
From the Spot Vs the Pars
Killie
finished Dec 2003 with 20 points from 18 matches and are in 8th place in
the SPL.
Killie start the new year up north in Aberdeen, and register their 4th
consecutive SPL loss!
1-3 was the final/McDonald%20Raith%20Mini.jpeg)
score with Colin Nish scoring a late consolation goal for
Killie, after he had missed a penalty to pull Killie even in the 1st half.
Our fortune's improve the following week Vs Raith in the cup as their
keeper plays a "howler" and we go on to win
3-1 , with goals coming from McSwegan, McDonald & Nish.
Killie are then "rewarded" win a home draw Vs holders Rangers in the 4th
round of the cup. Rumours are also circulating around Peter Canero's
future as me be getting ready to do a Gary Holt, and move off to England
before he is lost for nout at the end of the season. Killie had reported
making him a generous offer. However the challenge was too much for Pedro
to turn down, and was subsequently transferred
to
Leicester
City for around 250K.
Killie then ended their 4 match SPL losing run by picking up a home point
with a
1-1 draw with the Pars, Killie's goal coming via the
penalty
spot (their 1st converted of the season) through Gary McSwegan.
The club then sign French under 21
internationalist Eric Skora on loan from Preston North End
until the end of the season. Greg Shields leaves to join
Dunfermline with no fee involved. It was also
confirmed that Sean Hessey was released from his contract.
Killie had also been in talks with former Dundee player George
Nemsadze but his wage demands did not fit into the club's wage
structure. It was also reported that Colin Meldrum's
contract will not be renewed for next season.
Killie then host Hibernian and lose
0-2, with Williamson's men scoring 2 goals in 60 odd sec's just after
the break. Eric Skora
does make his debut. The biggest cheer of the day from the home
support was the sub'ing of Stevie Fulton before the hour
mark. (This was a real "talking point at the time on this site's message
boards, with the final thought being that these cheers were "well out of
order"). Killie Close out Jan at Celtic and lose
1-5 . Fowler, Dodds, Nish,
Baggio & Freddie are all dropped after the Hibs match David
Lilley makes his debut after a move from the Jag's during the
week. Killie play with a lot of heart and go in 0-0 at the break at
Parkhead. However Eric Skora's first goal for Killie is the
only bright spot in the second half. Two thirds of the regular season is
now complete.
Killie
finish the month with 21 points from 22 matches and are in 10th place in
the SPL.
Feb 2004
/Lilley%20Celeb.jpg)
Greer & Lilley
Celebrate Vs the Jags
Killie opened Feb with a weeks training in Spain before
returning home to host a Scottish Cup tie. Killie go on to lose
0-2 to Rangers despite a very credible performance. The main talking
point was Killie's/Danny%20Huns%20FP.jpg)
sales with fewer than 2,000 fans choosing to pay their
way in (match was not covered by their season ticket). Not helping was
this Sunday match was screened live by the BBC. Three days later it was
the same
0-2 score to Rangers this time at Ibrox in the SPL.
Killie have now taken 1 point from their last eight SPL matches, and
relegation was starting to be talked about.
However Killie took full advantage in their next match to make it 3 wins
out of 3 Vs bottom of the table Partick, as Killie recorded a fine
battling
2-1 comeback win, with t/Boyd%20Danny%20Celeb.jpg)
heir
goals coming from David Lilley and Kris
Boyd. Craig Dargo also comes on as a sub for Killie & plays the
last 15 mins.
Killie then fall flat on their faces at Motherwell and lose
0-1, on a difficult surface. Stevie "Baggio" Fulton's
season is over as he has hip surgery. Killie also take a "pass" on
entering the Interlotto cup as JJ indicates July football is too early.
Killie then host Dundee and score FOUR goals at home !!
Danny Invincibile is the hero with his first 2 goals for the
club as Killie go on to win
4-2. Colin Meldrum also returned in goal. Skora
& Boyd (from the spot) net Killie's other goals. This
was Kris Boyd's 23rd first team goal for Killie, and Killie
have never lost when "Boomer" has scored! Martin Hardie
season is now also "done" as he has an "Op".
Killie
finish the month with 27 points from 26 matches and are in 10th place in
the SPL.
Mar 2004
Late Hearts
Equaliser Celebrations
For the second week running Rugby
Park reverberated to the sounds of "Down
Under" after
Danny I
nvincibile
showed he is finally living up to his name by plundering his third goal in
two matches to rescue a point, for
Killie in a
1-1 draw with Hearts.The Australian popped up three
minutes before the end of this game to score unchallenged with a header.
Colin Meldrum had to go off after 47 mins with a calf
injury, which meant a first team debut for young Graeme Smith.
Killie were then "idle" as Livingston made the CIS Final. The two week
layoff see's Killie put a horror opening 45 mins. as we go on to lose
1-4 to the Arabs up there. Manager Jefferies describes the performance
"It was the worst performance I have seen
from any team I have been involved with!".
Danny Invincibile scored his 4th goal
in 3 games as Killie's only bright spot!
Manager Jefferies then demands a much improved effort when the Dons come
calling the following week./Dargs%20Celeb%20FP.jpg)
Killie respond with an emphatic
3-1 win, with Craig Dargo scoring in the 1st min of his
first start of the season, as he filled in for the injured
Invincibile.
Boomer Boyd gets his 9th & 10th goals of the season. Another
bright spot is the home crowd of 7,250 after the club turns back time and
allows entry for just a tenner! Killie have now taken 10 points out of
their last 4 SPL matches at Rugby Park.
Killie
finish the month with 31 points from 29 matches and are in 8th place in
the SPL.
Apr 2004
The Boys
Celebrate Their Home Hibs Win
Killie then played 3 consecutive away matches, and picked
up only 1 point ensuring
Killie's "bottom 6" place. We outplayed the
Pars and lost
1-2 with Danny
Invincibile netting the opener for
Killie. Young/Hay%20Livi%20A%20FP.jpg)
teenage goal sensation Naismith makes his
Killie debut as a sub! Then it was a mid week fixture at Livingston where
a
1-1 draw was secured with Craig Dargo equalising 5 min's
from time. Danny
Invincibile picks up an ankle knock that allows Darg's to get on
the park. Killie then lose
0-3 to Hibs at Easter Rd, where the final score was very flattering
for Hibs. In many ways these results reflected points
/Boyd%20Lambert%20FP.jpg)
dropped
where the performances on the park warranted so much more, but defensive
errors continued to cost Killie dearly!
Francois Dubourdeau & Colin Meldrum are both confirmed by
the club as being
free to seek new clubs for next season.
To finish
up the "regular" first 33 games of the season Killie host Celtic and lose
0-1 as the Celts clinch the title. Meldrum gives the
club something to think about as he had a fine game in goal! Again some
dodgy ref'ing costs us, as an early Kris Boyd strike was chalked off, just
the same as a potential game (from sub Nish) winner was nullified with 2
mins to go at Livingston.
Killie finish the "regular" season with 32 points from
33 matches and were in 11th place in the SPL. This represents 18 fewer
points than the
2002-03
season.
Managerless Hibs
(former Killie manager
Bobby Williamson
is off to Plymouth!) is the first fixture post the league "split", and a
Kris Boyd double gives Killie the
2-0 win. Only 4,886 are in attendance, which was the lowest home gate
of the season, despite the "kids for a quid" program being brought back
for the last 3 home matches. Again Colin Meldrum has a fine
match in the Killie goal, as Killie pick up only their 2nd "clean sheet"
of the season, their first since Motherwell at home in Nov.
Mark Canning plays the last 11 mins
coming on as a sub.
May 2004
/Swegs%20Goal%20celeb.jpg)
Sweg's
Completes Killie's 4 Goal Livi Comeback
Killie's most
memorable 45 min's of the season are played in the second half of the
Livingston
4-2 home
win. Killie came storming back after leaving the field at the half down
0-2 and to a chorus of boos! Jim Jefferies
confirmed his half-time team-talk had been "unrepeatable". Sub
Colin Nish netted twice while Mark Canning got
his first team goal, on his first team start. Gary McSwegan
also scored for Killie off of the bench. With the introduction of
Canning & Dodds, long time Killie fan
Alan Mahood
looks set to free'ed at the seasons end. Mahood had been out injured since
the end of Sept. Prior to the Dee away match Killie also announce
releasing Martin Hardie & Barry McLaughlin. Killie go on to
lose
0-2 at Dundee, with manager Jim Jefferies being absent from the match
while scouting defenders/goalkeeper/s in Portugal.
As
the season winds down Killie resign
Freddie Dindeleux, James Fowler and Garry Hay to one
year deals. Danny Invincibile is also resigned on a one deal
with an option for a 2nd year. Mark Canning and Paul
di Giacomo are both given short-term deals also. Freddie tells
killiefc.com (left) that "he loves Kilmarnock" and would play for
less to stay with the club.
Some more good
news for the club, as Killie's U-19 beat Rangers
1-0 to win the Scottish Youth cup, with just under 4,000 in attendance
at Rugby Park.
/Skora%20Celeb%20SB.jpeg)
Killie's
home finale was against Aberdeen, in what was Eric Skora's
last match. Killie dispatched a very young Dons side
4-0 with Skora, Boyd (2) & Nish netting
for the blues. Graeme Smith also had a shutout in goal, in
his first ever start! Manager Jefferies sub'ed
Erik Skora
during the second half to allow the Killie faithful to give the French 22
year old the ovation he deserved as his loan from Preston was now over.
Firhill was the last match of the season, where Killie picked up a
2-2 draw in a match where 3 penalties were awarded. Kris Boyd
scored his 15th of the season netting the rebound after his
original penalty was saved. Sub Craig Dargo was both "hero &
villain" scoring Killie's 2nd and giving up a 90th min pen to the Jags!
The
final day's results cost Killie dearly as the last min Jags penalty (2
points and 1-2 SPL places), plus Clyde's failed promotion attempt means no
Bully Wee ground sharing, and yet more revenues lost for Killie.
Before May is gone Killie also announce that 2002-03 killiefc.com POTY
Stevie "Baggio" Fulton is being released, however he may be
"invited" back to Killie's training camp when the new season begins. Also
Gary McSwegan looks set to be moving on as he failed to sign up
for a "short-term" new contract.
Kris Boyd is voted as killiefc.com's POTY (Player of the Year) for
2003-04.
More
Killie
finish the season with 42 points from 38 matches and in 10th place in the
SPL.
/Jags%20%20Big%20Season%20Over.jpg)
Killie Faithful
at Partick on the Season's Final Day!
June 2004
Killie announce they will again travel to
Il Ciocco in July
for their pre-season "camp" in Italy. Pre season friendlies are announced
Vs Ayr (A), and Leicester City & Derby Co both at home. Stevie "Baggio"
Fulton is invited to train with Killie after his contract expired
at the end of
last season . . Gary McSwegan still remains unsigned,
and looks certain to move on. Killie release their new 2004-05 Kit and put
their new "Real Madrid" away looking top on sale right away.
July 2004
Manager
Jim Jefferies makes Alan Combe his
first signing
of the "close season". Gary McSwegan joins Ross Co.
Gary Wales (ex Hearts) & Peter Leven (ex Rangers 20
yr old) are signed to one year deals. Killie play 3 amateur teams in Italy
and win by a combined score of 31-0. Free
agent defenders Oumar Bakari and Mickael Wolski and Eric Joly,
(he's the brother-in-law of Freddie Dindeleux who recommended him to the
Rugby Park club) who is with Belgian side Mons, played in a closed-doors
2-0 win over
Falkirk. Welsh international defender Darren Barnard also played for
Killie in their closed-doors midweek win over Falkirk. However, the
left-back, who was at Grimsby last season, was told he will not be
offered a contract at Rugby Park.
Without
any of these "new boys" Killie travel down to Scumerset and fall to A*r
5-4 on pens. Killie had led by 2 goals till A*r struck twice in the
last 12 mins. Killie's scorers were Lilley and Dargo.
Our killiefc.com
POTY (Player of the
Year) Bash for 2003-04 to
Kris Boyd
was then held at the Howard on Sat the 24th of July after the A*r West
Sound match.
Manger Jim Jefferies had the entire squad come back to the pub which was
very well received.
To complete the pre-season lose
2-3 at home (Boyd & McDonald on target) to Leicester,
with Pedro making his return, and then a dull
0-0 draw with Derby Co, Alan Combe having a fine game
for the home side.
Aug 2004
Killie
Celebrate Opening Day Win at Easter Rd
Killie
have their "Open Day" on Aug 1st Pic's are
Here.
Eric Joly is signed to a one
year contract. Triallist
Patouillard returns to France because he wasn't offered anything.
Bakari signs a 6 month deal but doesn't play as Killie draw
1-1 with the Jags in a closed door game at Auchencruive. Killie then
withdraw their offer 24 hours later. On the eve of the new season Killie
miss out on signing Paul Ritchie as he signs with the Arabs. Baz
interviews Killie Chairman Jamie Moffat also on the eve of
the new season - Here
Opening
day comes on Aug 7th, and Killie give debuts to Alan Combe
(who was first class) and Gary Wales, at Easter Rd.
Leven & Joly make their debuts as 2nd half sub's.
Kris Boyd scores with a deflected freekick, after sub
Dargo is fouled to give Killie a
1-0 win over Hibs, and a precious 3 points.
More
importantly Killie record their first "shut-out" away from Rugby Park
since April 27th 2
003 when we won
1-0 at Dundee. This was NOT
accomplished during
season
2003-04, so Killie get off to a flier.
Prior to the Celtic game Killie have a very busy week off the field.
Firstly Killie sign Allan 'Magic'
Johnston on a three year deal. Johnston says "There were offers
from several clubs down south and in Scotland but I wanted to sign for
Killie". - More
Baz & Allan act quickly and sponsor "Magic" for the 2004-05 season
on behalf of www.killiefc.com.
Killie
General Manager Davie
Mackinnon then holds a Press Conference to announced that leading
Aussie lager brand Foster's will become the official beer at Rugby Park as
part of a supply agreement with the stadium and The Park Hotel, which
represents a £1M investment in the club -
More
Killie then fall
2-4 at home to Celtic, after twice taking the lead, and only fall
behind for good after we are reduced to 10 men when Lilley
is red carded. The two Gary's were on the score-sheet for Killie
McDonald & Wales (his 1st for the club).
Killie
then go on to lose
0-3 at Tynecastle, despite playing well in the first half. Next up was
the Accies in the CIS Cup and a fine
3-0
win is recorded with Danny Boy netting twice & Gary
McDonald scoring the middle goal. This was Killie's first goal in
the competition since Dargo's wonder strike in the
2000-01 semi at Hampden! Before the close of Aug Chairman Jamie
Moffat announces his shares in Killie are for sale, as the club
looks for a new investor. Perhaps Marie Macklin is waiting in the wings (Here).
The final Sunday month of the month brings Killie a
1-0 home win over the Pars, with Invincibile (right)
getting the games only goal, and Alan Combe making a couple
of fine save to help keep Killie in it!
Sep
2004
Kris Boyd Ties An
SPL Record With 5 Goals Vs The Arabs
Killie didn't play again
until Sept 11th due to the World Cup qualifiers
starting. Craig Samson was absent from the Scotland
Under-21 team lines against Slovenia after
being
arrested for breach of the peace, after he and 9 others
sneaked out of the Park Hotel. Samson, on loan from Kilmarnock to
Queen of the South, was Scotland's third choice U-21
keeper, and
was
subsequently dropped altogether. Killie then get their 3rd clean sheet
(this is as many as we had all of last season!) of the new term, as
Invincibile (his 4th in 3 games!) & Lilley who
opened the scoring help Killie pick up 3 points at Livingston with a great
2-0 away win! Killie then host the Dons in a 2nd Vs 3rd battle, and
lose
0-1, with the Dons only goal being an O.G. from Jamie Fowler.
Then Killie lost in the CIS Cup at Tynecastle
1-2,
with Peter Leven scoring on his first team debut.
Then the Killie faithful were treated to a match & performance that led
to an update of this site's "Clasic
Killie Matches". Kris Boyd scored 5 times to tie the SPL
record, for the most goals in a single game, as Killie beat the Arabs
5-2 at Rugby Park.
Killie finish the month with 12 points from 7 matches
and are in 5th place in the SPL.
Oct 2004
Craig Dargo
Celebrates His 1st Goal of the Season Vs Hibs
Killie open the month with a respectable
0-2 loss at Ibrox, with Boyd hitting the post while Killie were only a
single goal behind, but we never really threatened enough in the final
third (according to JJ).
After
2 more dismal Scottish National team World Cup Qualifying results (Norway
H,
Moldova
A). Killie resumed SPL play at Dundee on Oct 16th. Before the Dundee match
Killie announce the passing of Killie legend
Jackie McGrory,
who was a member of
great 60's teams, including the
64-65 Championship
Winning side. Killie then sign Simon
Ford (right) until the end of December. The 22-year-old
centre-back free agent, who was previously at Grimsby
Then at Dundee
Kris Boyd's
record of never having been on the losing side for Killie when he was on
the score-sheet, ended as Killie fell
1-3 after he opened the scoring. Then there are some draws that feel
like wins, and there are some draws that feel like losses. The result
against Inverness clearly feels like the latter! Killie were 2-1 up
against bottom of the league Caley at home, who were down to 10 men, with
less than 8 mins to play and could only get a
2-2 draw. This was a disastrous result, despite Stephen Murray
& Gordon Greer getting their 1st goals of the
season.
The Monday after the Inverness game, Kris Boyd
sustains a knee injury in training, and will be out 5-6 weeks! Killie do
however do regroup and in Boyd's absence, Colin Nish nets 3
goals in his first 2 starts of the season. His first was at Motherwell
where Killie held on to win
1-0, and also give Simon Ford a debut also in an overall
gritty Killie performance. To finish Oct Killie thump Hibs at home
3-1 with Nish grabbing a double either side of
Craig Dargo's first goal of the season. Ford also
plays very well in his second start for Killie.
Killie finish the month with 19 points from 12 matches
and are in 5th place in the SPL.
Nov
2004
McDonald Felled at
Parkhead Gets No Call!
Killie
visited Parkhead to start Nov looking for their 1st win there since 1955!
And guess what? Yup you've guessed it, referee Steve Conroy, gave the Tic
a dubious freekick just outside the bax, and
then another dubious penalty kick. Then moments later denied Killie a spot
kick of their own, when McDonald appeared to be fouled. Colin Nish
did pull one back for Killie in the closing stages, but it was all
too late as Celtic hung on, and Killie ran out
1-2 losers. Graeme Smith made is debut for Killie and
filled in very well for the unfit Alan Combe.
Killie prior to Hearts
match, launch their official
64-65 title winning anniversary strip
- Here Combe
is also "called-up" for the upcoming Scotland friendly international Vs
Sweden. Peter
Leven
then opens the scoring in an entertaining
1-1 home draw with Hearts. Killie failed to kill the match off and
Hearts came back back to earn a point. More good news for Leven,
as he plays for the Scotland U-21 National team, and then appears set to
get a new Killie deal! Then disaster struck an "in-form" Killie get taken
apart at Dunfermline as we go on to lose
1-4 , with sub Gary Wales netting his second goal of the
season, as Killie's only consolation. Killie also introduce a new 3rd
strip an all red kit in the away Pars match. Killie finish up Nov with a
dismal
1-3 loss at home to bottom of the league Livingston, with a
performance that manager Jefferies described as "the worst of the
season". Allan Johnston did score his 1st goal for
Killie being the only bright-spot.
Killie finish the month with 20 points from 16 matches
and are in 7th place in the SPL.
Dec
2004
Kris Boyd Lets 8
Weeks of Frustration "Out" In The Dec Dee Win
Killie travel to
3rd place Aberdeen to open Dec and lose
2-3, with a battling performance. Killie go
down
after twice taking the lead. We are called for 29 fouls! Nish
is also sent off, and Combe "gifts" the Dons their 2nd
goal. Danny & Leven (He needs a
nickname!) with a wonder freekick score for Killie. An out of touch
Kris Boyd did however return from injury for Killie.
French defender Mickel Wolski
has signs a one month contract.
Worse was to follow as Killie fell
0-3 to the Arabs, and were unlucky not to go in at least even at the
half instead of 2 down.
Gary McDonald signs a new deal
to keep him with Killie till May 2006.
A much improved performance in
0-1 home loss to Rangers, which was a Sunday live Setanta match.
Graeme Smith filled in for the injured Alan Combe
in goal and has an excellent match. David Lilley started a 3
match suspension in missing
the
Rangers game.
On
Tuesday 22nd Dec killiefc.com hosted a "live
on-line chat" with Davie MacKinnon & Jim Jefferies and a
good experience was had by all.
JJ's transcript is
Here
& Davie Mack's
Here.
Killie next hosted Dundee on Dec 27th and do find their form again, to
halt their 6 game losing skid in an excellent
3-1 home home win! Smith again plays well in goal,
while Invincibile, Ford (who is now staying with Killie
till May 05) and
Boyd all net for Killie. This was Boomers 1st goal since Oct 16th.
Sean Dillon goes out on loan to Greenock Morton &
Craig
Samson to St Johnstone.
Killie
finish the month (& year) with 23 points from 20 matches and are in 7th
place in the SPL.
2004 Complete Killie SPL Record
