Jan
2005
Boydie Felled In The Well Home Cup Tie
Killie
start the year with 20 points from 16 matches
and are in 7th place in the SPL. A happy new year is had by all the
Killie faithful as Killie beat Inverness
2-0
at Pittodrie on Jan 3rd to start
the new year off in great style. Danny Invincibile scores
both Killie goals.
Graeme Smith
continues to look good in goal for the
injured Alan Combe.
Luckless Craig Dargo hurts a knee in training prior to ICT
game and could be out for a lengthy spell. French defender Mickel Wolski's
one
month contract ends (without him making an appearance)
and he is "free'ed" by Killie as is Mark
Canning. Joly is
also told he is free to find another club, and Paul di Giacomo
is set to go out on loan to Stirling Albion for the remainder of the
season.
Killie
then have to play twice in a row Motherwell at
Rugby Park, first in the
3rd round of the Scottish Cup, followed by an SPL match. Killie win the first meeting
2-0
thanks to first half goals from Gary McDonald & Kris
Boyd. Also Alan Combe returns in goal & David
Lilley from suspension. In the Premier Motherwell match,
Killie come up trump's again with a first half Boydie double as Killie
record a fine
2-0
win. Naismith misses a sitter, (along with many Motherwell
missed
chances) but has really come on with
his non-stop running and aggressive play over the last several weeks.
Alan Combe also looks to be back to his early season form with
several fine stops during his last 2 shutouts. Killie's good run comes to
a grinding halt at Easter Rd as we went on to lose
0-3.
Killie then sign 19 year old English U-21 international
Fulham central defender
Liam Fontaine on a loan deal until the end of this season
Fontaine's signing was in part due to injuries to Freddie, Greer, &
Lilley's suspension going to Celtic home match to
finish Jan.
A spirited Killie fall
0-1
to Celtic, after Danny gave up a hand-ball in the box, with
Celtic scoring the games only goal from the spot. Sub Gary Wales
was upended near the end of the match, but it was the usual "no call"
against the Old Firm.
Killie finish the month with 29 points from 24 matches
and are in 7th place in the SPL.
Feb
2005
Naismith Scores His First Goal For Killie
Killie start Feb with what was to be the
first of 3 straight matches Vs Hearts! This fixture quirk was
caused when
Steven Naismith equalised for Killie in the last min, at
Tynecastle to earn a money spinning Scottish Cup replay (which was covered
by SKY). This was Naisy's first senior goal for the club, scoring after he
came on as a second half sub. Naismith had earlier that week signed a new
deal to keep him at Rugby Park till 2008. Colin Nish had
scored Killie's first equaliser (with a broken hand no less), as Killie
went on to earn a
2-2
draw, in front of a noisy 4,000+ traveling Killie support. (The club had
helped subsidize buses to Tynecastle!). Prior to the Hearts away SPL match
Leven & Samson pick up Scottish U-21 caps, in Belfast.
The second part of the Hearts trilogy was a very flat
0-3
performance at Tynecastle, with the only real point of note being manager
Jefferies post match comments ..."The
only good thing is that it will be a different Kilmarnock on Wednesday - I
can promise Hearts that". Unfortunately JJ is
made to eat his words as Killie fell
1-3
in the replay in front of a National SKY TV audience, to complete the
"Hearts Trilogy". Killie were never at the races, and fell behind early
and only got on the scoresheet with a last min penalty from Boyd.
Killie also played without Locke & Freddie, as the injuries mount in
Killie's treatment room. After the Hearts cup replay youth coach
Ian Durrant
leaves Killie to head to Ibrox, to take a similar position with the
Glasgow club. Ian indicates ... he would be
open to returning to Killie perhaps one day as manager! After being
bounced out of the cup Killie then again turn their attentions to a "top
6" SPL spot, and face Dunfermline at home. Killie beat the Pars
2-1,
with Naismith & Boyd getting the goals for a
below strength Killie team. Killie finish the month with a trip to Ibrox
in a game that was rearranged to suit the SPL (& Rangers). Killie field 9
men behind the ball concede a lot of possession, and only a mistake by
Simon Ford let Rangers go 2 to up, before Kris Boyd
pulls one back, as Killie fell
1-2.
Alan Combe was clearly man of the match at Ibrox,
Killie finish the month with 32 points from 27 matches
and are in 7th place in the SPL.
Mar
2005
Boyd Scores The Arabs Opener
Killie's season really is seeming to
unravel as they come undone big-time losing for the second time to bottom
of the table Livingston
1-3, after Allan Johnston opened the scoring for Killie. Killie's
alarming inability to pick up points was highlighted the following
Saturday with a
0-1 home loss to the Dons, after Kris Boyd missed a
penalty right at the death of the 1st half, to give Killie a deserved
lead. Man of the match was stand-in keeper Graeme Smith, who
made several fine saves in the second half.
It is becoming clear that had our form not been decent the first 11 matches of the season, we
would certainly be one of the fav's for the drop having picked up only 13 points
from their last 17 SPL outings.
The following week Kris Boyd
makes amends for his missed penalty Vs the Dons, as he scores twice along
with sub Danny Invincibile (rignt) in our
3-0 home win over Dundee Utd. This loss moved the Arabs to the foot of
the table. (Their manager McCall is fired 3 days afterwards) It was also Killie's first clean-sheet in nine outings, and
this stat would not have happened if keeper Graeme Smith had
not saved a first half penalty.
Simon Ford undergoes a double hernia operation and is done
for the season, and Liam Fontaine is back and forth to
Fulham, for treatment on his ailing back. Jim Jefferies
"rubbishes" press rumours of him being a candidate for the
vacated
Dundee Utd job.
On Weds
9th March... The one millionth front
page "hit was achieved On behalf of baz & I,
we'd like to thank you for your on-going support....
Allan...."KTWD"!!
The counter was first initiated on Nov 1999 (and we had a 2 year
"stint" at
rivals.net ). Kilmarnock's premier event of the year -
THE
KILLIE BALL 2005 is announced.
Killie finish the month with 35 points from 30 matches
and are in 7th place in the SPL.
Apr
2005
Leven Nets The Winner From The Spot at Inverness
Killie start April at Dundee and lose
0-1 to the relegation threatened side after a dubious penalty is awarded against
Lilley . The following week it is "do or die" Vs Inverness at home to have
any
remaining chance at a "top 6" finish. Killie slash prices to just a tenner, to try and add some
numbers to the gate. Killie scorn a barrel
load of chance and lose
0-1, as they slip down the table to 8th place. Only an extra 4-500
take in the match with 4,862 in attendance.
1997 Cup Winning goalkeeper
Dragoe Lekovic
returns to
Rugby Park to take in the Inverness CT home game as a guest of the club.
Gordon Greer returns after months on the sidelines as Killie
are unlucky only to take a point
at Fir Park. Peter
Leven
(left) scored a wonder first half
free-kick, only to have a freak Alan Combe OG cost us as we
ended up with a
1-1draw with Motherwell. Then Joe Tonner, 38 our former Killie Nutz
mascot is exposed as a paedophile,
by the Sunday Mail. Killie then host Dundee in the first game after the
"split" and win
1-0
thanks to super-sub Craig Dargo netting in the 86th min
after being only on the park for less than 5 mins. The result does mean that Killie's SPL status will
remain intact for the 11th straight season. An alarming
attendance is
noted of only 3,770! Worse news was to follow when the SPL attendance
statistics were released, that indicated Killie's gates were down -13%.
This 800+ fewer (on av per home game), was the worst drop in the SPL. Killie
the following week
traveled to Inverness (for the first time this season)
and get a
2-1 win with each team getting a dubious penalty. Killie's winning
goal was from Peter Leven, who took over the spot kick
(above) duties in the absence of an injured Kris Boyd. Gary McDonald
opened the scoring, and was also gave up the penalty for Caley Thistle's
goal. Manager Jim Jefferies missed the match, due to being
on scouting duties. The last piece of April news, was that Killie unveiled
their new 2005-06 home kit. The top would go on sale at the last home
match of the season (Vs the Pars on May 21st). Killie also took the
initiative to take "pre-orders" of the top via their official website.
Killie finish the month with 42 points from 35 matches
and are in 8th place in the SPL, one point behind Inverness for 7th. The
42 points won represent the same total as in the entire
2003-04 season.
May
2005
Dodds, Gary Mac & Naisy Celebrate In The Seasons
Final Match
The final month opens with Gen Manager
Davie MacKinnon, putting out all kinds of fires in the
press, as Jamie Moffat once again steps in to float Killie's
monthly overhead. At the same time manager Jim Jefferies
shares that Killie are open to listening for offers for top scorer
Kris Boyd, mainly because Killie know they can't afford to keep
him. Before the last away game of the season at Tannadice, the "Killie
Cull" begins, with Neil McGregor being released along with 5
year man Craig
Dargo. Craig was a fan fav, but had missed about half the
games over the past 3 seasons with various injuries. It is also announced
that Danny Invincibile has a stress shin fracture and will
miss
the last 3 games of the season. The first of those last 3 was the
final away match of the season at Tannadice. Down 0-1 at the half, Killie
come-back to earn a very creditable
1-1 draw. Sub Kris "I'm for Sale" Boyd hammers home off
a rebound from the post from 2 yards out, for his 8th goal against the
Arabs this season. This was the first time Killie had trailed at the half,
and NOT gone on to lose all season long in the SPL. Prior to the
Livingston home match, Killie get; Dodds, Wales, Nish, Hay, &
Graeme Smith, signed up to new 1 year contracts. Also
Di Giacomo is signed to new 6 mo deal.
Jim Stewart's
goalkeeping coach (right) role was not re-newed however. Stewart had a 34
year association with Killie ! Killie then
go on to beat Livi
2-0
with Boyd & on the park less than 2 mins & sub Allan Johnston netting Killie's goals. Killie are still waiting on
Locke & Freddie's decisions on their contact
offers. Dindeleux may have played his last game for the
club, as he had a fractured wrist which he picked up with a collision with
Boyd in training, that would sideline him for the
seasons final 2 matches. Craig Samson is the next "out the
door", but Locke (2 years) Dodds, Murray & Fowler get
signed up for next term.
The season finale comes against Dunfermline at home. Killie romp home with
an emphatic
4-0
win,
their largest margin of victory all season. The first 2 goals, were also
firsts of the season for the scorer, captain Gary Locke then
Rhian Dodds. Boydie grabbed his 19th and
Gary McDonald his 5th as Killie ran out easy winners. A fine
finish to an inconsistent year, but this final performance certainly left
all the Killie fans with a great sense of optimism for next term. Killie
also on the final Saturday of the season, invited & recognised our
1964-65
championship winning team, with the trophy, during the half-time of the
Pars match. The "old-timers" got a tremendous reception from all in
attendance, and brought a tear to few eyes as well!
Killie finish the season with 49 points from 38 matches
and were 7th place in the SPL. This point total represented a 7 point
improvement over the
2003-04 season.
The final of week of May saw Chairman Jamie Moffat
relinquish his role as Chairman, and hand the reigns over to Michael
Johnson. Jamie's final gift was to pump in an extra half million
quid to keep the club afloat, while a final a new financial package was
arranged with the clubs creditors.
Without the safety-net of Moffat's money Killie are certainly in for an
interesting 2005-06 season!
June 2005
Fraser Wright Joins Killie
Killie move into the close season attempting to forge
ahead with optimism despite the departure of Chairman Jamie Moffat
who relinquish his role as Chairman, to Michael
Johnson. Johnson has since made several appeals via the clubs
website for the fans to put their hands in their pockets, and to spend
their disposable incomes on Killie wherever possible. On the player
front
Freddie
Dindeleux
appears to be returning to France to finish his career
out there. Freddie was a class act and a huge fan favorite, during his 6
seasons with Killie. He is gone but nor forgotten! Also Simon
Ford
received a 6 month contract, to keep him at Rugby Park at least until
Dec. Killie are again reported in turning down an offer for top
goal-scorer Kris Boyd, from Aberdeen. Boyd
also loses his drivers license for 2 years, and doesn't look keen on
extending his stay at Killie based on the 2 year extended offer Killie
gave him. Before the end of June manager Jefferies signs
Fraser
Wright to a one year deal. Wright 25, is a left sided defender,
who helped Stranraer to promotion last term. To close out June
Rugby Park successfully
hosts it's first ever concert with Elton John who donned a
Killie scarf during the show.
July 2005
Killie Thrash Ayr Utd 4-0 in the West Sound Big
Match
Killie head off to
Il Ciocco,
in Italy for a weeks conditioning, and at the same time Boyd
expresses an interest in a move down South a Championship League team.
Killie return home to preseason matches with Hamilton a 3-2 away win (Leven
(2,1 pen) Nish) then fall to
2-3 (Naismith (pen) & Di Giacomo)
at home to Southampton. The final 2 pre-season warm up's are against
Cardiff 1-2 (Nish),
and a
4-0 (Boyd
4, 1 pen) thrashing of Ayr Utd for the West Sound Challenge trophy, both
at Rugby
Park.
Killie beat Ayr with their
neat new sky blue away kit on, which went on sale the following day at the
club's annual "open day" which was also a big success. Killie
then open the season and fall
2-4
at home to Hearts after taking the lead through Naismith.
Greer also scoring for Killie. David Lilley was
out, and the defense sorely missed him!
Aug 2005
Naisy Nets the Dons Winner
Brent Sancho and Soulamane Bamba are
brought in for trials but fail to win deals at
Killie. Chairman Michael Johnson
then hits back at
agent Raymond Sparkes on BBC Radio in response to
Sparkes
comments about the clubs direction under
Jim Jefferies. Boyd's contract extension still remains on
the table for Kris to further ponder. Killie then head North to take on
the Dons as massive underdogs, as
we had lost 3 straight to the (all by 1 single goal in
04-05).
Allan Johnston gives Killie a dream start as Killie scored
in the 1st min. 18 year old Stephen Naismith gets the winner
as Killie pick up their 1st win of the season with a surprise
2-1
win! Leven is dropped & Danny Invincibile doesn't even
make the bench as Lilley returns for Killie. Killie's
financial plight is now "out" as Chairman Michael Johnson shares that
relegation would certainly put the club out of business. The players do a
great job of not allowing the off the field stuff, interfere with their
start to the SPL season. A fine
4-1
home win is recorded over Motherwell, with Johnston & Naismith
shining for Killie. Killie's goals were scored by Johnston, Boyd
(2) &
McDonald. Boomer's heads his second and Killie's 4th goal
above.
Jim Jefferies then gets it right at Inverness, down 0-1 at the half, he
juggled the teams formation replacing defender David Lilley
at the half with Danny Invincibile, who played
a midfield type role!. Twice trailing Killie fought back to earn a
valuable point. Killie had to wait until after the split last term to
notch a
result (the 1-1 draw at Tannadice), when trailing at the half!
So lots of positives could be taken from this spirited performance, at
Inverness as Killie extended their unbeaten run to 3 games! The match ended
2-2 with sub (on for Naismith after 8 min's) Colin
Nish pulling Killie even, with Boyd doing likewise
some 3 mins later! Killie finish up Aug with two
home 3 goal wins! First
was Stirling Albion in the CIS Cup
4-1,
(after trailing
for over 30 mins 0-1) with the first two goals scored
Rhian Dodds, & Danny Invincible, followed by subs Gary
Wales & Paul Di Giacomo. Then it was a first half Colin Nish
"hat-trick that saw off bottom of the League Livingston
3-0.
Between the Stirling & Livi games Kris Boyd travels to
Cardiff to sign for them and then does a last minute 180 & returns to
Killie and played in the Livi match.
Killie finish the month with 10 points from 5 matches
and are in 3rd place in the SPL. (Celtic in 2nd & Hibs in 4th were also on
10 points, 5 points behind unbeaten league leaders Hearts).
Sep 2005
Boomer, Doddsie & Danny All Score Vs the Pars
Killie didn't play again till Sept 10th,
when they hosted the Pars, due to Scotland's World Cup qualifiers against
Italy & Norway. After falling behind early and then taking the lead after
goals from Dodds then Boyd, Killie still
needed a dramatic last minute
winner from Danny Invincibile
to pick all three points, in a
3-2
win. Prior to the Pars match
Killie sign eighteen-year-old defender
Ryan
O'Leary who was out of contract with Aberdeen.
Killie then traveled to Ibrox and lost
0-3,
and were unlucky
to go in at the half a goal down, having matched Rangers for the
majority of the 35 mins. A horror start again happens in the CIS home tie
with the Pars as Killlie fell behind 0-3 in the first 16 min's! Manager
Jefferies is criticized for not fielding Hay or Fowler.
Killie went onto lose
3-4, with a brace from Boyd and a Pars own goal. Stephen Naismith
picks ups his Aug SPL Young Player of the Month award.
Prior
to Bairns match to finish up Sept, club general manager
David MacKinnon
hands in his notice! Killie pick up a single point to the Bairns in a
1-1
home draw, thanks to a Kris Boyd penalty. Killie miss the
injured Colin Nish & Gary Locke. Garry Hay has
been wearing the captain's arm-band in Locke's absence.
Killie finish the month with 14 points from 8 matches
and are in 4th place in the SPL.
Oct 2005
Show Racism the Red Card Prior to the Celtic Match
Killie then travel to Tannadice and come away with a
0-0
draw, with the main talking
point
being a
late "stonewall" penalty not
being awarded to Killie, after Stille tripped Boyd. Simon
Ford's fine form also continues, as Combe did not
have a
shot to stop all day, although a
late Arab effort came off of
one
of his posts (which would
have
been day light robbery). The following week it was a
game of two halves as Killie lost
2-4
at Easter Rd, after leading 2-0 at the half.
Defenders Ford & Fowler were Killie's
marksmen.
David Lilley
and Graeme Smith
returned for Ford & Combe for the visit of Celtic, as
Killie fell
0-1
with a spirited performance on the Sunday Setanta match. Strachan himself
said Killie were unfortunate not to come away with something!
Allan "Magic" Johnston continues to be the talk of the all the
Killie fans, as he is producing some fine form for the Ayrshire men.
The first 1/3rd of the season was now complete
and Killie stood in 5th position with 15 points from 11
matches, with a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, & 3 draws. Their 4 losses were
all from teams above them in the table (Hearts, Celtic, Hibs & Rangers),
and therefore Killie had taken at least a point from every team they were
"supposed to" have taken a point from!
To finish up Oct, Killie
played at manager-less Hearts and lost
0-1
with Smith in goals again and Fraser Wright
making his debut for Killie, in a midweek clash. Killie's only Oct win is
against the Dons at Rugby Park, which turned out to be the Kris Boyd
show, as boomer laid on the first two for Simon &
Danny and netted a brace himself in the
4-2
win! Graeme Smith saves a penalty also for Killie with 8
min's to go also! Boyd sends a message to struggling Rangers in the Dons
post-match... "If you want me ... come get me!"
More .
Killie finish the month with 18 points from 13 matches
and are in 5th place in the SPL.
Nov 2005
Nish, Danny & Boomer Celebrate Well Injury Time
Equaliser
The
Kris Boyd machine rolls on to open Nov, as Boomer nets the
opening and injury time tie-ing goals to help earn Killie a
2-2
draw at Motherwell. Boyd is now the top goal scorer in Scotland with 11
goals on the season. Alan Combe returns in goal also. Credit
must also go Jim Jefferies tactics as he sticks
on Wales,
Murray and Nish, as Killie finish the match with
5 forwards on the park! A new song surfaces among the Killie faithful ....
"Same Ole Boydie.... Always Scoring!". Killie had no game
the following week, and then hosted Inverness CT. Down 0-1 at the half,
Killie came
storming back to take the lead, only to settle for a
2-2
draw, with Craig Dargo
netting the equaliser for Caley. Killie's goals were from Boyd
& sub Nish. Prior to the Caley match manager Jim
Jefferies signed to a short term amateur deal Ukrainian under-21
Dmytro Pronevych. Before the kick-off of the Livingston away match
to close out Nov, there was a
minute's silence around all the UK football grounds, to remember
George Best who passed away 2 days earlier.
Kris Boyd then kept his torrid goal scoring form up with his sixth
& seventh goals in just his last four games, as Killie ran out easy
3-0
winners. The Killie fans in attendance at Livi quickly chanted .."Are
you watching Walter Smith?" Stephen Naismith notched Killie's
2nd goal, in a sweeping move that was a contender for goal of the season.
Killie finish the month with 23 points from 16 matches
(tied with Rangers who were in 4th) and are in 5th place in the SPL.
Dec 2005
Hooky Delivers Against The Pars
Kris
Boyd joins Alan Combe,
Gordon Greer, Garry Hay and Gary McDonald
in being named to the Scotland "future" squad for the game at Rugby Park
on Tuesday the 6th of Dec, Vs Poland.. Congrat's to all 5 !!!!! More
good fortune for Killie who win
1-0
at East End Park to move into a lofty 4th spot in the SPL. Kris Boyd
notches his eighth goal in five matches, to get the games only goal. Then
the following Tuesday all 5 named Killie players get a game
and play well
in the Scotland "B" international at Rugby Park, as the Scots run out
2-0
winners, with Killie's Gary McDonald opening the scoring, in
front of over 3,000 fans. Rangers that evening 
get a draw to move
into the Champions League last 16, which is a little worrying for Killie
fans, going into the Sunday Setanta match at Rugby Park, as Rangers much
maligned confidence must have received a boost! Prior to the Rangers
match, Kris Boyd was been named the Bank of Scotland Player
of the Month for November. He was outstanding for the Rugby Park side,
scoring
five goals in three games in the Scottish Premier League.
Killie
then host Rangers on the following Sunday and lose
2-3,
bringing to an end their 5 match unbeaten run, with again "dodgy" OF
refereeing coming into play! Malcolm clearly handles the ball, and Killie
get no spot-kick. For the record Killie's goals were scored by
McDonald and who else... Boyd!
Manager
Jefferies is sent to the stand, after
disputing Rangers first goal
being offside, but later apologies, after seeing the goal on TV. Jimbo did
accept his punishment and serve's a 2 match sideline ban. Killie do
rebound after the Rangers loss, and an injury time Boyd
(above left) goal seals a fortunate
2-1 win for Killie at Falkirk. Jamie Fowler scored a
screamer earlier in the match to give Killie the lead. This win was
Killie's 3rd consecutive road win, which is an SPL best for the club!
Killie then accept an offer from Sheffield Weds for Kris Boyd's services,
however Boomer was really only interested in signing for Glasgow Rangers.
After an initial bid from Rangers is rejected, Killie then do get an
acceptable fee for
Kris Boyd, and Boomer would join Rangers in Jan of 2006.
A chorus of "If
you hate the f*cking Rangers clap your hands"
greeted the SPL's leading scorer as he emerged
for the half-time draw during the Boxing Day home
match to the Arabs. However, any residual hostility soon gave way to a
show of appreciation when it was announced that Boomer had made a £20,000
contribution to
youth development at the club. Killie won their final outing of the year
2-1 with goals from McDonald, and a second consecutive
90th min winner, this time from "super-sub" Gary Wales.
The win moved Killie back above Rangers into 4th place with 32 points from
20 matches.
