Jan 2006



Naisy, Hooky & Co Celebrate the Hibs Injury Time Equaliser

Killie extend Simon Ford's deal for 18 mo's, & Di Giacomo through the end of the season, prior to the Hibs home match. Gordon Greer is now out (for 6-8 weeks) with a stress fracture in one of his ankles. Killie open the year with their 3rd 90th min goal in a row, to earn a deserved point in an end to end affair with Hibs, which ended 2-2.  Young Naismith opened the scoring for Killie, and it was Gary Wales (for the 2nd match in a row) that snatched the injury time goal. This was Killie's first point off of a team above them in the SPL.
Killie then head to Edinburgh to take on Hearts, and lose in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup 1-2. Killie play without Locke, Danny & Gary Mcd (suspended) & lose recent goal scoring threat Gary Wales after only 30 mins. Colin Nish snatches what would be a consolation goal with 5 mins remaining, to give Hearts a nervous hang-on win! To complete Killie's 2nd round of 11 fixtures, it was a trip to our hoodoo ground Parkhead, having not won there in the league for 55 years! After falling behind early 0-2, a Danny Invincibile header from a Hay cross (after Naisy disposed Keane in the box) pulled Killie even at 2-2. Killie only held out 3 mins, and went on to lose 2-4. Naisy had pulled the 1st one back from the spot, after Nish was upended.

Sean Dillon is released so he can join QoS for the remained of the season.

It also now confirmed that Killie's management duo of Jim Jefferies & Billy Brown, have signed new contracts to keep them at Rugby Park till 2009!

The second 1/3rd of the season was now complete and Killie stood in 5th position with 33 points from 22 matches, with a record of 9 wins, 7 losses, & 6 draws. Their 7 losses were all from teams above them in the table (Hearts, Celtic, Hibs & Rangers), and therefore Killie were still on track in taking at least a point from every team they were "supposed to" have taken a point from! Motherwell were in 7th position with 29 points, so Killie had a 4 point "top 6" cushion.

Killie then picked up their first win of 2006 with a gutsy 1-0 home win, over Hearts (a team above us!) for their  first win over the Jambos in their last THIRTEEN meetings! Danny scoring for the second straight week, right after half-time. Nish misses the "sitter" of the season in the dying moments also. Manager Jefferies describes Killie's performance as.... "The best performance of the season" ... so far!

Before the Jan transfer windows manager Jefferies secures 3 additions to his squad, all for the balance of season. Giorgos Fotakis,  Lindsay Wilson & the return of Eric "the King" Skora Click on the players name to take you to the player's 05-06 profile.
Killie close Jan at the Dons, and take their 7th point of the season off them, after twice coming from behind! Killie last season 2004-05 took no points off the Dons, what a turn around! For the record Stephen Naismith (who was named as the Young SPL Player of the Month for Jan) netted from the spot, and an 86 min leveller came through David Lilley to help Killie earn a 2-2 draw.

Feb 2006

Gary Wales & Co Celebrate His Double Against Motherwell

After a layoff for a full week, Killie then hosted Motherwell in a midweek clash, that turned into the Gary Wales show, as he netted twice for Killie in a fine 2-0 home win!. The match was also notable for Alan Combe being replaced after 19 mins with Graeme Smith, after Combe had made a great save with game notted at 0-0, and Lindsay Wilson making his Killie debut. Wilson was later to be replaced by the now fit again  Locke, this was Gary's first match in over 3 months!
Having been knocked out the cup Killie would play only 2 more Feb fixtures. An exciting share of the spoils was had at Inverness, where each team could only hold a lead for a minute in a 3-3 draw. Naismith opened the scoring for Killie & another Gary Wales "double accounted for Killie's 3 goals! Bottom of the league Livingston were to be the next foes, who were equipped with a new manager, John Robertson. Livi take a shock lead, only to find themselves trailing at the half, after Naismith & Wales each scored, and assisted! Danny Invincibile added a 3rd as Killie ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. The ICT & Livi matches were notable for new man Lindsay Wilson, who played well, covering for the injured Gordon Greer. Also Graeme Smith with these 2 starts for the injured Alan Combe.

With 27 games played this season, Killie's 52 goals were already an "SPL Best" for the club! - Here More encouraging news was that Steven Naismith's contract had been extended through 2010!

Killie finish the month with 44 points from 27 matches (only 2 pts behind Rangers who were in 3rd) and are in 5th place in the SPL.

Mar 2006

Danny Celebrates the Pars Winner

Killie start March with a scrappy 1-0 home win over the Pars, thanks to an early Danny Invincibile goal. Killie play without Naismith (suspended) & Wales (injured), but did see Combe return in goal, Locke & Di Giacomo all start. This was Paul's first start in over 3 years. Next up are Rangers away. Killie lose 0-4, in a very flat performance, where manager Jefferies described us "being scared to play". After Boyd opened the scoring, Rangers last 2 goals are scored against Jamie Fowler in the Killie goal, after Alan Combe picked up Killie's first red-card of the season. Killie remain the only SPL team not to have picked up a point against the Old Firm this term. Killie do go on to bounce back the following week with a scrappy 2-1 home win over the Bairns. Danny opened the scoring early, and Naisy provided the winner! Smith covered well as a stand-in for the suspended Combe, as Killie moved back into 4th in the SPL. This was Killie's 5th straight home win, and they had now taken 19 out of a possible 21 points! at "fortress" Rugby Park.! Before the Bairns match Bazcelona recorded a fine 5-0 win over our visiting Kaiserslautern friends, to regain the killiefc.com Challenge Cup. After the Bairns match Alan Combe (left) was presented his 2004-05 Player of the Year award from this site. The following week Killie go on to rue losing a 2 goal half-time advantage at Tannadice, in a game that ended 2-2. Naismith scoring twice to give Killie the early lead. The linesman saw a mystery-invisible Killie player on Combe's goal line which let the Arabs clearly offside leveller stand. Killie did dodge a penalty claim after Nish  handled in his own box A draw in the end was decent result for both clubs. In their 18 matches against the "bottom 6" Killie's record for the season was 13 wins 5 draws and no defeats.

Killie finish the month with 51 points from 31 matches (5 pts behind Rangers, 2 pts ahead of Hibs) and are in 4th place in the SPL.

Apr 2006

Steven Naismith is Named Young Player of the Year!

Killie's remaining last 2 pre-split fixtures were at Hibs on a Weds night, followed by champions Celtic at Rugby Park on the Sunday. Killie go down 1-2 to the Capital side, surrendering a Gary Wales opener, to two goals in the last 10 mins. A real six pointer dropped for Killie! Worse was to follow as Killie huffed & puffed all afternoon in a 1-4 home loss to Celtic, with Colin Nish getting a late consolation for Killie. The main talking point of the match was March SPL Player of the Month Steven Naismith's equaliser incorrectly being chalked off, right before the half time whistle!

So Killie completed their regular season in 5th place one point behind Hibs in 4th, with 51 points from 33 matches. The final 5 fixtures were unkind to Killie getting only 2 home and 3 away matches, including a 3rd trip to Aberdeen!

Killie open their final five, "top 6" matches with an away 0-2 loss to Hearts. Again the officials find themselves having to explain a poor (non) call for Killie, as Invincibile is felled en route to a "1 on1" goal scoring opportunity just before the half. No call, no freekick, no penalty(s), no Hearts red-card, just no luck for a gutsy Killie! There was some good news for Killie prior to the Hearts match, as Steven Naismith was named the SPL's Young Player of the Year! Also Jamie Fowler joins the growing number of squad members being signed up for next term. Hay, Lilley, Wright, Combe, Ford.

Killiefc.com during Feb - April of 2006, helped Kilmarnock FC finish first among all SPL clubs in a fan based daily polling Coca-Cola competition. For the record Killie finished 7th overall in the UK, and outpaced 2nd place Glasgow Celtic by over 38,000 votes! To see the final week standings click the above banner.

Aberdeen were then held to a 0-0 draw up there, with Simon Ford twisting his knee ligaments, and would now be out for a 4-5 month recovery period. Rangers at home were next, and Killie through Colin Nish took a half-time lead, which they could not hold as they went on to lose 1-3 Marvin Andrews, who was brought on to cope with Nish, scoring twice along with Boyd. Garry Hay would now also be done for the season after colliding with former team-mate Boyd & picked up a season ending concussion.

May 2006

Killie Finish the Season in Style With A 3-1 Win Over Hibs!

With Hearts clinching 2nd place, there was to be no Euro place for 4th position in the SPL this term, and Killie's motivation was clearly missing in a disappointing 0-2 loss at Parkheid to Champions Celtic, with both their goals again coming in the second half. It was nice however to see Peter Leven get a rare 05-06 start!

So Killie entered their final match of the season not having won in 7 outings, and having conceded 14 second half goals in these matches. Killie had also slipped to 6th position in the SPL table, behind Aberdeen. Prior to Hibs home finale Killie reveal their new 06-7 away kit, a bright yellow, with blue trimmings which was generally very well received by the fans. More 

Killie did have to lean on Alan Combe's performance to keep them only a goal adrift as Hibs went in 1 up at the half! But Kilmarnock produced a fine second-half fight-back against Hibernian to ensure their coffers swelled by an extra £70,000. Naismith converting an early 2nd half penalty (which saw Hibs reduced to 10 men), before Gordon Greer & Colin Nish scored wonder volleys, from Peter Leven serves into the box as Killie ran out worthy 3-1 winners! Nish finishes the season a high note - Here

Killie boss Jim Jefferies had the following to say in Hibs post match interview...."It was a great finish in front of our own supporters and I thought we played some great stuff.  The extra £70,000 helps the club as the higher we finish, the more we get. The players can be well satisfied and coming fifth speaks volumes for the squad. It has been hard ever since I have been here, but we accept it and get on with it. We finished seventh last season and fifth this year. It'll be hard to top that, but we'll consolidate and try to do better."   JJ's Season Comments - Here  

In their 22 matches against the 7 teams below them, Killie's record for the season was 15 wins 7 draws and no defeats. Only the Old Firm did Killie fail to take points off of (or actually beat, as Killie had at least one victory over the other 9 SPL sides!). Fantastic!!!.... Bring on .... 2006-07!!

Gary McDonald decides to move on from Killie, having failed to be a regular starter this season. Lindsay Wilson returns to PSV Eindhoven at the end of his loan spell.  Gordon Greer signs a new one-year deal with a one-year option.
FC Kilmarnock defeat Glasgow City  3-2 to win  the Women's Scottish Cup Final at Kirkcaldy. Congrats to the Killie Girls! 
James Fowler is announced as the killiefc.com Player of the Year for season 2005/06 - More
Bluehand wins the Premier Division,  of our Prediction League. Complete season ending stands are as follows:  First Division, Second Division and Third Division

July 2006



Di Giacomo Scores Against Preston NE

Killie lose only one first-team squad member in Gary McDonald (who moved on to Oldham) during the off season. Invincibile was the last team member to sign-on again, and does for two more seasons!  It is also learned that Killie may be sweating Alan Combe's availability for the season opener at champions Celtic on July 29th, as he recovers from a hip surgery. Killie take three trialists to Il Ciocco, in Italy. Keith Lasley 26, who spent five seasons with Motherwell before moving to Plymouth Argyle in 2004. Australian 21-year-old McClenachan who played 34 times last season for the MK Dons (on loan from West Ham United), and 30 year-old defender Grant Murray, who was with Partick last term. Murray impresses manager enough to warrant a 1 year deal with Killie. Killie's new home top was released early before the "Open" day, and was very well received. Killie then start their pre-season tune-up, coming twice from behind to draw 2-2 with QoS, down in Dumfries, with Danny & Naisy grabbing Killie's goals.

Killie then play 2 games in 2 days at Elgin in the Ennstone Challenge Cup. Killie beat Elgin 3-0 (Jacko (2) & trialist Barrowman), and fall 0-1 to Ross Co, (with Naisy missing a penalty.)
Killie then host West Brom and win 2-1 (Jacko & Nish), then draw 1-1 with Preston NE 1-1, with Jacko again scoring, his 4th goal of the pre-season.

The Killie open day, was held on July 23rd, and is now called the "Killie Festival" and a great time was had by all!

Before Killie's  06-07 SPL season opener at Parkhead against 05-06 SPL champs Celtic, they sign Andrew Barrowman to a one year contract.

Killie fall 1-4 at Parkhead to extend our 55-56 year league misery there! Naisy opens his account for Killie was one of the rare good Killie talking points. Stand in keeper Graeme Smith also gave a good account of himself also!

Aug 2006

Naisy & Big Colin Both On Target Vs Hibs!

Killie host Hibernian for their first match of the new season, at Rugby Park, and it took a great first half performance by stand in keeper Graeme Smith, to keep Killie in the contest only down a single goal at the half! A fierce team-talk by JJ at the half resulted, in a much more spirited 2nd half performance, and Killie were soon on level terms with Colin Nish putting Killie even. A wonder solo goal (right) by Steven "Kid Goals" Naismith sealed a fantastic 2-1 comeback win!

Killie then toil against the Arabs at home who played 50 odd min's a man down holding Killie to a disappointing 0-0 draw. Killie offer Keith Lasley a deal, but he knocks us back to return to bottom of the league Motherwell. Better signing news is that David Fernandez does sign, for 2 years (with an option for a 3rd year).
Killie then travel to Westfield and pick up 3 points with Gary Wales pulling Killie even, and sub Paul Di Giacomo (left) netting a late winner as Killie steal the points, in a 2-1 win over the Bairns. This was Jacko's first league goal since Nov 16th 2002 (when we beat Livi 2-0 at home!). Grant Murray also plays very well in his Killie debut! This was Killie's first away win of 2006, having not won away from Rugby Park, since we beat Falkirk 2-1 in Dec of 2005!

Killie bring August to a close with a Sunday match at home to Rangers. Killie come twice from behind to thwart a Kris Boyd double, and earn a 2-2 draw, with Graeme Smith making several fine stops in the Killie goal.
This was Killie's first point off of the Old Firm in 4 years! Fraser Wright scored his first goal for the club, and Steven Naismith scored in the 90th min from the spot, after several Killie penalty appeals had been denied. Fernandez made his Killie debut and Naisy also headed down to London to trail with Arsenal after the match, but nothing concrete came of his visit.
Before the transfer window closes, manager Jefferies snaps up Iain Campbell, a 21 year old, left full-back, from Dunfermline.

Sep 2006

Naisy Goes Close at Love Street

The Euro 2008 qualifiers, meant that Killie did not play for 2 weeks, and then  threw away the points in a 2-3 defeat to the Pars at East End Park, after twice having taken the lead through Invincible, & Wales. Some better new for Killie was that Jim Jefferies was named the SPL's manager of the month for Aug!.

Killie do bounce back with some fine football at Love St, with a 1-0 win over the Buddies. Gus heaps the praise on his former employers, stating Killie were the best footballing team to come to Paisy so far this term!  For the record Killie's winning goal was an O.G.!

Killie then go into the next 2 week international break where the match will go down as the "Fir Park Fiasco", conceding 3 goals in 9 min's to winless bottom of the league Motherwell, after Danny had headed onto the bar with the game scoreless. Killie went onto lose by a 0-5 scoreline, a real sore one!

Killie finish the month in 6th place in the SPL with 12 points from 9 matches.

Oct 2006



JJ Celebrates His First Killie Win at Tynecastle!

Many Killie fans went into the Aberdeen home match worried about the team's defensive frailties after the Well match, and with Greer & Lilley both out. However Simon Ford made a welcome first start, and Ryan O'Leary with replacing him from the bench, they both helped Killie grind a fine 1-0 home win! Gary Wales scoring the game's only goal. Naismith also seemed to be in hungrier form, having been given a week off, prior to the match by manager Jefferies.  Killie then headed of to Tynecastle, to play 2nd placed Hearts, where we had not won for 6 seasons. Jim Jefferies face (see above pic) said it all as Killie won comfortably 2-0 with Invincible, & Wales scoring for Killie. Gordon Greer also returned, and Wright, Fernandez & Fowler were singled out as 3 men of the match in a tremendous all-round team performance.

Killie finish a good October with a home match against Celtic. Killie lose 1-2 in a match most noteworthy for a horrendous challenge on David Fernandez by Caldwell, that should have produced a straight red. Fernandez tears his knee ligaments, and his season would now be over. Colin Nish Ferdy's replacement opened the scoring with a fine shot, but sadly Killie could not hold on for what would have been a well deserved point.

Killie finish the month in 5th place in the SPL with 18 points from 12 matches.

Nov 2006

Killie Move On To The CIS Semi's!

Killie start November against a newly appointed John Collins Hibs side at Easter Rd. Four goals in the first 20 min's of the 2nd half see both teams play to a 2-2 draw. Killie open the scoring with a deflected Naisy shot (credited as an O.G.), and then pull even, with a close range Naismith header.
Killie then hosted Motherwell in the CIS Quarter-Final, and picked up a modicum of revenge for their 0-5 Fir Park loss, just 5 weeks earlier. Fraser "Fright" Wright scored a double (conceded a penalty also!) and was named "man of the match" by the sponsors as Killie moved on to the Semi's. Danny Invincibile (left) scoring the winner with a wonder left foot shot!

Killie then travel to Tannadice, and put a very "flat" performance and fall 0-1, without Wales, AJ (& obviously Fernandez).

With no wins in their last 3 SPL outings the Bairns home match was labelled by many as a "must win"! Killie do win, 2-1, after trailing at the half. Garry Hay scoring the game tie-ing (his first since Dec 2001), and Fright forcing a headed Bairns O.G. to give Killie a valuable much-needed 3 points! Colin Nish unfortunately picked up Killie's first red card, for allegedly diving in the box.

Rangers away were next, and Killie's dismal run in Glasgow continued as they fell 0-3. Graeme Smith in the Killie goal was our star man keeping the score respectable. Boyd again scores against his former club to add to Killie's woe!

Killie finish the month in 6th place in the SPL with 22 points from 16 matches.

Dec 2006

Killie Net Five Against The Pars!

Killie bounce back from their Ibrox failings to pick up 4 out of  6 points at Rugby Park over the Pars 5-1, and a 1-1 draw with the Buddies. Colin Nish nets a double against his old club as does Paul Di Giacomo. Garry Hay & Gordon Greer were to left to argue about who picked the Pars opening goal. Jacko  (right) opens the scoring against St Mirren, but Killie could only salvage a point, despite dominating for long periods, as the Saints score with their only shot on goal, which was deflected (into the bargain). Both games saw Gary Wales missing with a hamstring injury.

Killie are also drawn away to Morton in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup, to be played on Jan the 8th of 2007.

Killie then pick up a stunning 4-3 victory at Inverness, after twice falling behind. Naisy tied the score before a Colin Nish double made it 3-3, and a Naisy penalty sealed the win! Graeme Smith made several key stops, to help Killie pick up the 3 points. Killie then fall flat on their faces, with what Billy Brown called their worst performances in 18+ months, as Killie fell 1-2 to Motherwell at home, and then worse 1-3 at Aberdeen on Boxing Day. Stephen Naismith scoring both consolation goals for Killie.

The in-form Di Giacomo was lost for at least a month after 3-4 min's in the Well match with a broken cheek bone. Hay is sent off in the dying moments also meaning a real make-shift outfit was fielded at Pittodrie, as Wright also was unavailable.

Killie finished the year without flu-ridden Colin Nish, and with Peter Leven playing up front in the 0-0 year finale at Rugby Park against Hearts.

A great team performance saw both teams miss great chances, where neither team deserved to lose.

It was nice to see Simon Ford back in the Killie line-up, along with Gordon Greer & Grant Murray who all had great games in the Killie defence.

Andrew Barrowman also features in the final 2 matches of the year as a sub, having been recalled from his QoS 3 month loan.

Killie finish the month in 6th place in the SPL with 30 points from 22 matches.

 

2006 Complete Killie SPL Record

Calendar Year in Review  2007 2005 2004 2003 2002