I travelled
down to Bideford in Devon with some of the lads from the KFC
Supporter's Association to take in Killie against Blackpool
in the Joma tournament on the Thursday night. We started off
from Hurlford at 7:30am and made it to Bideford around nine
hours later...watched the game, took some photos, did some
interviews (available on the KFCSA website) and then drove
home...arriving back at 8:00am the next morning. Probably
not a brilliant idea but we all thought it was worth it in
the end and Jim managed to stream the game live back to just
under 800 Killie fans who didn't make the trip so it was
well worth the hours without sleep!
Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
Our driver Jim was glad to finally arrive. So were we.
The park used to belong to King George...but of course we
soon owned it.
Big Samson and Jim outside the ground.
I'm off the beer at the moment...never said anything about
Premium Cornish Ale though.
Jim and Billy check the equipment arrived intact...in
Johnny's Bar of course.
Very picturesque as the teams and fans started to arrive.
"Don't look now boss but I think I'm being followed".
Alan Combe and Kioyo get the pizzas ordered.
Mixu points out to Ian Holloway where he is going wrong.
Silva, Sissoko, Mehdi and Kioyo warm up.
The team meet some local dignitaries prior to kick off. I
think the guy on the right owns an ice cream van.
James Dayton takes a corner.
David Silva's turn to take a corner. You can see how excited
the crowd are.
This was the internet commentary crew in their lofty
perch...the match was streamed online via that daft wee
latop camera perched in front of Jim...the wonders of
technology!
Oops....1-0 to Blackpool.
Danny surges down the wing with captain Bryso keeping an eye
on him.
Kioyo was big...but not necessarily clever.
Danny again...probably because we were positioned down his
wing to take the snaps in the first half.
Kioyo stoops to give the Blackpool chappie a fairer chance.
The game was a bit of a midfield battle without too many
chances...you wouldn't think as much what with it ending two
apiece.
Jamie Fowler ballooned our best chance of the first half
over the bar.
The boy Dayton proved to be industrious...I'm thinking that
he will sign for the mighty.
The Sky Sports reporter proved to be totally biased to
Blackpool in his summary of the first half...and it was some
Blackpool fans who heard him that told me as such!
Into the second half and a change of position for the
photographers...now up those stairs with the internet
commentary team.
Kioyo again...his agent paid me more than anyone else.
Billy takes his tripod and goes for a different angle.
Oooer.
Killie slot home an equaliser from the penalty spot.
The wee stand was pretty full, not a bad crowd considering
we were at the opposite end of the country.
Tim Clancy and the miss that put us out. The rest of the
penalties can be seen at the Association website -
Here
Jim starts to upload stuff to the KFCSA website. Bugger it,
I was waiting until I got home.
Jamie Fowler was the first to be interviewed for the KFCSA
website.
Fright was next in line for some sparkling wit from Billy.
Our new manager was added into the Mix. Did you see what I
did there?
Connor Sammon demonstrated the hand jive to a bemused
audience.
Bideford's trophy room was a bit like A*r United's...empty
apart from some old furniture.
Club secretary Kirsten turned up to ensure that the likely
lads were behaving themselves.
Kyle Letheren was the first trialist to be interviewed.
He's a goalie and seems keen enough to sign for Ayrshire's
finest.
El capitano didn't want to comment on speculation linking
him to Hearts...and he never said that JJ was a dinosaur and
had lost the plot...but you can tell he is thinking
that...can't you? Another good season at least at the
Theatre of Pies should boost his value and his
reputation...then he can get a move to someone a helluva lot
better than the Jambos.
Tim C was the anti-hero on the night after his spot kick was
saved. He took his slagging well although you could sense he
wanted to knee Billy in the groin...until he heard that he
came fae the Scheme.
Mehdi was hailed as a superstar as the locals waxed lyrical
about his display on the Monday night against Bideford. They
were gutted he didn't feature against Blackpool...but I
reckon Mixu was hiding him away from Holloway so he wouldn't
put in a bid!
All in all
the hospitality we received from our own club and Bideford
was excellent with the home club's chairman actually
offering us a room to kip in had we opted to stay over! It
was a long, long journey home but lots of energy drinks and
Pro-Plus tablets ensured we stayed safe until our return and
I don't think I would be the only one to have a few hours
kip when I got back. Much respect for my fellow travellers,
especially Billy's son Lewis who was in great spirits
throughout despite the tedium of having to listen to me yap
and keep Jim the driver awake. Luton next Friday is a
distinct possibility, just need to cadge another lift for me
and the Hippo and we're sorted.
