Killie History Seasons 1960-61 to 1969-70

"The Glory Days"

Killie started the decade of the 60's coming off their most successful season ever (thus far!), as they finished  "double runners-up". in season 1959-60. (The 1950's Here)

1960-61 Scottish League Cup Final

1960-61 Killie lose 2-0 to Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final. (right).
Killie also finish Scottish Division 1 runners up for the second consecutive season. Willie Tonner wins the "Scotland Footballer of the Year"

Kilmarnock 1960-61

1961-62 New Killie emblem created. Out with the hoops and in with the soon to be famous Blue & White stripes.

1962-63 Scottish League Cup Final

1962-63 Killie lose 1-0 to Hearts in the Scottish League Cup final. The game is remembered by many for referee Tiny Wharton decision to disallow a "perfectly good" headed goal in the final seconds from Killie's Frank Beattie. This remains to this day as the only major Scottish honour that Killie have failed to capture.

Killie go on to finish as Scottish Division 1 runners up. This now marks the 3rd time in 4 seasons, that Killie have finished second best!

Kilmarnock 1963-64

1963-64 Killie again finish runners up in the Scottish First Division. Killie also qualify to play in Europe for the first time.

1964-65 European Fairs Cities Cup

1964-65 Kilmarnock win the Scottish League Championship, after previously finishing runners up four of the five prior seasons. The title goes down to final match where Killie had to beat Hearts by 2 goals to nil, and did exactly that! For more on that unforgettable day click HERE Killie also beat in their first ever Euro tie Eintracht Frankfurt 5-4 after being 0-4 down (0-3 from the away leg)  in the European Fairs Cup.

Willie Waddell

Willie Waddell resigns as manager (goto 1950-2005 Killie Managers Here) , Malky McDonald (pictured below left) takes over as manager.

1964-65 Scottish League Champions Kilmarnock FC

For more info on the 1964-65 Killie Championship please click HERE

1965-66 European Cup

Killie In Europe Here

1965-66 Killie are knocked out of the European Cup by Real Madrid 7-3, after a creditable 2-2 draw at Rugby Park. Killie finish 3rd in the first division. Jackie McGrory gets his first of 3 Scotland caps in his debut Vs Finland

1966-67 European Fairs Cities Semi-Final

1966-67 This was Killie's best ever season in Europe reaching the semi-final of the Fair Cities Cup after defeating Royal Antwerp of Belgium 8-2 on aggregate with goals from McInally, Queen, McLean and Watson. The Killie team of Ferguson, King, McFadzean, O'Connor, McGrory, Beattie, McLean, Queen, Murray, C Watson, McIlroy beat La Gantoise of Ghent 3-1 on aggregate, Carl Bertleson being the only change over the two legs. 

The quarter final saw Killie being paired with Lokomotiv Leipzig of Germany after losing 1-0 in the first leg, Goals from McFadzean and McIlroy set us up for a semi final against Leeds United.

Tommy McLean

1967-68 Killie finish 7th in the first division. Malky McDonald resigns as manager in March 1968 Walter McCrae (pictured below left) takes over. Jackie McInally is sold to Motherwell & Davie Sneddon departs to Raith Rovers.

1967 Soviet Leader Aleksei Kosygin comes to Rugby Park

Jackie McInally

 Gerry Queen

1968-69 During the summer of 1968 Killie's floodlight system was upgraded to accommodate live TV broadcasts, including the pylon being erected next to the East enclosure terraces. Killie finish 4th in the first division and qualify for Europe for a 4th time.

 Kilmarnock play their 100 year history Centenary Match on April 12th 1969 against Eintracht Frankfurt and draw 1-1.

Gerry Queen is sold at the end of the season to Crystal Place.

In April 1969 after Killie had hosted Celtic our 1964-65 Championship flag went missing, only to be found days later in a Queen St Station locker. The above picture shows the flag being re-hoisted at its rightful home (remember the old Johnnie Walker Half-Time scoreboard ?)

69-70 Scottish Cup Semi-Final

1969-70 Kilmarnock finish 6th in the first division, and reach the Scottish Cup Semi Finals, and knock out Zurich & Slavia Sofia in the European Fairs Cup. Killie full back Billy Dickson plays for Scotland in April 1970 against England and marks Geoff Hurst out of the game in 0-0 draw (Killie's Tommy McLean is on the bench also !!). It will be 18 years before a Killie star dons the dark blue jersey again for Scotland in a non-goalkeeping position!

Season 60's League Record Pos Pld W D L F A Pts 1969/1970 Scottish First Division 7th 34 13 10 11 62 57 36 1968/1969 Scottish First Division 4th 34 15 14 5 50 32 44 1967/1968 Scottish First Division 7th 34 13 8 13 59 57 34 1966/1967 Scottish First Division 7th 34 16 8 10 59 46 40 1965/1966 Scottish First Division 3rd 34 20 5 9 73 46 45 1964/1965 Scottish First Division 1st 34 22 6 6 62 33 50 1963/1964 Scottish First Division 2nd 34 22 5 7 77 40 49 1962/1963 Scottish First Division 2nd 34 20 8 6 92 40 48 1961/1962 Scottish First Division 5th 34 16 10 8 74 58 42 1960/1961 Scottish First Division 2nd 34 21 8 5 77 45 50

Killie History : 1869-1949 1950-59 1970-79 1980-89 1990-99

All Time League Record : Here Manager History Here Programme History Here

Rugby Park History Here Killie in Europe Here Squad Pic's Here