1972-73 After 19 years in
division one Kilmarnock are relegated.
After selling
international
goalie Ally Hunter (Left) to Celtic in Dec. Killie's fate came down
to the last day of the season,
and
could manage only a 2-2 draw at home to Falkirk, after being up 2-0 at the
half. To make matters worse it was
Ross Mathie's (Right) goals for Dumbarton that sealed Killie's fate. Mathie had been
transferred from Killie to their fellow strugglers only months earlier
.....Why no one will ever know !! Killie also dump their famous Blue White
stripes (see above program).
Eddie Morrison tops all Killie scorers
with 16 goals. Jackie
McGrory retires from the game.
73-74 Kilmarnock FC
1973-74 Walter McCrae
(left) is
fired 7 weeks into the season, after a poor League start, he was replaced
by former Celtic Great Willie Fernie.
Killie's fortunes turn around almost
immediately with a 17 game unbeaten run, and an unfortunate League Cup Semi Final loss to eventual winners Dundee.
Killie finish second in
the League and are promoted. Killie finished with 26 wins from 36 matches
and scored a club record 96 league goals.
Leading the way were Ian Fleming
(pic left) (33) &
Eddie Morrison (25). Promotion was clinched the
second last game of the season with a
2-1 win over a
Frank Beattie managed Stirling
Albion. Killie trailed 0-1 at the half ....
What
did Frank say to his troops ?
Paper Roses is adopted by supporters as the club anthem.
Billy Dickson is free'ed as the last member of the 1964-65 squad departs
Rugby Park. Jim Stewart
represents Killie as part of the 1974 Scottish World Cup squad in W Germany.
Willie Fernie.
74-75 Kilmarnock FC
1974-75 Killie fail to finish in the top 10,(they finished 12th)
and missed out in participating in the newly formed Scottish Premier
League. Admission to the ground was 40p.
With the arrival of Gordon
"Casper" Smith &
Davie Provan,
Jim Cook (right) is free'ed by Killie.
75-76 Killie Clinch Promotion
1975-76
Eddie Morrison scores 7 goals that season and is later sold
to Morton. Eddie leaves Killie as their modern era top goal scorer with
154 total goals. Killie finish 2nd in the new "first" division, and gain
promotion.
Ian Fleming is also sold to Aberdeen for next to
nothing after scoring 65 goals for Killie. Ian Fallis (pictured above left) leads Killie with 10
goals.
1977 Stewart in Action at Ibrox &
Pittodrie
1976-77 Killie's debut into
the Premier League, was a disaster winning
only 4 of 36 matches, and being
relegated back to the first division. One magical day did
happen that season when Kilmarnock
beat
Ayr Utd 6-1 at Rugby Park for their
largest Premier League win. (until we beat the Pars
6-0 in 1999)
Admission was now 70p. Ian Fallis led Killie with 10 goals.
|
|
|
1st Div Killie Knock Holders Celtic Out Of The
Cup |
1977-78 Willie Fernie resigns
as Killie boss and is replaced by assistant and former player
Davie Sneddon in Oct 1977. In Oct of 77 Ian Fallis is tragically killed in a
motor accident. Killie sign on loan from Rangers Colin Stein to cover. Killie return to their
50's style "top's" with blue &
white hoops. George Maxwell is pictured below left wearing this season colours.
Gordon Smith,
Jim Stewart
(Below Right) & Iain "Cowboy" McCulloch are all sold as Killie attempt
to balance their
books. Killie finish 6th with 14 wins and 12 draws in 39 games.
As a first division team Killie
claim 2 premier
league scalps in the Scottish Cup. St Mirren & Celtic.
Celtic were beaten 1-0 at Rugby Park after a 1-1 draw at Parkhead, with
defender Derek "Bid D" McDicken scoring Killie's winner.
This is the first time a club from a lower
division had knocked out the cup holders !!
Killie's wee winger Davie Provan
gave the Celtic backline a roasting, and
it was no surprise that Celtic bought Provan the following season, for a
then record of 120,000 pounds between Scottish clubs. Donnie McDowell
(right) scores 13 goals.
1978-79
Alan McCulloch
(left) becomes Killie's number 1........ a job that he will keep until Jan 27th
1990.
Killie earn promotion again finishing second with a
record of 22 wins & 7 draws from 39 matches.
John
Bourke leads all Killie scorers with 21 goals.
Killie had also opened the 1978-79 season with a Testimonial Match for
fallen striker Ian Fallis.
|
|
|
1979 Tennents Caledonian Cup |
1979-80
Davie Sneddon's newly promoted
Killie
were invited to play in the Tennants Caledonian Cup, at Ibrox .....
with the expectation of being "Easy" !!
Killie won the cup with two
draws and two wins on penalties !! As a part-time newly promoted side
Killie were strong favourites to make a swift return to Division 1. Killie
over-achieve & finish 8th that season
representing Killie's first season of Premier League survival.
Bobby Street (right) scored a vital winner against Rangers in the last home game
of the season, which ensured Killie would stay up !
That seasons
record was 11 wins 11 draws from 36 matches. Street is top goal-scorer
with 9 goals.
1971-72
