Popular Post Jon Posted August 4, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) (Not the eight-hour drive, I'll come to that later). It all started with Greg Kiltie.... I'm one of those football fans who just loves the game and can happily watch any match anywhere if I can make a connection or find an interest in either of the clubs. So it has always bothered me that I just didn't have a Scottish club to follow and my TV interest had dwindled to watching the Old Firm matches and the occasional Cup final to see where the honours would go. Yawn... But then in 2016 I tuned in for the play-off match, as showdowns between a team fighting to be promoted and one fighting against relegation tend to be good games. And so, I discovered Kiltie and Killie... A young man who ran a 4-0 win in front of what looked like a fervent crowd. So next season I started taking more of an interest. Kiltie got injured and my assessment of the rest was that they were being led by a manager who was not really good enough to make them world-beaters and not really bad enough to get them into real trouble. As Lee Clark left and a new man came in, my hopes for Killie grew. He signed a bunch of players I really rated in the English game. SOD I knew from my local club Luton Town. I'd watched Alan Power be a powerhouse through an FA Cup run. And of course Kiltie would come back from injury.. I had a cheeky Leicester-style bet on Killie to come 2nd behind Celtic. The season started so badly that I Googled answers and stumbled across Killie Kickback. Everyone seemed hung-up on that defeat by Ayr before the dreadful league run even began. SOD was being slated. Power was being written off completely. Others pinned their hopes on Kiltie and Dicker being fit but no-one knew when that would be. It was not happy place. As Noel once said of Liam, all the posts seemed to be written by men with forks in a world of soup. And then Steve Clarke appeared over the hill. This was a footballing man I'd always hugely liked and respected. Someone I always thought should have been managing one of the big teams in the game, not just assisting. It is no coincidence that the day he arrived, I signed up to Killie Kickback so I could follow his journey as a fan. Since then I feel I've really lived through one of the greatest football revolutions. I wasn't there to see them live but the descriptions here made me feel part of magical moments such as Findlay's late winners, Millen's bra top celebrations and that crazy night at Ibrox. I've been educated and entertained on this forum, whether through Skydog's immediate and knowledgeable answers on every aspect of the club, Scooby Doo's ability to find the perfect gif for every occasion, Craigieboy's endless enthusiasm, the debates and fights kicked off by McLean, the insight of Zorro and many others who suggest things I instantly agree with. I joined in the excitement on the day that SpeckyHotDog returned without knowing why. I do know now and it seems part of the story of last season. I know and understand all about wee pin badges, players being spotted in Tesco, hot Dutch wives, knicker-wetting and asking "for a friend". So as you've all painted so many pictures, let me describe one. I've become adept at cajoling pubs in various places to put on Killie's Tv matches so that I've seen the Wolf tearing apart Sevco defenders, I've watched Rory shut down Celtic and Mulumbu open them up. And last May I got myself home from work just in tine to a rock pub on a Sunday afternoon where the barman said grudgingly "ok, but with the sound down as it's a free juke box". As the game progressed and I told more and more customers about the signficance of the game and of the story of Steve Clarke (and of Alan Power for the two tattooed girls who seemed very taken by him), the jukebox went off and the Rugby Park roar went up on a telly in a Luton pub 420 miles away from Rugby Park. Right until the end of SSC's speech a new crowd of long-haired disciples stood and cheered Killie into Europe. That was the moment I knew I had to be there for the next league match myself. So am eight-hour drive yesterday and I made it to the club shop with five mins to spare. And then just as I am seeking out the obligatory wee pin badge, Gary Dicker walks in with his kids to kit them out for tomorrow. Only in Kilmarnock could the second person a visitor encounters be the hero club captain. So today i shall be strolling through Kilmarnock to pick out the best spot for the Steve Clarke statue and then I'll be part of the Rugby Park roar myself. If you happen to spot someone in a local pub or in the Beattie stand (wearing a t-shirt with an Italian slogan to welcome AA) and speaking with a Luton accent (think Stacey Dooley and you've got it about right) then say hello. It's you guys who won me over. And one more thing. Bye bye Rangers. Edited August 4, 2019 by Jon Change spelling 159 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmcc Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Welcome to the mad mental bonkers world of Killie pal. It’s great to have you onboard, I love your story and hope you get to witness some great times with this club. KTID 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoe Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Absolutely love this! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebigguy68 Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Enjoy your day Jon. I hope the crowd and the team can rise to the levels of last season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souleycouley93 Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Class 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted August 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 1 minute ago, Thebigguy68 said: Enjoy your day Jon. I hope the crowd and the team can rise to the levels of last season. I'm expecting nothing less than an 8-0 win to go top of the league. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan1el Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Great read and welcome aboard! After a dismal pre season it's reading stuff like this that keeps you smiling, hopefully you get to see a win today 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theauldyin Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Fantastic !! Welcome Jon . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktid1869 Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 You're some guy Jon, hope you enjoy your day and your long drive home is a happy one ktid! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyhigh Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Love it 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killiehippo Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Superb mate......have a great day 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killieinkirkie Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 First upbeat post I have read for ages! Superb! Great start to the day hope it brings a great finish (by the wolf!) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skygod Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 What took you so long, mate?! Seriously, brilliant stuff! Hope you have a great day. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosskfc70 Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Has to be one the best posts ever told on here, absolutely love stories like this, welcome Jon and enjoy your day.KTID 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killiegh Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Have a great day. Absolutely brilliant. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangodog Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Excellent post. No moaning about transfers, top man. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyman Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Enjoy the game. I will still be in your home town at kick off waiting for the plane home. Always had a soft spot for Luton as David Pleat rather on the pitch just like Willie Waddell at Tynecastle 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lurker Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Brilliant Jon. Of all the teams in all the leagues you coulda picked....! Enjoy today. You just never know.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boab Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Fantastic post, got a bit emotional reading that. Forza Killie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siberian Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Followed Killie for 60years. People like you make it all worthwhile. Cheers mate, safe journey home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sp3ckyh0td0g81 Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 I will be keeping a lookout for that t shirt today as I sit in the FB, you’ll know it’s me if the guy just walks up and gives you a cuddle 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTID96 Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Brilliant. What the beautiful game is all about. Hope you enjoy the game! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killieblue Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) Brilliant post. Good way to hype us up before this big game today. Edited August 4, 2019 by killieblue 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTID1869fc Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 Just read this out to my kids, so well written. Hope we hammer them for you today mate! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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