www.killiefc.com...Player of the Year 2003-04

The votes have now been cast and it's time to reveal who the killiefc.com Player of the Year for 2003-04 is. For the first time ever it wasn't really a landslide victory despite a record number of votes, and the top five were all well in the running right up until the last few days. So, with out further ado we have...

Hooky got 13% of the overall vote and we have to admit that was a wee bit surprising considering the amount of goals our defence have let in this season. However, the left sided player has been pretty consistent and made an impressive 33 starts, accumulating only two yellow cards in his 2,813 minutes.

Garry excelled in the wing back role when we were playing with three central defenders but he could be better defensively and that showed when we reverted to a 442 system.

A great crosser of the ball Garry links up well with Murray down the left flank, ultimately though it wouldn't be a surprise if the two of them ended up vying for the same shirt.

Another defender gets in on the act as former captain Freddie Dindeleux impressed 14% of you enough to nominate him as your player of the year. Once again though our French stalwart failed to claim the top prize...always the bridesmaid it seems.

Freddie went through a succession of partners this season while manager Jefferies repeatedly shuffled the pack trying to find the right combination, but JJ made it clear that Dindeleux was first in the pecking order.

Freddie took a drop in wages to stay at Killie despite interest from various other clubs...what price loyalty? Maybe next year Freddie, keep up the good work!

Pint-sized winger Ruby brushed aside the managers reservations and managed 23 starts this season. His tenacity and attacking style won him many admirers and he secured 17% of the overall vote.

The East Stand's 'wee brother' doesn't know when to give up and there was many a funny moment when he squared up to opposition players twice his size...but let's not trivialise his contribution to the team.

The sight of Ruby with the ball at his feet taking on defenders got the fans going, and in turn the team. When he played we looked a better shape and hopefully next season we have someone as effective on the other wing.

No one had heard of Eric Skora when JJ brought him to the club on loan from Preston. We doubt very much if that is the case now!

Eric played every game (19) he was available and scored three goals including he best seen at Parkhead all season. His crosses from dead ball situations were deadly and Kris Boyd's goal tally would have been a lot less had it not been for Skora's prowess.

All good things must come to an end and sadly Eric has gone back down South, but 19% of you voted to get him back up for at least one more appearance...not bad given the short time he was here! Hopefully we'll see his like again...the sooner the better.

Before we go any further, a wee word for the also-rans. Gordon Greer, Jamie Fowler, Gary McSwegan and Colin Nish got 5% of the vote between them but not really enough to chart. Aussie Danny Invincibile, who promised so much pre-season still managed to clock 2% himself, despite a long lay-off due to a crippling tackle by David Lilley when he was still with Partick. No one else received any votes.

So, as you will have probably guessed by now (like you never scrolled down the page straight away!) the winner of this season's killiefc.com Player of the Year award is none other than last year's Young POTY award...Kris 'Boomer' Boyd.

Boydie had a great season by all accounts and with 15 goals to his name he made it into double figures for the second year in a row, a fantastic feat for one still so young. Jim Jefferies had wanted to use Kris sparingly to bring him onto his game but only Freddie started more games this season and overall he made more appearances than anyone. The manager simply couldn't leave him out.

Much has been made of he fact that we never lost a game in which Boydie scored and his fine form prompted Premiership Wolves manager Dave Jones to give him a trial. While we were mighty relieved when Jones opted instead to shore up his defence, the situation affected Boyd's game and Killie hit a slump. It wasn't until the introduction of playmaker Eric Skora that he regained his goal-den touch and he went on to bag nine before the season's end.

Kris is under contract until 2006 but improving at this rate it won't be long before the 'bigger' clubs come calling again. The financial situation being as it is we don't have much of a chance of holding on to the big man if that happens so the best bet is to enjoy it while we can. Boydie came to the Howard for his prize last year and hopefully he will turn up again this time to lift the main award, and bring the West Sound Trophy with him! Well done Boomer...see you on 24th July.