Season Diary 2005-2006

June 2005 

Fraser Wright Joins Killie

Killie move into the close season attempting to forge ahead with optimism despite the departure of  Chairman Jamie Moffat who relinquish his role as Chairman, to Michael Johnson. Johnson has since made several appeals via the clubs website for the fans to put their hands in their pockets, and to spend their disposable incomes on Killie wherever possible. On the player front Freddie Dindeleux appears to be returning to France to finish his career out there. Freddie was a class act and a huge fan favorite, during his 6 seasons with Killie. He is gone but nor forgotten! Also Simon Ford received a 6 month contract, to keep him at Rugby Park at least until Dec. Killie are again reported in turning down an offer for top goal-scorer Kris Boyd, from Aberdeen. Boyd also loses his drivers license for 2 years, and doesn't look keen on extending his stay at Killie based on the 2 year extended offer Killie gave him. Before the end of June manager Jefferies signs Fraser Wright to a one year deal. Wright 25, is a left sided defender, who helped Stranraer to promotion last term. To close out June Rugby Park successfully hosts it's first ever concert with Elton John who donned a Killie scarf during the show.

July 2005

Killie Thrash Ayr Utd 4-0 in the West Sound Big Match

Killie head off to Il Ciocco, in Italy for a weeks conditioning, and at the same time Boyd expresses an interest in a move down South a Championship League team. Killie return home to preseason matches with Hamilton a 3-2 away win (Leven (2,1 pen) Nish) then fall to 2-3   (Naismith (pen) & Di Giacomo) at home to Southampton. The final 2 pre-season warm up's are against Cardiff 1-2 (Nish), and a 4-0 (Boyd 4, 1 pen) thrashing of Ayr Utd for the West Sound Challenge trophy, both at Rugby Park. Killie beat Ayr with their neat new sky blue away kit on, which went on sale the following day at the club's annual "open day" which was also a big success. Killie then open the season and fall 2-4 at home to Hearts after taking the lead through Naismith. Greer also scoring for Killie. David Lilley was out, and the defense sorely missed him!

Aug 2005

 Naisy Nets the Dons Winner

Brent Sancho and Soulamane Bamba are brought in for trials but fail to win deals at Killie. Chairman Michael Johnson then hits back at agent Raymond Sparkes on BBC Radio in response to Sparkes comments about the clubs direction under Jim Jefferies. Boyd's contract extension still remains on the table for Kris to further ponder. Killie then head North to take on the Dons as massive underdogs, as we had lost 3 straight to the (all by 1 single goal in 04-05). Allan Johnston gives Killie a dream start as Killie scored in the 1st min. 18 year old Stephen Naismith gets the winner as Killie pick up their 1st win of the season with a surprise 2-1 win! Leven is dropped & Danny Invincibile doesn't even make the bench as Lilley returns for Killie. Killie's financial plight is now "out" as Chairman Michael Johnson shares that relegation would certainly put the club out of business. The players do a great job of not allowing the off the field stuff, interfere with their start to the SPL season. A fine 4-1 home win is recorded over Motherwell, with Johnston & Naismith shining for Killie. Killie's goals were scored by Johnston, Boyd (2) & McDonald. Boomer's heads his second and Killie's 4th goal above.
Jim Jefferies then gets it right at Inverness, down 0-1 at the half, he juggled the teams formation replacing defender David Lilley at the half with Danny Invincibile, who played a midfield type role!. Twice trailing Killie fought back to earn a valuable point. Killie had to wait until after the split last term to notch a result (the 1-1 draw at Tannadice), when trailing at the half!  So lots of positives could be taken from this spirited performance, at Inverness as Killie extended their unbeaten run to 3 games! The match ended 2-2 with sub (on for Naismith after 8 min's) Colin Nish pulling Killie even, with Boyd doing likewise some 3 mins later! Killie finish up Aug with two home 3 goal wins! First was Stirling Albion in the CIS Cup 4-1, (after trailing for over 30 mins 0-1) with the first two goals scored Rhian Dodds, & Danny Invincible, followed by subs Gary Wales & Paul Di Giacomo. Then it was a first half Colin Nish "hat-trick that saw off bottom of the League Livingston 3-0. Between the Stirling & Livi games Kris Boyd travels to Cardiff to sign for them and then does a last minute 180 & returns to Killie and played in the Livi match.

Killie finish the month with 10 points from 5 matches and are in 3rd place in the SPL. (Celtic in 2nd & Hibs in 4th were also on 10 points, 5 points behind unbeaten league leaders Hearts).

Sep 2005

Boomer, Doddsie & Danny All Score Vs the Pars

Killie didn't play again till Sept 10th, when they hosted the Pars, due to Scotland's World Cup qualifiers against Italy & Norway. After falling behind early and then taking the lead after goals from Dodds then Boyd, Killie still needed a dramatic last minute winner from Danny Invincibile to pick all three points, in a 3-2 win. Prior to the Pars match Killie sign eighteen-year-old defender Ryan O'Leary who was out of contract with Aberdeen. Killie then traveled to Ibrox and lost 0-3, and were unlucky to go in at the half a goal down, having matched Rangers for the majority of the 35 mins. A horror start again happens in the CIS home tie with the Pars as Killlie fell behind 0-3 in the first 16 min's! Manager Jefferies is criticized for not fielding Hay or Fowler. Killie went onto lose 3-4, with a brace from Boyd and a Pars own goal. Stephen Naismith picks ups his Aug SPL Young Player of the Month award.

Prior to Bairns match to finish up Sept, club general manager David MacKinnon hands in his notice! Killie pick up a single point to the Bairns in a 1-1 home draw, thanks to a Kris Boyd penalty. Killie miss the injured Colin Nish & Gary Locke. Garry Hay has been wearing the captain's arm-band in Locke's absence.

Killie finish the month with 14 points from 8 matches and are in 4th place in the SPL.

Oct 2005

Show Racism the Red Card Prior to the Celtic Match

Killie then travel to Tannadice and come away with a 0-0 draw, with the main talking point being a late "stonewall" penalty not being awarded to Killie, after Stille tripped Boyd. Simon Ford's fine form also continues, as Combe did not have a shot to stop all day, although a late Arab effort came off of one of his posts (which would have been day light robbery). The following week it was a game of two halves as Killie lost 2-4 at Easter Rd, after leading 2-0 at the half. Defenders Ford & Fowler were Killie's marksmen. David Lilley and Graeme Smith returned for Ford & Combe for the visit of Celtic, as Killie fell 0-1 with a spirited performance on the Sunday Setanta match. Strachan himself said Killie were unfortunate not to come away with something!  Allan "Magic" Johnston continues to be the talk of the all the Killie fans, as he is producing some fine form for the Ayrshire men.

The first 1/3rd of the season was now complete and Killie stood in 5th position with 15 points from 11 matches, with a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, & 3 draws. Their 4 losses were all from teams above them in the table (Hearts, Celtic, Hibs & Rangers), and therefore Killie had taken at least a point from every team they were "supposed to" have taken a point from!

To finish up Oct, Killie played at manager-less Hearts and lost 0-1 with Smith in goals again and Fraser Wright making his debut for Killie, in a midweek clash. Killie's only Oct win is against the Dons at Rugby Park, which turned out to be the Kris Boyd show, as boomer laid on the first two for Simon & Danny and netted a brace himself in the 4-2 win! Graeme Smith saves a penalty also for Killie with 8 min's to go also! Boyd sends a message to struggling Rangers in the Dons post-match... "If you want me ... come get me!" More .

Killie finish the month with 18 points from 13 matches and are in 5th place in the SPL.

Nov 2005

Nish, Danny & Boomer Celebrate Well Injury Time Equaliser

The Kris Boyd machine rolls on to open Nov, as Boomer nets the opening and injury time tie-ing goals to help earn Killie a 2-2 draw at Motherwell. Boyd is now the top goal scorer in Scotland with 11 goals on the season. Alan Combe returns in goal also. Credit must also go Jim Jefferies tactics as he sticks on Wales, Murray and Nish, as Killie finish the match with 5 forwards on the park! A new song surfaces among the Killie faithful .... "Same Ole Boydie.... Always Scoring!". Killie had no game the following week, and then hosted Inverness CT. Down 0-1 at the half, Killie came storming back to take the lead, only to settle for a 2-2 draw, with Craig Dargo netting the equaliser for Caley. Killie's goals were from Boyd & sub Nish. Prior to the Caley match manager Jim Jefferies signed to a short term amateur deal Ukrainian under-21 Dmytro Pronevych. Before the kick-off of the Livingston away match to close out Nov, there was a minute's silence around all the UK football grounds, to remember George Best who passed away 2 days earlier. Kris Boyd then kept his torrid goal scoring form up with his sixth & seventh goals in just his last four games, as Killie ran out easy 3-0 winners. The Killie fans in attendance at Livi quickly chanted .."Are you watching Walter Smith?" Stephen Naismith notched Killie's 2nd goal, in a sweeping move that was a contender for goal of the season.

Killie finish the month with 23 points from 16 matches (tied with Rangers who were in 4th) and are in 5th place in the SPL.

Dec 2005

Boomer Celebrates Aginst The Pars

Kris Boyd  joins Alan Combe, Gordon Greer, Garry Hay and Gary McDonald in being named to the Scotland "future" squad for the game at Rugby Park on Tuesday the 6th of Dec,  Vs Poland.. Congrat's to all 5 !!!!! More good fortune for Killie who win 1-0 at East End Park to move into a lofty 4th spot in the SPL. Kris Boyd notches his eighth goal in five matches, to get the games only goal. Then the following Tuesday all 5 named Killie players get a game and play well in the Scotland "B" international at Rugby Park, as the Scots run out 2-0 winners, with Killie's Gary McDonald opening the scoring, in front of over 3,000 fans. Rangers that evening  get a draw to move into the Champions League last 16, which is a little worrying for Killie fans, going into the Sunday Setanta match at Rugby Park, as Rangers much maligned  confidence must have received a boost! Prior to the Rangers match, Kris Boyd was been named the Bank of Scotland Player of the Month for November. He was outstanding for the Rugby Park side, scoring five goals in three games in the Scottish Premier League.

Killie then host Rangers on the following Sunday and lose 2-3, bringing to an end their 5 match unbeaten run, with again "dodgy" OF refereeing coming into play! Malcolm clearly handles the ball, and Killie get no spot-kick. For the record Killie's goals were scored by McDonald and who else... Boyd! Manager Jefferies is sent to the stand, after disputing Rangers first goal being offside, but later apologies, after seeing the goal on TV. Jimbo did accept his punishment and serve's a 2 match sideline ban. Killie do rebound after the Rangers loss, and an injury time Boyd (right) goal seals a fortunate 2-1 win for Killie at Falkirk. Jamie Fowler scored a screamer earlier in the match to give Killie the lead. This win was Killie's 3rd consecutive road win, which is an SPL best for the club!
Killie then accept an offer from Sheffield Weds for Kris Boyd's services, however Boomer was really only interested in signing for Glasgow Rangers. After an initial bid from Rangers is rejected, Killie then do get an acceptable fee for Kris Boyd, and Boomer would join Rangers in  Jan 2006.
A chorus of "If you hate the f*cking Rangers clap your hands" greeted the SPL's  leading scorer as he emerged for the half-time draw during the Boxing Day home match to the Arabs. However, any residual hostility soon gave way to a show of appreciation when it was announced that Boomer had made a £20,000 contribution to youth development at the club. Killie won their final outing of the year 2-1 with goals from McDonald, and a second consecutive 90th min winner, this time from "super-sub" Gary Wales.

The win moved Killie back above Rangers into 4th place with 32 points from 20 matches.

Jan 2006



Walesy & Magic Celebrate the Hibs Injury Time Equaliser

Killie extend Simon Ford's deal for 18 mo's, & Di Giacomo through the end of the season, prior to the Hibs home match. Gordon Greer is now out (for 6-8 weeks) with a stress fracture in one of his ankles. Killie open the year with their 3rd 90th min goal in a row, to earn a deserved point in an end to end affair with Hibs, which ended 2-2.  Young Naismith opened the scoring for Killie, and it was Gary Wales (for the 2nd match in a row) that snatched the injury time goal. This was Killie's first point off of a team above them in the SPL.
Killie then head to Edinburgh to take on Hearts, and lose in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup 1-2. Killie play without Locke, Danny & Gary Mcd (suspended) & lose recent goal scoring threat Gary Wales after only 30 mins. Colin Nish snatches what would be a consolation goal with 5 mins remaining, to give Hearts a nervous hang-on win! To complete Killie's 2nd round of 11 fixtures, it was a trip to our hoodoo ground Parkhead, having not won there in the league for 55 years! After falling behind early 0-2, a Danny Invincibile header from a Hay cross (after Naisy disposed Keane in the box) pulled Killie even at 2-2. Killie only held out 3 mins, and went on to lose 2-4. Naisy had pulled the 1st one back from the spot, after Nish was upended.

Sean Dillon is released so he can join QoS for the remained of the season.

It also now confirmed that Killie's management duo of Jim Jefferies & Billy Brown, have signed new contracts to keep them at Rugby Park till 2009!

The second 1/3rd of the season was now complete and Killie stood in 5th position with 33 points from 22 matches, with a record of 9 wins, 7 losses, & 6 draws. Their 7 losses were all from teams above them in the table (Hearts, Celtic, Hibs & Rangers), and therefore Killie were still on track in taking at least a point from every team they were "supposed to" have taken a point from! Motherwell were in 7th position with 29 points, so Killie had a 4 point "top 6" cushion.

Killie then picked up their first win of 2006 with a gutsy 1-0 home win, over Hearts (a team above us!) for their  first win over the Jambos in their last THIRTEEN meetings! Danny scoring for the second straight week, right after half-time. Nish misses the "sitter" of the season in the dying moments also. Manager Jefferies describes Killie's performance as.... "The best performance of the season" ... so far!

Before the Jan transfer windows manager Jefferies secures 3 additions to his squad, all for the balance of season. Giorgos Fotakis,  Lindsay Wilson & the return of Eric "the King" Skora Click on the players name to take you to the player's 05-06 profile.
Killie close Jan at the Dons, and take their 7th point of the season off them, after twice coming from behind! Killie last season 2004-05 took no points off the Dons, what a turn around! For the record Stephen Naismith (who was named as the Young SPL Player of the Month for Jan) netted from the spot, and an 86 min leveller came through David Lilley to help Killie earn a 2-2 draw.

Feb 2006

Gary Wales & Co Celebrate His Double Against Motherwell

After a layoff for a full week, Killie then hosted Motherwell in a midweek clash, that turned into the Gary Wales show, as he netted twice for Killie in a fine 2-0 home win!. The match was also notable for Alan Combe being replaced after 19 mins with Graeme Smith, after Combe had made a great save with game notted at 0-0, and Lindsay Wilson making his Killie debut. Wilson was later to be replaced by the now fit again  Locke, this was Gary's first match in over 3 months!
Having been knocked out the cup Killie would play only 2 more Feb fixtures. An exciting share of the spoils was had at Inverness, where each team could only hold a lead for a minute in a 3-3 draw. Naismith opened the scoring for Killie & another Gary Wales "double accounted for Killie's 3 goals! Bottom of the league Livingston were to be the next foes, who were equipped with a new manager, John Robertson. Livi take a shock lead, only to find themselves trailing at the half, after Naismith & Wales each scored, and assisted! Danny Invincibile added a 3rd as Killie ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. The ICT & Livi matches were notable for new man Lindsay Wilson, who played well, covering for the injured Gordon Greer. Also Graeme Smith with these 2 starts for the injured Alan Combe.

With 27 games played this season, Killie's 52 goals were already an "SPL Best" for the club! - Here More encouraging news was that Steven Naismith's contract had been extended through 2010!

Killie finish the month with 44 points from 27 matches (only 2 pts behind Rangers who were in 3rd) and are in 5th place in the SPL.

Mar 2006

Danny Celebrates the Pars Winner

Killie start March with a scrappy 1-0 home win over the Pars, thanks to an early Danny Invincibile goal. Killie play without Naismith (suspended) & Wales (injured), but did see Combe return in goal, Locke & Di Giacomo all start. This was Paul's first start in over 3 years. Next up are Rangers away. Killie lose 0-4, in a very flat performance, where manager Jefferies described us "being scared to play". After Boyd opened the scoring, Rangers last 2 goals are scored against Jamie Fowler in the Killie goal, after Alan Combe picked up Killie's first red-card of the season. Killie remain the only SPL team not to have picked up a point against the Old Firm this term. Killie do go on to bounce back the following week with a scrappy 2-1 home win over the Bairns. Danny opened the scoring early, and Naisy provided the winner! Smith covered well as a stand-in for the suspended Combe, as Killie moved back into 4th in the SPL. This was Killie's 5th straight home win, and they had now taken 19 out of a possible 21 points! at "fortress" Rugby Park.! Before the Bairns match Bazcelona recorded a fine 5-0 win over our visiting Kaiserslautern friends, to regain the killiefc.com Challenge Cup. After the Bairns match Alan Combe (left) was presented his 2004-05 Player of the Year award from this site. The following week Killie go on to rue losing a 2 goal half-time advantage at Tannadice, in a game that ended 2-2. Naismith scoring twice to give Killie the early lead. The linesman saw a mystery-invisible Killie player on Combe's goal line which let the Arabs clearly offside leveller stand. Killie did dodge a penalty claim after Nish  handled in his own box A draw in the end was decent result for both clubs. In their 18 matches against the "bottom 6" Killie's record for the season was 13 wins 5 draws and no defeats.

Killie finish the month with 51 points from 31 matches (5 pts behind Rangers, 2 pts ahead of Hibs) and are in 4th place in the SPL.

Apr 2006

Steven Naismith is Named Young Player of the Year!

Killie's remaining last 2 pre-split fixtures were at Hibs on a Weds night, followed by champions Celtic at Rugby Park on the Sunday. Killie go down 1-2 to the Capital side, surrendering a Gary Wales opener, to two goals in the last 10 mins. A real six pointer dropped for Killie! Worse was to follow as Killie huffed & puffed all afternoon in a 1-4 home loss to Celtic, with Colin Nish getting a late consolation for Killie. The main talking point of the match was March SPL Player of the Month Steven Naismith's equaliser incorrectly being chalked off, right before the half time whistle!

So Killie completed their regular season in 5th place one point behind Hibs in 4th, with 51 points from 33 matches. The final 5 fixtures were unkind to Killie getting only 2 home and 3 away matches, including a 3rd trip to Aberdeen!

Killie open their final five, "top 6" matches with an away 0-2 loss to Hearts. Again the officials find themselves having to explain a poor (non) call for Killie, as Invincibile is felled en route to a "1 on1" goal scoring opportunity just before the half. No call, no freekick, no penalty(s), no Hearts red-card, just no luck for a gutsy Killie! There was some good news for Killie prior to the Hearts match, as Steven Naismith was named the SPL's Young Player of the Year! Also Jamie Fowler joins the growing number of squad members being signed up for next term. Hay, Lilley, Wright, Combe, Ford.

Killiefc.com during Feb - April of 2006, helped Kilmarnock FC finish first among all SPL clubs in a fan based daily polling Coca-Cola competition. For the record Killie finished 7th overall in the UK, and outpaced 2nd place Glasgow Celtic by over 38,000 votes! To see the final week standings click the above banner.

Aberdeen were then held to a 0-0 draw up there, with Simon Ford twisting his knee ligaments, and would now be out for a 4-5 month recovery period. Rangers at home were next, and Killie through Colin Nish took a half-time lead, which they could not hold as they went on to lose 1-3 Marvin Andrews, who was brought on to cope with Nish, scoring twice along with Boyd. Garry Hay would now also be done for the season after colliding with former team-mate Boyd & picked up a season ending concussion.

May 2006

Killie Finish the Season in Style With A 3-1 Win Over Hibs!

With Hearts clinching 2nd place, there was to be no Euro place for 4th position in the SPL this term, and Killie's motivation was clearly missing in a disappointing 0-2 loss at Parkheid to Champions Celtic, with both their goals again coming in the second half. It was nice however to see Peter Leven get a rare 05-06 start!

So Killie entered their final match of the season not having won in 7 outings, and having conceded 14 second half goals in these matches. Killie had also slipped to 6th position in the SPL table, behind Aberdeen. Prior to Hibs home finale Killie reveal their new 06-7 away kit, a bright yellow, with blue trimmings which was generally very well received by the fans. More 

Killie did have to lean on Alan Combe's performance to keep them only a goal adrift as Hibs went in 1 up at the half! But Kilmarnock produced a fine second-half fight-back against Hibernian to ensure their coffers swelled by an extra £70,000. Naismith converting an early 2nd half penalty (which saw Hibs reduced to 10 men), before Gordon Greer & Colin Nish scored wonder volleys, from Peter Leven serves into the box as Killie ran out worthy 3-1 winners! Nish finishes the season a high note.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies had the following to say in Hibs post match interview...."It was a great finish in front of our own supporters and I thought we played some great stuff.  The extra £70,000 helps the club as the higher we finish, the more we get. The players can be well satisfied and coming fifth speaks volumes for the squad. It has been hard ever since I have been here, but we accept it and get on with it. We finished seventh last season and fifth this year. It'll be hard to top that, but we'll consolidate and try to do better."

In their 22 matches against the 7 teams below them, Killie's record for the season was 15 wins 7 draws and no defeats. Only the Old Firm did Killie fail to take points off of (or actually beat, as Killie had at least one victory over the other 9 SPL sides!). Fantastic!!!.... Bring on .... 2006-07!!

Gary McDonald decides to move on from Killie, having failed to be a regular starter this season. Lindsay Wilson returns to PSV Eindhoven at the end of his loan spell.  Gordon Greer signs a new one-year deal with a one-year option.
FC Kilmarnock defeat Glasgow City  3-2 to win  the Women's Scottish Cup Final at Kirkcaldy. Congrats to the Killie Girls! 
James Fowler is announced as the killiefc.com Player of the Year for season 2005/06.  

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