Season Diary for 2021-22....

June 2021

New Club Capt Chris Stokes Wearing the 2021-22 Home Kit

After the dissapointment and relegation to end Season 2020-21 Tommy Wright wastes no time starting rebuilding his squad for the new season. Thirteen players are signed-up by June 24th.....  Euan Murray, Daniel Armstrong, Blair Ralston, Jack Sanders, Scott Robinson, Stephen McGinn, Chris Stokes, Jason Naismith, Fraser Murray, Brad Lyons, Zach Hemming (Goalkeeper on loan), & Liam Polworth. 

New deals are made to ....  Innes Cameron,  Calum Waters,  Chris Burke,  Colin Doyle (as back-up goalie, and goalkeeper coach, as Billy Thompson moves on to QotS), Steven Warnock, Thomas Brindley, &  Kyle Connell. 

All of the Squad changes coming out of Season 2020-21 are - HERE 

Here's a list of all of the Kilmarnock departures: Gary Dicker, (Brighton U-23's Coach), Clevid Dikamona, Aaron Tshibola, Youssouf Mulumbu, George Oakley, (now Woking), Diaguely Dabo, Nicke Kabamba, (now Northampton) Danny Whitehall, Danny Rogers, Ally Taylor, Ross Millen, (now Scunthorp), Kirk Broadfoot, Mitch Pinnock, (now Northampton) Greg Kiltie, (now St Mirren), Kyle Lafferty, (now in Cyprus), Zeno Ibsen Rossi, (returned to his parent club).  Zech Medley (returned to his parent club).and Brandon Pierrick, (returned to his parent club). In addition Killie sold Alan Power to St Mirren for a nominal fee. 

Also of note was Alex Dyer became the new assistant manager at Colchester... GOOD LUCK ... Alex!

Killie's Championship opening fixture is an Ayrshire derby  Vs A*r Utd at home, which will be screened live on the Beeb (Aug 2nd 7:45pm KO). 

Killie kickstarted their pre-season with a 1-0 (Cameron) victory over Linfield in a behind closed doors friendly in Belfast, to close out June. 

July 2021

Chris Burke Nets Killie's League Cup Group Winning Goal

 Killie announce that Chris Stokes will be club captain for the forthcoming season. Killie’s pre-season trip to Northern Ireland was brought to a close with a 2-2 draw with Larne at Inver Park. Keeper Sam Walker is signed from Youvil to a 2 year deal prior to the East Kilbride League Cup opener. Killie beat E Kilbride 0-2 however end up being charged by the SPFL for fielding an ineligible player against East Kilbride in the Premier Sports Cup. Daniel Armstrong was subjected to a one-game SFA ban following his involvement in the competition with Raith Rovers last term - with the suspension carrying over to this season's tournament. Killie subsequently are given a 3-0 defeat.

Killie then announce that Aaron McGowan had left the club to join Northampton Town, who had also recruited former Killie players Nicke Kabamba and Mitch Pinnock. 

Despite the forfeit loss, Killie do go on and win their group, and will play Hibs (A) in the last 16.

Their 3 wins were as follows: Clyde 1-2 Killie,  Killie 1-1 Morton, (Killie win 4-3 on pen's) & Killie 2-1 Stranraer.  Killie's shoot-out win Vs Morton was their first in 43 years. 

Before the start of the Championship League campain Killie add 2 more to their squad; Dylan McGowan & 20 year old striker Rumaran Burrell, (on a season long loan from Middlesboro). 

In other club news the Killie Shop is "re-vamped" and gets rave reviews, along the the Killie programme becoming a monthly magazine. John Barnes joins Killie TV also!

August 2021

Big Innes Enjoys His Converted Penalty Vs Ayr

 Killie begin life in the Championship with a 2-0 home win over Ayr Utd in front of 3,692 (Covid-19 controlled capacity sell-out).  No Ayr fans were allocated tickets, while the match which was a live Mon PM BBC broadcast. Polworth & late Cameron penalty in the scond half saw Ayrhire's Finest prevail to get their season off to a flier!

 

Killie then pick up two fine away wins to go joint-top with Caley. First, a late injury time Jason Naismith winner at Queens, is followed up by a fine Robinson double at Accies as Killie win 0-2 in front of 1,356 travelling Killie fans!

In between the two away League wins Killie fell 0-2 at Easter Rd, in the League Cup with Walker returning in goal.  Killie played well, hit the post while the game was 0-0 (Polworth)  and gave a good account of themseves against the high flying unbeaten Hibees. Captain Chris Stokes (right) also pickes an injury at Hibs (A) in the League Cup that will side-line him for several weeks.

 Kyle Connell joins East Fife on loan until January

Going into the Caley top of the table clash the un-scored upon Hemming returns in goal, however Killie fall 0-1 to Inverness with Gardyne scoring early for Caley, as Killie huffed and puffed to no avail, all afternoon.

On Aug 31st at the transfer deadline Killie add Oli Shaw to their squad as the ex-Hibs-Ross Co striker signs a 2 year deal.

Killie finish August on 9 points from 4 matches and sit in 3rd place in the Championship.

September 2021

Rory & Co Celebrate His Morton Winner!

On Sept 3rd Lee Hodson re-sign's with Killie on an initial one-year deal. David Watson also signs a professional deal with the club until 2023, and he is a late second half sub in Killie's 3-1 home win over the Bairns in the SPFL Trust Trophy.  On target for Killie were Fraser Murray (2) & Naismith. Debutant Shaw assists in Murray's second.

Killie then get back to winning ways in the Scottish Championship with a tight 1-0 victory over Morton it wasn’t pretty and certainly won’t live long in the memory of Ayrshire fans, with Rory McKenzie grabbing the only goal of the game in the 75th minute. Killie are starting to miss Chris Burke, who's been out since the Caley defeat.

In their next outing Killie pick up their 3rd straight shut-out win away from home, this time at Firhill, as Killie beat the Jags 2-0. A freak OG gives Killie the opener before Olie Shaw belts in a 30 yarder, to open his Killie account, after having missed from the spot earlier! 

On the final Friday of Sept Killie head to Arbroath and draw 0-0 to keep their unbeaten away streak alive. The match was screened live on the Beeb. . 

To close out Sept forward Callum Hendry joins Killie on loan from St Johnstone until the end of the season.

October 2021

Oli Celebrates His Last Min Penalty Winner at Ayr!

With the arrival of Calum Hendry, Killie announce that Innes Cameron will go out on loan to Queen of the South for the remainder of the season (however he can be re-called in Jan 2022.

Hendry on his debut scores for Killie at home against Raith but Killie fall 1-3 with 2 late sucker-punch goals being conceded.  Killie bounce back in the SPFL Trophy the following week dispatching Queens Park 3-1 at home. Euan Murray scored his first goal, along with Shaw & Hendry being on target.

Next up Killie travelled to East End Park, and failed to see out a win while conceding a 95th min Pars equaliser in a 2-2 draw (Hendry (third game in a row!) & Shaw). 

In mid-October Killie had 2 narrow wins in the Championship, Accies (H) 2-1 & Ayr (A) 0-1. The Ayr midweek clash as Killie picked up their first league win at Scumerset since the early 90's. It was Oli Shaw who netted a dramatic 89th min penalty in front of the sold-out 3,000+ Killie faithfull.

Killie had now "pulled-back" a 5 point defecit (against Inverness) to move back to the top of the Championship (on goal difference).

Killie closed out the month with a 4-0 thumping of Allan "Magic" Johnson's very poor Queen of the South outfit at Ruggers. Shaw(2), Hendry & Burke were the Killie scorers. 

November 2021

Oli Shaw scored his seventh goal in seven games at Morton

Killie open November with a third home defeat to the Jags 0-1 as Killie huffed and puffed all afternoon to avail. It's becoming clear, giving up the first goal at Ruggers is becoming the teams achilles heel! The conceding of an early goal (3rd min) was very similar to the Caley loss back in late August.

The following week, Oli Shaw scored his seventh goal in seven games as Kilmarnock stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Championship with a convincing 0-2 win away to Greenock Morton. The hosts were the better side for the opening half hour but Blair Alston's strike from a Chris Burke pass turned the tide. Chris Burke was a standout for Tommy Wright's side - then provided the assist for Shaw to quickly double the lead as Kilmarnock got back to winning ways after defeat by Partick Thistle.

The Morton win ultimately proved to be a "false dawn", as Killie would lose their next 3 League matches.

First was a 0-1 loss at home to part-time Arbroath where their keeper Derek Gaston played a blinder! Derek ironically is is a youth team coach for Killie!

Before December, Killie advance in the Scottish Cup beating 0-1 Queens (at Firhill) thanks to an E Murray header, and advanced to the Semi's in the SPFL Trust Trophy with an amazing late come-back win against the Accies 2-3. Jack Sanders scoring twice in the last 4 min's to save Killie's bacon.

December

Tommy Wright Relieved Of His Duties on Dec 18th 2021

Killie opened Dec at Inverness on Friday Dec 3rd which was screened live by the BBC. Killie lost 1-0, in a very weak display, as they offered little threat as they slipped to a second consecutive 1-0 league loss, and down to 3rd place.

 

Worse was to follow the following weekend as Killie fell 0-1 at Raith Rovers (a third  consecutive league 1 goal defeat, without scoring!). Raith scored with their ONLY shot on target all afternoon, after a very dubious hand-ball gave them a spot-kick. Killie fall to 4th place after the Raith result. Also Tommy gestures to the Killie fans, after getting serious abuse off of them!.... NOT GOOD!

Sandy "Hippo" Armour on Monday Dec the 13th's BBC Sportscene radio show, called for Tommy Wright to do the "right thing" and walk, or have the Board step-in and replace him!

On Dec 18th 2021 after the home Pars match is called due to fog (with the score tied at 1-1) Billie Bowie makes the following announcement : "The club confirm that Tommy Wright has been relieved of his duties. It is with regret that we have had to take this decision as I know how much Tommy wanted to bring success to Kilmarnock.  We thank him for his hard work and dedication during his time at Rugby Park and wish him all the best for the future. Everyone at the club is under no illusions that promotion back to the Premiership is the number one target for the season and with half of our league matches remaining as well as the upcoming January transfer window, our full focus is on appointing a new manager to achieve that goal.”

It was ultimately a disappointing reign for Wright who was appointed in February with the task of keeping Killie in the Scottish Premiership.

Killie were relegated after a dismal play-off defeat to Dundee, and with just four points out of twenty-four against top-half opponents in the Championship, the Killie board decided enough was enough.

Wright departed with Killie in 5th place (out of the Play-Off positions) and were now 5 points behind Arbroath (with a game in hand). 

Director of Football, James Fowler will "take the team" as the search begins fror Wright's replaement.

Also of note was the unwelcomed return of Covid-19 capacity controlled crowds due to the emergance of the Omicron virus strain.

The virus return led to Killie to make a joint approach with Ayr United to the SPFL to request a postponement of the local derby Championship match, scheduled for January 2, 2022, until a date where more than 500 supporters can be permitted entry to the stadium. Feb 9th 2022 is/was the rescheduled match date. 

As the year-end new manager search continued, James Fowler managed Killie to 4 points out of 6 (although it should have been 6 out of 6). Firstly, an away 2-3 win at the Accies. In a crazy match where Hemming saved 2 spot-kicks, and then was red-carded. Chis Stokes had just returned from a 3 month injury to score the games (his first for Killie) best goal.  Hemming's red-card was subsequently recinded.

Killie ended up drawing the years final match at home to Morton 1-1 (Rory with a screamer!). Fowler summed up the match (and the manager search) as follows... "It's a frustrating night for us. We were really dominant in the first half. We need to be more ruthless at both ends of the pitch. Over the next few days, we'll speak to (managerial) candidates and take it from there. If they watched that game, I think they'll be excited about working with this group of players. I think they showed a real appetite to try and be creative and to work hard. There's enough there to get us up."

Killie finish the year with 33 points from 19 league matches, 4 points behind Arbroath, in 3rd place. 

January

Kyle Lafferty & Derek McInnes Join Killie!

On January 2nd, Idle Killie fall to 4th place in the Championship, however Arbroath, Caley & Raith ALL drop points, so it's a Happy New Year for Killie! On January 4th, Killie appoint Derek McInnes as their new manager on an 18 month deal.  

McInnes said on joining Killie:  "The first aim is to get this club promoted and back into the top flight as quickly as possible. That’s my intention"

The McInnes "era" begins with a good 0-2 win at Palmerston against a dismal Queens side. Chris Stokes netted just before half-time with Oli adding a dubious spot kick.

Prior to the The Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock match on Friday the 14th of January,  Daniel MacKay became Derek McInnes’ first Killie signing as he joined on loan from Hibernian until the end of the season. .Killie also recalled Innes Cameron from his loan spell at Queen of the South, in part due to Scott Robinson’s injury. Killie then also add Ash Taylor (right) to their squad on an 18 month contract. Taylor starts (and was Man of the Match) in a dissapointing 1-1 draw ar Firhill.  For a second week in a row, the gods are kind to Killie as they get a second dubios penalty which again was dispatched by Shaw. A fine shot from outside the box by Docherty gave the Jags a (deserved) share of the spoils, which came only 3 minutes from time (which was agonizing for McInnes and the Killie Faithful).

Killie then bring in their second Hibee on loan in a week, Dylan Tait, as the 20 year old midfielder joins through the end of the season. McInnes's final January signing is  Kyle Lafferty who signed a deal with Killie until the end of the season

Callum Hendry was recalled from his loan spell at Killie by parent club St Johnstone. He returns to Perth after scoring five goals in 15 appearances for Killie.

In the Scottish Cup 3rd Rd it was Killie 1-2 Arabs (AET), Rory leveling the score, along with Lafferty making his second "debut" being the highlights in a spirited Killie performance. 

To close-out January, 3rd place Killie hosted second place Inverness and won 1-0 with a 9th min Kyle Lafferty strike, with the assist from Tait. Also of note with Chris Stokes being out injured against the Arabs (the prior week) Rory was named captain.

McKenzie's last 2 performances (Arabs, Caley) had been terrific!

Also in January, Killie both recall and then re-send Innes Cameron (in and) out on loan to Queen of the South.

For the record, Killie finish January in 2nd place one point behind Arbroath on 40 points with each team having played 22 games. 

February 

Lafferty Nets Two "Doubles" In Feb!

To start Feb Killie bring in Dean Campbell on loan from Aberdeen for the remainder of the season. Killie' first match of the month is a second Friday night visit to Arbroath where killie fell 0-1, with their goal being a Zach Hemming error. Arbroath are now 4 points clear of Killie as Killie miss the chance to go top of the league.

Worse was to follow the following Weds pm, as Killie lost to Ayr 1-2 at home after taking an early lead (through Fraser Murray), in front of 7,560. The Killie KickBack Fans forum  goes into meltown -  Match Thread - HERE

Four days later on Feb 12th with 60 mins played and trailling 0-1 to the Pars (including a Hemming first half penalty save) Killie season was ON THE BRINK!  However a Kyle Lafferty double saved Killie's blushes, as Killie ran out eventual  2-1 winners.

Killlie then has a first for the season "back to back" home wins, as Raith came calling.  Stephen McGinn struck to give the hosts an early lead and Kyle Lafferty soon fired in a second (inside the first 12 min's). That advantage stood until midway through the second half when Lafferty shot home again, as Killie ran out comfortable 3-0 winners!

Killie then finish Feb at East End Park where the games ends scoreless, with Killie having the better of the first half, and the Pars the second.

Kyle Lafferty is named the Championship Player of  the Month.

When Arbroath drew with the Jags on March 1st, it was their 4th consecutive draw in a row. 

MARCH

Del & Rory Enjoy Their Somerset Three Points

A piitful performance in the Scottish Challenge Cup Semi-Final see's Killie lose 1-2 (Shaw penalty (Remember him ?)) to Raith Rov's at home in March's opening match. A mere 2,118 turn up, as the match was screened live on BBC Alba.  It was young McArthur who was conned into conceding the penalty (that Walker initially saved) where Rovers netted an uncontested rebound from. McArthur had replaced Stokes at the half due to two head-knock's.

Derek McInnes tells the press on the eve of the Accies (home) match:  "This is the start of that final stretch, if you like. We need to remind the players we’re only a point off the top of the league, sometimes it doesn’t feel like that. We need to show we’re right in the fight to win a title and get the positivity from that and be confident enough to deal with that situation.

So Killie play 4 league matches in March and win them all firstly 2-0 at home to the Accies (F Murray & Alston),  then it was a Friday night "payback" as Killie thumped Ayr 3-1 at Sommerset (Rory, Oli and the Colonel).

It was two succesive 2-1 home wins that took Killie back to the summit, against Queens (Taylor & Shaw) & the Jags (a big Kyle double). 

Derek McInnes is named the Championship Manager of  the Month.

Killie finish the month with 59 points from 31 league matches, in first place with Arbroath 4 points behind  in 2nd place. 

APRIL

April 22nd 2022:  Killie Come From Behind To Clinch the Championship Title

With a 4 point cushion to work with over Arbroath, Killie certainly had the more difficult run-in with 2 home and 3 away matches to be played, and they would also have to face 3 of the top 5 sides.

Interestingly 4 of the 5 Killie April Matches were selected by the BBC as Friday night matches (with the Pars (H) match being the exception). 

Going into the penultimate game of the season Killie would pick up 4 points from 3 matches with a 1-1 draw at Morton (Shaw Pen), a 2-0 win (Lafferty & Shaw) would follow with a complete performance at home over the Pars, followed by a 1-2 loss at Inverness having taken the lead through Ash Taylor.

The Arbroath match was played on April 22nd, 2002, and was screen live on the BBC. Killie held a slender one point lead over the Red Lichties, going in to the match and of all of Scotland was rooting for the part-time fairytale side. Killie had won 6 straight at Rugby Park coming into the match. Killie sold out their 3 stands 48 hours before the match and had over 10,000 tickets sold. Killie would also welcome back stalwart Rory McKenzie, who'd missed the last 3 outings.

A win for Killie and they would clinch the title, at the first time of asking! (Something that Rangers, Hibs, Dundee & Dundee Utd failed to do).

Trailing by an early goal it would take an Ash Taylor 77th min goal  and a 90th min wonder finish from Blair Alston to seal all 3 points and the title!

Killie CEO Billy Bowie perfectly summed up the occassion.... "There was nervousness throughout, but it was great when the winner went in. You could see the relief by our reaction to both goals. In fact, relief would be a mild way of describing it!  I’ve never known a response like that at Rugby Park, from the fans as well as ourselves. Directors normally just applaud when we score during games, but we erupted like everyone else. Even when we were beating Celtic and Rangers here during Steve Clarke’s time in charge it wasn’t like this. There were 10,000 Kilmarnock fans in the ground. We’ve had bigger crowds before, but you need to go back to 1995 to find the last time we had more of our own supporters at a game here. It was fantastic. It shows what this club is capable of and it lets us know we can do more and go further as well. Have we pushed the boat out to come back up straight away? Absolutely and it would have been tough if we’d had to go through it all again next season. But we’re glad we’ve done it. We said we would and now we have. Other big clubs haven’t been able to get out of the Championship at the first attempt so we’ll put that down to experience".

Killie close-out the 2021-22 pronotion wiining campaign with a come-back 1-1 draw at Raith, where Killie took more than 2,500 to a Friday pm away screened BBC match.

A real party atmosphere was  capped off with a fine Shaw goal, a salute to Jamie Mac in the Raith goal and a season (career ending ?)  ending seranade to Burkie & Rory.

Raith Season Ending Party

Note: Killie also opened their Killie Museum in April (just in time to get that Championship trophy into it).

May 3rd 2022:  Killie say goodbye to their 2021-22 loanees, Zach Hemming & Rumarn Burrell (both Middlesboro), Dean Campbell (Aberdeen), Declan Glass (Dundee Utd), Dylan Tait & Daniel Mackay (both Hibernian). 

Derek McInnes is named Manager of the Month for the Championship for May.

All of the squad changes going into Season 2022-23 can be found  - Here.

Derek McInnes Vs Tommy Wright Comparison Against Top Five Championship Sides

Note: Opposition was Arbroath, Inverness, Partick & Raith.