Killie 150 - Champions, Waddell, Europe & Glory Part Two 1960-1964

In these four seasons Kilmarnock finished runners-up on a further three occasions and played in and lost two League Cup Finals. By rights they should have qualified for Europe every year (as they should have also in 1959-60) but the SFA invited applications from clubs, irrespective of league position, and selected entrants thereafter. The US tournament was classed as on a par and Killie found themselves travelling across the Atlantic twice more during this period, though were unable to repeat the success of their initial appearance.

In addition to all this Bobby Kennedy was sold for a record fee for a Scottish League player, the new stand was built and Rugby Park attracted its all-time record attendance. Yet by the end of 1963-64 with four league runners-up places, three domestic cup final losses and defeat in the 1960 final in the USA - all since 1960 - you could be forgiven for thinking Kilmarnock were destined never to win a major prize.

It's hardly a spoiler to say such a belief was about to be blown away. But that is a tale for the final part of this chapter.

CORRECTIONS

In the book there are a number of illustrations in this section which are not of sufficient quality to be reproduced here. Hence pages 79, 83 and 85 are missing. I've tried to replace them with others which though not of the highest standard appear to be reasonable enough to be included here.

The class of 1962-63

“The greatest ever game in League Cup history,” according to Hugh Taylor in the Daily Record. Though it should be noted that Taylor – whose earliest football memory was Killie winning the Scottish Cup in 1929 and had edited the Rugby park programme for several years -  was not exactly noted as a master of understatement in his writing.

To quote Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “A day that will live in infamy.”

The new stand, later designated the West Stand when Rugby Park became all-seated in 1994 and now known as the Frank Beattie Stand in honour of Killie's league championship winning skipper.

Next Champions, Waddell, Europe & Glory Part Three 1964-1965

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