Killie 150 - Decline And Fall - From European Elite To Relegation 1965-1973

In 1965 Kilmarnock were marching to Madrid. By 1973 they were moving towards Montrose. That was the extent of their dramatic fall. A period that started with Killie taking on - and matching - the greatest name in world football ended in the ignominy of relegation.

But there were many high spots before the fall. Reaching the semi-finals of a major European competition. Establishing the club as regular participants in Europe. Continuing to be a presence at the top end of the table, if no longer challenging as frequently for the title. Close runs too in that elusive quest for a third Scottish Cup and a first League Cup success. It was far from rare to see Kilmarnock players turning out in Scotland colours.

Yet it all came to a surprisingly sudden end. A poor season in 1970-71 saw Killie finish in the bottom half of the table for the first time in sixteen seasons. Just two years later the curtain fell on almost two decades at the top.

CORRECTIONS

As in some earlier chapters the image quality in the book is far too poor to reproduce here. I have attempted to add/replace where appropriate as best as I can.

I say that the May 1971 Ayrshire Cup Final was the first Scottish game to be decided on penalty kicks. This needs clarifying. Penalty kick deciders were in use in both European competition and the inaugural Texaco (later Anglo-Scottish) Cup in 1970-71. The first match to be decided this way in Scotland was Airdrie's Texaco win over Nottingham Forest on September 28th 1970. Two evenings later Aberdeen were knocked out of the Cup-Winners' Cup in Budapest by Honved and Motherwell triumphed at Stoke in the Texaco Cup, both on penalties. It is true however that the Ayrshire Cup Final was the first ALL-Scottish match to go to penalties.

Next  What Division Is It Anyway? The Yo-Yo Years 1973-1983


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