Extreme Football Tourism: SCOTLAND: Kilmarnock FC

Rugby Park, Kilmarnock (Kilmarnock FC)

Scotland, county: Ayrshire

15 II 2026 / Kilmarnock FC - Celtic FC 2-3 / Premier League (= SCO level 1)

Timeline

1868 / A collection of men and boys in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, enjoy themselves during the summer months, playing cricket as well as bowls, quoits, running, and golf. During the winter period, the group lacked active sporting opportunities, and in the autumn of 1868, the younger members first played football in the Barbadoes Green area of Kilmarnock, using their own set of rules which were more similar to that of Rugby League than to association football, which had developed in England as a separate sport in the late 1850s. The ‘pitch’ at Barbadoes Green, across from Dundonald Road, was also referred to locally as the Recreation Ground – and situated in a much larger area known as Ward’s Park.
1869 / The sports enthusiasts of Barbadoes Green decide to form Kilmarnock’s first football club. A general meeting is held at Robertson’s Temperance Hotel on Portland Street, January 5th, 1869, with a committee being chosen. The new club is called Kilmarnock Foot-Ball Club (FBC) – although it should be pointed out that is not clear if the foundation was official, given that no minutes of the meeting have been preserved
1872 / In October 1872, a new meeting was held by the club’s committee at the George Hotel. Recorded minutes from the meeting highlighted that interest in the game had increased as had the membership, leading to the decision being made to officially constitute the club as Kilmarnock Football Club (FC) – the reason why some today regard 1872 as the correct foundation year of the club, rather than 1869. Those present agree to a plan to purchase a set of rules to play the game of football properly. Moreover, an agreement is concluded between the club and a gentleman, Mr Wright, to rent his field at Dundonald Road, not far from the original location at Barbadoes Green for £3; in fact, this new location is closely situated to the future Rugby Park.
1873 / Kilmarnock FC takes part in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup, an annual knockout competition, as the club joins the Scottish Football Association; that same year, the club moves away from Dundonald Road, settling on a pitch referred to as Holm Quarry. Meanwhile, also in 1873, a second club is formed in Kilmarnock, Kilmarnock Portland FC, with the membership consisting of a group of cricket players. This new club settles on a newly laid-out pitch, referred to as Mr Blair’s Field, situated at Holehouse Road.
1874 / Moving away from Holm Quarry, Kilmarnock FC settles on a newly laid-out pitch to the west of the town centre, in an area referred to as The Grange.
1875 / Moving away from Mr Blair’s Field at Holehouse Road, Kilmarnock Portland FC settles on a newly laid-out pitch, known as Nursery Park, at West Netherton Street.
1876 / Moving away from The Grange, Kilmarnock FC returns to Holm Quarry, where the club had also played its matches in 1873-74.
1877 / Temporarily settling at The Grange again in September 1877 after a one-year spell at Holm Quarry, Kilmarnock FC moves to a new location at Dundonald Road – the site is now covered by Charles Street, very close to the present stadium. The site is chosen by Kilmarnock FC’s first director, Ross Quigley. With the new pitch being shared by cricket and also rugby teams, the latter connection leads to the ground being referred to locally as Rugby Park. The set-up is more ambitious than that of the previous locations, with a stand being erected along the west side of the pitch. Furthermore, a pavilion is constructed, while a running track is added around the edge. Meanwhile, Kilmarnock Portland FC moves away from Nursery Park after two years, settling at Hamilton Park – more or less next door to the new Rugby Park. Also in 1877, a third club sees the daylight in Kilmarnock; Kilmarnock Cricket & Football Club (CFC). This new team takes over Holm Quarry from Kilmarnock FC.
1878 / Kilmarnock C&FC takes on the new name Kilmarnock Athletic FC, as this club joins the Scottish FA.
1879 / With Kilmarnock FC threatening to be eclipsed by their two local rivals, Kilmarnock Portland FC wins the Burns Cup as well as reaching R4 of the Scottish Cup, while Kilmarnock Athletic FC takes home the Ayrshire Cup, defeating Portland in the final.
1882 / In a first remarkable success for local football, Kilmarnock Athletic FC reaches the semifinal of the Scottish Cup, in which the club is knocked out by Queen’s Park FC. Meanwhile, following two runner-up places (1878-79), Kilmarnock Portland FC finally wins the Ayrshire Cup, defeating Kilmarnock FC in the final. Portland also clinches the Merchant’s Charity Cup.
1883 / Kilmarnock Athletic FC wins its second Ayrshire Cup, while also taking home the Merchant’s City Cup and the Second XI Cup, beating Dumbarton FC in the final at Dumbarton’s ground, Boghead Park; moreover, this club also reaches the semis of the Scottish Cup for the second year in a row, bowing out against Vale of Leven FC after a replay. Meanwhile, after an existence of ten years, Kilmarnock Portland FC are wound up after losing its ground, Hamilton Park.
1884 / Defeating Hurlford FC in the final, Kilmarnock FC conquers its first Ayrshire Cup – with 42 more due to follow, the last being in 1998, when the tournament was held for the last time. Meanwhile, Kilmarnock Athletic FC wins its second consecutive Second XI Cup, defeating Dumbarton FC following a replay at Holm Quarry.
1885 / After an existence of barely eight years, Kilmarnock Athletic FC folds, ceasing all activities, as many of the club’s players choose to move to England, where professional football has been legalised. With Kilmarnock FC now being left as the only club in town, striker Alex Higgins becomes its first-ever player to be called up for Scotland’s national team; although scoring a hat-trick on his international debut against Ireland – resulting in a 8-2 win – Higgins is never called up again.
1891 / With cup competitions and friendly matches having made up the bulk of the football calendar until this point, Kilmarnock FC now joins the newly formed Scottish Football Alliance, a rival competition of the Scottish Football League, founded one year previously.
1892 / In the inaugural season of the SFA, Kilmarnock FC finishes as runner-up, 4 points behind champions Linthouse FC.
1893 / Leaving the Scottish Football Association after two years, Kilmarnock FC applies for membership of the Scottish Football League; however, upon being refused, the club joins the Ayrshire Football Combination.
1894 / A first international match is held at (the first) Rugby Park, as Scotland defeats Wales (5-2) in the British Home Championship, with some 10,000 in attendance. That same year, a second successive application by Kilmarnock FC to join the Scottish Football League is turned down.
1895 / After twice applying in vain, Kilmarnock FC is now admitted to the Scottish Football League, being placed in Division 2.
1898 / Kilmarnock FC clinches the title in SFL Division 2, 4 points ahead of closest followers Port-Glasgow Athletic FC. The successful coach is Charlie Smith. In spite of the title, the club is not elected to Division 1 for the 1898-99 season, with Clyde FC defeating the club on a second ballot as all three member clubs seeking re-election for the top flight were re-elected.
1899 / Champions in Division 2 for the second year running, finishing 5 points ahead of closest rivals Leith Athletic FC, Kilmarnock FC is elected to Division 1 this time around. The successful coach is Charlie Smith. In the summer of that year, the first home game of the new season against Celtic FC (2-2) marks Kilmarnock FC’s inaugural match at the new Rugby Park. The pitch had been moved south-westwards to give it its present position, with a new grandstand for spectators being built, designed by football stadium architect Archibald Leitch. Delays to the construction by joinery strikes resulted in workers only being able finish the grandstand on the morning of the first match.
1904 / Finishing bottom of the Division 1 table, Kilmarnock FC faces re-election for the first time, along with the club in second-last place, Motherwell FC. At the election, they receive eight votes, sufficient to be saved from relegation.
1906 / Kilmarnock FC ties for second-last place with Port-Glasgow Athletic FC in the 1905-06 season, as a result of which a play-off was arranged to decide who would be the second team to face re-election to Division 1, along with bottom side Queen’s Park FC. Port-Glasgow won the match comprehensively (6-0), but, after it was decided to increase the number of teams in Division 1, Kilmarnock as well as Queen’s Park were unanimously re-elected.
1910 / A second international match is played at Rugby Park – and the first at the location in use since 1899 – with Scotland narrowly defeating Wales (1-0) in the British Home Championship (att. 22,000).
1914 / Archibald Leitch’s grandstand at Rugby Park is extended. As World War I breaks out, several Kilmarnock players are called up to serve or volunteer to do so. No fewer than seven club members perish while under arms in the various war theatres; Alexander Barrie, James Maxwell, Alexander McCurdie, David Slimmon, Daniel McKellar, Charles Vickers, and naval volunteer John Rollo.
1918 / In the club’s best performance prior to World War II, Kilmarnock FC finishes in third place in Division 1, far behind the Old Firm duo Rangers FC and Celtic FC.
1920 / Kilmarnock FC conquers its first-ever Scottish Cup; following wins over, among others, Armadale FC and Morton FC, the club goes on to defeat Albion Rovers FC in the final (3-2), with Willie Culley, Mattha Shortt, and Jack Smith being the scorers in the encounter, played at Hampden Park (att. 95,000). The successful manager is Hugh Spence. The cup success contrasts somewhat with Kilmarnock’s performance in Division 1, where the club is little more than an also-ran.
1923 / Kilmarnock’s forward player Willie Culley, who had joined the club in 1912 from Ardrossan Winton Rovers FC, leaves to sign a deal with Clyde FC. He scored 74 goals in official matches for Kilmarnock, including one in the 1920 Scottish Cup final. Following spells at three English clubs, Culley would return to Kilmarnock in 1929 to take the club’s reserves’ team under his wing, ultimately hanging up his boots two years later.
1929 / In a cup run which saw them knock out the likes of Raith Rovers FC and Celtic FC, Kilmarnock FC goes on to clinch its second Scottish Cup, defeating Rangers FC in the final (2-0) at Hampden Park (att. 114,780), with Jock Aitken and Jimmy Williamson netting the goals. The successful coach is Hugh Spence. Also in 1929, Killie’s fullback Joe Nibloe makes his international debut for Scotland, going on to win a total of 11 caps for his country (1929-32). In his eight years with Kilmarnock (1924-32), Nibloe played 279 matches for the club.
1931 / Mattha Shortt, the only Kilmarnock player to feature in the 1920 as well as the 1929 Scottish Cup final wins, leaves the club, adding two more seasons at Ayr United FC to his playing career before hanging up his boots in 1933. In his fifteen-year spell at Kilmarnock, the striker played 413 matches for the club, scoring a total of 109 goals. Mattha Shortt would pass away in 1953 at the age of 55.
1932 / Kilmarnock FC reaches the Scottish Cup final for the third time, but suffer defeat against Rangers FC following a replay at Hampden Park (1-1, 3-0 / att. 112,000; 104,600).
1938 / Kilmarnock FC reaches the Scottish Cup final for the fourth time, but incurs a surprising defeat in the final against Division 2 side East Fife FC at Hampden Park (4-2 A.E.T.).
1940 / Following the outbreak of World War II the previous year, Rugby Park is requisitioned by the War Department for use as a fuel storage area due to its proximity to the Kilmarnock railway station and the ability for fuel tanks to be assembled underneath the stadium pitch. The board of directors of Kilmarnock FC ‘reluctantly’ agrees to the requisition of the stadium, announcing the suspension of playing ‘for the duration’. Meanwhile, Killie’s 27-year-old winger Benjamin Thomson (39 goals in 147 matches, 1934-39) perishes as a member of the merchant navy aboard the SS Balmore, as the ship is sunk by German Aircraft in the North Atlantic in November 1940.
1944 / In the Summer of 1944, the War Department prepares to hand Rugby Park back over to the club. The stadium, pitch and grandstand are found to be in an undesirable state after four years of military use. The club eventually receives government compensation for the damage caused. Works are undertaken on repairing the stadium, with Italian prisoners of war being used to build up the terracing.
1946 / Kilmarnock FC resumes its activities after a seven-year standstill.
1947 / Finishing in second-last place in Division A – as Division 1 has been renamed – with manager Tom Smith, Kilmarnock FC descends into Division B along with bottom club Hamilton Academical FC. This marks the end of 48 consecutive years of top flight football.
1953 / Kilmarnock FC reaches the League Cup final for the first time, suffering defeat against Dundee FC at Hampden Park (2-0). Some months later, in October 1953, floodlights are inaugurated at Rugby Park, with a friendly match against Manchester United FC being held to mark the occasion (0-3).
1954 / Runner-up in Division B, 3 points behind champions Motherwell FC, Kilmarnock FC manages a return to Division A (renamed Division 1 in 1956) after seven years. The successful manager is Malky MacDonald.
1957 / Equalling the club’s best performance, dating back 1918, Kilmarnock FC finishes in third place in Division 1 behind Rangers FC and Heart of Midlothian FC. That same season, the club reaches the Scottish Cup final for the fifth time, however losing to Falkirk (2-1 A.E.T.) at Hampden Park. For the start of the 1957-58 season, Killie is joined by former Rangers FC and Scottish international player as its new manager; Waddell’s arrival would mark the start of the glory years in club history.
1960 / In a season marked by the absence of success for either of the Old Firm clubs, Kilmarnock FC finishes as runner-up in Division 1, 4 points behind champions Heart of Midlothian FC. Moreover, the club also reaches the final of the Scottish Cup for the sixth time, yet again finding itself on the losing side following defeat at the hands of Rangers FC (2-0) at Hampden Park (att. 108,017). Following its second place finish in the league, Kilmarnock could have been put forward as one of Scotland’s entrants for the following season’s Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Instead, the Scottish FA sent the team to North America to play in the International Soccer League, serving as Scotland's representative. Kilmarnock remained unbeaten in the group stage in New York and Jersey City, with wins over FC Bayern München and English league champions Burnley FC. Killie returned to North America later that summer to compete in the final of the one-off cup competition, losing 2-0 to Brazilian side Bangu AC.
1961 / Kilmarnock FC finishes as runner-up in Division 1 for the second year running, this time just 1 point behind champions Rangers FC. Rangers also block the way to other silverware, as this club defeats Killie in the final of the League Cup at Hampden Park (2-0). Also in 1961, the grandstand at Rugby Park is extensively re-modelled and re-roofed. In reality a new grandstand, the construction can accommodate 4,000 spectators.
1963 / Kilmarnock FC finishes as runner-up in Division 1 for the third year running, 9 points behind champions Rangers FC. The club also suffers defeat in the League Cup final for the second year in a row, with Heart of Midlothian FC walking away as 1-0 winners at Hampden Park.
1964 / Kilmarnock FC finishes as runner-up in Division 1 for the fourth year running, 6 points behind champions Rangers FC. Also, finally, after years of being overlooked, the club is forwarded by the Scottish FA for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup for the first time, knocking out West Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt in R1 (5-4 aggr.) and bowing out in R2 following a 6-1 (aggr.) defeat at the hands of Everton FC. Also in 1964, Kilmarnock goalkeeper Campbell Forsyth earns 4 caps for the Scottish national team, going on to earn a transfer to Southampton FC the following year.
1965 / In what is the biggest achievement in club history, Kilmarnock FC clinches the Scottish league title, finishing with an equal number of points as runner-up Heart of Midlothian FC and just 1 point ahead of third-placers Dunfermline Athletic FC. The title was awarded to Kilmarnock due to having a better goal difference than Hearts (1.878 vs. 1.836). In a nail-biting end of the title race, the Edinburgh side are pipped at the post by Killie, with Willie Waddell’s team walking away as 2-0 winners at Tynecastle on the last day of the season thanks to goals scored by Davie Sneddon and Brian McIlroy. Also in 1965, after eight years with the club, manager Willie Waddell leaves Kilmarnock to focus on a new career as a sports journalist. He took charge of Kilmarnock in 389 competitive matches, winning 215 (55%), the club's best-ever ratio for a manager. In the new season, Kilmarnock FC is Scotland’s representative in the European Cup, knocking out Albania’s 17 Nëntori in R1 (1-0 aggr.), but having the misfortune of drawing Real Madrid CF in R2, with the Spaniards easing to a 7-3 (aggr.) victory.
1966 / Unable to repeat the upset of the previous season, Kilmarnock FC finishes in third place in Division 1 behind the reasserted old order, with Celtic FC taking first place and Rangers FC as runners-up.
1967 / Inside-forward Davie Sneddon, who had joined the club from Preston North End FC five years previously, leaves the club to sign a contract with Raith Rovers FC. Sneddon, who had been a key member of the 1965 title winning squad, would return to Rugby Park as caretaker manager and manager in subsequent years. In the 1967-68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Kilmarnock FC draws a bye in R1, going on to knock out Belgian sides R Antwerp FC (8-2 agr.) and ARA La Gantoise (3-1 aggr.) in the following two rounds, going on to edge past 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig (2-1 aggr.) before eventually bowing out against Leeds United FC in the semifinal (4-2 aggr.).
1969 / Having finished in fourth place in Division 1, Kilmarnock FC takes part in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup for the third time, knocking out FC Zürich (5-4 aggr.) and FD Slavia Sofia (4-3 aggr.) in the first two rounds, before suffering elimination at the hands of Dinamo Bacău (3-1 aggr).
1970 / In spite of only having managed a seventh place in Division 1 in the 1969-70 season, the worst achievement in over ten years, Kilmarnock FC is forwarded to take part in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, in which the club suffers an astonishing defeat against Northern-Irish minnows Coleraine FC in R1 (4-3 aggr.).
1971 / Midfielder Tommy McLean, who had broken into Kilmarnock’s first team in 1964 at the age of 17, leaves the club to sign a deal with Rangers FC after 264 matches (48 goals) for Killie. McLean, who would go on to play eleven more years at Ibrox, also made his Scotland debut as a Kilmarnock player in 1967, going on to win a total of 9 caps for his country.
1972 / Midfielder Frank Beattie, who had spent his entire 19-year-long professional league career at Rugby Park, hangs up his boots at the age of 38. Beattie wore the Kilmarnock shirt in 422 official matches (34 goals), being the captain of the squad who won the 1965 Scottish title.
1973 / Coached by caretaker Davie Sneddon, who had replaced Walter McCrae in the course of the season, Kilmarnock FC finishes in second-last place in Division 1, thus descending into Division 2 after nineteen years, along with bottom club Airdrieonians FC. The golden years in Killie’s club history are over.
1974 / Runner-up in Division 2, 2 points behind champions Airdrieonians FC, Kilmarnock FC manages an immediate return to the top flight of Scottish football. The successful manager is Willie Fernie.
1975 / As a Premier Division is introduced as the new top level of the Scottish football pyramid, with the ten best teams in Division 1 qualifying, Kilmarnock FC just misses out, as the club finishes in twelfth place – thus in effect being relegated, without suffering relegation, to the second tier.
1976 / Runner-up in Division 1, 6 points behind champions Partick Thistle FC, Kilmarnock FC wins promotion to the Premier Division. The successful manager is Willie Fernie.
1977 / Finishing bottom of the table in the Premier Division with manager Willie Fernie, Kilmarnock FC drops back into Division 1 after just one year, along with the club in second-last place, Heart of Midlothian FC.
1979 / Runner-up in Division 1, 1 point behind champions Dundee FC, Kilmarnock FC wins promotion to the Premier Division. The successful manager is former club player Davie Sneddon.
1981 / Finishing in second-last place in the Premier Division with manager Davie Sneddon, Kilmarnock FC drops back into Division 1, along with bottom club Heart of Midlothian FC.
1982 / Runner-up in Division 1, 10 points behind runaway champions Motherwell FC, Kilmarnock FC manages a return to the Premier Division after just one year. The successful manager is Jim Clunie.
1983 / Finishing bottom of the Premier Division table with manager Jim Clunie, Kilmarnock FC drops back into Division 1 after one season only, accompanied by the club in second-last place, Morton FC.
1985 / Following the Bradford stadium fire in 1985, safety regulations are tightened, with the result being that capacity of Rugby Park in Kilmarnock is cut to 17,528 – but, given the lack of success the club is experiencing in the 1980s, this figure is rarely troubled.
1988 / Kilmarnock fullback Alan Robertson, who had spent his entire seventeen-year-long professional league career at Rugby Park, hangs up his boots at the age of 35 after 607 official matches (482 in the league) – making him club record holder in terms of number of appearances.
1989 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1 with manager Jim Fleeting, Kilmarnock FC is retrograded to the third level of the Scottish football pyramid for the first time, descending into Division 2 along with bottom club Queen of the South FC. In the end, Killie goes down on (a one-) goal difference (-13 vs. -12 for Clyde FC).
1990 / Runner-up in Division 2, 2 points behind champions Brechin City FC, Kilmarnock FC manages an immediate return to Division 1. The successful manager is Jim Fleeting. Following the 1989-90 season, 36-year-old goalkeeper Allan McCulloch hangs up his boots after seventeen years at Rugby Park – only interrupted by a short loan spell at St Mirren FC in 1978 – with 440 official appearances for Killie. Also in 1990, the Taylor Report is published, recommending that British stadiums should become all-seater. The board of directors at Kilmarnock initially proposes to move the club to an out-of-town site besides the A77 road, but this plan would be rejected by planning restrictions. From that point on, plans turn to redeveloping Rugby Park.
1993 / Runner-up in Division 1, 11 points behind runaway champions Raith Rovers FC, Kilmarnock FC manages a return to the Premier Division after ten years. The successful manager is Tommy Burns.
1994 / The last game before the reconstruction of Rugby Park is played on May 7th, 1994, when Kilmarnock beat rangers 1-0. Demolition work get underway the following day, with the West Stand receiving a major refurbishment in the following months, including new roofing and floodlights. Moreover, the covered terracing and covered enclosures of the stadium are demolished to make way for the construction of two new stands, the East Stand and the South Stand, with the latter being inaugurated as the Moffat Stand. These two new pieces of football furniture were first used in August and November 1994 respectively.
1995 / In the first phase of the reconstruction of Rugby Park, the north terracing area had remained in use, but this was demolished in 1995 to allow the construction of the new North Stand, inaugurated as the Chadwick Stand in April 1995 with a match against Rangers FC. With the redevelopment of the ground now complete, the reconstruction of Rugby Park, turning it into a 18,128 all-seater stadium, took 49 weeks to complete, with only the west stand having remained in place. The official opening of the reconstructed Rugby Park occurred in August 1995 with a gala match against English champions Blackburn Rovers FC (0-5, hat-trick by Alan Shearer).
1997 / Qualifying for the final of the Scottish Cup following successive wins over East Stirlingshire FC, Clyde FC, Greenock Morton FC, and Dundee United FC, Kilmarnock goes on to clinch its third-ever cup win – and the first since 1929 – following a sole Paul Wright goal condemning Falkirk FC at Ibrox Stadium. The successful manager is Bobby Williamson. Thus qualifying for the Cup Winners’ Cup, Kilmarnock FC knocks out Shelbourne FC in the qualifying round (3-2 aggr.), but suffers elimination in R1 at the hands of OGC Nice (4-2 aggr.). Also in 1997, Rugby Park stages two Scotland international matches, a World Cup qualifier against Estonia (2-0, att. 17,996) and a friendly against Wales (0-1).
1998 / Finishing in fourth place in the Premier Division – the best league result for the club since the golden 1960s – Kilmarnock FC qualifies for the UEFA Cup, in which Killie knocks out FK Željezničar in qualifying round 1 (2-1 aggr.), only to be knocked out in the following qualifying round by SK Sigma Olomouc (4-0 aggr.). Also in 1998, Rugby Park hosts the last-ever Ayrshire Cup final, as Kilmarnock clinches the trophy by beating Ayr United FC (4-2). For the new season, Scottish international midfielder Ian Durrant joins Kilmarnock from Rangers FC. Durrant, who continued to be called up for Scotland’s national side following his arrival at Rugby Park, would hang up his boots in the summer of 2002.
1999 / Defender Ray Montgomerie, who had joined Kilmarnock from Dumbarton FC in 1988, leaves the club after eleven years (313 matches), leaving for Partick Thistle FC. In the summer of 1999, league regulations meant that Kilmarnock had to install undersoil heating at the ground. In August of that year, Kilmarnock celebrated one hundred years at Rugby Park with a victory over KR (Reykjavík) in the qualifying round of the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup, with the club bowing out in R1 of the competition against 1. FC Kaiserslautern (5-0 aggr.).
2001 / Kilmarnock FC reaches the final of the League Cup, but has to leave the honours to Celtic FC at Hampden Park (3-0). Finishing in fourth place in the Premier Division, the club qualifies for the UEFA Cup again, in which the club knocks out Glenavon FC in the qualifying round (2-0 aggr.), only to suffer a surprising defeat at the hands of Viking FK in R1 (3-1 aggr.). Also in 2001, Kilmarnock Scottish international midfielder Gary Holt, who had joined the club from Stoke City FC Reserves in 1995, earns himself a transfer to Norwich City FC. Holt would go on to have spells at Nottingham Forest FC, Wycombe Wanderers FC, and Colchester United FC before bowing out into non-league with Lowestoft Town FC in 2009.
2002 / Inauguration of the Park Hotel on a site adjacent to Rugby Park. Owned by the club itself, the four-star hotel was built on the site of Kilmarnock’s training pitch.
2005 / Rugby Park is the venue for an Elton John summer concert. Eleven years later, the ground would also see Rod Stewart taking the stage.
2006 / Having earned a place in Kilmarnock’s first team as a youth academy player of the club at the age of eighteen in 2001, Kris Boyd now earns himself a transfer to Rangers FC. The striker, who also made his Scotland international debut in 2006, would go on to have spells at Middlesbrough FC, Nottingham Forest FC, Eskişehirspor Kulübü, and Portland Timbers in the following years.
2007 / Kilmarnock FC reaches the League Cup final, played at Hampden Park, in which the club is annihilated by Hibernian FC (5-1).
2009 / Ultimate Kilmarnock club legend Frank Beattie, the captain of the 1965 Scottish title winning squad, passes away at the age of 76.
2010 / The West Stand, the main stand of Rugby Park, is renamed Frank Beattie Stand in honour of the club legend who passed away the year before. Also in 2010, Kilmarnock FC signs former Finnish international Mixu Paatelainen as its new manager. Apart from spells as a player at various Scottish clubs – not including Kilmarnock FC – Paatelainen had also defended the colours of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and RC Strasbourg.
2011 / Manager Mixu Paatelainen leaves Kilmarnock FC after just one season to become the manager of Finland’s national team. Also in 2011, 18-year-old youth academy winger Rory McKenzie earns his place in Kilmarnock’s first team. Apart from a short loan spell at Brechin City FC in 2012, McKenzie spent his entire career at Rugby Park, approaching the line of 400 official matches for the club in 2026.
2012 / Kilmarnock FC wins the Scottish League Cup for the first time in history, with a sole goal by Belgian striker Dieter Van Tornhout deciding the match against Celtic FC at Hampden Park. The successful manager is Kenny Shiels.
2013 / After seven years away from the club, striker Kris Boyd joins Kilmarnock from Portland Timbers, going on to have a successful 2013-14 season, in which he scored 25 league goals – thus earning himself a new transfer to Rangers FC. His striking partner at Rugby Park is Finnish international centre-forward Alexei Eremenko, who joined from FC Kairat in Kazakhstan; Eremenko would stay at Killie for two years, ultimately leaving for FF Jaro in 2015.
2014 / The pitch of Rugby Park is laid out anew with a 3G artificial surface. Later that same year, the ground hosts a rugby union match between Scotland-Tonga – the first-ever rugby international featuring a tier 1 nation to be played on artificial surface. Two years later, another Scotland rugby match would be staged in Kilmarnock, with Georgia being the opponent.
2015 / After one year at Rangers, striker Kris Boyd returns to Kilmarnock FC for a third spell at the club.
2016 / Finishing in second-last place in the Premier Division, Kilmarnock FC saves its skin by having the better of Falkirk FC in the promotion-relegation play-off final (4-1 aggr.).
2017 / Former St Mirren FC and Chelsea FC professional league player Steve Clarke signs a contract as the new manager of Kilmarnock FC.
2019 / Kilmarnock FC finishes in third place in the Premier Division behind Celtic FC and Rangers FC – the best league achievement of the club in over fifty years. Manager Steve Clarke leaves the club after two years to become Scotland manager. Moreover, striker Kris Boyd hangs up his boots after three spells at Kilmarnock, which saw him net 121 goals in official matches for the club. In mid-2019, Kilmarnock signs Finnish international defender Niko Hämäläinen from Los Angeles FC; the high-profile signing would only stay at Rugby Park for one season, though, as he returns to the Californian club. Having qualified for international football for the first time in the 2010s by virtue of its excellent league result, Kilmarnock FC is humiliated in qualifying roud 1 of the UEFA Cup, suffering defeat against Welsh side Connah’s Quay Nomads FC (3-2 aggr.). Also in 2019, safe standing is introduced in the lower deck of the Moffat Stand (South Stand) of Rugby Park.
2021 / Finishing in second-last place in the Premier Division with manager Tommy Wright, who replaced Alex Dyer in the course of the season, Kilmarnock FC goes on to suffer defeat in the promotion-relegation play-off final against Dundee FC (4-2 aggr.). As such, the club descends into the Championship – as the antechamber of Scottish football has meanwhile been renamed – along with bottom club Hamilton Academical FC. Furthermore, during the 2021-22 season offices are installed in the upper deck of the Moffat Stand, reducing the seating capacity of the stadium to 15,552.
2022 / Champions in the Championship, 2 points ahead of runner-up Arbroath FC, Kilmarnock FC manages an immediate return to the Premier Division. The successful manager is Derek McInnes, who replaced Tommy Wright in the course of the season.
2024 / Finishing in fourth place in the Premier Division, Kilmarnock FC qualifies for the Europa League, in which the club is knocked out at the first hurdle, qualifying round 2, by Cercle Brugge KSV (2-1 aggr.). Tumbling into the Conference League, the club goes on to eliminate Tromsø IL in qualifying round 3 (3-2 aggr.), before bowing out against FC København in the play-off round (3-1 aggr.).
2026 (projected) / As a ban on artificial pitches in the top tier of the Scottish league pyramid is introduced, Kilmarnock FC replaces its 3G pitch for a natural grass pitch in the summer of 2026.