List of Kilmarnock F.C. seasons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of seasons played by Kilmarnock Football Club, an association football club based in Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland, up to the present day. The list details the club's record in major league and cup competitions. Records of regular minor competitions, such as the Ayrshire Cup which Kilmarnock won 43 times, are not included.

Summary[]

Kilmarnock's league performance from their first season in 1895 to the 2018–19 season.

Kilmarnock F.C. was founded in 1869 during a general meeting at Robertson's Temperance Hotel on Portland Street.[1] The club first played professional football in 1873 when they participated in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup, an annual knockout competition. They did not play league fixtures until 1895 when they joined the Scottish Football League, competing in the 1895–96 Scottish Division Two.

Having won the Scottish Cup twice (1920[2] and 1929)[3] from five appearances in the final before the Second World War,[4] the club's finest achievement was winning the Scottish league title in 1964–65, securing the championship on goal average on the final day by beating direct challengers Hearts 2–0 away from home.[5] It ended a long wait for a trophy – they had been runners-up in four of the past five seasons, and had lost in major domestic cup finals four times in the previous seven years. In the 1966–67 season, Kilmarnock reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, but this was to mark the end of their spell of high achievement, and by 1972–73 they had been relegated for only the second time in their history.

They spent the next two decades regularly swapping between the first and second levels (and one season in the third) before going up to the top tier in 1992–93; they have remained there since, with only three other clubs having longer current runs at that level. Killie won the Scottish Cup for a third time in 1997,[6] and finally claimed the Scottish League Cup, in their sixth appearance in the final, in 2012.[7] In 2018–19, the club's 150th anniversary season, they finished in 3rd place in the Scottish Premiership, their highest position and points total in the modern era.[8]

On 24th May 2021 Kilmarnock were relegated to the Scottish Championship. This is the first time in 28 years they will have played out of the top flight.

Seasons[]

Pre-1891[]

Between the club's formation in 1869 and 1891 – when they joined the Scottish Football Alliance – Kilmarnock only competed in cup competitions including the Scottish Cup and the Ayrshire Cup.

Season Scottish Cup Ayrshire Cup Kilmarnock Merchants' Charity Cup Ayr Charity Cup Glasgow Exhibition Cup
1873–74 First round [a] [b] [c] [d]
1874–75 Second round
1875–76 Second round
1876–77 Second round
1877–78 Second round Second round
1878–79 First round First round
1879–80 Second round Third round
1880–81 Third round Third round
1881–82 Fifth round Runner-up First round
1882–83 Second round First round First round
1883–84 Third round Winners Winners
1884–85 Second round Winners Runner-up Runner-up
1885–86 Second round Winners Winners [c]
1886–87 Quarter-final Second round Runner-up
1887–88 Fourth round Third round Runner-up Winners
1888–89 Second round Semi-final Runner-up Semi-final First round
1889–90 First round First round Semi-final [c] [d]
1890–91 First round Winners [b]
Notes
  1. ^
    a- The Ayrshire Cup wasn't played until season 1877–78.[9]
  2. ^
    b- The Kilmarnock Merchants' Charity Cup wasn't played until season 1880–81. Kilmarnock did not enter the competition in 1880–81 or 1890–91.[10]
  3. ^
    c- The Ayr Charity Cup wasn't played until season 1884–85. Kilmarnock did not enter the competition in 1885–86, 1886–87, 1889–90 or 1890–91.[11]
  4. ^
    d- The Glasgow Exhibition Cup was a one-off tournament played in 1888.[12]

1891–1914[]

Season League record Scottish Cup Other competitions
Division Pos P W D L F A Pts Competition Result
1891–92 2nd 22 13 3 6 73 38 29 Second round Ayrshire Cup Third round
Kilmarnock Merchants' Charity Cup Winners
1892–93 7th 18 4 5 9 42 50 13 Second round
Ayrshire Football Combination 5th 12 5 1 6 34 24 11 First round
Ayrshire Football Combination 3rd 16 16[e] Second round
SFL Division Two 4th[f] 18 10 1 7 45 45 21 First round
SFL Division Two 3rd[g] 18 10 1 7 44 33 21 Semi-final Scottish Qualifying Cup Winners
SFL Division Two 1st[h] 18 14 1 3 64 29 29 Runner-up
SFL Division Two promoted 1st[i] 18 14 4 0 73 24 32 Quarter-final
SFL Division One 5th 18 6 6 6 30 37 18 Quarter-final Glasgow & West of Scotland League Joint winners
SFL Division One 5th 20 7 4 9 35 47 18 Second round
SFL Division One 7th 18 5 6 7 21 25 16 Quarter-final
SFL Division One 9th 22 6 4 12 24 43 16 Second round
SFL Division One 14th[j] 26 4 5 17 24 63 13 Quarter-final
SFL Division One 9th 26 9 5 12 29 45 23 First round
SFL Division One 15th[k] 30 8 4 18 46 68 20 Second round Glasgow & West of Scotland League Winners
SFL Division One 16th[l] 34 8 5 21 40 72 21 Second round
SFL Division One 14th 34 6 13 15 38 61 25 Semi-final
SFL Division One 10th 34 13 7 14 47 61 33 First round
SFL Division One 11th 34 12 8 14 53 60 32 First round
SFL Division One 10th 34 12 10 12 43 45 34 First round
SFL Division One 16th 34 11 4 19 38 60 26 Third round
SFL Division One 11th 34 10 11 13 37 54 31 Third round
SFL Division One 12th 38 11 9 18 48 68 31 Third round
Notes
  1. ^
    e- Kilmarnock were deducted 3 points in 1894–95.[13]
  2. ^
    f- Kilmarnock tied with Renton for third place in 1895–96 so a play-off was arranged to decide who would be the third team to go forward for election to Division One. Renton won the match 2–1 but amassed just one vote at the election and were not elected to Division One.[14]
  3. ^
    g- As one of the top three teams in Division Two, Kilmarnock were put forward for election to Division One. However, they did not receive a single vote at the election and remained in Division Two.[14]
  4. ^
    h- Despite winning Division Two, Kilmarnock were not elected to Division One for the 1898–99 season. Clyde defeated Kilmarnock on a second ballot as all three member clubs seeking re-election were re-elected.[14]
  5. ^
    i- Kilmarnock were elected to Division One for the first time after receiving 15 votes at the election.[14]
  6. ^
    j- As one of the bottom two teams, Kilmarnock faced re-election for the first time. At the election, they received eight votes and were re-elected along with Motherwell.[14]
  7. ^
    k- Kilmarnock tied with Port Glasgow Athletic for 14th place in 1905–06 so a play-off was arranged to decide who would be the second team to face re-election to Division One. Port Glasgow Athletic won the match 6–0 but, after it was decided to increase the number of teams in Division One, Kilmarnock and Queen's Park were unanimously re-elected.[14]
  8. ^
    l- Kilmarnock tied with Port Glasgow Athletic and Hamilton Academical for 14th place in 1906–07 but it was decided not to arrange a three-way play-off and all three clubs were put up for re-election to Division One. The trio were subsequently re-elected.[14]

1914–19[]

During World War I a number of changes were introduced, the Scottish Cup was suspended for the duration of the conflict and a number of teams were weakened as players went off to fight in the war. Kilmarnock continued to compete in the Scottish Football League.

Season League record Other competitions
Division Pos P W D L F A Pts Competition Result
SFL Division One 12th 38 15 4 19 55 59 34
SFL Division One 10th 38 12 11 15 46 49 35
SFL Division One 6th 38 18 7 13 69 45 43
SFL Division One 3rd 34 19 5 10 69 41 43 War Fund Shield Quarter-final
SFL Division One 9th 34 14 7 13 61 59 35 Victory Cup First round

Key[]

Season League record Scottish Cup League Cup Europe / Other competitions
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Competition Result
Division One 42 20 3 19 59 74 43 9th W N/A[a] N/A
Division One 42 17 8 17 62 68 42 12th R2
Division One 42 13 9 20 56 83 35 17th R2
Division One 38 14 7 17 57 66 35 15th R2
Division One 38 12 8 18 48 65 32 16th R4
Division One 38 12 9 17 53 64 33 12th QF
Division One 38 17 7 14 79 77 41 9th R1
Division One 38 12 8 18 54 71 32 16th R2
Division One 38 15 10 13 68 78 40 8th R3
Division One 38 14 8 16 79 74 36 10th W
Division One 38 15 9 14 77 73 39 8th R2
Division One 38 15 5 18 59 60 35 11th SF
Division One 38 16 7 15 68 70 39 9th RU
Division One 38 13 9 16 72 86 35 14th R4
Division One 38 17 9 12 73 64 43 7th R2
Division One 38 16 6 16 76 68 38 9th R2
Division One 38 14 7 17 69 64 35 8th R2
Division One 38 14 9 15 60 70 37 11th R1
Division One 38 12 9 17 65 91 33 18th RU
Division One 38 15 9 14 73 86 39 10th R2
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to World War II. Unofficial competitions were held, but Kilmarnock only took part in the 1939–40 and 1945–46 seasons, as their Rugby Park ground was used as a munitions store by the British Army during the conflict.[4] *Emergency League West – 8th
*Emergency Cup – QF
1940–41 N/A
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
*Southern League - 15th
*Southern League Cup – GS
*Victory Cup – R2[15]
down-arrow Division One relegated 30 6 9 15 44 66 21 15th R1 R1 N/A
Division Two 30 13 4 13 72 62 30 6th R1 R1
Division Two 30 9 7 14 58 61 25 11th R1 R1
Division Two 30 14 5 11 50 43 33 7th R1 R1
Division Two 30 8 8 14 44 49 24 12th R1 R1
Division Two 30 16 2 12 62 48 34 5th R2 R1
Division Two 30 17 2 11 74 48 36 4th R2 RU
Up-arrow Division Bpromoted 30 19 4 7 71 39 42 2nd R2 QF
Division One 30 10 6 14 46 58 26 10th R6 R1
Division One 34 12 10 12 52 45 34 8th R6 R1
Division One 34 16 10 8 57 39 42 3rd RU R1
Division One 34 14 9 11 60 55 37 5th R3 QF
Division One 34 13 8 13 58 51 34 8th QF SF
Division One 34 24 2 8 67 45 50 2nd RU R1
Division One 34 21 8 5 77 45 50 2nd R2 RU
Division One 34 16 10 8 74 58 42 5th QF R1
Division One 34 20 8 6 92 40 48 2nd R2 RU
Division One 34 22 5 7 77 40 49 2nd SF R1 Summer Cup SF[16]
1964–65 Division One 34 22 6 6 62 33 50 1st QF R1 *Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
*Summer Cup		 *R2
*GS
Division One 34 20 5 9 73 46 45 3rd QF SF European Cup R1
Division One 34 16 8 10 59 46 40 7th R1 R1 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup SF
Division One 34 13 8 13 59 57 34 7th R1 QF N/A
Division One 34 15 14 5 50 32 44 4th QF R1
Division One 34 13 10 11 62 57 36 7th SF R1 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup R3
Division One 34 10 8 16 43 67 28 13th QF R1 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup R1
Division One 34 11 6 17 49 64 28 11th SF R1 N/A
down-arrow Division One relegated 34 7 8 19 40 71 22 17th R4 R1 Texaco Cup R1
Up-arrow Division Two promoted 36 26 6 4 96 44 58 2nd R3 SF N/A
down-arrow Division One relegated 34 8 15 11 52 68 31 12th R3 QF Drybrough Cup R1
Up-arrow First Division promoted 26 16 3 7 44 29 40 2nd QF R1 Spring Cup GS
down-arrow Premier Division relegated 36 4 9 23 32 71 17 10th R3 R1 N/A
First Division 39 14 12 13 52 46 40 6th QF R2
Up-arrow First Division promoted 39 22 10 7 72 35 54 2nd R4 R3
Premier Division 36 11 11 14 36 52 33 8th R3 QF Drybrough Cup SF
down-arrow Premier Division relegated 36 5 9 22 23 65 19 9th R4 R3 N/A
Up-arrow First Division promoted 39 17 17 5 60 29 51 2nd QF R1
down-arrow Premier Division relegated 36 3 11 22 28 91 17 10th R3 QF
First Division 39 16 6 17 57 53 38 6th R3 R3
First Division 39 12 10 17 42 61 34 12th R3 R3
First Division 39 18 8 13 62 49 44 3rd R4 R2
First Division 44 17 11 16 62 53 45 6th R3 R2
First Division 44 13 11 20 55 61 37 10th R3 R2
down-arrow First Division relegated 39 10 14 15 47 60 34 13th R3 R3
Up-arrow Second Division promoted 39 21 5 13 67 41 47 2nd R2 R2
First Division 39 15 13 11 58 48 43 5th R4 R3 Challenge Cup SF
First Division 44 21 12 11 59 37 54 4th R3 R3 Challenge Cup R2
Up-arrow First Division promoted 44 21 12 11 67 40 54 2nd R4 QF Challenge Cup QF
Premier Division 44 12 16 16 36 45 40 8th SF R2 N/A
Premier Division[b] 36 11 10 15 40 48 43 7th QF R3
Premier Division 36 11 8 17 39 54 41 7th R4 R3
1996–97 Premier Division 36 11 6 19 41 61 39 7th W R2
1997–98 Premier Division 36 13 11 12 40 52 50 4th R4 R3 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup R1
1998–99 SPL 36 14 14 8 47 29 56 4th R3 QF UEFA Cup QR2
1999–2000 SPL 36 8 13 15 38 52 37 9th R3 SF UEFA Cup R1
2000–01 SPL 38 15 9 14 44 53 54 4th QF RU N/A
2001–02 SPL 38 13 10 15 44 54 49 5th R4 R3 UEFA Cup R1
2002–03 SPL 38 16 9 13 47 56 57 4th R3 R2 N/A
2003–04 SPL 38 12 6 20 51 74 42 10th R4 R2
2004–05 SPL 38 15 4 19 49 55 49 7th R4 R3
2005–06 SPL 38 15 10 13 63 64 55 5th R3 R3
2006–07 SPL 38 16 7 15 47 54 55 5th R3 RU
2007–08 SPL 38 10 10 18 39 52 40 11th R5 R3
2008–09 SPL 38 12 8 18 38 48 44 8th R5 QF
2009–10 SPL 38 8 9 21 29 51 33 11th QF R3
2010–11 SPL 38 13 10 15 53 55 49 5th R4 QF
2011–12 SPL 38 11 14 13 44 61 47 7th R5 W
2012–13 SPL 38 11 12 15 52 53 45 9th QF R2
2013–14 Premiership 38 11 6 21 45 66 39 9th R4 R2
2014–15 Premiership 38 11 8 19 44 59 41 10th R4 R3
2015–16 Premiership 38 9 9 20 41 64 36 11th[c] R5 R3
2016–17 Premiership 38 9 14 15 36 56 41 8th R4 R1
2017–18 Premiership 38 16 11 11 49 47 59 5th QF R2
2018–19 Premiership 38 19 10 9 50 31 67 3rd R5 R2
2019–20 Premiership[d] 30 9 6 15 31 41 33 8th R5 QF UEFA Europa League QR1
2020-21 down-arrow Premiership relegated 38 10 6 22 43 54 36 11th QF GS

Notes[]

  1. ^ The Scottish League Cup competition did not begin until 1946.
  2. ^ 3 points for a win came into effect.
  3. ^ Remained in the Premiership via the play-offs, beating Championship runners-up Falkirk 4–1 on aggregate in the final.[17]
  4. ^ The 2019–20 Scottish Premiership was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. The season was subsequently curtailed on 18 May 2020 and a points-per-game average was used to calculate a final table.[18]

League performance summary[]

The Scottish Football League was founded in 1890 and, other than during seven years of hiatus during World War II,[a] the national top division has been played every season since.[b] The following is a summary of Kilmarnock's divisional status:

  • 123 total eligible seasons (including 2019–20)
  • 92 seasons in top level[c]
  • 25 seasons in second level[d]
  • 1 season in third level[e]
  • 0 seasons in fourth level[f]
  • 5 seasons not involved – before club was league member
  1. ^ The incomplete 1939–40 edition has not been counted in the totals.
  2. ^ The top tier became the Scottish Premier League in 1998, and all four divisions became the Scottish Professional Football League in 2013.
  3. ^ Has existed between 1890–1939, and since 1946.
  4. ^ Has existed between 1893–1915, 1921–1939 and since 1946.
  5. ^ Has existed between 1923–1926, 1946–1949, and since 1976.
  6. ^ Has existed since 1994.

References[]

  1. ^ Ross, David (1994). Killie: The Official History. Harefield: The Bath Press. ISBN 1-874427-75-5.
  2. ^ Killie Win Their 1st of 3 Scottish Cups, KillieFC.com
  3. ^ Killie Win The Cup For The Second Time, KillieFC.com
  4. ^ a b Killie History ..1869-1950 "In The Beginning", KillieFC.com
  5. ^ Killie Clinch Championship On The Final Day, KillieFC.com
  6. ^ Killie Win Their Third Scottish Cup, KillieFC.com
  7. ^ Killie Complete Their Domestic Treble, KillieFC.com
  8. ^ Kilmarnock 2–1 Rangers, BBC Sport, 19 May 2019
  9. ^ "Ayrshire Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Kilmarnock Merchants' Charity Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Ayr Charity Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Glasgow Exhibition Trophy". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Ayrshire Football Combination". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Scottish League Re-elections and Elections". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Victory Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Summer Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  17. ^ English, Tom (22 May 2016). "Kilmarnock 4–0 Falkirk". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""