Killie Histories

Episode 11: George Maxwell

A tenacious, ubiquitous presence in the Kilmarnock midfield - and defence - in a career of three decades, 13 years and close to 400 games. George Maxwell made no opponent's life easy!

George reflects on the 2-0 victory against Celtic in 1979, Kilmarnock making it a full year unbeaten at home.

And, of course, he talks about having the hardest shot in Scottish football - and the trophy to prove it!

From joining 'the team of the 60s' to some challenging years ahead, George gives a fascinating, footballer's take on the game in the 1970s.

 

www.killiehistories.com/georgemaxwell

Episode 12: Craig Brown

Craig Brown's Kilmarnock Carol: A Christmas special, featuring the legendary Dundee league-winner and Scotland manager and his reminiscences of Kilmarnock greats of years gone by.

Stave 1: Ghosting Steve Clarke

Stave 2: Mr Waddell and the year nineteen hundred and fifty seven

Stave 3: Young Brown and of legendary moments

Stave 4: Merriment with that good fellow Mr Burns

Stave 5: The ending of Mr Montgomerie

 

www.killiehistories.com/craigbrown

Episode 13: The 'AT Mays' Eleven

The 1990s: a decade of success-on-success for Kilmarnock Football Club.

Mark Reilly played over 300 games in teams which brought Killie back to the top table in Scottish football. Here, the defensive midfielder, so popular with his teammates, chooses his strongest team from the wonderful ‘AT Mays years’.

AT Mays, you ask? Check out the splendid retro kits!

www.killiehistories.com/atmays

Episode 14: Derrick McDicken

Every team in the 1970s needed their hard men. Or so the truism goes. But was that all there was to the imposing six feet three inches of Derrick McDicken; being ‘tough’? In short: no. But, as Paul Clarke, central defensive partner of over 300 games, attests, there is no doubt that ‘Big D’ was a hard player on the park!

In a twelve year first team career at Kilmarnock Football Club, Derrick McDicken wore every shirt on his back apart from the goalkeeper’s. His versatility did not - as is often the case - cloud judgement of him as a player. There was no doubt that centre half was his best position. That said, even when asked to play on the wing, Derrick did so, without hesitation.

The interest from West Ham United in the menacing big stopper is well-documented, as is his role in the famous Scottish Cup shock of 1978, his winner and goal-saving clearance contributing to a fondly-remembered victory against Celtic. In this episode of Killie Histories, Derrick McDicken reflects on those moments, gives an insight into the dressing room characters and the renowned defence he starred in, and he talks about why joining Kilmarnock meant so much to him.

A Hall of Famer and a fans’ favourite: Big D.

www.killiehistories.com/derrickmcdicken

Episode 15: Paul Wright

There is so much more to Paul Wright than scoring the winning goal in the 1997 Scottish Cup final. But that is no bad place to start. His poacher’s strike against Falkirk is the most important of his 72 in Ayrshire.

Killie were fortunate to acquire Paul Wright. In peak form at St Johnstone, the striker suffered a serious injury which ruled him out for over a year. Alex Totten, keen to work once more with a trusted goalscorer, brought ‘Bunion’ to Ayrshire for £340,000 on transfer deadline day 1995. And it was a slow start as Paul fought to regain the fitness and match sharpness required. But with a full pre-season completed, 1995/96 saw a much better return: 13 league goals. And the next season, he finished the club’s top scorer a second time.

Although fondly remembered for his goalscoring - many of his strikes being thunderous drives requiring minimal backlift - Paul Wright’s game intelligence and link up play made him a highly valued member.

 

www.killiehistories.com/paulwright

Episode 16: Mixu Paatelainen

In May 2010, Kilmarnock’s last day, nerve-shredding scoreless draw with Falkirk kept the Ayrshire club in the Premier League - just. But, with Killie, the unexpected is always just around the corner. And the philosophy of the club was about to change significantly.

New manager Mixu Paatelainen brought with him an approach to football that placed an emphasis on technicality, style, tactical awareness and, most importantly, entertainment. After a slow start, a 3-0 win at Tynecastle started the motor running.

But by April 2011 it was all over. Mixu - soon to be named Manager of the Season - had excelled, and he received an offer he found impossible to refuse: manager of his national team. Finland’s gain was certainly Killie’s loss but what a year it was with Mixu Paatelainen...what a very good signing!

 

www.killiehistories.com/mixupaatelainen

Episode 17: The 2009 Ayrshire Derby

Season 2021/22 sees the return of the Ayrshire Derby as a league fixture for the first time in almost three decades.

Killie Histories heard from Hall of Fame member Garry Hay, reflecting on an epic, two-tie Scottish Cup battle in 2009.

Monsoon conditions; penalty miss; last minute equaliser; topless celebration with referee; handball goal; and a red card…what a 180 minutes!

 

www.killiehistories.com/derbydays

Episode 18: Freddie Dindeleux

Bobby Williamson had an eye for a Bosman free transfer signing. During the pre-season training camp of 1999, he invited Freddie Dindeleux on trial with the carrot of a new-TV-deal-funded contract for the French defender, recently released by his boyhood team, Lille. Lacking pace and physicality, with not a word of English, his eventual induction to the Kilmarnock Football Club Hall of Fame would have seemed unlikely in that first summer. But after a slow start, Freddie began to win over team mates and supporters alike.

After all, being able to run fast isn’t everything.

Freddie’s intuitive game awareness and positioning more than made up for any shortcomings. Bobby Williamson saw it straight away and, in due course, many would wonder how in fact the Kilmarnock manager had managed to sign Freddie in the first place…

But what else gave him that universal popularity which endures to this day? “The hair…THE HAIR!”

A stylish left-sided defender, a cult hero and a Hall of Fame member: Frédéric Dindeleux.

 

www.killiehistories.com/freddiedindeleux

Episode 19: Tom Brown

A modest marksman with an eye for the big moments, Tom Brown’s rapid albeit belated rise from junior football in the summer of 1993 marked a new beginning.

Following several ultimately unsuccessful attempts to realise his dream of professional status, it was another ‘TB’, the iconic Tommy Burns, who took a low stakes gamble (£160 per week low) by inviting Tom to train with the club for an extended trial period. Those battling qualities Killie fans came to admire in four successful years with the club secured a contract and a shot at Premier Division football.

And what a start it was.

An injury to Bobby Williamson resulted in the number 9 shirt hanging on Tom Brown’s Rugby Park peg for Kilmarnock’s first game of their long-awaited return to the topflight. One smart, instinctive finish later and he’s in the Sunday Mail team of the week! A fast start to a journey which ended at Hampden Park in May 1997…

 

www.killiehistories.com/tombrown

Episode 20: Pat Nevin

As an epilogue to a playing career that included fans’ favourite status at Clyde, Chelsea, Everton and Tranmere, what was it about 28-times-capped Pat Nevin’s brief spell at Kilmarnock that left such an impression on him, to the extent that he describes it as the most enjoyable in his distinguished career?

 

www.killiehistories.com/patnevin