1983–84 Kilmarnock F.C. season

Kilmarnock
1983–84 season
ChairmanTom Lauchlan[1]
ManagerJim Clunie[2][3]
Scottish First Division6th[2][3]
Scottish Cup3R[4][3]
Scottish League Cup3R[5][3]
Top goalscorerLeague: Brian Gallagher 11, Robert Clark 11[2][3]
All: Brian Gallagher 16[2][3]
Highest home attendance3,111 (v Partick Thistle, 31 December)[2][3]
Lowest home attendance460 (v Alloa Athletic, 28 April)[2][3]
Average home league attendance1,359[6] (down 2,103)

The 1983–84 season was Kilmarnock's 82nd in Scottish League Competitions.

After being relegated the previous season, the club's board of directors announced a plan in July to return to full time football for the first time since 1971. To raise the finance, the club proposed a covenant scheme which would involve 7,000 supporters pledging £30 per annum over a three or four year period.[7]

The plan was ditched in September due to the lack of response from supporters which was hardly surprising given that the average attendance the previous season was less than half of the required number.[8]

The support dwindled further during the season with 4 home league games recording an attendance of less than 1,000. The average attendance of 1,359 was the lowest recorded in the 20th century.[9]

On the field, Killie finished in mid table despite a promising start of 7 wins in their first 9 games. However, a run of 10 games without a win in the new year put the club near the relegation zone. Three wins from the final 5 games sealed their place in the league for another season.

Scottish First Division

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4 Clydebank 39 16 13 10 62 50 +12 45
5 Brechin City 39 14 14 11 56 58 −2 42
6 Kilmarnock 39 16 6 17 57 53 +4 38
7 Falkirk 39 16 6 17 46 54 −8 38
8 Clyde 39 12 13 14 53 50 +3 37
Source: RSSSF[dead link] and statto[10]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Match results

Match Day Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock Scorer(s) Attendance
1 20 August Ayr United A 2–0[11] Bryson(23), McDicken(35) 3,129
2 3 September Partick Thistle A 0–2[12] 2,252
3 10 September Falkirk H 2–1 R.Clark(72pen,89pen) 1,485
4 12 September Meadowbank Thistle H 3–1 McGivern(45), MacLeod(52), Gallacher(56) 1,028
5 17 September Hamilton Academical A 1–0 R.Clark(21) 1,407
6 24 September Alloa Athletic H 2–0[13] McDicken(24), Gallacher(57) 1,415
7 28 September Clydebank A 0–4 855
8 1 October Clyde A 1–0 R.Clark(26) 791
9 8 October Brechin City H 4–1[14] McKinna(10), McGivern(26,70), MacLeod(50) 1,420
10 15 October Airdrieonians A 0–1[15] 1,317
11 22 October Dumbarton H 2–2[16] McDicken(58), Bryson(70) 1,747
12 29 October Raith Rovers H 2–1[17] R.Clark(48), Clarke(61) 1,397
13 5 November Greenock Morton A 2–2[18] McKinna(30,77) 1,902
14 12 November Meadowbank Thistle A 1–2[19] Bryson(30) 836
15 19 November Hamilton Academical H 2–1[20] Bryson(35), Gallacher(81) 1,257
16 26 November Brechin City A 2–3 Gallacher(71), McKinna(85) 799
17 3 December Clyde H 0–1[21] 1,377
18 10 December Alloa Athletic A 4–0[22] McDicken(4), McGivern(25,80), McKinna(36) 547
19 17 December Clydebank H 0–1[23] 1,149
20 26 December Falkirk A 3–1[24] McDicken(4), Mackin o.g(48), Gallacher(75) 3,198
21 31 December Partick Thistle H 1–2[25] R.Clark(40pen) 3,111
22 3 January Ayr United H 1–0[26] Cuthbertson(89) 2,890
23 7 January Dumbarton A 3–4[27] McClurg(39,46), McGivern(83) 907
24 14 January Airdrieonians H 4–1[28] McDicken(15,90), R.Clark(67pen,71) 1,310
25 4 February Greenock Morton H 0–1[29] 1,313
26 11 February Brechin City H 1–1[30] R.Clark(50pen) 910
27 25 February Clydebank A 0–3[31] 724
28 29 February Raith Rovers A 1–2 Gallacher(81) 768
29 3 March Hamilton Academical A 1–1[32] McGivern(23) 874
30 10 March Dumbarton H 0–0[33] 1,140
31 17 March Airdrieonians A 0–3[34] 727
32 24 March Raith Rovers H 1–2 Brown(27) 680
33 31 March Falkirk A 0–2[35] 1,203
34 7 April Meadowbank Thistle H 1–1 Gallacher(3) 539
35 14 April Partick Thistle A 2–1[36] Gallacher(39), Murray o.g.(65) 1,758
36 21 April Clyde A 1–2[37] R.Clark(80pen) 633
37 28 April Alloa Athletic H 2–0[38] R.Clark(44), McKinna(57) 460
38 5 May Ayr United H 3–0[39] Gallacher(57,89), McKinna(60) 1,495
39 12 May Greenock Morton A 2–3[40] Gallacher(78), McKinna(90) 4,547

Scottish League Cup

Second round

Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock Scorer(s) Attendance
R2 L1 24 August Queen's Park A 2–3 J.Clark(36,38) 702
R2 L2 27 August Queen's Park H 3–1[41] McGivern(21,49), McDicken(61) 1506

Group stage

Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock Scorer(s) Attendance
G4 31 August Hibernian A 0–2 2,681
G4 7 September Airdrieonians H 3–0 Gallacher(5,22,55) 1,046
G4 5 October Celtic A 1–1 Gallacher(64) 5,435
G4 26 October Airdrieonians A 2–1 Clarke(47), Robertson(72) 829
G4 9 November Hibernian H 3–1 Clarke(33), McDicken(37,46) 2,001
G4 30 November Celtic H 0–1 8,793

Group 4 final table

P Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Celtic 6 3 3 0 13 3 10 9
2 Kilmarnock 6 3 1 2 9 6 3 7
3 Hibernian 6 2 2 2 7 9 −2 6
4 Airdrieonians 6 0 2 4 3 14 −11 2

Scottish Cup

Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock Scorer(s) Attendance
R3 13 February Aberdeen A 1–1[42] Gallacher(90) 15,000
R3 15 February Aberdeen H 1–3 McKinna(64) 6,106

See also

References

General

Rollin, Jack (1984). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1984–85. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-10446-X.

Ross, David (2001). Everygame-The New Official History of Kilmarnock Football Club. Kilmarnock Football Club. ISBN 0-9541653-0-6.

Specific

  1. ^ Alex Milligan (8 July 1983). "Give us the money". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 1. Retrieved 6 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rollin (1984), pp. 524.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Ross (2001), pp. 266.
  4. ^ Rollin (1984), pp. 572.
  5. ^ Rollin (1984), pp. 561–66.
  6. ^ "Average Home League Game Attendances". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  7. ^ Alex Milligan (8 July 1983). "Give us the money". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 1. Retrieved 6 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  8. ^ Alex Milligan (9 September 1983). "No Full Time At Rugby Park". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 56. Retrieved 6 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  9. ^ "Average Home League Game Attendances". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Scottish Division One 1983-1984 Season Summary". statto.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  11. ^ Alex Milligan (26 August 1983). "It's So Easy". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ Alex Milligan (9 September 1983). "Firhill hoodoo". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  13. ^ Alex Milligan (9 September 1983). "Perfect Record". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  14. ^ Alex Milligan (14 October 1983). "Few Complaints". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  15. ^ Alex Milligan (21 October 1983). "We could have done better". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 57. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  16. ^ Alex Milligan (28 October 1983). "Point Dropped". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  17. ^ Alex Milligan (4 November 1983). "Another home win for Killie". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 57. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  18. ^ Alex Milligan (11 November 1983). "Caught Out". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 57. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  19. ^ Alex Milligan (18 November 1983). "One to forget". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 55. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  20. ^ Alex Milligan (25 November 1983). "Worst of the season". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 55. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  21. ^ Alex Milligan (9 December 1983). "Shocking". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  22. ^ Alex Milligan (16 December 1983). "Welcome Return". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  23. ^ Alex Milligan (23 December 1983). "Miserable performance". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 47. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  24. ^ Alex Milligan (30 December 1983). "A bonus on Boxing Day". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 35. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  25. ^ Alex Milligan (6 January 1984). "Sharp jag for Killie". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 36. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  26. ^ Alex Milligan (6 January 1984). "Poor show". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 36. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  27. ^ Alex Milligan (13 January 1984). "Coyle Lights Fuse". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 48. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  28. ^ Alex Milligan (13 January 1984). "McDicken earns a five star rating". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 55. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  29. ^ Alex Milligan (10 February 1984). "Poor show". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 71. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  30. ^ Alex Milligan (17 February 1984). "Kilmarnock 1 Brechin City 1". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  31. ^ Alex Milligan (2 March 1984). "McCulloch's nightmare". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 55. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  32. ^ Alex Milligan (9 March 1984). "Points shared". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 56. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  33. ^ Alex Milligan (16 March 1984). "Kilmarnock 0 Dumbarton 0". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 64. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  34. ^ Alex Milligan (23 March 1984). "Airdrie 3 Kilmarnock 0". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 72. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  35. ^ Alex Milligan (6 April 1984). "No joy". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  36. ^ Alex Milligan (20 April 1984). "A Win At Last". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 79. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  37. ^ Alex Milligan (27 April 1984). "Goal comes too late". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 64. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  38. ^ Alex Milligan (4 May 1984). "Welcome Victory". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  39. ^ Alex Milligan (11 May 1984). "Kilmarnock 3 Ayr United 0". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  40. ^ Alex Milligan (18 May 1984). "Morton 3 Kilmarnock 2". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 64. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  41. ^ Alex Milligan (2 September 1983). "Killie through". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 56. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  42. ^ Alex Milligan (17 February 1984). "Dour Killie Grab Draw". Kilmarnock Standard. p. 63. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon