A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE

KILMARNOCK FC RECORD ATTENDANCE.

Kilmarnock Football Club were officially formed on January 5th 1869, making it not just one of the oldest football clubs in the world but oldest professional club in Scotland. The club originated from a group of young cricketers who sought a winter sport to occupy their time. They initially played a form of football that resembled rugby, and their first ground was located near South Hamilton Street, which later became known as Rugby Park. They are also known to, arguably, sell the number one snack in UK soccer called the “Killie Pie”.

Their present day capacity is 17,889 but on March 10th 1962 they played a quarter final of the Scottish Cup against Rangers and having sold 36,500 tickets, 35,995 turned up to create the all-time record attendance for any home game. Pictures at the time showed terracing overflowing onto touchlines. Rangers were leading the old Division One at the time and Killie were in fifth place but the club were in a period of their history that they could claim was the best ever, having been league runners up in 1960/61 then in 1962/63, 1963/64, culminating in champions in 1964/65.

This extraordinary attendance was contrasted just one week later by only 4,671 turning up for a league game with Stirling Albion !

Our Match Programme was the normal blue and white production priced 3d with many adverts but an editorial glowing with enthusiasm for the match everyone wanted to see, the electricity in the air, mentioning the tremendous rush for tickets and that it looked like a new record crowd would ensue and they were right. A couple of pages with Rangers pen pictures, teams in the centre pages, the league table, all fixtures and results plus space for half time results that were conveyed over the loud speaker system. It was 1-1 at half time and 2-2 until ten minutes from time when Rangers scored twice for a 4-2 victory. Present day dealers offer this for £25 plus but my copy, from a friend is too well worn to reach that sum. On that same day, aged 14, I attended the Partick Thistle v Hearts game at Firhill.

Rangers were at their peak of success and, in fact, went on to win the Cup at Hampden Park 2-0 against St Mirren and on this special day for Kilmarnock FC won 4-2.