List of Kilmarnock F.C. seasons

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]

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 Scottish Football Alliance 2nd 22 13 3 6 73 38 29 Second round Ayrshire Cup Third round
Kilmarnock Merchants' Charity Cup Winners
1892–93 Scottish Football Alliance 7th 18 4 5 9 42 50 13 Second round
1893–94 Ayrshire Football Combination 5th 12 5 1 6 34 24 11 First round
1894–95 Ayrshire Football Combination 3rd 16 16[e] Second round
1895–96 SFL Division Two 4th[f] 18 10 1 7 45 45 21 First round
1896–97 SFL Division Two 3rd[g] 18 10 1 7 44 33 21 Semi-final Scottish Qualifying Cup Winners
1897–98 SFL Division Two 1st[h] 18 14 1 3 64 29 29 Runner-up
1898–99 SFL Division Two 1st[i] 18 14 4 0 73 24 32 Quarter-final
1899–1900 SFL Division One 5th 18 6 6 6 30 37 18 Quarter-final Glasgow & West of Scotland League Joint winners
1900–01 SFL Division One 5th 20 7 4 9 35 47 18 Second round
1901–02 SFL Division One 7th 18 5 6 7 21 25 16 Quarter-final
1902–03 SFL Division One 9th 22 6 4 12 24 43 16 Second round
1903–04 SFL Division One 14th[j] 26 4 5 17 24 63 13 Quarter-final
1904–05 SFL Division One 9th 26 9 5 12 29 45 23 First round
1905–06 SFL Division One 15th[k] 30 8 4 18 46 68 20 Second round Glasgow & West of Scotland League Winners
1906–07 SFL Division One 16th[l] 34 8 5 21 40 72 21 Second round
1907–08 SFL Division One 14th 34 6 13 15 38 61 25 Semi-final
1908–09 SFL Division One 10th 34 13 7 14 47 61 33 First round
1909–10 SFL Division One 11th 34 12 8 14 53 60 32 First round
1910–11 SFL Division One 10th 34 12 10 12 43 45 34 First round
1911–12 SFL Division One 16th 34 11 4 19 38 60 26 Third round
1912–13 SFL Division One 11th 34 10 11 13 37 54 31 Third round
1913–14 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 6–1 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. ^
    k- 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
1914–15 SFL Division One 12th 38 15 4 19 55 59 34
1915–16 SFL Division One 10th 38 12 11 15 46 49 35
1916–17 SFL Division One 6th 38 18 7 13 69 45 43
1917–18 SFL Division One 3rd 34 19 5 10 69 41 43 War Fund Shield Quarter-final
1918–19 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
1919–20 Division One 4220319597443 9th W N/A[lower-alpha 1] N/A
1920–21 Division One 4217817626842 12th R2
1921–22 Division One 4213920568335 17th R2
1922–23 Division One 3814717576635 15th R2
1923–24 Division One 3812818486532 16th R4
1924–25 Division One 3812917536433 12th QF
1925–26 Division One 3817714797741 9th R1
1926–27 Division One 3812818547132 16th R2
1927–28 Division One 38151013687840 8th R3
1928–29 Division One 3814816797436 10th W
1929–30 Division One 3815914777339 8th R2
1930–31 Division One 3815518596035 11th SF
1931–32 Division One 3816715687039 9th RU
1932–33 Division One 3813916728635 14th R4
1933–34 Division One 3817912736443 7th R2
1934–35 Division One 3816616766838 9th R2
1935–36 Division One 3814717696435 8th R2
1936–37 Division One 3814915607037 11th R1
1937–38 Division One 3812917659133 18th RU
1938–39 Division One 3815914738639 10th R2
1939–40 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
1945–46 *Southern League - 15th
*Southern League Cup – GS
*Victory Cup – R2[15]
1946–47 ↓ Division One ↓ 306915446621 15th R1R1 N/A
1947–48 Division Two 3013413726230 6th R1R1
1948–49 Division Two 309714586125 11th R1R1
1949–50 Division Two 3014511504333 7th R1R1
1950–51 Division Two 308814444924 12th R1R1
1951–52 Division Two 3016212624834 5th R2R1
1952–53 Division Two 3017211744836 4th R2RU
1953–54 Division B 301947713942 2nd R2 QF
1954–55 Division One 3010614465826 10th R6R1
1955–56 Division One 34121012524534 8th R6R1
1956–57 Division One 3416108573942 3rd RUR1
1957–58 Division One 3414911605537 5th R3 QF
1958–59 Division One 3413813585134 8th QF SF
1959–60 Division One 342428674550 2nd RUR1
1960–61 Division One 342185774550 2nd R2RU
1961–62 Division One 3416108745842 5th QFR1
1962–63 Division One 342086924048 2nd R2RU
1963–64 Division One 342257774049 2nd SFR1 Summer CupSF[16]
1964–65 Division One 342266623350 1st QFR1 *Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
*Summer Cup		*R2
*GS
1965–66 Division One 342059734645 3rd QF SF European CupR1
1966–67 Division One 3416810594640 7th R1R1 Inter-Cities Fairs CupSF
1967–68 Division One 3413813595734 7th R1 QF N/A
1968–69 Division One 3415145503244 4th QFR1
1969–70 Division One 34131011625736 7th SF R1Inter-Cities Fairs CupR3
1970–71 Division One 3410816436728 13th QFR1Inter-Cities Fairs CupR1
1971–72 Division One 3411617496428 11th SF R1 N/A
1972–73 ↓ Division One ↓ 347819407122 17th R4R1 Texaco CupR1
1973–74 Division Two 362664964458 2nd R3SF N/A
1974–75 ↓ Division One ↓ 3481511526831 12th R3 QF Drybrough CupR1
1975–76 First Division 261637442940 2nd QFR1 Spring CupGS
1976–77 ↓ Premier Division ↓ 364923327117 10th R3R1 N/A
1977–78 First Division 39141213524640 6th QFR2
1978–79 First Division 3922107723554 2nd R4R3
1979–80 Premier Division 36111114365233 8th R3QF Drybrough CupSF
1980–81 ↓ Premier Division ↓ 365922236519 9th R4R3 N/A
1981–82 First Division 3917175602951 2nd QFR1
1982–83 ↓ Premier Division ↓ 3631122289117 10th R3QF
1983–84 First Division 3916617575338 6th R3R3
1984–85 First Division 39121017426134 12th R3R3
1985–86 First Division 3918813624944 3rd R4R2
1986–87 First Division 44171116625345 6th R3R2
1987–88 First Division 44131120556137 10th R3R2
1988–89 ↓ First Division ↓ 39101415476034 13th R3R3
1989–90 Second Division 3921513674147 2nd R2R2
1990–91 First Division 39151311584843 5th R4R3 Challenge CupSF
1991–92 First Division 44211211593754 4th R3R3Challenge CupR2
1992–93 First Division 44211211674054 2nd R4 QF Challenge CupQF
1993–94 Premier Division 44121616364540 8th SFR2 N/A
1994–95 Premier Division[lower-alpha 2] 36111015404843 7th QFR3
1995–96 Premier Division 3611817395441 7th R4R3
1996–97 Premier Division 3611619416139 7th WR2
1997–98 Premier Division 36131112405250 4th R4R3UEFA Cup Winners' CupR1
1998–99 SPL 3614148472956 4th R3 QF UEFA CupQR2
1999–2000 SPL 3681315385237 9th R3 SF UEFA CupR1
2000–01 SPL 3815914445354 4th QF RU N/A
2001–02 SPL 38131015445449 5th R4R3UEFA CupR1
2002–03 SPL 3816913475657 4th R3R2 N/A
2003–04 SPL 3812620517442 10th R4R2
2004–05 SPL 3815419495549 7th R4R3
2005–06 SPL 38151013636455 5th R3R3
2006–07 SPL 3816715475455 5th R3RU
2007–08 SPL 38101018395240 11th R5R3
2008–09 SPL 3812818384844 8th R5QF
2009–10 SPL 388921295133 11th QFR3
2010–11 SPL 38131015535549 5th R4QF
2011–12 SPL 38111413446147 7th R5W
2012–13 SPL 38111215525345 9th QFR2
2013–14 Premiership 3811621456639 9th R4R2
2014–15 Premiership 3811819445941 10th R4R3
2015–16 Premiership 389920416436 11th[lower-alpha 3] R5R3
2016–17 Premiership 3891415365641 8th R4R1
2017–18 Premiership 38161111494759 5th QFR2
2018–19 Premiership 3819109503167 3rd R5R2
2019–20 Premiership[lower-alpha 4] 309615314133 8th R5QF UEFA Europa LeagueQR1

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,[lower-alpha 1] the national top division has been played every season since.[lower-alpha 2] The following is a summary of Kilmarnock's divisional status:

  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. 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. "Scottish League Re-elections and Elections". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  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.

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