KILMARNOCK FC 150 YEARS OLD

Motion Text

That this House congratulates the oldest professional football club in Scotland, Kilmarnock FC, on its 150th anniversary, having been founded on 5 January 1869; recognises the special history of the club; notes that the club won the league championship in 1965, defeating Hearts 2-0 on the last day of the season to win the league on goal average by 0.042 goals; further notes Killie first won the Scottish Cup in 1920 by defeating Albion Rovers 3-2 in front of 95,000 fans; won the trophy again in 1929 and 1997; completed the domestic trophy treble by winning the League Cup in 2012; have won the Ayrshire Cup 42 times and retain the trophy; notes that in 1873 the club took part in the first official Scottish Cup match against Renton; further notes that Kilmarnock FC are one of only six teams in the UK to go through a league season undefeated; notes that in 1953, in a friendly between Killie and Manchester United, the Busby Babes were born; further notes that in their first European tie in 1964, Killie completed the greatest comeback by a UK team, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-4 after being four goals down; notes the club reached the semi- final of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1966-67; recognises that the club is enjoying its 26th consecutive season in the top flight; further notes that Killie were the best team over the calendar year 2018; and sends the club, staff and supporters its best wishes for this year and the next 150 years.