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]

On 24 May 2021 Kilmarnock were relegated to the Scottish Championship. This is the first time in 28 years they will have played out of the top flight.

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 11 2 3 56 29 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 6–0 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. ^
    l- 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]

1914–1919

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

1919–1939
Season League record Scottish Cup Other competitions
Division Pos P W D L F A Pts Competition Result
1919–20 SFL Division One 9th 42 20 3 19 59 74 43 Winners
1920–21 SFL Division One 12th 42 17 8 17 62 68 42 Second round
1921–22 SFL Division One 17th 42 13 9 20 56 83 35 Second round
1922–23 SFL Division One 15th 38 14 7 17 57 66 35 Second round
1923–24 SFL Division One 16th 38 12 8 18 48 65 32 Fourth round
1924–25 SFL Division One 12th 38 12 9 17 53 64 33 Quarter-final
1925–26 SFL Division One 9th 38 17 7 14 79 77 41 First round
1926–27 SFL Division One 16th 38 12 8 18 54 71 32 Second round
1927–28 SFL Division One 8th 38 15 10 13 68 78 40 Third round
1928–29 SFL Division One 10th 38 14 8 16 79 74 36 Winners
1929–30 SFL Division One 8th 38 15 9 14 77 73 39 Second round
1930–31 SFL Division One 11th 38 15 5 18 59 60 35 Semi-final
1931–32 SFL Division One 9th 38 16 7 15 68 70 39 Runner-up
1932–33 SFL Division One 14th 38 13 9 16 72 86 35 Fourth round
1933–34 SFL Division One 7th 38 17 9 12 73 64 43 Second round
1934–35 SFL Division One 9th 38 16 6 16 76 68 38 Second round
1935–36 SFL Division One 8th 38 14 7 17 69 64 35 Second round
1936–37 SFL Division One 11th 38 14 9 15 60 70 37 First round
1937–38 SFL Division One 18th 38 12 9 17 65 91 33 Runner-up
1938–39 SFL Division One 10th 38 15 9 14 73 86 39 Second round

1939–1946

Kilmarnock were inactive during World War II as their Rugby Park ground was used as a munitions store by the British Army during the conflict. They began the 1939–40 season in the subsequently abandoned SFL Division One before competing in the unofficial Emergency League West, finishing eighth, and the Scottish War Emergency Cup where they reached the quarter-finals. The club began competing after the conflict had ended in 1945–46, again in unofficial competitions. They finished 15th in the Southern League, were eliminated in the group stages of the Southern League Cup and lost in the second round of the Victory Cup.[15]

1946–present
Season League record Scottish Cup League Cup Other competitions
Division Pos P W D L F A Pts Competition Result
1946–47 SFL Division A ↓ 15th 30 6 9 15 44 66 21 First round First round
1947–48 SFL Division B 6th 30 13 4 13 72 62 30 First round First round
1948–49 SFL Division B 6th 30 9 7 14 58 61 25 First round First round
1949–50 SFL Division B 7th 30 14 5 11 50 43 33 First round First round
1950–51 SFL Division B 12th 30 8 8 14 44 49 24 First round First round
1951–52 SFL Division B 5th 30 16 2 12 62 48 34 Second round First round
1952–53 SFL Division B 4th 30 17 2 11 74 48 36 Second round Runner-up
1953–54 SFL Division B ↑ 2nd 30 19 4 7 71 39 42 Second round Quarter-final
1954–55 SFL Division A 10th 30 10 6 14 46 58 26 Sixth round First round
1955–56 SFL Division One 8th 34 12 10 12 52 45 34 Sixth round First round
1956–57 SFL Division One 3rd 34 16 10 8 57 39 42 Runner-upFirst round
1957–58 SFL Division One 5th 34 14 9 11 60 55 37 Third round Quarter-final
1958–59 SFL Division One 8th 34 13 8 13 58 51 34 Quarter-final Semi-final
1959–60 SFL Division One 2nd 34 24 2 8 67 45 50 Runner-up First round
1960–61 SFL Division One 2nd 34 21 8 5 77 45 50 Second round Runner-up
1961–62 SFL Division One 5th 34 16 10 8 74 58 42 Quarter-final First round
1962–63 SFL Division One 2nd 34 20 8 6 92 40 48 Second round Runner-up
1963–64 SFL Division One 2nd 34 22 5 7 77 40 49 Semi-final First round Summer Cup Semi-final[16]
1964–65 SFL Division One 1st 34 22 6 6 62 33 50 Quarter-final First round Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Second round
Summer Cup Group stage
1965–66 SFL Division One 3rd 34 20 5 9 73 46 45 Quarter-final Semi-final European Cup First round
1966–67 SFL Division One 7th 34 16 8 10 59 46 40 First round First round Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Semi-final
1967–68 SFL Division One 7th 34 13 8 13 59 57 34 First round Quarter-final
1968–69 SFL Division One 4th 34 15 14 5 50 32 44 Quarter-final First round
1969–70 SFL Division One 7th 34 13 10 11 62 57 36 Semi-final First round Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Third round
1970–71 SFL Division One 13th 34 10 8 16 43 67 28 Quarter-final First round Inter-Cities Fairs Cup First round
1971–72 SFL Division One 11th 34 11 6 17 49 64 28 Semi-final First round
1972–73 SFL Division One ↓ 17th 34 7 8 19 40 71 22 Fourth round First round Texaco Cup First round
1973–74 SFL Division Two ↑ 2nd 36 26 6 4 96 44 58 Third round Semi-final
1974–75 SFL Division One ↓ 12th 34 8 15 11 52 68 31 Third round Quarter-final Drybrough Cup First round
1975–76 SFL First Division ↑ 2nd 26 16 3 7 44 29 40 Quarter-final First round Spring Cup Group stage
1976–77 SFL Premier Division ↓ 10th 36 4 9 23 32 71 17 Third round First round
1977–78 SFL First Division 6th 39 14 12 13 52 46 40 Quarter-final Second round
1978–79 SFL First Division ↑ 2nd 39 22 10 7 72 35 54 Fourth round Third round
1979–80 SFL Premier Division 8th 36 11 11 14 36 52 33 Third round Quarter-final Drybrough Cup Semi-final
1980–81 SFL Premier Division ↓ 9th 36 5 9 22 23 65 19 Fourth round Third round
1981–82 SFL First Division ↑ 2nd 39 17 17 5 60 29 51 Quarter-final First round
1982–83 SFL Premier Division ↓ 10th 36 3 11 22 28 91 17 Third round Quarter-final
1983–84 SFL First Division 6th 39 16 6 17 57 53 38 Third round Third round
1984–85 SFL First Division 12th 39 12 10 17 42 61 34 Third round Third round
1985–86 SFL First Division 3rd 39 18 8 13 62 49 44 Fourth round Second round
1986–87 SFL First Division 6th 44 17 11 16 62 53 45 Third round Second round
1987–88 SFL First Division 10th 44 13 11 20 55 61 37 Third round Second round
1988–89 SFL First Division ↓ 13th 39 10 14 15 47 60 34 Third round Third round
1989–90 SFL Second Division ↑ 2nd 39 21 5 13 67 41 47 Second round Second round
1990–91 SFL First Division 5th 39 15 13 11 58 48 43 Fourth round Third round Challenge Cup Semi-final
1991–92 SFL First Division 4th 44 21 12 11 59 37 54 Third round Third round Second round
1992–93 SFL First Division ↑ 2nd 44 21 12 11 67 40 54 Fourth round Quarter-final Quarter-final
1993–94 Premier Division 8th 12 16 16 36 45 40 44 Semi-final Second round
1994–95[m] SFL Premier Division 7th 36 11 10 15 40 48 43 Quarter-final Third round
1995–96 SFL Premier Division 7th 36 11 8 17 39 54 41 Fourth round Third round
1996–97 SFL Premier Division 7th 36 11 6 19 41 61 39 Winners Second round
1997–98 SFL Premier Division 4th 13 11 12 40 52 50 36 Fourth round Third round UEFA Cup Winners' Cup First round
1998–99 Scottish Premier League 4th 36 14 14 8 47 29 56 Third round Quarter-final UEFA Cup Second qualifying round
1999–2000 Scottish Premier League 9th 36 8 13 15 38 52 37 Third round Semi-final UEFA Cup First round
2000–01 Scottish Premier League 4th 38 15 9 14 44 53 54 Quarter-final Runner-up
2001–02 Scottish Premier League 5th 38 13 10 15 44 54 49 Fourth round Third round UEFA Cup First round
2002–03 Scottish Premier League 4th 38 16 9 13 47 56 57 Third round Second round
2003–04 Scottish Premier League 10th 38 12 6 20 51 74 42 Fourth round Second round
2004–05 Scottish Premier League 7th 38 15 4 19 49 55 49 Fourth round Third round
2005–06 Scottish Premier League 5th 38 15 10 13 63 64 55 Third round Third round
2006–07 Scottish Premier League 5th 38 16 7 15 47 54 55 Third round Runner-up
2007–08 Scottish Premier League 11th 38 10 10 18 39 52 40 Fifth round Third round
2008–09 Scottish Premier League 8th 38 12 8 18 38 48 44 Fifth round Quarter-final
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 11th 38 8 9 21 29 51 33 Quarter-final Third round
2010–11 Scottish Premier League 5th 38 13 10 15 53 55 49 Fourth round Quarter-final
2011–12 Scottish Premier League 7th 38 11 14 13 44 61 47 Fifth round Winners
2012–13 Scottish Premier League 9th 38 11 12 15 52 53 45 Quarter-final Second round
2013–14 SPFL Premiership 9th 38 11 6 21 45 66 39 Fourth round Second round
2014–15 SPFL Premiership 10th 38 11 8 19 44 59 41 Fourth round Third round
2015–16 SPFL Premiership 11th[n] 38 9 9 20 41 64 36 Fifth round Third round
2016–17 SPFL Premiership 8th 38 9 14 15 36 56 41 Fourth round First round
2017–18 SPFL Premiership 5th 38 16 11 11 49 47 59 Quarter-final Second round
2018–19 SPFL Premiership 3rd 38 19 10 9 50 31 67 Fifth round Second round
2019–20 SPFL Premiership[o] 8th 30 9 6 15 31 41 33 Fifth round Quarter-final UEFA Europa League First qualifying round
2020–21 SPFL Premiership ↓ 11th[p] 38 10 6 22 43 54 36 Quarter-final Group stage
2021–22 SPFL Championship ↑ 1st 36 20 7 9 50 27 67 Fourth round Second round Scottish Challenge Cup Semi-final
2022–23 SPFL Premiership 10th 38 11 7 20 37 62 40 Quarter-final Semi-final
2023–24 SPFL Premiership
Notes
  1. ^
    m- 3 points for a win came into effect.
  2. ^
    n- Remained in the Premiership via the play-offs, beating Championship runners-up Falkirk 4–1 on aggregate in the final.[17]
  3. ^
    o- 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]
  4. ^
    p- Relegated via the play-offs after losing to Championship runners-up Dundee 4–2 on aggregate in the final.

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.
  15. "Victory Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  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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