Director’s Update - August 2024
It’s an honour to welcome you to my first update as a Director of our great club. It’s being written a few short hours after arriving home from Belgium, so it comes with a strong mix of emotions.
As the season gets underway in earnest, the games come thick and fast, but it’s worth taking a moment to look back on a unique start.
A more stable squad, bolstered by the arrival of players like Bruce Anderson and Robby McCrorie and the very welcome return of Corrie Ndaba on a permanent deal, will be frustrated by a missed opportunity against Cercle and an exceptionally tough visit to Celtic to open the league, but there is much to be optimistic about, both domestically and in Europe.
The memories made in Brugge are undoubtedly special ones, with over 2500 Killie fans leaving a lasting impression on new friends. Cercle were warm, welcoming hosts and I hope this is a relationship which will last. They were the seeded team, but we inevitably look back on what could have been before turning our attention to the future.
The warmth with which they embraced Killie was summed up for me by a Cercle fan approaching my son at full time. He wrapped a scarf round his neck, saying, “This was my father’s scarf. Look after it for me.”
We made a hugely positive impression as fans and I hope we’re able to keep doing so as the season unfolds.
Domestically, I’ll keep saying that it is an immense privilege to join the board of Kilmarnock Football Club, and an immense privilege to represent Trust members at the heart of Killie.
If our European adventures are teaching us anything, it’s that football is about fans and shared experiences.
If you’re already a Trust member, thank you for your support. Let’s keep making a positive difference. If you’re not, I’d love to have a chat and welcome you onboard sometime in future. The Trust is committed to a positive partnership with the club and board, and we’d be delighted if you could join us on that journey.
Investment in Killie
Generous Trust members continue to back the club’s growth by backing our ‘Killie Futures Fund’. We’re currently supporting youth pathways to the first team with our ‘Next Generation’ project as well as investing in opportunities to improve the match day experience at Rugby Park and make it the most welcoming, inclusive place we possibly can.
Looking to the future, we’re already exploring opportunities to keep this going, considering ways to support the club’s move to a new pitch for the 26/27 season and looking at the potential for enhancing our successful safe standing project.
As always, if members have any ideas for the Trust, get in touch and we’d be delighted to chat. You can sign up and contribute at the Trust’s website.
Mascot experience
The Trust have been proud to support the mascot experience at Rugby Park for some time now, and I’m pleased to confirm there will still be a Trust mascot at all home games this season.
We’re working in conjunction with our partners at the club and Killie Community to make sure it’s a special experience open to all, so there will be a number of routes to become a mascot available this season. For Junior Trust members, there will be a draw for each home game and the winner will be invited to become a mascot. Good luck to all junior members; we look forward to seeing you in coming weeks. Killie Community, meanwhile, will widen access by offering places in partnership with Ayrshire Cancer Support.
Women’s team and Academy sponsorship
We were incredibly proud to step up to back Kilmarnock women’s team and to play a part in their development as lead sponsor. Members will recall that we voted to take up this unique opportunity to support our development squads and women’s team.
In working with the club, we have agreed to support their decision that the main sponsor, James Frew, will take over sponsorship of the women’s team for 2024/25. This will help the club avoid delays and impact on turnaround times on strips for teams.
We will continue to sponsor the academy for 2024/25 as part of our commitment to youth development, and back the women’s game in other ways. However, this does free up significant money to reinvest in different ways and will engage with members to ensure it is spent wisely and positively.
It is worth noting that all Trust projects, unless explicitly agreed with members in advance, provide a lasting, positive impact but also allow the Trust to increase our shareholding, ensuring that fans have a genuine voice as part owners of Kilmarnock Football Club. We will invest this money in new projects soon in partnership with members.
Prizes
It was a genuine pleasure to welcome Killie fans and competition winners David and Jamie as my first club guests at the Brugge home tie. I know they both had a great evening.
One of the benefits of Trust membership is the opportunity to win unique prizes and experiences, including boardroom visits, mascot experiences and other prizes. I look forward to welcoming more winners soon.
Audio equipment
I’m delighted to confirm that Trust members have voted unanimously to provide new audio equipment to enhance visually impaired fans’ match experience. We hope the 10 digital receivers and other equipment will make a huge difference.
Future engagement
I aim to hold an online members’ forum soon, and to do these on a regular basis throughout the season. This gives members the chance to hear from me directly, and also to provide their thoughts, feedback and ideas. Any Trust works best with members actively engaged and I really welcome your contribution.
I’d also like to host a forum for non-members soon, giving fans the opportunity to find out more about the Trust. Look out for details of both events soon.
In the meantime, you can contact me at [email protected].
Here’s to another successful season.
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