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Don Bircham Members Update - August 2026

1 August 2026 · Don Bircham

I hope you are all enjoying the summer and all the great sporting events we enjoy when taking a break from our weekly routine of the Scottish football scene and our beloved Killie. Wimbledon, The Open, and of course the Commonwealth games that are being held here in Scotland. My first sporting memories were from the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and the Commonwealth games held the same year in Edinburgh. The tartan clad Scottish team and all the colour of Mexico and that iconic Brazil team that lifted the Jules Rimet trophy. Funny thing is that we had a black and white tele (rented from Granada) so I can never work out why the colour is so vivid in my memory.

I had the privilege of joining Gordon Banks for lunch at Stoke City when Wrexham played there in the F.A. Cup and he entertained us all with his great stories and of course the iconic save from Pele. I couldn’t help but tell him about our daily matches in the playground at the Hillhead school in Kilmarnock where we all adopted our favourite players. The only Englishman I can remember being represented was Gordon Banks, an honour indeed!

The World Cup now seems like a distant memory and for those of you lucky to make the trip, I hope you had a great time despite Scotland failing again to reach the knockout stages, Killie were well represented with trust members, trust directors, football board directors, Neil on the telly and of course Aaron Tshibola, who was part of the D.R. Congo squad. We should also give a mention to Stevie Clark, who will always be remembered for his tenure at Killie and wish him well in whatever path he chooses to take in the future.

Our preparations are well under way for the start of the new league season, kicking off with the pre-season matches in Northern Ireland and the League Cup campaign which has seen a lot of travelling and a steady start that saw us top of group. The club are grateful for the backing of the fans who have travelled to support the club and to Auchinleck Talbot for their assistance and hospitality throughout the temporary arrangement at Beechwood.

Work on the Rugby Park pitch remains on schedule and we look forward to welcoming supporters back for our first league fixture of the season. Bowie Park is now fully operational for first team and academy activity. It was interesting to hear Mark O’Hara’s comments about the grass pitch, and the training facility was a big consideration for him when thinking about signing for the club. He said: “It touches on the fact that the club are being ambitious. It’s a big reason why players are coming here."

During the summer transfer window, we have welcomed Ieuan Owen, Calum Ferrie, Roshaun Mathurin, Bailey Rice, Mark O'Hara, Erik Ring, Aaron Tshibola, Jonathan Meier and Johnly Yfeko to the club. In addition, Max Stryjek, Joe Hugill, Archie Traynor and Cole Burke have all committed their futures by signing contract extensions.

Leadership within the dressing room has also been strengthened, with Greg Kiltie appointed Club Captain and Robbie Deas continuing as Vice-Captain. Ben Brannan has joined Queen's Park on a season-long loan to continue his development, while a number of our most promising Academy players have signed new contracts extending their stay until 2028.

It has been another busy and productive transfer window as we continue to build a competitive squad for the 2026/27 season, which gets underway tomorrow. It is particularly pleasing to welcome Aaron Tshibola back to BBSP Rugby Park. Aaron has now signed for Kilmarnock on five separate occasions and has made more than 90 appearances for the club. Following his performances at the World Cup, there was considerable interest in securing his signature, making it especially satisfying to bring him back home to Kilmarnock.

Season ticket sales continue to progress well with more than 4,500 already sold. It would be great if we could get to our targeted figure of 5,000. There is so much positivity around the club and that extra backing would have a big impact on our finances and the atmosphere around Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock Women will play there opening fixtures at Cumnock and Ardrossan till the remaining work at Bowie Park is completed. Lucie Burns, Arwen Obrien and Skye Stout have agreed contract extensions which is fantastic.

Retail sales have also started very strongly, with the home, away and third kits, together with our new training and leisurewear ranges, now all on sale and proving extremely popular with supporters. It was also fantastic to see a number of the new Killie kits being proudly worn in Boston during the FIFA World Cup. Supporters should also keep an eye out for the launch of the new Killie LTD range in the coming weeks. Be sure to visit the club shop or browse online for the latest products and the full range available.

There is much going on behind the scenes with our hospitality offering at the club; so, if you fancy the occasional treat, hosting a special occasion or promoting your business, then do contact our commercial manager, Robert Dykes, who will be happy to talk you through the various options. The 1869 suite and wider hospitality offering has been refreshed ahead of the new season, including the introduction of tiered pricing, not to mention Tennent’s lager on draft. With the support of Annandale Home Improvements, the Legends Lounge is undergoing a makeover which will be unveiled for our opening match of the season.

We have now completed our migration to the new monthly membership scheme, and currently the Trust has around 850 adult members and 350 Junior Trust members. The new scheme brings us in line with many other trust models in Scotland and increases investment in the club and our subsequent shareholding. We are set to complete funding of £150,000 for the Pitch-In campaign and now look forward to your feedback on our next big projects to support the club and enhance our member’s experience. The Trust Club will build on a great start last season, and we look forward to welcoming old and new members to The Park Hotel pre-match for a pie, pint, blether and a chance to reminisce with a Killie legend from the past.

On the back of our recent members survey, the Trust board sought to undertake a thorough review and develop a new strategy for growth in the years ahead.

A new Trust mission statement and key goals have been created which can be viewed below...

We want to make it very easy for non-members to understand exactly what the Trust is all about, and we hope that these new missions and goals reflect that. As part of a new strategy for growth, we will be increasing our presence on matchdays through the use of sign-up stalls at home games and more volunteers in Trust-branded clothing.

Thanks to the hard work of our Trust board, particularly Gordon Jones, we are set to launch a new app and website for members in the coming weeks. This will provide a one-stop-shop for all Trust members to access news, votes and any other important information about our work.

Following the conclusion of the Pitch In campaign, which will have raised £150,000 towards the club’s return to grass, we will start our next set of projects which may include an expansion of the safe standing area, seat replacement in key areas of the stadium, and general refreshments around Rugby Park.

Finally, it was great to see so many of you at our Meet the Manager evening with Neil McCann in the 1869 suite. It was great to put some faces to names, and the gaffer spoke well as always. 

We're entering a really exciting season for both the club and the Trust, and we all can't wait to get going.

Frequently asked questions

I have updated below information on questions which have been asked of me, and which may be useful! There is also a wealth of information on the club website and social media channels.

How do I join the Killie Trust?

Information is available on the Trust website at https://www.thekillietrust.com/membership.

How do young people sign up for the Junior Trust?

Membership of the Junior Squirrels is open to young people from birth to 12 years, and teens can join the Junior Trust.

More information on the Junior Trust is available at https://www.thekillietrust.com/membership.

What is the difference between the Killie Trust and Killie Community (previously known as Kilmarnock Community Sports Trust or KCST)?

The Killie Trust is the membership organisation which fans can join, and which raises funds to invest in the club, with members having a say on this and on the election of a Trust club director.

The Killie Community is a registered charity which provides a range of activities and projects to benefit the wider community, in association with Kilmarnock Football Club.

How can a boys/girls club or community group get free match tickets?

These tickets are made available via Killie Community, and there is a simple online form to request them which can be found at https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/community/programmes/#tickets.

How do I get a shout out / mention at halftime?

Email stadiumannouncer@kilmarnockfc.co.uk with details of the message you want relayed

How can shares in the club be bought?

Anyone wishing to purchase shares in the club must contact the Company Secretary Graeme Bryson at Graemebryson@kilmarnockfc.co.uk

When is the shop open?

Normal opening times are:

Weekdays: 9:00am - 5:00pm (KO on Matchdays) Sat: 10am - 4pm (5:30pm on Matchdays) Sun: Closed (Except Matchdays)

Closed Door Games: 10am - 2pm

Please check website for latest information on all matters connected with the shop. https://www.killieshop.co.uk

How do I get match tickets?

Arrangements for tickets vary depending on the match. Information is shared on club website and social media channels.

If you require assistance with ticketing, please contact the team on 01563 545311or by email tickets@kilmarnockfc.co.uk

Useful contacts: