McKenzie delighted to make Hampden debut at last

RORY McKENZIE got there in the end.

Things look a lot different at Kilmarnock from the day he stood in the Hampden crowd, surrounded by what was supposed to be the next generation, and watched Dieter van Tornhout’s famous header.

Almost 11 years later, it is finally McKenzie’s turn to try to write his way into the history books. Those he gathered with that day, the next in line at Killie’s academy, have largely disappeared from view. But not him.

“I was on loan at Brechin,” he recalled. “I was at the game, all the youth team lads got tickets. We were sat in the corner next to where Lee Johnson put the cross in. The side from which we scored.

“I think they came and celebrated in that corner so it was a great day. We weren’t part of the celebrations afterwards, but it was a massive day for Killie and a shame to miss out on.

“I wasn’t training with the first team at the time, but Celtic were flying. Even the Killie fans were going there with a bit of anxiety not knowing what was going to happen. But decisions went our way, Cammy Bell made a great save early on and even the penalty at the end when the highlights come on you watch it you expect the ref to blow and give a penalty because that’s just what happens. That day it didn’t happen and against Celtic you need things like that to go your way.

“We probably were [ thinking it would be us one day]. You were probably thinking like the rest of the lads we’d be doing it together then through the years people trickle away. From that team there are only one or two still playing so it’s nice to be a part of things now.

“Back then, you were thinking ‘ he’ll be the goalie or right- back for the first team’. Now I know that’s not the way it works.”

It did for McKenzie, at least. The 29- year- old winger is now into his 13th campaign at Rugby Park, and would “love” to stay for the remainder of his career. He knows such honours are earned, not simply given out, but finding a way past Celtic today, and then lifting the trophy, would likely go a long way to ensuring he gets his wish.

“It means a lot,” he said. “It does. My whole career I’ve not had the chance to do it so it’s exciting – sorting tickets out and having the family there has been one of the biggest things. We just need to go and play.”