Nothing will stop Jim Wilson getting to a Killie match – not even being skint after his wedding day.
It was way back in the early 1980s, Killie were heading to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen in a meaningless league match in a midweek fixture.
But 66-year-old Jim couldn’t make the game as he and new wife Margaret were on a tight budget after their wedding.
But by chance, his new bride reminded him that they had a can with 50p coins saved up.
So Jim opened it with a can opener just minutes before the bus was due to leave for Aberdeen, and it added up to just enough for entry to Pittodrie.
So off he went with his pocketful of 50p coins as he flagged down the bus to the North East.
And that sums up Jim’s commitment to Kilmarnock FC; a diehard fan in every sense of the word.
But Jim is perhaps best known in the town for running buses to away games to help as many fans get to matches as possible.
And he has been doing that for a whopping 44 years.
His first bus left from Caprington Golf Club on September 20, 1975, as he and a bus load of supporters went to watch Killie beat East Fife in a 4-2 win.
And ever since then he has helped fans get to games whenever he can.
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His supporters’ club has changed forms and venues over the years, including the old Bickering Bush, near Riccarton and the Howard Arms, but one constant has been Jim Wilson at the front of the bus making sure everyone is on safe and well, and no pals have been left behind at a game.
And again, that sums up Jim Wilson – a legend.
And so much so, a group of his pals and dedicated supporters chipped in to thank him for his 44 years of loyalty and hard-work by getting him a special trophy, a photo of him beside a bus and various vouchers.
His mate and fellow superfan Colin Boyd said: “Jim is a great guy, he helps so many fans get to games and we can’t thank him enough.
“But we thought we’d try – so we got him a wee lift.
“Hopefully he keeps running the buses for years to come, as you get a great laugh on the road.
“And here’s hoping we have a European tour this year – who knows maybe Jim will charter a plane for us!”
And Jim himself was delighted with the gifts he received, but ever-humble Jim was quick to thank the supporters.
Jim told us: “I was quite surprised, and shocked – I didn’t know anything about it.
“The fans do appreciate it, and when I have got such a good crowd of fans coming to games it makes it so much easier.
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“Everyone who comes along are really well behaved, I have had one or two issues, but that’s just what happens.
“The bus I am running now is superb and this sums it up, there’s plenty of girls too, there’s a group of them with their wee flag saying ‘Girls on Tour’ – they are a great bunch of people.”
Jim reckons the highlight of running the buses is when he took an incredible 18 coaches to Ibrox for the Scottish Cup final in 1997.
He said: “It was a logistical nightmare, I had to get buses from Greenock because the demand was so high. It was great, because a dream of mine as a youngster was to get to a Scottish Cup final – and I am glad I got so many fans there too.”
