Rory McKenzie: The Story So Far

When Rory McKenzie made his Kilmarnock debut as a fresh-faced teenager back in 2011, even he wouldn’t have imagined he’d still be pulling on the blue and white 14 years later.

Fast forward to 2025 and Rory’s now preparing for his testimonial against Ayr United – a well-deserved nod to a proper one-club man in a football world that doesn’t see many of them anymore.

“It’s been on the cards for a while,” he says. “But the way the last few years have gone, it never really felt like the right time to sort it. So, to finally have it confirmed, it’s a good feeling. I’m buzzing for it.”

The testimonial comes against a familiar derby opponent, and for Rory, that just makes sense.

“Loads of people have asked why not pick this team or that team, but there’s more to it than just picking a name out a hat. I’ve always loved playing in those derby games. I’ve had good results, bad ones, scored goals – they’ve always meant something. So it felt right.”

It’s been a wild ride since that debut against Inverness all those years ago. Ask Rory what he remembers most from that day, and he doesn’t talk about the match – he laughs about a certain Finnish midfielder and his expectations.

“I just remember Alexei Eremenko screaming at me for 20 minutes. I probably get it now, being one of the older boys, and seeing a young lad just running about trying to impress. But at the time I was just buzzing to be involved. Kenny Shiels gave me my debut. He was brilliant with the young players back then. He gave loads of us a chance.”

Before becoming a mainstay at Rugby Park, Rory had a loan spell at Brechin – a stint he still speaks about with real fondness.

“One of the best spells of my career, honestly,” he says. “It was proper football. Men’s football. You’re in a dressing room with guys who’ve worked all week and playing is their release. It was a real eye-opener. People thought I was mad going all the way up there, but I loved it. I trained once a week in Grangemouth, car school with older pros, dodgy stories you couldn’t repeat – I learnt loads.”

It’s the sort of experience Rory reckons more young players need, even if it’s harder now than it was back then.

“There’s loads of talent out there now so it’s hard. Loads of players that drop down a league and they’re still quality. But if you’re a young player, you’ve got to go play real football. You don’t learn what it’s all about sitting in reserves. The sooner you get used to playing in front of fans and under pressure, the better.”

Rory’s been a constant through Killie’s ups and downs – from cup wins and top-six pushes, to the heartache of relegation in 2021. That particular low point stung more than most for the Ayrshire lad.

“Aye, I felt the pressure that season. We were expected to go straight back up, and I felt it personally, with my pals and family being fans too. It was tough at times. You’re used to battling relegation or pushing for top-six, but now it was about winning every week. And that’s a different kind of pressure.”

It all paid off in the end, though. Killie bounced straight back – and in dramatic fashion too.

“I still get nervous watching the Arbroath game back,” Rory admits. “The pitch invasion, lifting the trophy, it was unreal. I’d been injured for a few weeks before it and that was my first game back. There were times I thought I’d never win anything with Killie, so to do it like that… it’s right up there.”

From the Championship to European nights, it’s been quite the journey. And those trips abroad? A dream come true.

“Bruges was probably my proudest moment as a Killie player,” he says. “Didn’t think I’d start, but I did. To see thousands of our fans over there, proper European away day stuff – it was class. Flying out from Prestwick every Thursday, seeing places like Copenhagen and Tromsø. Unbelievable memories.”

There’s a smile when he talks about Tromsø. “It wasn’t as glamorous as Copenhagen,” he laughs. “But the buzz after that win? Electric. Just a proper moment for the club.”

Now 14 years on from his debut, with a testimonial around the corner, there’s naturally a bit of chat about what comes next. Rory’s not hanging up the boots just yet, but he’s got one eye on the future.

“I’ve done my law degree, I still need to finish a few bits off if I go down that route,” he says. “But I’m genuinely quite curious about loads of things. I always ask folk what they do, try and get a feel for it. I’ll miss football, of course I will. It’s the best job in the world. But I’ve been realistic since I was 22 – it’ll end one day. And when it does, I’m excited for what comes next.”

So will he stay in football?

“Not coaching,” he says quickly. “Not just now anyway. But I think as the end gets closer, maybe staying in football in some way makes sense. It’s what I know. I feel like I could help a club in some way, even if it’s not out on the pitch.”

As his testimonial nears, Rory isn’t just being celebrated for what he’s done on the park – but for what he represents. A local lad who stuck around. A player who gave everything. Someone who saw the club through highs, lows, and everything in between.

In an era where players move on at the first sniff of a new deal, Rory stayed. And that means something.

“When I look back properly one day, I think I’ll realise how big it was – staying at one club this long, playing that many games. Right now, it just feels normal. But I know I’ll appreciate it all in time.”

Whatever happens after his time at Rugby Park, Rory McKenzie will always be a Killie man. And in the hearts of the fans, that’s already more than enough.