A 'Killie man' - Rory McKenzie special ahead of testimonial vs Ayr
Rory speaks to The Herald's Graeme McGarry in the latest Big Interview all about his career ahead of what will be an emotional night on Friday.
What are the first words that would come to mind if you were asked to describe Rory McKenzie? Assuming, of course, that you aren’t an Ayr United supporter.
Mr Kilmarnock? You get the feeling that such a weighty title wouldn’t sit easily with the understated 31-year-old.
“I'm not really one for being in the limelight,” McKenzie said.
"I'm quite a private person and I just like to get on with my football.”
Maybe then the humbler title of ‘a Killie man’ would be more appropriate, though it would be something he would undoubtedly be deeply proud to be known as.
McKenzie will be unable to avoid being in the spotlight next Friday evening, mind you, when the Kilmarnock faithful will converge upon Rugby Park to thank him for his 14 years (and counting) of honourable first-team service at his testimonial match.
Fittingly, there will also be a fair few Ayr supporters packed into the Chadwick Stand giving him dog’s abuse, no doubt, with Killie’s bitter rivals the only choice for McKenzie when selecting the opposition for his special evening. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It had to be Ayr,” he said.
“It’s a fixture that has been good to me at times over the years and not so good at other times, but they are always great occasions, and I really wanted it to be a game that meant something rather than just a bit of a kickabout with folk going through the motions.