Honest Man is blue over Killie-daft son

Jan 16 2009 by Cheryl McEvoy

Campbell Malone, Rory Malone

THEY travelled more than 11,000 miles for the only game in town.

And in footballing terms, father and son couldn’t be further apart.

For Campbell Malone, originally of Troon, has managed to raise a Killie-supporting Kiwi.

It’s the sort of gap that’s impossible to bridge – even if blood is thicker than water.

“I was very disappointed when it happened,” admits Campbell.

“Rory’s papa had just died, so my neighbours took him to a football game to cheer him up. Unfortunately it was a Killie match and he came home hooked.

“I’ve tried to convert him ever since, but nothing seems to work.”

The pair now follow both sides of the Ayrshire divide from their home in Tauranga, New Zealand.

And they swapped the sun, sea and sand to join the masses on Somerset’s rain-lashed north terracing on Saturday.

Rory, 16, revealed: “It was great to be here for a game with a proper atmosphere instead of watching on TV.

“I’m able to follow Killie on Sky back home so I stay in touch to what’s going on.

“But I have to admit I was once the mascot for a game at Somerset – I just didn’t admit I was a Killie fan.”

Rory, who stars as the lead singer for band A Kiss Goodbye, has already supported Panic At The Disco and is lining up a tour with Fall Out Boy later this year.

But dad Campbell, 49, is still attempting to make him an Honest Man.

He laughed: “Rory and I both thought our teams deserved to win on Saturday and he was rather quiet at the end of the game.

“We can’t wait for next Thursday’s replay, but we’ll be back in New Zealand by then so hopefully we can watch the game on Sky.

“Ayr certainly have nothing to fear after Saturday.”