Throughout Willie Kinniburgh's Motherwell career there were numerous times when it appeared he had finally made one of the central defensive places his own, only to find himself suddenly out of the side, it proved to be the story of his time at Fir Park.
Willie made his 'Well debut in May 2002 in the aftermath of the club going into administration. Playing at right-back he helped the Dossers to a morale boosting 2-1 win over Dundee. Kinniburgh impressed as he gained more experience in the following campaign, despite the fact that 'Well were struggling at the foot of the table and were ultimately only saved from relegation due to Falkirk's non-SPL compliant stadium. Willie also got his name on the score sheet for the first team, netting an equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
As Terry Butcher attempted to sort out the defensive frailties which had contributed heavily to our bottom place finish the season before, Willie found himself on the sidelines as his gaffer preferred to go initially with a Craigan-Partridge and then Craigan-Corrigan partnership in central defence. To ensure his development wasn't halted however, Kinniburgh sampled a 2 month loan deal with First Division Ayr Utd, before returning to play one SPL fixture with the Steelmen before the season ended.
With David Partridge still recovering from injury Willie started the 2004-2005 season alongside Stephen Craigan and played his part in helping the Dossers to a strong start which saw them firmly established in the top half of the table from early on in the season. Many supporters felt Willie was hard done by when Partridge was instantly restored to the team upon reaching full fitness, though Parto's form which subsequently earned him a call up to the Wales international team suggested that perhaps Terry Butcher wasn't wrong in his decision making.
Any thoughts though that Kinniburgh's contribution wasn't valued by the then Motherwell manager were quickly swept aside as the defender signed a long term contract with the club and went on to play several more times that season, though largely at the tail end of the season with a top six place already assured.
The first team involvement Willie did get however helped him earn a place in the Scotland U21 squad on several occasions joining team-mates such as Clarkson, Quinn and Fagan in the U21's at one time or another.
The 2005'06 season brought with it another chance for Willie to establish himself in the first team, with Partridge having returned south to sign for Bristol City, but once more it was an opportunity he wasn't fully able to grasp.
Kinniburgh admittedly played more times in the 2005'06 season than he did in any other for the Steelmen, but the bulk of those appearances came before the signing of Brian McLean from Rangers, when the 'Well defence as a whole was far from solid; and later in the season when McLean was absent.
To compound matters further for the defender, added competition came in the shape of Scotland U21 cap Mark Reynolds who overtook him in the pecking order and limited Willie to just six appearances during season 2006'07.
Willie went into the current season still looking to make that elusive breakthrough into the Motherwell defence. His path however remained firmly blocked by the form of Craigan and Reynolds and in early December Willie was allowed to move to First Division Partick Thistle on a short loan deal.
Due to return to Fir Park af the turn of the year, Ian McCall initially negotiated an extension to Willie's loan deal to keep him at Firhill until the end of January before the deal was made permanent and Willie moved to Thistle for an undisclosed fee after seven years service for the Steelmen. |