Hometown hero Rory McKenzie on Kilmarnock's title elation, Arbroath's challenge and his brother's burst lip

Many stories have been written this week, and this season, of Arbroath and their unlikely bid for glory in Scotland’s second tier.

What would it mean for them to win the cinch Championship? Or the club’s promotion to the Premiership? How would it affect the town, for the supporters’ dreams to come true and the club to rank and play among Scotland’s top 12 clubs?

Rory McKenzie could answer all those questions, but the subject matter was Kilmarnock. Standing pitchside on Friday night in a blue-and-white striped shirt soaked with blood, sweat and tears, McKenzie was the answer of what it meant to restore top flight football to Ayrshire at the first time of asking.

Kilmarnock’s 2-1 victory and league win came at the expense of Arbroath’s own title bid which had captured the collective imagination of Scottish football and beyond. Unexpected yet merited.

But an emotional club stalwart like McKenzie epitomised what it meant to his fellow fans, his boyhood club and his local area. And had the blood-splattered right shoulder to prove it.

“It was different class to share that with all the boys and all the fans,” he smiled.

“It was quite emotional when I saw my brothers, Craig and Fraser, at the end. I was welling up and almost lost for words.

“Craig drove me up to Inverness last week and it was a sad drive home. I don't think we actually spoke until we reached Perth.

“I saw him running on at the end and I kissed him that hard I burst his lip!

“This week I couldn't stop thinking about what Saturday and Sunday would bring.

“Would I be sitting in the house in a darkened room or would I be having a party?”

It is the latter and the celebrations began in earnest on Friday night and continued into the weekend proper. Part one may be