VENUE #101 AYR UNITED Somerset Park

SOMERSET PARK STADIUM

                   Home Of:  Ayr United

      Ground Opened:  1888

     Previous Ground:  None

           Other Uses:  None

VENUE  #101

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION
     Ayr Railway Station is a ten minute walk away from Somerset Park. Exit the station through the back entrance (to the left as you come off the platform, over the footbridge) and turn left once outside. Walk up to the roundabout at the fire station, and go straight ahead at the roundabout, past the left hand side of the Civic Theatre. continue up this road (Craigie Road) to the traffic lights at the top. Go straight across again at this junction, then take a left and a right and you're there. Away fans walk to the left, behind the Main Stand.



SOMERSET PARK STADIUM
     Somerset Park is a classic traditional looking ground that is predominantly terracing. Only one side has a seating area, in the old Main Stand, part of which dates back to 1924. This stand is covered and the seated area is raised above pitch level. There are also a few supporting pillars which could impede your view. This stand was extended sideways in 1989. In front of the stand are some small sections of terracing, the team dugouts and a small conservatory type structure, that looked to be used by the Police. On the other side is a large open terrace that extends around the corners of the ground. This area is split between home and away fans, who are segregated by a large fence running down the middle of it. At the back of the home fans section is a strange concrete box like structure that looks to have been built behind the existing terrace. This appears to house a number of hospitality boxes that overlook the ground. 

     Both ends are quite similar looking, as they are of roughly the same size and both are covered terracing. The home end, the Somerset Road end is partly covered (to the rear) medium sized terrace, that has a row of supporting pillars running across the front of it. Away fans are located in the opposite end in the Railway Terrace. The ground is completed with a set of four modern floodlight pylons, one located at each corner of the ground.                For the majority of games away fans will be housed in the small standing enclosure in front of the Main Stand at one side of the pitch. For the bigger games against Partick Thistle & Morton then away fans will allocated the covered Railway End Terrace at one end of the ground, as well as some open terrace to either side of it. So visiting fans for these games have a choice as to whether to view the action from either an end or side of the pitch and unless there is a huge travelling support you will normally get a good view of the playing action. With the away end being covered, a relatively small number of away fans can really create some noise, adding to the atmosphere. There are two refreshment kiosks in the away section serving the usual array of pies, hot dogs & burgers. Unfortunately though there is only one set of toilets that are right by the entrance turnstiles to the away end. I would have to say that the men's urinals looked as if they dated back to when the ground opened. I did notice that parts of the open terrace had a fair few white blobs all over them, thanks to the large local population of seagulls. It may be an idea to make sure you wear a hat if you use the open terrace.

GROUND LAYOUT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 A   MAIN STAND

 B   OPEN TERRACE

 C   RAILWAY END (AWAY)

 D   SOMERSET ROAD

Today's Visitors   QUEENS PARK are currently bottom of league one just a single point adrift of Forfar.   The Spiders finished mid-table last season after winning promotion in 2015/16 via the play-offs beating Clyde 3-2 on aggregate.

     Queens need to make a quick turn around this season or they'll be making a fast return to Scottish league football's lowest league a fate that the oldest Scottish league team would raver avoid at all cost. 

     In the last 35 years Queens have made 10 visits to Somerset Park winning only once, drawing three and losing six.  The game which they won was on the 11th August 2007 narrowly beating United 3-2 in a Scottish league one fixture in front of a crowd of 1265 people.  Andy McLaren opened the scoring for United but two minutes later and the Spiders were level Stuart Kettlewell hammering the ball home from close range.

     Ayr's goalscorer McLaren and Queens Richard Sinclair were both sent off for a skirmish in the Queens penalty area but both teams couldn't increase the scoreline before the half time whistle.

     It was twenty six minutes into the second half before the next goal was scored Stephen Canning lobbing the Ayr keeper McGeown from twenty yards but Deny Moore equalised for United with only six minutes left of normal time, 2-2.

     Alan Trouten grabbed the winner for Queens deep into injury time when McGeown punched the ball across his own penalty area straight to the Queens midfielder to knock the ball home from close range. 

     Last time out at Somerset Park was on the 4th of March 2009 a game that finished 1-1 Steven Odenewo opened the scoring for Queens with Ryan Borris equalising for United after 52 minutes.  James Brough was sent off for Queens in the 67th minute. 

AYR UNITED ... 3   QUEEN'S PARK ... 2

     Craig Moore put Ayr ahead from the penalty spot after 24 minutes, after Lawrence Shankland was brought down, but the visitors turned things around with goals either side of the break.

    Robbie Leitch headed home an equaliser in the 42nd minute before Queen's went ahead when Craig Reid turned the ball past his own goalkeeper Jordan Hart before the break.

     But Ayr rallied and Declan McDaid levelled after 79 minutes before Forrest struck the late winner.

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