2016–17 Ayr United F.C. season

The 2016–17 season was Ayr United's 107th season of competitive football and their first season back in the second tier of Scottish football, now known as the Championship.[1] Ayr also competed in the League Cup, Scottish Cup and the Challenge Cup.

Ayr United
2016–17 season
ManagerIan McCall
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish ChampionshipTenth Place (Relegated)
Scottish CupQuarter-final
League CupSecond round
Challenge CupQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Alan Forrest (6)
All: Alan Forrest (9)
Highest home attendance3,100 v Hibernian, Championship, 5 November 2016
Lowest home attendance862 v Edinburgh City, League Cup, 23 July 2016
Average home league attendance1,854

Summary

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Season

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In their first season back in the second tier of Scottish football, Ayr United finished in tenth place and were relegated back to League One after only one season in the Scottish Championship. Their relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season with a 2–1 away defeat to Raith Rovers.[2]

Results and fixtures

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  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season and friendlies

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2 July 2016 Stenhousemuir 0 – 2 Ayr United Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
14:00 Report

Raydale Cup

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10 July 2016 Semi-final Ayr United 0 – 2 South Shields Raydale Park, Gretna
Ayr United Arca   39'
Scroggins   41'
11 July 2016 3rd place play-off Gretna 2008 0 – 8 Ayr United Raydale Park, Gretna
14:00 Ayr United Thomas   14', 62' (pen.)
McCreadie   60'
McGuffie   65'
Forrest   71', 90'
Donald   79'
Crawford   82'

Scottish Championship

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6 August 2016 1 Ayr United 0 – 2 Raith Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Callachan   19'
Matthews   75'
Attendance: 1,550
Referee: Euan Anderson
13 August 2016 2 Queen of the South 4 – 1 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Lyle   12', 53'
Dobbie   44'
Dykes   74'
Report Nisbet   61' Attendance: 1,982
Referee: Stephen Finnie
20 August 2016 3 Dundee United 3 – 0 Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00 Murray   13'
Robson   37'
Flood   76'
Report Attendance: 6,427
Referee: Greg Aitken
27 August 2016 4 Ayr United 1 – 1 St Mirren Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Adams   14' Report Walsh   89' Attendance: 2,165
Referee: Crawford Allan
10 September 2016 5 Ayr United 2 – 1 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Cairney   47'
Forrest   69'
Report Forbes   86' Attendance: 1,441
Referee: John McKendrick
17 September 2016 6 Hibernian 1 – 2 Ayr United Easter Road, Edinburgh
15:00 Cummings   50'
Bartley   67'
Report Balatoni   74'
Gilmour   80'
Attendance: 15,056
Referee: Nick Walsh
24 September 2016 7 Falkirk 2 – 0 Ayr United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Meggatt   78' (o.g.)
Miller   90+1'
Report Attendance: 4,345
Referee: Willie Collum
1 October 2016 8 Ayr United 0 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 2,883
Referee: Don Robertson
15 October 2016 9 Dumbarton 0 – 3 Ayr United Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00 Report Forrest   2', 50', 62 pen.' Attendance: 1,005
Referee: Gavin Duncan
22 October 2016 10 Ayr United 1 – 0 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Cairney   52' Report Attendance: 1,842
Referee: John Beaton
29 October 2016 11 Greenock Morton 2 – 1 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 O'Ware   73'
Oliver   89'
Report Nisbet   37' Attendance: 1,859
Referee: Mat Northcroft
5 November 2016 12 Ayr United 0 – 3 Hibernian Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Boyle   28', 77'
McGinn   84'
Attendance: 3,100
Referee: Kevin Clancy
19 November 2016 13 Ayr United 0 – 1 Falkirk Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Craigen   15' Attendance: 1,414
Referee: Gavin Duncan
22 November 2016 14 Raith Rovers 1 – 1 Ayr United Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
19:45 Coustrain   17'
Benedictus   36'
Report Cairney   57'
Harkins   88'
Attendance: 1,241
Referee: Craig Charleston
3 December 2016 15 Dunfermline Athletic 1 – 1 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Clark   30'
Martin   48'
Report Forrest   50', pen.' Attendance: 3,250
Referee: Barry Cook
10 December 2016 16 Ayr United 0 – 1 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Obadeyi   6' Attendance: 2,049
Referee: Willie Collum
17 December 2016 17 St Mirren 1 – 1 Ayr United St Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 Sutton   81' Report Cairney   63'
Adams   77'
Attendance: 3,124
Referee: Greg Aitken
24 December 2016 18 Ayr United 4 – 4 Dumbarton Somerset Park, Ayr
12:30 McKenna   31'
Harkins   43'
Forest   74' (pen.)
Cairney   85'
Report R. Thomson   45+2'
Harvie   52'
Stirling   73'
J. Thomson   84'
Stevenson   88'
Attendance: 1,441
Referee: Craig Charleston
31 December 2016 19 Queen of the South 0 – 0 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
14:00 Report Attendance: 1,594
Referee: Steven Kirkland
7 January 2017 20 Ayr United 0 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Clark   26'
Geggan   33'
Attendance: 2,261
Referee: Craig Thomson
14 January 2017 21 Falkirk 1 – 1 Ayr United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Grant   45+2' Report Harkins   24' Attendance: 5,038
Referee: Bobby Madden
28 January 2017 22 Ayr United 1 – 4 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Adams   36' Report Forbes   11', 19'
Oliver   31', 65'
Attendance: 1,576
Referee: Don Robertson
4 February 2017 23 Hibernian 1 – 1 Ayr United Easter Road, Edinburgh
15:00 Cummings   74' Report Crawford   4' Attendance: 14,349
Referee: Crawford Allan
18 February 2017 24 Dumbarton 2 – 2 Ayr United Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00 Stanton   62', 75' Report Docherty   27'
Rose   90+1'
Moore   90+3' (pen.)
Attendance: 1,198
Referee: John McKendrick
25 February 2017 25 Ayr United 0 – 2 St Mirren Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Sutton   51'
Morgan   82'
Attendance: 2,712
Referee: Craig Thomson
28 February 2017 26 Ayr United 1 – 0 Raith Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 El Alagui   62' Report Attendance: 1,103
Referee: Willie Collum
11 March 2017 27 Ayr United 1 – 4 Falkirk Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Harkins   64' Report Austin   8', 63'
Sibbald   90'
Aird   90+2'
Attendance: 1,614
Referee: Steven McLean
18 March 2017 28 Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 1 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Report Docherty   49' Attendance: 3,276
Referee: Bobby Madden
25 March 2017 29 Ayr United 2 – 1 Dumbarton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 El Alagui   45+1'
Crawford   51'
Report R. Thomson   21'
Fleming   71'
Attendance: 1,608
Referee: Craig Charleston
28 March 2017 30 Dundee United 2 – 1 Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
19:45 Murray   23'
Durnan   78'
Report Harkins   51' (pen.) Attendance: 4,661
Referee: Barry Cook
1 April 2017 31 St Mirren 6 – 2 Ayr United St Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 Mallan   5'
MacKenzie   20'
McGinn   23'
Magennis   36'
Morgan   52'
Smith   88'
Report Cairney   74'
El Alagu   87'
Attendance: 4,620
Referee: Gavin Duncan
8 April 2017 32 Ayr United 0 – 2 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Dobbie   71', 76' Attendance: 1,476
Referee: Alan Newlands
15 April 2017 33 Ayr United 0 – 0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
17:15 Report Attendance: 1,205
Referee: Crawford Allan
22 April 2017 34 Greenock Morton 1 – 1 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Shankland   38' Report Moore   45+1' Attendance: 2,390
Referee: Steven Kirkland
29 April 2017 35 Ayr United 0 – 4 Hibernian Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Cummings   27', 72'
Boyle   30'
Keatings   66'
Attendance: 2,152
Referee: Stephen Finnie
6 May 2017 36 Raith Rovers 2 – 1 Ayr United Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00 Penska   4'
Court   37'
McManus   90'
Report Docherty   70' Attendance: 3,064
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish League Cup

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Group stage

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Results

16 July 2016 Group G Ayr United 2 – 1 Hamilton Academical Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Forrest   2' (pen.)
Crawford   49'
Report Longridge   90+4' Attendance: 994
Referee: Willie Collum
19 July 2016 Group G St Mirren 1 – 0 Ayr United St Mirren Park, Paisley
19:45 Baird   90+3' SPFL Report Attendance: 2,098
Referee: John Beaton
23 July 2016 Group G Ayr United 1 – 0 Edinburgh City Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Gilmour   11' Report Attendance: 862
Referee: Barry Cook
26 July 2016 Group G Livingston 0 – 2 Ayr United Almondvale, Livingston
19:45 Report Murphy   19'
McGuffie   78'
Attendance: 643
Referee: David Lowe

Knockout phase

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10 August 2016 Second round Ayr United 1 – 2 Aberdeen Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Forrest   41' Report Meggatt  3' (o.g.)
McGinn   30'
Attendance: 2,653
Referee: Alan Muir

Scottish Challenge Cup

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4 September 2016 Third round Ayr United 3 – 2 (a.e.t.) Airdrieonians Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 McGuffie   35'
Forrest   45'
Balatoni   97'
Report Conroy   14'
Balatoni   49' (o.g.)
Russell   113'
Attendance: 1,135
Referee: Barry Cook
7 October 2016 Fourth round Ayr United 1 – 0 (a.e.t.) Falkirk Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Harkins   114' Report Attendance: 1,247
Referee: Alan Muir
13 November 2016 Quarter-final St Mirren 2 – 1 Ayr United St Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 Sutton   83', 85' Report O'Connell   68' Attendance: 2,199
Referee: Crawford Allan

Scottish Cup

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29 November 2016 Third round Brechin City 0 – 1 Ayr United Glebe Park, Brechin
19:45 Report O'Connell   70' Attendance: 308
Referee: Alan Muir
21 January 2017 Fourth round Ayr United 0 – 0 Queen's Park Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 1,326
Referee: Barry Cook
24 January 2017 Fourth round reply Queen's Park 2 – 2 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 5 p)
Ayr United Hampden Park
19:45 Woods   4'
Bryan Wharton   32'
Burns   97'
Report Moore   26'
Cairney
Balatoni   83'
Attendance: 1,026
Referee: Barry Cook
11 February 2017 Fifth round Ayr United 1 – 1 Clyde Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Cairney   70' Report Gormley   55' Attendance: 1,554
Referee: Stephen Finnie
14 February 2017 Fifth round replay Clyde 1 – 2 (a.e.t.) Ayr United Broadwood Stadium
19:45 Gormley   88' Report McDaid   11'
Wardrope   117'
Attendance: 965
Referee: Stephen Finnie
4 March 2017 Quarter-final Hibernian 3 – 1 Ayr United Easter Road Stadium
15:00 McGinn   7'
Cummings   12' (pen.)
Keatings   79'
Report McGuffie   33'
McKenna   45'
Attendance: 13,602
Referee: Nick Walsh

Player statistics

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As of 6 May 2017[3]
No. Pos Nat Player Total Championship League Cup Challenge Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   SCO Greg Fleming 49 0 36 0 4 0 3 0 6 0
2 DF   SCO Nicky Devlin 48 0 34 0 5 0 3 0 6 0
3 DF   SCO Patrick Boyle 41 0 26+3 0 5 0 2 0 5 0
4 DF   SCO Brian Gilmour 37 2 19+6 1 2+2 1 2 0 4+2 0
5 DF   SCO Michael Rose 24 1 10+10 1 0 0 0 0 0+4 0
6 DF   IRL Peter Murphy 39 1 29+1 0 5 1 1 0 2+1 0
8 DF   SCO Robbie Crawford 37 3 24+3 2 5 1 1+1 0 3 0
9 DF   SCO Craig Moore 17 3 9+4 2 1 0 0 0 3 1
10 MF   SCO Alan Forrest 45 9 24+10 6 2 2 3 1 1+5 0
11 MF   SCO Declan McDaid 9 1 2+5 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
12 MF   SCO Gary Harkins 40 6 30+2 5 0 0 2 1 6 0
14 MF   SCO Paul Cairney 42 6 27+3 5 4+1 0 2+1 0 3+1 1
15 FW   FRA Farid El Alagui 11 3 8+3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF   SCO Jamie Adams 25 2 16+2 2 4 0 0 0 2+1 0
17 FW   SCO Kevin Nisbet 20 2 11+9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 DF   SCO Daryll Meggatt 43 0 31 0 5 0 2+1 0 4 0
19 GK   SCO Jordan Hart 2 0 0+1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF   SCO Michael Wardrope 11 1 2+3 0 0+3 0 1 0 0+2 1
21 MF   SCO Craig McGuffie 40 3 6+20 0 2+3 1 3 1 3+3 1
22 DF   ENG Conrad Balatoni 39 3 30 1 0 0 3 1 6 1
23 MF   SCO Ross Docherty 42 2 29 2 4 0 3 0 6 0
26 DF   SCO Scott McKenna 14 1 11 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
Players who left the club during the 2016–17 season
7 FW   WAL Jamie Thomas 7 0 0+3 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
11 MF   SCO Michael Donald 13 0 1+5 0 2+1 0 0+3 0 1 0
15 MF   IRL Andy O'Connell 15 2 1+7 0 1+2 0 0+3 1 1 1
17 FW   SCO Sean McKenzie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0
22 DF   SCO Craig McCracken 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 DF   SCO Andy Johnston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Team statistics

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
6 Queen of the South 36 11 10 15 46 52 −6 43
7 St Mirren 36 9 12 15 52 56 −4 39
8 Dumbarton 36 9 12 15 46 56 −10 39
9 Raith Rovers (R) 36 10 9 17 35 52 −17 39 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Ayr United (R) 36 7 12 17 33 62 −29 33 Relegation to League One
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(R) Relegated

Division summary

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
GroundHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHHAHA
ResultLLLDWWLDWWLLLDDLDDDLDLDDLWLLWWLLDDLL
Position101010107667767777789999999999999991010101010
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2017. Source: [4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League Cup table

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HAM AYR STM LIV EDI
1 Hamilton Academical (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 10 5 +5 9 Qualification for the Second Round 3–0 2–1
2 Ayr United (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 5 2 +3 9 2–1 1–0
3 St Mirren 4 3 0 0 1 7 5 +2 9 1–0 3–0
4 Livingston 4 1 0 0 3 6 7 −1 3 0–2 2–3
5 Edinburgh City 4 0 0 0 4 2 11 −9 0 2–4 0–3
Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Transfers

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References

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  1. ^ "Ayr United 0-0 Stranraer (agg 1-1, 3-1 pens)". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Ayr United are relegated from the Championship after last day defeat to Raith Rovers". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Ayr FC Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Scottish Championship 2016/17". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. ^ "United sign Cairney". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Michael Rose signs for 16/17". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Meggatt signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Ayr United sign goalkeeper Jordan Hart from Annan Athletic". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Thomas Joins Ayr On Loan". burnleyfootballclub.com. Burnley F.C. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Craig Moore returns". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Kevin Nisbet signs". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Gary Harkins signs". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Balatoni signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Ayr United sign Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna on loan". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Declain McDaid joins United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Farid signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United F.C. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Graham moves from Ayr to Alloa". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Stevenson switches to Sons from Ayr United". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Dumbarton F.C. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Players released". Brechin Advertiser. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  20. ^ "Gerry Signs For Cowden". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath F.C. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Jordan Preston signs". guiseleyafc.co.uk. Guiseley F.C. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2020.