2019–20 Ayr United F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was Ayr United's 2nd season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from league one in the 2017–18 season. Ayr also competed in the Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.[1] On 13 March 2020 all SPFL leagues were indefinitely suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.[2]

Ayr United
2019–20 season
ChairmanLachlan Cameron
ManagerIan McCall
(Until 23 September)
Mark Kerr
(from 22 October)
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish Championship4th
Scottish CupFifth round
Scottish League CupGroup stage
Scottish Challenge CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Alan Forrest (10)
All: Alan Forrest (10)
Highest home attendance3,167 v Dundee United, Championship, 14 September 2019
Lowest home attendance777 v Arbroath, Championship, 10 December 2019
Average home league attendance1,778

Summary

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Season

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Ayr began the season on 3 August 2019 and was scheduled to end on 2 May 2020.[3] On 8 April 2020, the SPFL proposed to end the 2019–20 season by utilising a points per game ratio to determine the final standings.[4] The plan was approved on 15 April 2020, declaring that the season was over, with Dundee United being named as title winners and relegating Partick Thistle to League One.[5]

Results and fixtures

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  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Championship

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3 August 2019 Match 1 Ayr United 4–2 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moffat   9'
McCowan   55'
Forrest   64'
McGuffie   90+2'
Report Tumilty   73'
Cadden   79'
Attendance: 1,935
Referee: Gavin Duncan
10 August 2019 Match 2 Dundee 1–0 Ayr United Dens Park, Dundee
15:00 Nelson   74' Report Attendance: 5,520
Referee: Alan Newlands
24 August 2019 Match 3 Ayr United 1–0 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Kelly   26' Report Attendance: 2,005
Referee: Steven Kirkland
31 August 2019 Match 4 Partick Thistle 2–3 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00 Bannigan   14' (pen.)   65'
Gordon   43'   44'
Report McCowan   24'
Doolan   72'
Kelly   78'
Attendance: 3,060
Referee: Andrew Dallas
14 September 2019 Match 5 Ayr United 2–0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Harvie   9'
Forrest   75' (pen.)
Report Attendance: 3,167
Referee: Bobby Madden
21 September 2019 Match 6 Alloa Athletic 1–4 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 O'Hara   61' Report Forrest   10' (pen.)
Roscoe   13'
McCowan   20'
Attendance: 902
Referee: David Lowe
28 September 2019 Match 7 Arbroath 0–3 Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
15:00 Report Forrest   12', 20'
Kelly   27'
Attendance: 1,105
Referee: Grant Irvine
5 October 2019 Match 8 Ayr United 0–2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Vincent   31'
Rooney   64'
Attendance: 1,912
Referee: Steven McLean
19 October 2019 Match 9 Dunfermline Athletic 3–2 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Kiltie   28'
Ashcroft   63'
Ryan   84'
Report Ashcroft   43' (o.g.)
Forrst   57'
Attendance: 3,905
Referee: Alan Muir
25 October 2019 Match 10 Ayr United 1–2 Dundee Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05 McCowan   38' Report McDaid   16'
McGowan   32'
Attendance: 1,627
Referee: Bobby Madden
29 October 2019 Match 11 Greenock Morton 2–3 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
19:45 Baird   47'
McHugh   61'
Report Moore   50'
McCowan   55'
McGuffie   78'
Attendance: 1,431
Referee: Colin Steven
2 November 2019 Match 12 Ayr United 4–1 Partick Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moore   11', 48'
Moffat   18'
Forrest   52'
Report Cardle   79' Attendance: 2,558
Referee: William Collum
9 November 2019 Match 13 Queen of the South 3–1 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Holt   18'
Murray   67'
Oliver   74'
Report Moffat   38'
McCowan   78'
Attendance: 1,850
Referee: Don Robertson
3 December 2019 Match 14 Ayr United 0–1 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Report Nisbet   68' Attendance: 1,361
Referee: Euan Anderson
7 December 2019 Match 15 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–0 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00 White   20'
Storey   63'
Report Attendance: 1,833
Referee: Gavin Ross
10 December 2019 Match 16 Ayr United 1–1 Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Kelly   22' Report McKenna   48 pen.' Attendance: 777
Referee: Colin Steven
14 December 2019 Match 17 Ayr United 2–1 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Docherty   6' (12) Report O'Hara   67' Attendance: 1,117
Referee: David Munro
21 December 2019 Match 18 Dundee United 4–0 Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00 Stanton   42'
Shankland   57 pen.'
Clark   61'
Harkes   87'
Report Kerr   56' Attendance: 7,744
Referee: Greg Aitken
28 December 2019 Match 19 Ayr United 1–2 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Muirhead   77' (pen.) Report Semple   4'
Dobbie   58 pen.'
Attendance: 2,062
Referee: David Lowe
4 January 2020 Match 20 Dunfermline Athletic 0–1 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Report Moore   38' Attendance: 3,915
Referee: Mike Roncone
25 January 2020 Match 21 Ayr United 1–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Kelly   61' Report Attendance: 1,602
Referee: Greg Aitken
31 January 2020 Match 22 Partick Thistle 1–1 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
19:05 Graham   33' Report Forrest   52' (pen.) Attendance: 2,416
Referee: Greg Aitken
25 February 2020 Match 23 Ayr United 1–2 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Malley   22' Report Orsi   29'
Cadden   72'
Attendance: 1,336
Referee: David Lowe
29 February 2020 Match 24 Alloa Athletic 0–2 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Report Drinan   9'
Forrest   82'
Attendance: 915
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 March 2020 Match 25 Ayr United 0–0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Report Attendance: 1,674
Referee: David Munro
7 March 2020 Match 26 Ayr United 0–0 Dundee Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 1,758
Referee: Steven McLean
10 March 2020 Match 27 Dundee 2–0 Ayr United Dens Park, Dundee
19:45 Hemmings   11'
Crankshaw   90+2'
Report Attendance: 4,670
Referee: John Beaton

Scottish League Cup

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13 July 2019 Match 1 Berwick Rangers 0–7 Ayr United Berwick-upon-Tweed
15:00 Report Moffat   21', 36'
McCowan   26', 70'
Doolan   35', 86'
McGuffie   42'
Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 603
Referee: Scott Lambie
16 July 2019 Match 2 Livingston 2–1 Ayr United Livingston
19:45 Souda   25'
Lamie   83'
Report Murdoch   51' Stadium: Almondvale
Attendance: 1,097
Referee: William Collum
20 July 2019 Match 3 Ayr United 2–1 Falkirk Ayr
15:00 McCowan   26'
Geggan   75'
Report McManus   42'
Durnan   47'
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,605
Referee: Barry Cook
22 July 2019 Match 4 Ayr United 2–2
(5–6 p)
Stranraer Ayr
15:00 Moffat   2'
Kelly   44'
Report Cummins   42', 86' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,430
Referee: Grant Irvine

Scottish Challenge Cup

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7 September 2019 Third round   Wrexham 1–1
(6–5 p)
Ayr United Wrexham
19:45 Bickerstaff   70' Report Roscoe   85' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 1,697
Referee: Steven Gregg

Scottish Cup

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18 January 2020 Fourth round Ayr United 1–0 Ross County Ayr
15:00 Bell   37' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,538
Referee: Andrew Dallas
8 February 2020 Fifth round Ayr United 1–2 St Johnstone Ayr
15:00 Drinan   4'
Muirhead   26'
Report Muirhead   18 o.g.'
Hendry   27'
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,625
Referee: Steven McLean

Squad statistics

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Appearances

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As of 10 March 2020[6]
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 Ross Doohan 33 0 27+0 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
2 DF   SCO Aaron Muirhead 29 2 21+2 1 3+0 1 1+0 0 2+0 0
3 DF   SCO Daniel Harvie 33 1 27+0 1 4+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
4 MF   SCO Mark Kerr 22 0 12+4 0 2+1 0 1+0 0 2+0 0
5 DF   ENG Sam Roscoe 26 2 18+2 1 3+0 0 1+0 1 0+2 0
6 MF   SCO Andy Geggan 20 1 14+3 0 2+0 1 1+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW   SCO Michael Moffat 34 6 21+6 3 4+0 3 1+0 0 1+1 0
8 MF   ENG Connor Malley 5 1 4+1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
9 FW   SCO Craig Moore 11 4 10+1 4 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
10 MF   SCO Alan Forrest 32 10 25+0 10 1+3 0 1+0 0 2+0 0
11 MF   SCO Luke McCowan 31 8 19+5 5 4+0 3 1+0 0 1+1 0
12 FW   SCO Scott Tiffoney 7 0 1+5 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
15 DF   SCO Steven Bell 22 1 16+0 0 3+0 0 1+0 0 2+0 1
16 FW   IRL Aaron Drinan 9 2 7+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 1
18 MF   SCO Andy Murdoch 8 0 4+0 0 3+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
19 GK   NZL Ellis Hare-Reid 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
21 DF   SCO Finn Ecrepont 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
22 FW   SCO Mark McKenzie 11 1 0+10 1 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
23 MF   SCO Ross Docherty 26 2 21+1 2 2+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
24 DF   SCO Leon Murphy 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
27 FW   SCO Paul Smith 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 MF   SCO Grant Gillespie 5 0 1+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
30 MF   SCO Stephen Kelly 33 6 27+0 5 4+0 1 0+0 0 2+0 0
31 MF   SCO Jordan Houston 25 5 18+5 5 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
Players who left the club during the 2019–20 season
8 FW   SCO Kris Doolan 17 3 1+10 1 3+1 2 1+0 0 0+1 0
12 MF   SCO Craig McGuffie 15 3 0+12 2 1+2 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
14 DF   SCO David Ferguson 3 0 0+0 0 2+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
16 MF   SCO Jamie Adams 4 0 3+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
17 MF   SCO Frank Ross 2 0 0+0 0 0+2 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 PPG Promotion, qualification or relegation[a]
2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27 14 3 10 39 32 +7 45 1.67
3 Dundee 27 11 8 8 32 31 +1 41 1.52
4 Ayr United 27 12 4 11 38 35 +3 40 1.48
5 Arbroath 26 10 6 10 24 26 −2 36 1.38
6 Dunfermline Athletic 28 10 7 11 41 36 +5 37 1.32
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game.
Notes:
  1. ^ All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[7]


League Cup table

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV AYR FAL STR BER
1 Livingston 4 3 1 0 0 10 3 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round 2–1 5–0
2 Ayr United 4 2 0 1 1 12 5 +7 7 2–1 2–2p
3 Falkirk 4 2 0 1 1 6 3 +3 7 1–1p 1–0
4 Stranraer 4 1 1 0 2 9 5 +4 5 1–2 6–0
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 0 21 −21 0 0–7 0–3
Source: [8]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[9]

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
13 June 2019 DF Sam Roscoe Aberdeen Free transfer [10]
24 June 2019 FW Kris Doolan Partick Thistle [11]
23 January 2020 DF Jordan Houston Rangers [12]
24 January 2020 MF Grant Gillespie   Derry City [13]

Transfers out

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Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
1 July 2019 DF Chris Higgins East Fife Free transfer [14]
MF Robbie Crawford Livingston [15]
DF Liam Smith Dundee United [16]
Michael Rose   Coventry City [17]
FW James Hilton Stranraer [18]
MF Stuart Faulds Largs Thistle [19]
Declan McDaid Dundee [20]
3 July 2019 FW Lawrence Shankland Dundee United [21]
31 August 2019 DF David Ferguson Peterhead [22]
11 January 2020 MF Jamie Adams Retired [23]
30 January 2020 MF Craig McGuffie Greenock Morton Free transfer [24]
6 February 2020 FW Kris Doolan [25]

Loans in

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Date Position Name From End date Ref.
8 July 2019 MF Frank Ross Aberdeen 1 January 2020 [26]
10 July 2019 Stephen Kelly Rangers 31 May 2020 [27]
12 July 2019 GK Ross Doohan Celtic [28]
30 August 2019 DF Jordan Houston Rangers [29]
17 January 2020 FW   Aaron Drinan   Ipswich Town [30]
30 January 2020 FW Scott Tiffoney Livingston [31]
31 January 2020 MF   Connor Malley   Middlesbrough [32]

Loans out

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Start date Position Name To End date Ref.
1 July 2019 MF Leon Murphy Stranraer 31 May 2020 [33]
4 August 2019 DF Michael Hewitt Kilwinning Rangers [34]
1 September 2019 Nathan Baird Cumnock Juniors [35]

References

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  1. ^ "Ladbrokes Championship League Table | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Coronavirus joint response group update". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Key dates for 2019/20". SPFL. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ^ "SPFL: Clubs to vote on lower leagues; Premiership decision on hold". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles & reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  10. ^ commercial. "Roscoe signs from Aberdeen – Ayr United Football Club". Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Kris Doolan: Ayr United sign striker following release by Partick Thistle". 24 June 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Rangers defender Jordan Houston completes Ayr United switch". 23 January 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Former Candystripe Grant Gillespie joins Ayr United on a short-term deal". 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Higgins & Murdoch Agree Terms For Next Season". eastfifefc.info. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Robbie Crawford: Livingston sign midfielder from Ayr United". 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Ayr Utd full-back Liam Smith to join Dundee Utd on two-year deal". 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Ayr United's Michael Rose sets up Coventry move as 'around 15 clubs' chase Lawrence Shankland". 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Homecoming for Hilton". www.stranraerfc.org. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Stuart Faulds – Players – Largs Thistle Football Club". www.largsthistle.org.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Declan is a Dee". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  21. ^ "UNITED ANNOUNCE SHANKLAND SIGNING". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  22. ^ Law, Callum. "Peterhead new boy hoping move is win-win". Evening Express. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Ayr United ace Jamie Adams is retiring". Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Craig McGuffie signs for Morton – Greenock Morton". Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Kris Doolan signs until end of season". Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  26. ^ Durent, Jamie. "Aberdeen midfielder joins Ayr United on loan spell". Press and Journal. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  27. ^ "Ayr United secure loan for Rangers ace Stephen Kelly". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  28. ^ "Ross Doohan: Celtic goalkeeper rejoins Ayr Utd on loan". 13 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  29. ^ "Rangers kid Jordan Houston joins Ayr United on loan". 30 August 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Aaron Drinan Signs". 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Livingston striker Scott Tiffoney: Ayr United old boys sold me on loan move to Somerset Park". 30 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate hails "great move" for Connor Malley as midfielder joins Ayr United". 31 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Leon Murphy | Football Stats | Ayr United | Age 20 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  34. ^ "Michael Hewitt – Ayr United Football Club". Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Nathan Baird – Ayr United Football Club". Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.