2016–17 Ayr United F.C. season

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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

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.

Summary[edit]

Season[edit]

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[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season and friendlies[edit]

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

Raydale Cup[edit]

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[edit]

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 Red card 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 Red card 36'
Report Cairney Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 4'
Court 37'
McManus 90'
Report Docherty 70' Attendance: 3,064
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish League Cup[edit]

Group stage[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 Red card 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[edit]

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 Red card 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 Red card 45'
Attendance: 13,602
Referee: Nick Walsh

Player statistics[edit]

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 Scotland SCO Greg Fleming 49 0 36 0 4 0 3 0 6 0
2 DF Scotland SCO Nicky Devlin 48 0 34 0 5 0 3 0 6 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Boyle 41 0 26+3 0 5 0 2 0 5 0
4 DF Scotland SCO Brian Gilmour 37 2 19+6 1 2+2 1 2 0 4+2 0
5 DF Scotland SCO Michael Rose 24 1 10+10 1 0 0 0 0 0+4 0
6 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Peter Murphy 39 1 29+1 0 5 1 1 0 2+1 0
8 DF Scotland SCO Robbie Crawford 37 3 24+3 2 5 1 1+1 0 3 0
9 DF Scotland SCO Craig Moore 17 3 9+4 2 1 0 0 0 3 1
10 MF Scotland SCO Alan Forrest 45 9 24+10 6 2 2 3 1 1+5 0
11 MF Scotland SCO Declan McDaid 9 1 2+5 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
12 MF Scotland SCO Gary Harkins 40 6 30+2 5 0 0 2 1 6 0
14 MF Scotland SCO Paul Cairney 42 6 27+3 5 4+1 0 2+1 0 3+1 1
15 FW France FRA Farid El Alagui 11 3 8+3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Adams 25 2 16+2 2 4 0 0 0 2+1 0
17 FW Scotland SCO Kevin Nisbet 20 2 11+9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 DF Scotland SCO Daryll Meggatt 43 0 31 0 5 0 2+1 0 4 0
19 GK Scotland SCO Jordan Hart 2 0 0+1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF Scotland SCO Michael Wardrope 11 1 2+3 0 0+3 0 1 0 0+2 1
21 MF Scotland SCO Craig McGuffie 40 3 6+20 0 2+3 1 3 1 3+3 1
22 DF England ENG Conrad Balatoni 39 3 30 1 0 0 3 1 6 1
23 MF Scotland SCO Ross Docherty 42 2 29 2 4 0 3 0 6 0
26 DF Scotland 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 Wales WAL Jamie Thomas 7 0 0+3 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
11 MF Scotland SCO Michael Donald 13 0 1+5 0 2+1 0 0+3 0 1 0
15 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Andy O'Connell 15 2 1+7 0 1+2 0 0+3 1 1 1
17 FW Scotland SCO Sean McKenzie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0
22 DF Scotland SCO Craig McCracken 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 DF Scotland SCO Andy Johnston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Team statistics[edit]

League table[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  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.