2019–20 Ayr United F.C. season

Ayr United
2019–20 season
Chairman	Lachlan Cameron
Manager	Ian McCall; (Until 23 September); Mark Kerr
Stadium	Somerset Park
Scottish Championship	Fourth place; (As of 15 April 2020)
Scottish League Cup	Group stage
Scottish Challenge Cup	Third round
Scottish Cup	Fifth round
Top goalscorer	League: Alan Forrest (10); All: Alan Forrest (10)
Home colours	Away colours
	← 2018–19 2020–21 →

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]

Summary[]

Season[]

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[]

Win Draw Loss Postponed

Scottish Championship[]

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	Geggan 75' Muirhead 79'	Report	Vincent 31' Rooney 64' Todorov 79' Carson 79' Trafford 90'	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' Turner 78' Ryan 84'	Report	Muirhead 9' Ashcroft 43' (o.g.) Forrst 57' McCowan 68' Docherty 77' Geggan 901+3'	Attendance: 3,905 Referee: Alan Muir (referee)

25 October 2019 Match 10	Ayr United	1–2	Dundee	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05	Kelly 28' Geggan 32' McCowan 38' Muirhead 66' Docherty 68'	Report	McDaid 16' McGowan 32' 32'	Attendance: 1,627 Referee: Bobby Madden

29 October 2019 Match 11	Greenock Morton	2–3	Ayr United	Cappielow, Greenock
19:45	Salkeld 40' Baird 47' McHugh 61'	Report	Moore 50' Docherty 53' 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: Willie Collum

9 November 2019 Match 13	Queen of the South	3–1	Ayr United	Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00	Holt 18' 62' Murray 67' Oliver 74' Dobbie 77' McCarthy 79'	Report	Moffat 38' McCowan 78' Muirhead 79'	Attendance: 1,850 Referee: Don Robertson

3 December 2019 Match 14	Ayr United	0–1	Dunfermline Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Moffat 52' Harvie 70'	Report	Beadling 45+1' 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' Rooney 39' Storey 63'	Report	Mark McKenzie 90+2'	Attendance: 1,833 Referee: Gavin Ross

10 December 2019 Match 16	Ayr United	1–1	Arbroath	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Kelly 22' Moore 77'	Report	McKenna 48' (pen.) Donnelly 78' Stewart 82'	Attendance: 777 Referee: Colin Steven

14 December 2019 Match 17	Ayr United	2–1	Alloa Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Docherty 6' 12' Kelly 81'	Report	Trouten 23' Hetherington 58' O'Hara 67' Deas 69'	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' Butcher 74' Harkes 87'	Report	Kerr 56' 56' Moore 72'	Attendance: 7,744 Referee: Greg Aitken

28 December 2019 Match 19	Ayr United	1–2	Queen of the South	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	McCowan 44' Geggan 45+2' Harvie 56' Muirhead 58' 77' (pen.) Moore 63'	Report	Semple 4' El Bakhtaoui 45' Pybus 45+2' Dobbie 58' (pen.) Osman 76'	Attendance: 2,062 Referee: David Lowe

4 January 2020 Match 20	Dunfermline Athletic	0–1	Ayr United	East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00		Report	Geggan 11' Moore 38' Docherty 82'	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' Docherty 85'	Report	McKay 71' White 72' Doran 78'	Attendance: 1,602 Referee: Greg Aitken

31 January 2020 Match 22	Partick Thistle	1–1	Ayr United	Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
19:05	Graham 33' 38' O'Connor 52' Cardle 61'	Report	Harvie 25' Forrest 52' (pen.) Muirhead 60' Docherty 84'	Attendance: 2,416 Referee: Greg Aitken

25 February 2020 Match 23	Ayr United	1–2	Greenock Morton	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Malley 22' Harvie 68'	Report	Orsi 29' Strapp 64' Cadden 72' Colville 84'	Attendance: 1,336 Referee: David Lowe

29 February 2020 Match 24	Alloa Athletic	0–2	Ayr United	Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00	Thomson 13' Hetherington 62'	Report	Drinan 9' Harvie 73' Forrest 82'	Attendance: 915 Referee: Greg Aitken

3 March 2020 Match 25	Ayr United	0–0	Dundee United	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Harvie 49' Kelly 90+2'	Report	Bingham 64' Smith 90'	Attendance: 1,674 Referee: David Munro

7 March 2020 Match 26	Ayr United	0–0	Dundee	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Roscoe 52' Houston 66' Muirhead 70'	Report	Kerr 25'	Attendance: 1,758 Referee: Steven McLean

10 March 2020 Match 27	Dundee	2–0	Ayr United	Dens Park, Dundee
19:45	Hemmings 11' Meekings 45' Crankshaw 90+2'	Report	Muirhead 24' Houston 59' Kelly 88'	Attendance: 4,670 Referee: John Beaton

13 March 2020 Match 28	Queen of the South	P – P	Ayr United	Palmerston Park, Dumfries
19:05

17 March 2020 Match 29	Arbroath	P – P	Ayr United	Gayfield Park, Arbroath
19:45

20 March 2020 Match 30	Ayr United	P – P	Partick Thistle	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05

4 April 2020 Match 31	Ayr United	P – P	Dunfermline Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00

11 April 2020 Match 32	Ayr United	P – P	Alloa Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00

17 April 2020 Match 33	Greenock Morton	P – P	Ayr United	Cappielow, Greenock
19:45

25 April 2020 Match 34	Ayr United	P – P	Arbroath	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00

2 May 2020 Match 35	Dundee United	P – P	Ayr United	Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00

Scottish League Cup[]

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: Willie 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: 1,605 Referee: Barry Cook

Scottish Challenge Cup[]

7 September 2019 Round 3	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[]

18 January 2020 Round 4	Ayr United	1–0	Ross County	Ayr
15:00	Bell 37'	Report	Paton 51' Tillson 73'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,538 Referee: Andrew Dallas

8 February 2020 Round 5	Ayr United	1–2	St Johnstone	Ayr
15:00	Drinan 4' Muirhead 23' 26' Gillespie 58'	Report	Muirhead 18' (o.g.) Hendry 27'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,625 Referee: Steven McLean

League table[]

Pos	Team v t	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG
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:

^ All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[6]

League Cup table[]

Pos	Team v t	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: ^[7]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.^[8]

Transfers[]

Transfers in[]

Date	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
13 June 2019	DF	Sam Roscoe	Aberdeen	Free transfer	^[9]
24 June 2019	FW	Kris Doolan	Partick Thistle	Free transfer	^[10]
23 January 2020	DF	Jordan Houston	Rangers	Free transfer	^[11]

Transfers out[]

Date	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2019	DF	Chris Higgins	East Fife	Free transfer	^[12]
	MF	Robbie Crawford	Livingston		^[13]
	DF	Liam Smith	Dundee United		^[14]
	DF	Michael Rose	Coventry City		^[15]
	FW	James Hilton	Stranraer		^[16]
	MF	Stuart Faulds	Largs Thistle		^[17]
	MF	Declan McDaid	Dundee F.C.		^[18]
3 July 2019	FW	Lawrence Shankland	Dundee United		^[19]
31 August 2019	DF	David Ferguson	Peterhead		^[20]
30 January 2020	MF	Craig McGuffie	Greenock Morton	Free transfer	^[21]

Loans in[]

Date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
8 July 2019	MF	Frank Ross	Aberdeen	1 January 2020	^[22]
10 July 2019	MF	Stephen Kelly	Rangers	31 May 2020	^[23]
12 July 2019	GK	Ross Doohan	Celtic		^[24]
30 August 2019	DF	Jordan Houston	Rangers		^[25]
17 January 2020	FW	Aaron Drinan	Ipswich Town		^[26]
30 January 2020	FW	Scott Tiffoney	Livingston		^[27]
31 January 2020	MF	Connor Malley	Middlesbrough		^[28]

Loans out[]

Start date	Position	Name	To	End date	Ref.
1 July 2019	MF	Leon Murphy	Stranraer	30 May 2020	^[29]
4 August 2019	DF	Mikey Hewitt	Kilwinning Rangers	31 May 2020	^[30]
1 September 2019	DF	Nathan Baird	Cumnock Juniors	15 May 2020	^[31]

References[]

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

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[7] All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[6]

[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] "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] rcial. "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] "Higgins & Murdoch Agree Terms For Next Season". eastfifefc.info. Retrieved 11 November 2019.

[14] "Robbie Crawford: Livingston sign midfielder from Ayr United". 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.

[15] "Ayr Utd full-back Liam Smith to join Dundee Utd on two-year deal". 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[16] "Ayr United's Michael Rose sets up Coventry move as 'around 15 clubs' chase Lawrence Shankland". 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[17] "Homecoming for Hilton". www.stranraerfc.org. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[18] "Stuart Faulds – Players – Largs Thistle Football Club". www.largsthistle.org.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[19] "Declan is a Dee". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[20] "UNITED ANNOUNCE SHANKLAND SIGNING". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 12 November 2019.

[21] Law, Callum. "Peterhead new boy hoping move is win-win". Evening Express. Retrieved 12 November 2019.

[22] "Craig McGuffie signs for Morton – Greenock Morton". Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.

[23] Durent, Jamie. "Aberdeen midfielder joins Ayr United on loan spell". Press and Journal. Retrieved 11 November 2019.

[24] "Ayr United secure loan for Rangers ace Stephen Kelly". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 11 November 2019.

[25] "Ross Doohan: Celtic goalkeeper rejoins Ayr Utd on loan". 13 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.

[26] "Rangers kid Jordan Houston joins Ayr United on loan". 30 August 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2020.

[27] "Aaron Drinan Signs". 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

[28] "Livingston striker Scott Tiffoney: Ayr United old boys sold me on loan move to Somerset Park". 30 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

[29] "Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate hails "great move" for Connor Malley as midfielder joins Ayr United". 31 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

[30] "Leon Murphy | Football Stats | Ayr United | Age 20 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[31] "Michael Hewitt – Ayr United Football Club". Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[32] "Nathan Baird – Ayr United Football Club". Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

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v t 2019–20 in Scottish football
« 2018–19 2020–21 »
Domestic leagues	SPFL Premiership Championship League One League Two Highland Lowland East of Scotland South of Scotland North Caledonian SJFA West Premiership SJFA East Super League SJFA North Superleague Women's Premier League '19 '20 Women's First Division/Championship '20
Domestic cups	Scottish Cup Final League Cup Group stage Final Challenge Cup Final South Region Challenge Cup Junior Cup Women's Cup '19 ~~'20~~ Women's Premier League Cup '19 '20
European competitions	Champions League Europa League Youth League
Related to national team	Results Men's Women's UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying
Transfers	Summer 2019 Winter 2019–20
Club seasons
Premiership	Aberdeen Celtic Hamilton Academical Heart of Midlothian Hibernian Kilmarnock Livingston Motherwell Rangers Ross County St Johnstone St Mirren
Championship	Alloa Athletic Arbroath Ayr United Dundee Dundee United Dunfermline Athletic Greenock Morton Inverness Caledonian Thistle Partick Thistle Queen of the South
League One	Dumbarton Falkirk Raith Rovers
League Two