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

Season

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

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season and friendlies
2 July 2016 Stenhousemuir0 – 2Ayr UnitedOchilview Park, Stenhousemuir
14:00 Report

Raydale Cup
10 July 2016 Semi-finalAyr United0 – 2South ShieldsRaydale Park, Gretna
Ayr United Arca  39'
Scroggins  41'
11 July 2016 3rd place play-offGretna 20080 – 8Ayr UnitedRaydale Park, Gretna
14:00 Ayr United Thomas  14', 62' (pen.)
McCreadie  60'
McGuffie  65'
Forrest  71', 90'
Donald  79'
Crawford  82'

Scottish Championship
Main article: 2016–17 Scottish Championship
6 August 2016 1Ayr United0 – 2Raith RoversSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Callachan  19'
Matthews  75'		 Attendance: 1,550
Referee: Euan Anderson
13 August 2016 2Queen of the South4 – 1Ayr UnitedPalmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Lyle  12', 53'
Dobbie  44'
Dykes  74'		 Report Nisbet  61' Attendance: 1,982
Referee: Stephen Finnie
20 August 2016 3Dundee United3 – 0Ayr UnitedTannadice Park, Dundee
15:00 Murray  13'
Robson  37'
Flood  76'		 Report Attendance: 6,427
Referee: Greg Aitken
27 August 2016 4Ayr United1 – 1St MirrenSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Adams  14' Report Walsh  89' Attendance: 2,165
Referee: Crawford Allan
10 September 2016 5Ayr United2 – 1Greenock MortonSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Cairney  47'
Forrest  69'		 Report Forbes  86' Attendance: 1,441
Referee: John McKendrick
17 September 2016 6Hibernian1 – 2Ayr UnitedEaster Road, Edinburgh
15:00 Cummings  50'
Bartley  67'		 Report Balatoni  74'
Gilmour  80'		 Attendance: 15,056
Referee: Nick Walsh
24 September 2016 7Falkirk2 – 0Ayr UnitedFalkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Meggatt  78' (o.g.)
Miller  90+1'		 Report Attendance: 4,345
Referee: Willie Collum
1 October 2016 8Ayr United0 – 0Dunfermline AthleticSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 2,883
Referee: Don Robertson
15 October 2016 9Dumbarton0 – 3Ayr UnitedDumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00 Report Forrest  2', 50', 62 pen.' Attendance: 1,005
Referee: Gavin Duncan
22 October 2016 10Ayr United1 – 0Queen of the SouthSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Cairney  52' Report Attendance: 1,842
Referee: John Beaton
29 October 2016 11Greenock Morton2 – 1Ayr UnitedCappielow, Greenock
15:00 O'Ware  73'
Oliver  89'		 Report Nisbet  37' Attendance: 1,859
Referee: Mat Northcroft
5 November 2016 12Ayr United0 – 3HibernianSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Boyle  28', 77'
McGinn  84'		 Attendance: 3,100
Referee: Kevin Clancy
19 November 2016 13Ayr United0 – 1FalkirkSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Craigen  15' Attendance: 1,414
Referee: Gavin Duncan
22 November 2016 14Raith Rovers1 – 1Ayr UnitedStark's Park, Kirkcaldy
19:45 Coustrain  17'
Benedictus  36'		 Report Cairney  57'
Harkins  88'		 Attendance: 1,241
Referee: Craig Charleston
3 December 2016 15Dunfermline Athletic1 – 1Ayr UnitedEast End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Clark  30'
Martin  48'		 Report Forrest  50', pen.' Attendance: 3,250
Referee: Barry Cook
10 December 2016 16Ayr United0 – 1Dundee UnitedSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Obadeyi  6' Attendance: 2,049
Referee: Willie Collum
17 December 2016 17St Mirren1 – 1Ayr UnitedSt Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 Sutton  81' Report Cairney  63'
Adams  77'		 Attendance: 3,124
Referee: Greg Aitken
24 December 2016 18Ayr United4 – 4DumbartonSomerset 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 19Queen of the South0 – 0Ayr UnitedPalmerston Park, Dumfries
14:00 Report Attendance: 1,594
Referee: Steven Kirkland
7 January 2017 20Ayr United0 – 2Dunfermline AthleticSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Clark  26'
Geggan  33'		 Attendance: 2,261
Referee: Craig Thomson
14 January 2017 21Falkirk1 – 1Ayr UnitedFalkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Grant  45+2' Report Harkins  24' Attendance: 5,038
Referee: Bobby Madden
28 January 2017 22Ayr United1 – 4Greenock MortonSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Adams  36' Report Forbes  11', 19'
Oliver  31', 65'		 Attendance: 1,576
Referee: Don Robertson
4 February 2017 23Hibernian1 – 1Ayr UnitedEaster Road, Edinburgh
15:00 Cummings  74' Report Crawford  4' Attendance: 14,349
Referee: Crawford Allan
18 February 2017 24Dumbarton2 – 2Ayr UnitedDumbarton 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 25Ayr United0 – 2St MirrenSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Sutton  51'
Morgan  82'		 Attendance: 2,712
Referee: Craig Thomson
28 February 2017 26Ayr United1 – 0Raith RoversSomerset Park, Ayr
19:45 El Alagui  62' Report Attendance: 1,103
Referee: Willie Collum
11 March 2017 27Ayr United1 – 4FalkirkSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Harkins  64' Report Austin  8', 63'
Sibbald  90'
Aird  90+2'		 Attendance: 1,614
Referee: Steven McLean
18 March 2017 28Dunfermline Athletic0 – 1Ayr UnitedEast End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Report Docherty  49' Attendance: 3,276
Referee: Bobby Madden
25 March 2017 29Ayr United2 – 1DumbartonSomerset 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 30Dundee United2 – 1Ayr UnitedTannadice Park, Dundee
19:45 Murray  23'
Durnan  78'		 Report Harkins  51' (pen.) Attendance: 4,661
Referee: Barry Cook
1 April 2017 31St Mirren6 – 2Ayr UnitedSt 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 32Ayr United0 – 2Queen of the SouthSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Dobbie  71', 76' Attendance: 1,476
Referee: Alan Newlands
15 April 2017 33Ayr United0 – 0Dundee UnitedSomerset Park, Ayr
17:15 Report Attendance: 1,205
Referee: Crawford Allan
22 April 2017 34Greenock Morton1 – 1Ayr UnitedCappielow, Greenock
15:00 Shankland  38' Report Moore  45+1' Attendance: 2,390
Referee: Steven Kirkland
29 April 2017 35Ayr United0 – 4HibernianSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Cummings  27', 72'
Boyle  30'
Keatings  66'		 Attendance: 2,152
Referee: Stephen Finnie
6 May 2017 36Raith Rovers2 – 1Ayr UnitedStark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00 Penska  4'
Court  37'
McManus  90'		 Report Docherty  70' Attendance: 3,064
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2016–17 Scottish League Cup § Group G

Group Stage

Results

16 July 2016 Group GAyr United2 – 1Hamilton AcademicalSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Forrest  2' (pen.)
Crawford  49'		 Report Longridge  90+4' Attendance: 994
Referee: Willie Collum
19 July 2016 Group GSt Mirren1 – 0Ayr UnitedSt Mirren Park, Paisley
19:45 Baird  90+3' SPFL Report Attendance: 2,098
Referee: John Beaton
23 July 2016 Group GAyr United1 – 0Edinburgh CitySomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Gilmour  11' Report Attendance: 862
Referee: Barry Cook
26 July 2016 Group GLivingston0 – 2Ayr UnitedAlmondvale, Livingston
19:45 Report Murphy  19'
McGuffie  78'		 Attendance: 643
Referee: David Lowe

Group G Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Hamilton Academical (Q) 4 3 0 1 10 5 +5 9 Qualification to Second Round
2 Ayr United (Q) 4 3 0 1 5 2 +3 9 Advances to Best Runners-up
3 St Mirren 4 3 0 1 7 5 +2 9
4 Livingston 4 1 0 3 6 7 −1 3
5 Edinburgh City 4 0 0 4 2 11 −9 0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 July 2016. Source: BBC, Soccerway
(Q) Qualified.

Knockout phase
10 August 2016 Second roundAyr United1 – 2AberdeenSomerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Forrest  41' Report Meggatt 3' (o.g.)
McGinn  30'		 Attendance: 2,653
Referee: Alan Muir

Scottish Challenge Cup
Main article: 2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup
4 September 2016 Third roundAyr United3 – 2 (a.e.t.)AirdrieoniansSomerset 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 roundAyr United1 – 0 (a.e.t.)FalkirkSomerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Harkins  114' Report Attendance: 1,247
Referee: Alan Muir
13 November 2016 Quarter-finalSt Mirren2 – 1Ayr UnitedSt Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 Sutton  83', 85' Report O'Connell  68' Attendance: 2,199
Referee: Crawford Allan

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2016–17 Scottish Cup
26 November 2016 Third roundBrechin CityP – PAyr UnitedGlebe Park, Brechin
15:00
29 November 2016 Third roundBrechin City0 – 1Ayr UnitedGlebe Park, Brechin
19:45 Report O'Connell  70' Attendance: 308
Referee: Alan Muir
21 January 2017 Fourth roundAyr United0 – 0Queen's ParkSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Attendance: 1,326
Referee: Barry Cook
24 January 2017 Fourth round replyQueen's Park2 – 2 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 5 p)		Ayr UnitedHampden 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 roundAyr United1 – 1ClydeSomerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Cairney  70' Report Gormley  55' Attendance: 1,554
Referee: Stephen Finnie
14 February 2017 Fifth round replayClyde1 – 2 (a.e.t.)Ayr UnitedBroadwood Stadium
19:45 Gormley  88' Report McDaid  11'
Wardrope  117'		 Attendance: 965
Referee: Stephen Finnie
4 March 2017 Quarter-finalHibernian3 – 1Ayr UnitedEaster Road Stadium
15:00 McGinn  7'
Cummings  12' (pen.)
Keatings  79'		 Report McGuffie  33'
McKenna  45'		 Attendance: 13,602
Referee: Nick Walsh

Player statistics

Squad, appearance and goals
As of 6 May 2017[3]
No.NatPlayerTotalLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOther
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1 Greg Fleming 49 0 36 0 6 0 4 0 3 0
19 Jordan Hart 2 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Andy Lyall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
22 Conrad Balatoni 39 3 30 1 6 1 0 0 3 1
3 Patrick Boyle 40 1 26 (3) 0 5 0 5 0 1 0
2 Nicky Devlin 48 0 34 1 6 0 5 0 3 0
25 Andy Johnston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (2) 0 0 0
22 Craig McCracken 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 Scott McKenna 14 1 11 1 2 0 0 0 1 0
18 Daryll Meggatt 43 0 31 0 4 0 5 0 2 (1) 0
6 Peter Murphy 36 0 29 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Michael Rose 24 1 10 (10) 1 0 (4) 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
16 Jamie Adams 25 2 16 (2) 2 2 (1) 0 4 0 0 0
14 Paul Cairney 42 6 27 (3) 5 3 (1) 1 4 (1) 0 2 (1) 0
8 Robbie Crawford 37 3 24 (3) 2 3 0 5 1 1 (1) 0
23 Ross Docherty 42 2 29 2 6 0 4 0 3 0
11 Michael Donald 13 0 1 (5) 0 1 0 2 (1) 0 0 (3) 0
10 Alan Forrest 45 9 24 (10) 6 1 (5) 0 2 2 3 1
4 Brian Gilmour 37 2 19 (6) 1 4 (2) 0 2 (2) 1 2 0
12 Gary Harkins 40 6 30 (2) 5 6 0 0 0 2 0
21 Craig McGuffie 42 3 6 (20) 1 3 (3) 1 2 (3) 0 3 1
15 Andy O'Connell 15 3 1 (7) 1 1 1 1 (2) 0 0 (3) 1
20 Michael Wardrope 11 1 2 (3) 1 0 (2) 1 0 (3) 0 1 0
Forwards
15 Farid El Alagui 11 3 8 (3) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Sean McKenzie 1 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0
9 Craig Moore 17 3 9 (4) 2 3 1 1 0 0 0
17 Kevin Nisbet 20 2 11 (9) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Jamie Thomas 7 0 0 (3) 0 0 0 3 0 1 0

Team statistics

League table
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
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

Transfers
gollark: I'll remember that in case I launch my own NI viruses.
gollark: Maybe you were using an insecure remote shell and someone somehow noticed and hackerized™ it.
gollark: Hmm. I think potatOS is getting left behind.
gollark: There are neural interface viruses around? Neat.
gollark: * annoying

References
  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. 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.


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