Ayr United
2021–22 season
ChairmanDavid Smith
ManagerDavid Hopkin
(until 9 September)
Jim Duffy
(from 1 October–19 December)
Lee Bullen
(from 7 January)
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish Championship8th
Scottish League CupSecond round
Scottish Challenge CupSecond round
Scottish CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Tomi Adeloye (11)
All: Tomi Adeloye (14)
Highest home attendance6,136 vs. Kilmarnock, Championship, 11 March 2022
Lowest home attendance472 vs. Raith Rovers, Championship, 26 December 2021
Average home league attendance1,574

The 2021–22 season was Ayr United's fourth consecutive season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from league one in the 2017–18 season. Ayr also competed in the, League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Summary

Season

Ayr United began the season under the management of David Hopkin who had been in charge since March of the previous season. Hopkin would step down from his position on 9 September following a poor start to the season.[1] He was replaced by his assistant Jim Duffy before he was also relieved of his duties by the club after just one win in eleven games.[2] On 7 January 2022, Ayr United confirmed the appointment of Lee Bullen as their new manager.[3]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

25 June 2021 Ayr United 1–0 The New Saints Townhead Park, Cumnock
15:00 Baird 33' Report
29 June 2021 Stranraer 0–2 Ayr United Stair Park, Stranraer
19:30 Trialist 19'
Trialist 80'
2 July 2021 Heart of Midlothian 1–1 Ayr United National Sports Training Centre, Largs
15:00 Boyce 76' Moffat 75'

Scottish Championship

2 August 2021 1 Kilmarnock 2–0 Ayr United Kilmarnock
19:45 Polworth 56'
Cameron 86 pen.'		 Report Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 3,692
Referee: Don Robertson
7 August 2021 2 Ayr United 2–2 Arbroath Ayr
15:00 Adeloye 70'
McKenzie 87'		 Report Nouble 10'
McKenna 28'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,244
Referee: Colin Steven
21 August 2021 3 Inverness CT 1–0 Ayr United Inverness
15:00 McGinty 54 o.g.' Report Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,032
Referee: Kevin Clancy
7 September 2021 4 Ayr United 0–2 Raith Rovers Ayr
15:00 Muirhead Red card 70'
Afolabi Red card 75'		 Report Varian 14'
Zanatta 25'
Riley-Snow Red card 79'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,204
Referee: Chris Graham
11 September 2021 5 Ayr United 3–1 Dunfermline Athletic Ayr
15:00 Adeloye 3', 63'
Salkeld 25'		 Report Todorov 28' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,553
Referee: Barry Cook
18 September 2021 6 Hamilton Academical 0–2 Ayr United Hamilton
15:00 Report Bradley 64'
Adeloye 78'		 Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 1,365
Referee: Andrew Dallas
25 September 2021 7 Ayr United 0–0 Greenock Morton Ayr
15:00 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,638
Referee: Mike Roncone
2 October 2021 8 Partick Thistle 4–0 Ayr United Glasgow
15:00 Rudden 34', 72'
Smith 45'
Graham 85'		 Report Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,667
Referee: Duncan Williams
16 October 2021 9 Ayr United 2–1 Queen of the South Ayr
15:00 Muirhead 73 pen.'
Maxwell 79'		 Report Connelly 68' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,663
Referee: David Dickinson
23 October 2021 10 Arbroath 1–1 Ayr United Arbroath
15:00 McKenna 56' Report Afolabi 80' Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,415
Referee: John Beaton
26 October 2021 11 Ayr United 0–1 Kilmarnock Ayr
19:45 Report Shaw 89 pen.' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 6,052
Referee: Nick Walsh
30 October 2021 12 Raith Rovers 2–1 Ayr United Kirkcaldy
15:00 Ross 12'
Zanatta 27'		 Report Baird 71' Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,602
Referee: Greg Aitken
6 November 2021 13 Ayr United 2–2 Inverness CT Ayr
15:00 Chalmers 15'
Reading 53'		 Report Welsh 13'
Gardyne 26'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,289
Referee: Steven McLean
13 November 2021 14 Ayr United 0–4 Partick Thistle Ayr
15:00 Report Docherty 30'
Graham 33', 81'
Gordon 90+2'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,037
Referee: Gavin Duncan
20 November 2021 15 Dunfermline Athletic 3–0 Ayr United Dunfermline
15:00 McCann 14', 52'
Dow 40'		 Report Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 3,503
Referee: Alan Newlands
4 December 2021 16 Greenock Morton 2–2 Ayr United Greenock
15:00 Ugwu 26', 84' Report Bradley 73'
Adeloye 77'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,335
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
10 December 2021 17 Ayr United 1–1 Hamilton Academical Ayr
19:45 Adeloye 48' Report Smith 40' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 951
Referee: Craig Napier
18 December 2021 19 Queen of the South 3–0 Ayr United Dumfries
15:00 East 9'
Cameron 29'
Todd 48'		 Report Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 997
Referee: David Munro
26 December 2021 20 Ayr United 2–0 Raith Rovers Ayr
15:00 Adeloye 22'
McKenzie 76'		 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 472
Referee: David Dickinson
8 January 2022 21 Ayr United 1–0 Arbroath Ayr
15:00 Maxwell 18' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 500
Referee: David Munro
15 January 2022 22 Ayr United 0–2 Greenock Morton Ayr
15:00 Report Reilly 27', 61' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 500
Referee: John Beaton
29 January 2022 23 Hamilton Academical 1–1 Ayr United Hamilton
15:00 Kennedy 7' Report Ashford 66' Stadium: New Douglas Park
Referee: John Beaton
1 February 2022 18 Partick Thistle 1–0 Ayr United Glasgow
19:45 Graham 51' Report Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,207
Referee: Greg Aitken
5 February 2022 24 Ayr United 1–1 Dunfermline Athletic Ayr
15:00 Martin 17 o.g.' Report Donaldson 10' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,611
Referee: Alan Muir
9 February 2022 25 Kilmarnock 1–2 Ayr United Kilmarnock
19:45 Murray 7' Report Maxwell 14'
Reading 80'		 Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 7,560
Referee: Bobby Madden
19 February 2022 26 Inverness CT 1–2 Ayr United Inverness
15:00 Carson Red card 68'
Nicolson 86'		 Report McGinty 35'
Adeloye 64'		 Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 1,850
Referee: Kevin Clancy
26 February 2022 27 Ayr United 0–1 Queen of the South Ayr
15:00 Report Fitzpatrick 32' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,875
Referee: Steven McLean
5 March 2022 28 Raith Rovers 0–4 Ayr United Kirkcaldy
15:00 Report Adeloye 3'
Maxwell 32', 38'
Ashford 65'		 Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,513
Referee: Don Robertson
11 March 2022 29 Ayr United 1–3 Kilmarnock Ayr
19:45 Fjørtoft Red card 30'
McInroy 38'		 Report McKenzie 3'
Shaw 12'
Sanders 16'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 6,136
Referee: Alan Muir
19 March 2022 30 Arbroath 1–0 Ayr United Arbroath
15:00 Hamilton 50' Report Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,727
Referee: Steven McLean
26 March 2022 31 Greenock Morton 1–1 Ayr United Greenock
15:00 Blues 38' Report Adeloye 79' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,815
Referee: Mike Roncone
1 April 2022 32 Ayr United 1–1 Hamilton Academical Ayr
19:45 McInroy 90+4' Report Winter 6' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,618
Referee: Chris Graham
9 April 2022 33 Ayr United 2–2 Inverness CT Ayr
15:00 Bryden 54'
Fjørtoft 76'		 Report Sutherland 6'
Chalmers 13'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,756
Referee: William Collum
16 April 2022 34 Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 Ayr United Dunfermline
15:00 Cole 79'
Todorov 86'		 Report Muirhead 35 pen.' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 4,855
Referee: Colin Steven
23 April 2022 35 Queen of the South 1–1 Ayr United Dumfries
15:00 East 80' Report East 87 o.g.' Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 2,271
Referee: William Collum
29 April 2022 36 Ayr United 3–1 Partick Thistle Somerset Park
19:45 Muirhead 5 pen.', 61 pen.'
Adeloye 30'		 Report Jakubiak 81' Attendance: 3,426
Referee: Bobby Madden

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Results

10 July 2021 Group stage Albion Rovers 0–0
(4–2 p)		 Ayr United Coatbridge
15:00 Report Stadium: Cliftonhill
Attendance: 150
Referee: Grant Irvine
13 July 2021 Group stage Ayr United 3–0 Edinburgh City Ayr
19:45 Adeloye 37', 49'
Murdoch 84'		 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 439
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
20 July 2021 Group stage Hamilton Academical 0–1 Ayr United Hamilton
18:00 Report Salkeld 27' Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 801
Referee: Bobby Madden
24 July 2021 Group stage Ayr United 3–0[A] Falkirk Ayr
15:00 Stadium: Somerset Park

Knockout stage

14 August 2021 Second round Ayr United 0–0
(3–4 p)		 Dundee United Ayr
15:00 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,196
Referee: Nick Walsh

Scottish Challenge Cup

14 September 2021 Second round Rangers B 3–0[A] Ayr United Dumbarton
19:30 Report O'Connor 40'
Chalmers 74'
Fjørtoft 78'		 Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Referee: Steven Reid

Notes

  1. ^
    A: Ayr United had originally beaten Rangers B 3 – 0, however it was later revealed that Ayr had fielded 2 ineligible players during the game and were subsequently charged by the SPFL with Rangers B awarded a 3 – 0, victory.[4]

Scottish Cup

27 November 2021 Third round Ayr United 2–1 Albion Rovers Ayr
15:00 Maxwell 54'
Moffat 65'		 Report Wright 46' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 986
Referee: William Collum
22 January 2022 Fourth round Ayr United 0–2 St Mirren Ayr
15:00 Report McAllister 7'
Kiltie 24'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 3,423
Referee: David Dickinson

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 29 April 2022[5]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalChampionshipLeague CupChallenge CupScottish Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Scotland SCO Aidan McAdams 32027+002+001+002+00
2 DF Scotland SCO Jordan Houston 33026+004+001+002+00
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Reading 41235+024+000+002+00
4 DF Scotland SCO Aaron Muirhead 35427+144+001+002+00
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Sean McGinty 35128+013+101+002+00
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Murdoch 39132+004+011+002+00
7 FW Scotland SCO Michael Moffat 2114+1400+001+002+01
8 MF Scotland SCO Kerr McInroy 14213+120+000+000+00
9 FW England ENG Tomi Adeloye 381424+8114+030+100+10
10 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Daire O'Connor 27113+1100+001+011+10
11 MF England ENG Alex Kenyon 303+000+000+000+00
12 DF England ENG Blaine Rowe 300+300+000+000+00
14 DF Scotland SCO James Maxwell 37629+551+000+002+01
15 DF Scotland SCO Jack Baird 33124+314+000+002+00
16 MF England ENG Ryan Gondoh 701+500+000+001+00
17 DF Scotland SCO Nick McAllister 13011+100+100+000+00
18 MF England ENG Ben Dempsey 706+100+000+000+00
19 FW England ENG Sam Ashford 12112+010+000+000+00
20 DF Scotland SCO Michael Hewitt 702+203+000+000+00
21 GK England ENG Charlie Albinson 1109+002+000+000+00
22 FW Scotland SCO Mark McKenzie 34220+824+001+001+00
23 DF Norway NOR Markus Fjørtoft 23214+611+101+010+00
24 MF Scotland SCO Scott Tomlinson 000+000+000+000+00
25 DF Scotland SCO Finn Ecrepont 400+100+201+000+00
26 DF Scotland SCO Kinlay Bilham 100+000+000+100+00
27 FW Scotland SCO Max Guthrie 000+000+000+000+00
28 DF Scotland SCO Alex Jeanes 100+000+000+100+00
30 FW Scotland SCO Fraser Bryden 1213+810+000+000+10
31 MF Scotland SCO Paul Smith 601+400+100+000+00
32 MF Scotland SCO Dylan Watret 000+000+000+000+00
33 MF Scotland SCO Carter Jenkins 000+000+000+000+00
34 FW Scotland SCO Dario Viviani 000+000+000+000+00
Players who left the club during the 2021–22 season
8 MF Scotland SCO Michael Miller 400+001+300+000+00
11 MF England ENG Cameron Salkeld 2128+713+110+100+10
16 MF Scotland SCO Steven Bradley 1526+720+000+100+10
18 MF Scotland SCO Joe Chalmers 19213+310+201+010+00
24 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Jonathan Afolabi 1615+910+100+001+00

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
6 Hamilton Academical 36 10 12 14 38 53 −15 42
7 Greenock Morton 36 9 13 14 36 47 −11 40
8 Ayr United 36 9 12 15 39 52 −13 39
9 Dunfermline Athletic (R) 36 7 14 15 36 53 −17 35 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Queen of the South (R) 36 8 9 19 36 54 −18 33 Relegation to League One
Source: [6][7]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[8]
(R) Relegated

League Cup table

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AYR HAM ALB EDI FAL
1 Ayr United 4 3 0 1 0 7 0 +7 10 Qualification for the second round — — — 3–0 3–0[lower-alpha 1]
2 Hamilton Academical 4 2 1 0 1 5 4 +1 8 0–1 — p2–2 — —
3 Albion Rovers 4 0 2 1 1 4 8 −4 5 p0–0 — — p1–1 —
4 Edinburgh City 4 1 0 1 2 4 5 −1 4 — 0–1 — — 3–0[lower-alpha 2]
5 Falkirk 4 1 0 0 3 6 9 −3 3 — 1–2 5–1 — —
Source: [11]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[12]
Notes:
  1. ↑ Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.[9]
  2. ↑ Edinburgh City were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.[10]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
25 May 2021 MF England Cameron Salkeld Greenock Morton Free transfer [13]
27 May 2021 DF Norway Markus Fjørtoft Free transfer [14]
DF Republic of Ireland Sean McGinty Free transfer [14]
DF Nick McAllister St Mirren Free transfer [14]
21 June 2021 GK Aidan McAdams Greenock Morton Free transfer [15]
1 July 2021 FW England Tomi Adeloye England Barnet Free transfer [16]
8 July 2021 GK England Charlie Albinson England Warrington Town Free transfer [17]
28 July 2021 MF Republic of Ireland Daire O'Connor Northern Ireland Cliftonville Free transfer [18]
12 January 2022 MF England Ryan Gondoh England Wealdstone Free transfer [19]
29 January 2022 MF England Sam Ashford England Crawley Town Free transfer [20]
7 March 2022 MF England Alex Kenyon England Scunthorpe United Free transfer [21]

Transfers out

Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
7 May 2021 MF Liam Miller Free Agent Free transfer [22]
DF Sam Roscoe Northern Ireland Linfield Free transfer [22][23]
FW England Andre Wright Republic of Ireland Sligo Rovers Free transfer [22][24]
MF Canada Dario Zanatta Raith Rovers Free transfer [22][25]
1 June 2021 MF Luke McCowan Dundee Free transfer [26]
24 January 2022 MF Joe Chalmers Dunfermline Athletic Undisclosed [27]

Loans in

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
27 July 2021 DF James Maxwell Rangers 31 May 2022 [28]
2 August 2021 FW Republic of Ireland Jonathan Afolabi Celtic 11 February 2022 [29]
6 September 2021 MF Steven Bradley Hibernian 3 January 2022 [30]
24 January 2022 MF England Ben Dempsey England Charlton Athletic 31 May 2022 [31]
31 January 2022 MF Kerr McInroy Celtic 31 May 2022 [32]
DF England Blaine Rowe England Coventry City 31 May 2022 [33]

Loans out

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
31 August 2021 FW Paul Smith Cumnock Juniors 31 May 2022 [34]
3 September 2021 DF Michael Miller Stenhousemuir 31 May 2022 [35]
28 January 2022 DF Nick McAllister Clyde 31 May 2022 [36]
Notes
  1. ^
    A: Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.[37]

References

  1. ↑ "Ayr United part company with David Hopkin". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ayr United Announces the Departure of Jim Duffy". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Lee Bullen appointed Ayr United head coach". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Rangers B in SPFL Trust Trophy twist as Ayr charged by SPFL". The Herald. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Scottish Championship Table". BBC. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "cinch Championship League Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "SPFL Statement Premier Sports Cup – Ayr United v Falkirk". SPFL. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "SPFL Statement Premier Sports Cup – Edinburgh City v Falkirk". SPFL. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Salkeld signs for United". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 "Super Thursday". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "McAdams is new United keeper". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "Tomi is an Honest Man". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "United sign Albinson". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. ↑ "Daire is an Honest Man". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "Ryan Gondoh signs for the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Sam Ashford joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Alex Kenyon joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Player Update". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  23. ↑ "Sam Roscoe: Linfield set to sign defender from Ayr United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Sligo Rovers sign former Bohemians striker Andre Wright for the remainder of the season". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  25. ↑ "Dario Zanatta signs on at Raith Rovers". Raith Rovers FC. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  26. ↑ "Luke McCowan joins Dundee from Ayr United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  27. ↑ "Dunfermline: Joe Chalmers joins from Championship Ayr United". Dunfermline Press. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Maxwell joins from Rangers". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  29. ↑ "United sign Afolabi". Ayr United FC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "UNITED SIGN BRADLEY". Ayr United FC. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  31. ↑ "Ben Dempsey joins Ayr United on loan". Charlton Athletic FC. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  32. ↑ "Kerr McInroy Signs for the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Blaine Rowe Joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "Cumnock Juniors announce signing from Ayr United". Cumnock Chronicle. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  35. ↑ "We can confirm that Michael Miller has joined Stenhousemuir on loan until the end of the season". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  36. ↑ "LOAN SIGNING: Nick McAllister". Clyde FC. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  37. ↑ "Club Statement". Falkirk FC. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
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