Ayr United
2022–23 season
ChairmanDavid Smith
ManagerLee Bullen
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish ChampionshipSecond Place
Scottish League CupGroup stage
Scottish Challenge CupThird round
Scottish CupQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Dipo Akinyemi (20)
All: Dipo Akinyemi (24)
Lowest home attendance1,194 vs. Elgin City, League Cup, 9 July 2022
Average home league attendance3,097 vs. Partick Thistle, Championship, 18 February 2023

The 2022–23 season was Ayr United's fifth 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

In their first full season under the management of Lee Bullen, Ayr United finished as runners-up in the Scottish Championship and thus progressed to the semi-final of the Premiership play-off. Ultimately their bid for promotion was ended by Partick Thistle who would on to win 8−0 on aggregate across the two legs.[1][2]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

23 June 2022 Ayr United 1−1 Dumbarton Largs
19:00 McNiff 9 o.g.' Report Love 12' Stadium: National Sports Training Centre Inverclyde
25 June 2022 Ayr United 2−1 Stranraer Kilwinning
12:00 Ashford 19'
Bryden 68'		 Trialist 67' Stadium: Kilwinning Sports Club
28 June 2022 Ayr United 3−0 Darvel Largs
Akinyemi 10', 19'
Murdoch 12'
 Report Stadium: National Sports Training Centre Inverclyde
30 June 2022 Ayr United 1−1 University of Washington Cumnock
Akinyemi 56' Report 84' Stadium: Townhead Park
18 August 2022 Ayr United 0−4 Young Queen's Park Cumnock
15:00 Report Connolly 47', 65'
Scott 62'
Longridge 75'		 Stadium: Townhead Park

Scottish Championship

30 July 2022 1 Ayr United 0−0 Arbroath Ayr
15:00 Report O'Brien Red card 81' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,872
Referee: Chris Graham
5 August 2022 2 Queen's Park 2−3 Ayr United Stenhousemuir
19:45 Murray 18'
Thomas 32'		 Report Akinyemi 46', 90+2 pen.'
McGinty 78'		 Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 943
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
13 August 2022 3 Ayr United 2−2 Hamilton Academical Ayr
15:00 Akinyemi 3'
Murdoch 85'		 Report Winter 14'
O'Reilly 73'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,014
Referee: Gavin Duncan
20 August 2022 4 Cove Rangers 1−2 Ayr United Cove Bay
15:00 Masson 90+2 pen.' Report Dempsey 59 pen.'
Akinyemi 68'		 Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 951
Referee: Scott Lambie
26 August 2022 5 Ayr United 3−1 Dundee Ayr
19:45 Akinyemi 17', 67'
Houston 62'		 Report Rudden 4'
Sweeney Red card 90+2'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,274
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 September 2022 6 Greenock Morton 1−2 Ayr United Greenock
15:00 Muirhead 80' Report Akinyemi 34'
McKeznie 74'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,935
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
17 September 2022 7 Raith Rovers 3−2 Ayr United Kirkcaldy
15:00 Connell 8'
Stanton 35'
Brown 83'		 Report Young 51'
Murdoch 68'		 Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 2,045
Referee: Greg Aitken
1 October 2022 8 Ayr United 0−1 Inverness CT Ayr
15:00 Report Harper 47' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,866
Referee: Colin Steven
8 October 2022 9 Ayr United 5−0 Queen's Park Ayr
15:00 Akinyemi 6', 36', 53'
Young 59'
Dempsey 62'		 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,052
Referee: Don Robertson
15 October 2022 10 Dundee 2−1 Ayr United Dundee
15:00 McMullan 38'
Robinson 49'		 Report Mullin 61' Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 4,490
Referee: Grant Irvine
22 October 2022 11 Ayr United 2−2 Cove Rangers Ayr
15:00 Akinyemi 29'
Kirk 37'		 Report Scully 31'
McDonagh 52'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,847
Referee: Calum Scott
25 October 2022 12 Ayr United 4−2 Partick Thistle Ayr
19:45 Chalmers 11'
Brownlie 39 o.g.'
Mullin 55'
McKenzie 90+1'		 Report Hodson 18'
Graham 51'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,782
Referee: William Collum
29 October 2022 13 Arbroath 0−2 Ayr United Arbroath
15:00 Report Dempsey 70 pen.'
Mitchell-Lawson 89'		 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Referee: Graham Grainger
5 November 2022 14 Ayr United 1−1 Greenock Morton Ayr
15:00 Kirk 3' Report Quitongo 16' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,819
Referee: Euan Anderson
11 November 2022 15 Hamilton Academical 2−3 Ayr United Hamilton
19:45 Lawson 50 pen.'
Ecrepont 80 o.g.'		 Report Akinyemi 4', 69'
Dempsey 83 pen.'		 Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 1,677
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
19 November 2022 16 Inverness CT 2−2 Ayr United Inverness
15:00 Shaw 6', 87' Report McKenzie 66'
Akinyemi 82'		 Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,066
Referee: Grant Irvine
3 December 2022 17 Ayr United 2−0 Raith Rovers Ayr
15:00 Mullin 31', 70' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,094
Referee: Kevin Clancy
17 December 2022 18 Partick Thistle 3−2 Ayr United Glasgow
15:00 Milne 21'
Graham 45+1'
Lawless 56'		 Report Akinyemi 9'
Chalmers 47'		 Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,831
Referee: David Munro
23 December 2022 19 Ayr United 0−2 Dundee Ayr
19:45 Bangala Red card 63' Report Mulligan Red card 19'
McCowan 68', 84'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,704
Referee: Steven McLean
7 January 2023 20 Ayr United 1−0 Hamilton Academical Ayr
15:00 Mullin 32' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,988
Referee: Calum Scott
14 January 2023 21 Ayr United 2−2 Arbroath Ayr
15:00 Dempsey 38 pen.'
McGinty 76'		 Report Adarkwa 57'
Ben El-Mhanni 63'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,064
Referee: Craig Napier
27 January 2023 22 Cove Rangers 0−5 Ayr United Aberdeen
19:45 Report McAllister 21'
Dempsey 55'
Mullin 61', 89'
Bryden 82'		 Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Referee: Graham Grainger
3 February 2023 23 Queen's Park 2−0 Ayr United Stenhousemuir
19:45 Thomas 59 pen.'
McAllister 79 o.g.'		 Report Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 1,192
Referee: Steven McLean
18 February 2023 24 Ayr United 0−1 Partick Thistle Ayr
15:00 Report Mullen 32' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 3,097
Referee: Nick Walsh
24 February 2023 25 Raith Rovers 0−0 Ayr United Kirkcaldy
19:45 Report Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,939
Referee: Colin Steven
4 March 2023 26 Ayr United 1−2 Inverness CT Ayr
15:00 Akinyemi 12'
O'Connor Red card 29'		 Report Welsh 19'
Henderson 74'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,820
Referee: Scott Lambie
7 March 2023 27 Greenock Morton 1−3 Ayr United Greenock
19:45 Crawford 29' Report Ashford 7'
McGinty 34'
Akinyemi 43'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,309
Referee: Peter Stuart
18 March 2023 28 Hamilton Academical 0−2 Ayr United Hamilton
15:00 Report Dempsey 12 pen.'
Ashford 27'		 Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 1,284
Referee: Calum Scott
21 March 2023 29 Dundee 3−1 Ayr United Dundee
19:45 Sweeney 13'
Jakubiak 59'
McCowan 80'		 Report Akinyemi 17' Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 4,007
Referee: Steven Kirkland
24 March 2023 30 Ayr United 3−0 Cove Rangers Ayr
19:45 O'Connor 7'
Akinyemi 24'
Mitchell-Lawson 74'		 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,710
Referee: Craig Napier
31 March 2023 31 Arbroath 2−0 Ayr United Arbroath
19:45 Hilson 27'
Gold 60'		 Report Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,759
Referee: Chris Graham
8 April 2023 32 Ayr United 1−1 Greenock Morton Ayr
15:00 Musonda 62' Report Waters 47'
Oakley Red card 72'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,265
Referee: Colin Steven
15 April 2023 33 Partick Thistle 1−1 Ayr United Glasgow
15:00 Tiffoney 14' Report Akinyemi 72' Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 4,102
Referee: Grant Irvine
21 April 2023 34 Ayr United 0–0 Queen's Park Ayr
19:45 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,230
Referee: Steven McLean
29 April 2023 35 Ayr United 1–0 Raith Rovers Ayr
15:00 Musonda 55' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,331
Referee: David Munro
5 May 2023 36 Inverness CT 1–2 Ayr United Inverness
19:45 Shaw 81' Report Mullin 35'
McKenzie 88'		 Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 3,435
Referee: Don Robertson

Premiership play-off

19 May 2023 Semi-final 1st Leg Partick Thistle 3–0 Ayr United Glasgow
19:45 McMillan 16'
Graham 50', 72'		 Report Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 7,012
Referee: Greg Aitken
26 May 2023 Semi-final 2nd Leg Ayr United 0–5
(0–8 agg.)		 Partick Thistle Ayr
19:45 Akinyemi Red card 25' Report McMillan 7'
Tiffoney 27', 54'
Lawless 63'
Holt 88'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Referee: Colin Steven

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Results

9 July 2022 Group stage Ayr United 3−0[A] Elgin City Ayr
15:00 Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,194
Referee: David Munro
12 July 2022 Group stage Ayr United 0−3 Queen of the South Ayr
19:45 Report Connelly 8'
Murray 60'
Todd 82'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,352
Referee: Duncan Williams
19 July 2022 Group stage Annan Athletic 1−1
(5−4 p)		 Ayr United Annan
19:45 Docherty Red card 78'
Wallace 90+5 pen.'		 Report Bryden 71' Stadium: Galabank
Attendance: 528
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
23 July 2022 Group stage St Johnstone 1−0 Ayr United Perth
15:00 Carey 2' Report Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 2,036
Referee: Gavin Duncan

Scottish Challenge Cup

22 September 2022 Third round Greenock Morton 1−1
(5−4 p)		 Ayr United Greenock
19:45 McGregor 12' Mullin 39' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 988
Referee: Craig Napier

Scottish Cup

28 November 2022 Third round Ayr United 1−0 Pollok Ayr
19:45 Dempsey 51' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,425
Referee: Don Robertson
31 January 2023 Fourth round Cove Rangers 0−3 Ayr United Aberdeen
19:45 Report McKenzie 23'
Akinyemi 68'
Ashford 77'		 Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 433
Referee: Steven Kirkland
11 February 2023 Fifth round Ayr United 4−1 Elgin City Ayr
15:00 Bryden 90'
Dempsey 94 pen.'
Akinyemi 103', 106'		 Report Hester 41' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,819
Referee: John Beaton
13 March 2023 Quarter-final Falkirk 2−1 Ayr United Falkirk
19:45 Morrison 66 pen.'
Kennedy 83'		 Report Akinyemi 12' Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 6,375
Referee: Nick Walsh

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 26 May 2023[3]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalChampionshipLeague CupChallenge CupScottish Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Scotland SCO Aidan McAdams 700+002+001+004+00
2 DF Scotland SCO Jordan Houston 25110+713+001+004+00
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Reading 46036+203+001+003+10
4 DF Zambia ZAM Frankie Musonda 30124+114+000+001+00
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Sean McGinty 43330+533+001+004+00
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Murdoch 34226+224+000+100+10
8 MF England ENG Ben Dempsey 46937+073+101+004+02
9 FW England ENG Dipo Akinyemi 462437+0204+000+104+04
10 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Daire O'Connor 32114+1212+200+001+10
11 MF England ENG Jayden Mitchell-Lawson 3629+2122+100+002+10
14 MF Scotland SCO Josh Mullin 26922+280+001+011+00
15 DF England ENG Alex Kirk 24219+122+000+002+00
17 DF Scotland SCO Nick McAllister 33125+212+001+002+10
18 MF Scotland SCO Reece McAlear 17012+300+000+002+00
20 MF Scotland SCO Michael Hewitt 1708+401+300+000+10
21 GK England ENG Charlie Albinson 40038+002+000+000+00
22 FW Scotland SCO Mark McKenzie 43515+2041+200+102+21
23 FW England ENG Sam Ashford 42321+1323+001+002+21
24 MF Scotland SCO Scott Tomlinson 100+000+000+000+10
26 DF Scotland SCO Kinlay Bilham 200+000+000+100+10
27 FW Scotland SCO Max Guthrie 000+000+000+000+00
30 FW Scotland SCO Fraser Bryden 2033+1010+310+000+41
31 MF Scotland SCO Paul Smith 2406+1202+101+001+10
32 MF Scotland SCO Dylan Watret 200+100+000+000+10
33 MF Scotland SCO Carter Jenkins 000+000+000+000+00
77 FW Scotland SCO Chris Maguire 1507+700+000+001+00
Players who left the club during the 2022–23 season
7 FW Scotland SCO Michael Moffat 000+000+000+000+00
16 MF Scotland SCO Logan Chalmers 1228+320+000+001+00
18 FW England ENG Brad Young 1327+420+001+001+00
19 GK England ENG Tom Carter 000+000+000+000+00
25 DF Scotland SCO Finn Ecrepont 902+401+100+100+00
28 DF Scotland SCO Alex Jeanes 000+000+000+000+00
29 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD David Bangala 901+500+001+002+00
34 FW Scotland SCO Dario Viviani 000+000+000+000+00

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Dundee (C, P) 36 17 12 7 66 40 +26 63 Promotion to the Premiership
2 Ayr United 36 16 10 10 61 43 +18 58 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3 Queen's Park 36 17 7 12 63 52 +11 58 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4 Partick Thistle 36 16 9 11 65 45 +20 57
5 Greenock Morton 36 15 12 9 53 43 +10 57
Source: [4]
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).[5]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

League Cup table

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ANN QOS STJ AYR ELG
1 Annan Athletic 4 2 2 0 0 8 3 +5 10 Qualification for the second round — — — p1–1 4–0
2 Queen of the South 4 2 1 0 1 9 5 +4 8 2–3 — p2–2 — —
3 St Johnstone 4 2 0 2 0 7 4 +3 8 0–0p — — 1–0 —
4 Ayr United 4 1 0 1 2 4 5 −1 4 — 0–3 — — 3–0[lower-alpha 1]
5 Elgin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 13 −11 0 — 0–2 2–4 — —
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]
Notes:
  1. ↑ Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Elgin City, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 0–0, with Ayr United securing the bonus point following a 4–3 win on penalties.[6]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
16 May 2022 MF England Ben Dempsey England Charlton Athletic Undisclosed [9]
3 June 2022 FW England Dipo Akinyemi England Welling United Free transfer [10]
10 June 2022 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo David Bangala Slovakia Pohronie [11]
22 June 2022 DF Zambia Frankie Musonda Raith Rovers [12]
28 June 2022 MF England Jayden Mitchell-Lawson England Swindon Town [13]
31 January 2023 MF Josh Mullin Livingston [14]
20 February 2023 FW Chris Maguire Free Agent [15]

Transfers out

Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
6 May 2022 DF England Ryan Gondoh England Sevenoaks Town Free transfer [16]
DF Norway Markus Fjørtoft Retired[16]
MF England Alex Kenyon England Chester Free transfer [16][17]
MF Michael Miller Stenhousemuir [16][18]
16 May 2022 DF Aaron Muirhead Partick Thistle [19]
1 July 2022 DF Jack Baird Greenock Morton [20]
15 July 2022 FW England Tomi Adeloye England Swindon Town [21]

Loans in

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
7 July 2022 DF England Alex Kirk England Arsenal 31 May 2023 [22]
19 August 2022 GK Jack McConnell Rangers 26 August 2022 [23]
31 August 2022 MF Josh Mullin Livingston 31 January 2023 [24]
1 September 2022 FW England Brad Young England Aston Villa 31 May 2023 [25]
3 September 2022 GK England Tom Carter Hibernian 10 September 2022 [26]
30 September 2022 MF Logan Chalmers Dundee United 14 January 2023 [27]
31 January 2023 MF Reece McAlear England Tranmere Rovers 31 May 2023 [28]

Loans out

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
30 September 2022 DF Michael Hewitt Peterhead 1 January 2023 [29]
26 January 2023 DF Finn Ecrepont Stranraer 31 May 2023 [30]
31 January 2023 FW Michael Moffat Glenafton Athletic [31]
1 February 2023 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo David Bangala Cove Rangers [32]

Notes

  1. ^
    A: Ayr United had originally drawn 0 – 0 with Elgin City, however it was later revealed that Elgin had fielded an ineligible player during the match and were subsequently charged by the SPFL with Ayr awarded a 3 – 0 victory.[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Ayr United 0−5 Partick Thistle (agg 0−8): Visitors cruise into Premiership play-off final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ayr United 0-5 Partick Thistle: Jags cruise into Scottish Premiership play-off". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "cinch Championship Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "SPFL Statement 14/07/22". SPFL. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Ben Dempsey joins Ayr United on permanent deal". Charlton Athletic FC. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Dipo Akinyemi Joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Ayr United new boy David Bangala promises warrior spirit at Somerset Park". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "Frankie Musonda joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Jayden Mitchell-Lawson joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Josh Mullin Stays". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "Chris Maguire Joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Squad Update End of Season 2021/22". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "BREAKING, Chester FC sign Alex Kenyon!". Chester FC. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Summer signings". SPFL. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "Aaron Muirhead signs pre-contract agreement with the club". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Jack Baird signs pre-contract agreement with the club". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Swindon Town sign Saidou Khan, Remeao Hutton & Tomi Adeloye". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Alex Kirk joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Rangers prospect in emergency loan switch to Ayr United after goalkeeper suffers injury". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "Josh Mullin Joins on Loan". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "Brad Young Joins on Loan". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  26. ↑ "Hibs youngster joins Championship side on emergency loan". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  27. ↑ "LOGAN CHALMERS JOINS AYR UNITED ON LOAN". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United FC. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "Reece McAlear Joins the Honest Men". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  29. ↑ "MICHAEL HEWITT JOINS PETERHEAD ON LOAN". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "Finn Ecrepont". Stranraer FC. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "Michael Moffat Joins Glenafton On Loan". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  32. ↑ "David Bangala Signs On Loan". Cove Rangers FC. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  33. ↑ "Rangers B in SPFL Trust Trophy twist as Ayr charged by SPFL". The Herald. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
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