2024–25 Ayr United F.C. season

The 2024–25 season is Ayr United's seventh consecutive season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from League One in the 2017–18 season. Ayr are also competing in the Scottish Cup, League Cup, and Challenge Cup.

Ayr United

2024–25 season
Chairman	David Smith
Manager	Scott Brown
Stadium	Somerset Park
Scottish Championship	3rd
Scottish Cup	Third round
Scottish League Cup	Group stage
Scottish Challenge Cup	Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer	League: Anton Dowds (5) All: Anton Dowds (9)
Home colours Away colours
← 2023–24 2025–26 →

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

East Stirlingshire v Ayr United

27 June 2024 John Sludden Trophy	East Stirlingshire	2–4	Ayr United	Falkirk
19:30	52' 67'		Bryden 5', 25' McKenzie 11' Ben Dempsey 27'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium

East Kilbride v Ayr United

2 July 2024	East Kilbride	2–4	Ayr United	East Kilbride
19:30	Watson 42' Robertson 49'		Dowds 8' Oakley 23' Rus 58' Bryden 90+1'	Stadium: K-Park Training Academy

Ayr United v Celtic

5 July 2024	Ayr United	1–1	Celtic	Ayr
19:45	Dowds 34 pen.'	Report	Furuhashi 24 pen.'	Stadium: Somerset Park

Ayr United v Kilmarnock

11 July 2024 Ayrshire Derby	Ayr United	3–2	Kilmarnock	Ayr
19:45	Stanger 25' Rus 34' Dowds 65 pen.'		Lyons 43' Deas 72'	Stadium: Somerset Park

Scottish Championship

Hamilton Academical v Ayr United

3 August 2024 1	Hamilton Academical	0–2	Ayr United	Hamilton
15:00	Martin  68'	Report	Stanger 18' Dowds 72'	Stadium: New Douglas Park Attendance: 1,468 Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Ayr United v Airdrieonians

9 August 2024 2	Ayr United	5–0	Airdrieonians	Ayr
19:45	Henderson 7', 49' Oakley 24' Dowds 56', 77 pen.'	Report		Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,857

Ayr United v Hamilton Academical

17 August 2024 3	Ayr United	3–2	Hamilton Academical	Ayr
15:00	Murphy 8' Rus 51' Oakley 66'	Report	Shaw 27' Barjonas 38'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,846

Ayr United v Raith Rovers

24 August 2024 4	Ayr United	2–0	Raith Rovers	Ayr
15:00	Dowds 40 pen.' Walker 90'	Report	Byrne  38'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,928

Dunfermline Athletic v Ayr United

31 August 2024 5	Dunfermline Athletic	1–1	Ayr United	Dunfermline
15:00	Otoo 15'	Report	Watret 22'	Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 4,921 Referee: Ross Hardie

Ayr United v Partick Thistle

14 September 2024 6	Ayr United	1–1	Partick Thistle	Ayr
15:00	Dowds 25 pen.'	Report	Milne 74'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 3,118 Referee: Ross Hardie

Queen's Park v Ayr United

21 September 2024 7	Queen's Park	1–1	Ayr United	Glasgow
15:00	Kerr 35'	Report	Dempsey 57'	Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 1,635 Referee: Iain Snedden

Ayr United v Greenock Morton

28 September 2024 8	Ayr United	1–0	Greenock Morton	Ayr
15:00	Henderson 66 pen.'	Report		Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,846 Referee: Colin Steven

Falkirk v Ayr United

5 October 2024 9	Falkirk	2–0	Ayr United	Falkirk
15:00	Ross 8', 51'	Report		Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 6,753 Referee: Nick Walsh

Ayr United v Livingston

19 October 2024 10	Ayr United	1–2	Livingston	Ayr
15:00	McLennan 42'	Report	Muirhead 8' Pittman 38'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,470 Referee: Don Robertson

Airdrieonians v Ayr United

26 October 2024 11	Airdrieonians	0–1	Ayr United	Airdrie
15:00		Report	Watret 70'	Stadium: Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 1,747 Referee: Grant Irvine

Raith Rovers v Ayr United

1 November 2024 12	Raith Rovers	2–0	Ayr United	Kirkcaldy
19:45	Jamieson 19', 43'	Report		Stadium: Stark's Park Attendance: 3,427 Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2024–25 Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Main article: 2024–25 Scottish League Cup group stage § Group B

Ayr United v Falkirk

16 July 2024 1	Ayr United	1–0	Falkirk	Ayr
19:45	Dowds 5'	Report		Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,900 Referee: Calum Scott

Dundee United v Ayr United

20 July 2024 2	Dundee United	2–1	Ayr United	Dundee
15:00	Babunski 17' Forbes 68'	Report	Rus 55'	Stadium: Tannadice Park Attendance: 2,157 Referee: Kevin Clancy

Stenhousemuir v Ayr United

23 July 2024 3	Stenhousemuir	1–4	Ayr United	Stenhousemuir
19:45	Taylor 6'	Report	Oakley 8' Musonda 26' Dowds 56' Henderson 65'	Stadium: Ochilview Park Attendance: 629 Referee: Gavin Duncan

Ayr United v Buckie Thistle

27 July 2024 4	Ayr United	3–2	Buckie Thistle	Ayr
15:00	Henderson 30', 43' Hastie 67'	Report	Peters 45' McLeod 57'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,415 Referee: Colin Steven

Scottish Challenge Cup

Main article: 2024–25 Scottish Challenge Cup

Ayr United v Raith Rovers

8 September 2024 Third round	Ayr United	3–2	Raith Rovers	Ayr
13:00	Dowds 49 pen.', 69' Oakley 70'	Report	Smith 11' Easton 15'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,750 Referee: Graham Grainger

Ayr United v Peterhead

12 October 2024 Fourth round	Ayr United	2–1	Peterhead	Ayr
15:00	Murphy 34' Walker 53'	Report	Smith 62'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,698 Referee: George Calder

East Kilbride v Ayr United

12 November 2024 Quarter-finals	East Kilbride	v	Ayr United	East Kilbride
19:40				Stadium: K-Park Training Academy

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2024–25 Scottish Cup

Ayr United v Greenock Morton

30 November 2024 Third round	Ayr United	v	Greenock Morton	Ayr
15:00				Stadium: Somerset Park

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 1 November 2024^[1]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Championship		League Cup		Challenge Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2	DF	SCO	Nick McAllister	10	0	5+2	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
3	DF	SCO	Patrick Reading	15	0	10+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
4	DF	ZAM	Frankie Musonda	11	1	7+2	0	1+1	1	0+0	0	0+0	0
5	DF	SCO	Mikey Devlin	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
7	FW	SCO	Anton Dowds	11	9	6+0	5	4+0	2	1+0	2	0+0	0
8	MF	ENG	Ben Dempsey	17	1	12+0	1	3+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
9	FW	ENG	George Oakley	18	4	11+1	2	4+0	1	2+0	1	0+0	0
10	MF	SCO	Connor McLennan	4	1	3+0	1	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
14	DF	NZL	George Stanger	18	1	12+0	1	4+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
15	FW	SCO	Jamie Murphy	11	2	4+5	1	1+0	0	1+0	1	0+0	0
16	FW	SCO	Jake Hastie	16	1	2+8	0	1+3	1	0+2	0	0+0	0
17	MF	SCO	Jay Henderson	18	6	11+1	3	4+0	3	2+0	0	0+0	0
18	MF	SCO	Jamie Hislop	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
20	MF	ALB	Roy Syla	12	0	2+7	0	1+1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
21	MF	ENG	Ethan Walker	12	2	2+7	1	0+1	0	0+2	1	0+0	0
22	FW	SCO	Mark McKenzie	16	0	4+7	0	3+0	0	0+2	0	0+0	0
23	MF	ROU	Marco Rus	15	2	9+1	1	3+0	1	1+1	0	0+0	0
25	MF	WAL	Ryan Howley	6	0	2+2	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
26	DF	SCO	Connor McAvoy	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
31	GK	SCO	Harry Stone	11	0	5+0	0	4+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
32	MF	SCO	Dylan Watret	12	2	7+1	2	3+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
33	DF	SCO	Scott McMann	11	0	6+1	0	4+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
36	FW	SCO	Alfie Bavidge	8	0	3+5	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
38	GK	SCO	Liam Russell	6	0	6+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
61	GK	ENG	Jack McIntyre	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Players who left the club during the 2024–25 season
1	GK	SCO	Robbie Mutch	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
6	MF	SCO	Andy Murdoch	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
10	MF	IRL	Aiden McGeady	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
11	FW	SCO	Fraser Bryden	3	0	0+0	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
19	GK	SCO	Ollie Ecrepont	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
24	MF	SCO	Scott Tomlinson	3	0	0+1	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
27	FW	SCO	Max Guthrie	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
29	FW	SCO	Lucas McRoberts	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Falkirk	12	9	2	1	25	8	+17	29	Promotion to the Premiership
2	Livingston	12	6	5	1	15	9	+6	23	Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3	Ayr United	13	6	4	3	19	12	+7	22	Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4	Partick Thistle	12	5	4	3	11	7	+4	19
5	Queen's Park	12	5	4	3	12	11	+1	19

Updated to match(es) played on 8 November 2024. Source: ^[2]
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).^[3]

League Cup table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		FAL	DUN	AYR	STE	BUC
1	Falkirk	4	3	0	0	1	11	2	+9	9	Qualification for the second round		—	2–0	—	4–0	—
2	Dundee United	4	3	0	0	1	10	5	+5	9			—	—	2–1	3–0	—
3	Ayr United	4	3	0	0	1	9	5	+4	9			1–0	—	—	—	3–2
4	Stenhousemuir	4	1	0	0	3	5	11	−6	3			—	—	1–4	—	4–0
5	Buckie Thistle	4	0	0	0	4	5	17	−12	0			1–5	2–5	—	—	—

Source: ^[4]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.^[5]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
24 May 2024	FW	George Oakley	Greenock Morton	Free transfer	[6]
25 May 2024		Anton Dowds	Partick Thistle		[7]
15 June 2024	MF	Marco Rus	Coventry City	Undisclosed	[8]
16 June 2024	DF	Scott McMann	Dundee United	Free transfer	[9]
19 June 2024	MF	Ethan Walker	Blackburn Rovers		[10]
9 July 2024	MF	Jake Hastie	Hartlepool United		[11]
16 July 2024	GK	Liam Russell	Queen's Park		[12]
19 July 2024	DF	Mikey Devlin	Livingston		[13]
6 September 2024		Jamie Hamilton	Hamilton Academical		[14]
	GK	Jack McIntyre	Accrington Stanley		[15]
11 October 2024	MF	Connor McLennan	Salford City		[16]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
6 May 2024	GK	Charlie Albinson	Hamilton Academical	Free transfer	[17][18]
	DF	Nathan McGinley	Spennymoor Town		[19][20]
	MF	Carter Jenkins	University of Stirling		[19]
		Paul Smith	Annan Athletic		[19][21]
		Dario Viviani	Troon		[19][22]
24 May 2024	FW	Franny Amartey	Weymouth		[23][24]
		Ahkeem Rose	Hereford		[23][25]
16 June 2024	DF	Sean McGinty	Hamilton Academical		[26][27]
1 October 2024	MF	Aiden McGeady	Retired		[28][29]

Loans in

Date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
31 May 2024	GK	Harry Stone	Heart of Midlothian	31 May 2025	[30]
1 June 2024	MF	Jay Henderson	Ross County		[31]
28 August 2024		Ryan Howley	Coventry City		[32]
30 August 2024	DF	Connor McAvoy	Fulham		[33]
31 August 2024	FW	Alfie Bavidge	Aberdeen		[34]

Loans out

Date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
19 July 2024	GK	Ollie Ecrepont	East Stirlingshire	31 May 2025	[35]
3 August 2024	MF	Andy Murdoch	Clyde	1 January 2025	[36]
23 August 2024	FW	Frase Bryden	Queen of the South	31 May 2025	[37]
31 August 2024		Max Guthrie	Stranraer		[38]
6 September 2024		Lucas McRoberts	Bonnyrigg Rose		[39]
	DF	Jamie Hamilton	East Kilbride	1 January 2025	[14]
24 September 2024	MF	Scott Tomlinson	Stenhousemuir	31 May 2025	[40]
30 September 2024	GK	Robbie Mutch	Stranraer	1 January 2025	[41]

References

1. "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
2. "Championship Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
3. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
4. "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
5. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
6. "Ayr United: George Oakley signs pre-contract agreement". Ayr Advertiser. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
7. "Anton Dowds signs for season 2024/25". Ayr United FC. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
8. Turner, Andy (15 June 2024). "Coventry City complete first outward transfer as midfielder moves for 'undisclosed' fee - CoventryLive". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
9. "Scott McMann joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
10. Barnes, Dan (19 June 2024). "Ethan Walker joins Ayr United after Blackburn Rovers release". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
11. Barnes, Dan (19 June 2024). "Former Hartlepool United winger Jake Hastie signs for Scottish Championship side Ayr United". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
12. "Liam Russell Signs". x.com. Ayr United FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
13. "Mikey Devlin joins Ayr United". Ayr United FC. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
14. "Jamie Hamilton joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
15. "Jack McIntyre Joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
16. "Connor McLennan". Ayr United FC. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
17. "Charlie Albinson Departs". Ayr United FC. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
18. "Charlie Albinson becomes our first summer signing". Hamilton Academical FC. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
19. "End of Season Squad Update". Ayr United FC. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
20. "Nathan McGinley Signs For Spennymoor". Speenymoor Town FC. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
21. "New Signing: Paul Smith". Annan Athletic FC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
22. "New Signing – Welcome Back Dario Viviani!". Troon FC. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
23. "Ahkeem Rose & Franny Amartey To Depart". Ayr United FC. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
24. "Francis Amartey joins Weymouth after Ayr United exit". Dorset Echo. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
25. "News: The Bulls Sign Ahkeem Rose". Hereford FC. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
26. "Sean McGinty to depart". Ayr United FC. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
27. "Sean McGinty makes it four summer signings". Hamilton Academical FC. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
28. "Aiden McGeady departs". Ayr United FC. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
29. "McGeady calls time on career after injury-hit period". BBC Sport. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
30. "Harry Stone joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
31. "Jay Henderson departs on loan". Ross County FC. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
32. "Coventry City youngster Ryan Howley joins Ayr United on loan". Coventry Observer. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
33. "Connor McAvoy joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
34. "Connor McAvoy joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
35. "Welcome Back Ollie!". East Stirlingshire FC. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
36. "Loan Signing: Andy Murdoch". Clyde FC. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
37. "Welcome - Fraser Bryden". Queen of the South FC. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
38. "Ayr striker Max joins on loan". Stranraer FC. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
39. "Lucas McRoberts Joins Bonnyrigg Rose on Loan". Ayr United FC. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
40. "New Signing Scott Tomlinson Excited for Next Great Test". Stenhousemuir FC. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
41. "Mutch excitement as keeper Robbie signs". Stranraer FC. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.