Division 1 – Survival The Order of the Day for United
Gordon Dalziel immediately dismantled the Championship winning squad from the previous season and rebuilt a team to ensure thattn_Airdrieonians (h) 14 Mar 98 the club could consolidate it’s 1st division status.
Under the ownership of Bill Barr the club were able to introduce better quality players and there were signs of substantial progress within the team.
A 7th place finish was acceptable despite this being some 30 points behind the promotion places.
Whilst league survival was vital, the icing on the cake for Ayr was a Valentines day meeting with Scottish Cup holders and local rivals Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup 3rd round. United sensationally dumped Killie out of the cup with two goals at Somerset Park in the last 10 minutes of the match.
|
Date |
Opponents |
H/A |
Competition |
Score – Ayr First |
Att |
Programme Issued |
Comments |
|
19/7/97 |
Livingston |
A |
Livingston Tournament |
0-0 |
|
Yes |
Combined Programme |
|
20/7/97 |
York City |
N |
Livingston Tournament |
0-0 |
|
Yes |
Combined Programme |
|
23/7/97 |
Queen of the South |
H |
Friendly |
Friendly |
551 |
Yes |
Combined Programme |
|
24/7/97 |
Coventry City |
H |
Friendly |
Friendly |
1,180 |
Yes |
Combined Programme |
|
26/7/97 |
Rangers |
H |
Friendly |
Friendly |
Postponed |
Yes |
Combined Programme |
|
29/7/97 |
Carlisle United |
H |
Friendly |
Friendly |
814 |
Yes |
Combined Programme |
|
2/8/97 |
Morton |
H |
1st Division |
1-2 |
3, 481 |
Yes |
|
|
9/8/97 |
Dunfermline Athetic |
A |
Coca Cola Cup 2nd Rd |
1-5 |
3, 283 |
Yes |
|
|
12/8/97 |
Queens Park |
H |
Challenge Cup 1st Rd |
3-0 |
1, 255 |
Yes |
|
|
16/8/97 |
Falkirk |
A |
1st Division |
1-2 |
2, 683 |
Yes |
|
|
23/8/97 |
Partick Thistle |
H |
1st Division |
2-2 |
2, 398 |
Yes |
|
|
26/8/97 |
Clydebank |
H |
Challenge Cup 2nd Rd |
0-1 |
1, 281 |
Yes |
|
|
30/8/97 |
Hamilton Academical |
A |
1st Division |
2-0 |
915 |
Yes |
|
|
13/9/97 |
Dundee |
H |
1st Division |
1-2 |
2, 180 |
Yes |
|
|
20/9/97 |
Raith Rovers |
H |
1st Division |
1-0 |
1, 987 |
Yes |
|
|
27/9/97 |
Airdrieonians |
A |
1st Division |
0-1 |
1, 392 |
Yes |
|
|
4/10/97 |
Stirling Albion |
H |
1st Division |
2-1 |
1, 773 |
Yes |
|
|
18/10/97 |
St.Mirren |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
3, 021 |
Yes |
|
|
25/10/97 |
Morton |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
2, 344 |
Yes |
|
|
8/11/97 |
Hamilton Academical |
H |
1st Division |
1-2 |
2, 093 |
Yes |
|
|
11/11/97 |
Falkirk |
H |
1st Division |
1-2 |
2, 003 |
Yes |
|
|
15/11/97 |
Dundee |
A |
1st Division |
0-4 |
2, 921 |
Yes |
|
|
22/11/97 |
Airdrieonians |
H |
1st Division |
6-0 |
1, 838 |
Yes |
|
|
29/11/97 |
Raith Rovers |
A |
1st Division |
1-0 |
3, 015 |
Yes |
|
|
6/12/97 |
Stirling Albion |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
1, 023 |
Yes |
|
|
13/12/97 |
St.Mirren |
H |
1st Division |
0-2 |
2, 411 |
Yes |
|
|
20/12/97 |
Partick Thistle |
A |
1st Division |
0-3 |
3, 080 |
Yes |
|
|
27/12/97 |
Morton |
H |
1st Division |
2-1 |
2, 581 |
Yes |
|
|
3/1/98 |
Hamilton Academical |
A |
1st Division |
Postponed |
|
Yes |
|
|
10/1/98 |
Dundee |
H |
1st Division |
2-5 |
2, 068 |
Yes |
|
|
17/1/98 |
Airdrieonians |
A |
1st Division |
Postponed |
|
Yes |
|
|
24/1/98 |
Alloa Athletic |
A |
Scottish Cup 3rd Rd |
3-0 |
931 |
Yes |
|
|
31/1/98 |
Raith Rovers |
H |
1st Division |
0-0 |
1, 989 |
Yes |
|
|
7/2/98 |
St.Mirren |
A |
1st Division |
0-3 |
2, 312 |
Yes |
|
|
10/2/98 |
Airdrieonians |
A |
1st Division |
0-2 |
1, 189 |
No |
Programme dated 17th January 1998 used – No Insert |
|
14/2/98 |
Kilmarnock |
H |
Scottish Cup 4th Rd |
2-0 |
9, 286 |
Yes |
|
|
17/2/98 |
Hamilton Academical |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
732 |
No |
Programme dated 3rd January 1998 (A4 Insert) |
|
21/2/98 |
Stirling Albion |
H |
1st Division |
1-0 |
1, 637 |
Yes |
|
|
25/2/98 |
Falkirk |
A |
1st Division |
0-4 |
1, 925 |
Yes |
|
|
28/2/98 |
Partick Thistle |
H |
1st Division |
2-2 |
2, 539 |
Yes |
|
|
7/3/98 |
Hearts |
A |
Scottish Cup 5th Rd |
1-4 |
15, 761 |
Yes |
|
|
14/3/98 |
Airdrieonians |
H |
1st Division |
0-2 |
1, 728 |
Yes |
|
|
21/3/98 |
Raith Rovers |
A |
1st Division |
0-0 |
2, 822 |
Yes |
|
|
28/3/98 |
St.Mirren |
H |
1st Division |
2-2 |
2, 306 |
Yes |
|
|
4/4/98 |
Stirling Albion |
A |
1st Division |
0-2 |
1, 145 |
Yes |
|
|
11/4/98 |
Hamilton Academical |
H |
1st Division |
2-1 |
1, 680 |
Yes |
|
|
18/4/98 |
Dundee |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
8, 104 |
Yes |
|
|
25/4/98 |
Morton |
A |
1st Division |
1-0 |
2, 315 |
Yes |
|
|
2/5/98 |
Falkirk |
H |
1st Division |
1-3 |
2, 809 |
Yes |
|
|
9/5/98 |
Partick Thistle |
A |
1st Division |
3-1 |
8, 424 |
Yes |
|
|
13/5/98 |
Kilmarnock |
A |
Ayrshire Cup Final |
2-4 |
4, 652 |
Yes |
|
|
|
Pld |
|
Home |
|
|
|
|
Away |
|
|
|
|
Overall |
|
|
|
|
Pts |
GD |
||||
|
1996/97 |
|
|
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Ayr United |
36 |
|
12 |
3 |
3 |
32 |
16 |
|
11 |
5 |
2 |
29 |
17 |
|
23 |
8 |
5 |
61 |
33 |
|
77 |
28 |
|
2 |
Hamilton Academical |
36 |
|
11 |
5 |
2 |
47 |
17 |
|
11 |
3 |
4 |
28 |
11 |
|
22 |
8 |
6 |
75 |
28 |
|
74 |
47 |
|
3 |
Livingston |
36 |
|
11 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
18 |
|
7 |
7 |
4 |
24 |
20 |
|
18 |
10 |
8 |
56 |
38 |
|
64 |
18 |
|
4 |
Clyde |
36 |
|
8 |
4 |
6 |
21 |
18 |
|
6 |
6 |
6 |
21 |
21 |
|
14 |
10 |
12 |
42 |
39 |
|
52 |
3 |
|
5 |
Queen of the South |
36 |
|
8 |
3 |
7 |
27 |
27 |
|
5 |
5 |
8 |
28 |
30 |
|
13 |
8 |
15 |
55 |
57 |
|
47 |
-2 |
|
6 |
Stenhousemuir |
36 |
|
4 |
6 |
8 |
19 |
23 |
|
7 |
5 |
6 |
30 |
20 |
|
11 |
11 |
14 |
49 |
43 |
|
44 |
6 |
|
7 |
Brechin City |
36 |
|
5 |
7 |
6 |
18 |
22 |
|
5 |
4 |
9 |
18 |
27 |
|
10 |
11 |
15 |
36 |
49 |
|
41 |
-13 |
|
8 |
Stranraer |
36 |
|
6 |
5 |
7 |
17 |
18 |
|
3 |
4 |
11 |
12 |
33 |
|
9 |
9 |
18 |
29 |
51 |
|
36 |
-22 |
|
9 |
Dumbarton |
36 |
|
2 |
7 |
9 |
21 |
35 |
|
7 |
1 |
10 |
23 |
31 |
|
9 |
8 |
19 |
44 |
66 |
|
35 |
-22 |
|
10 |
Berwick Rangers |
36 |
|
4 |
4 |
10 |
15 |
36 |
|
0 |
7 |
11 |
17 |
39 |
|
4 |
11 |
21 |
32 |
75 |
|
23 |
-43 |
