Division 1 – National Cup Final At Last For Ayr
The 2001/02 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland.
The 2001-02 Ayr United FC season was one of the best seasons in the clubs history, reaching a major cup final for the first time in the league cup but lost Rangers but returned to Hampden Park within the week for a Scottish Cup semi final with Celtic as well as a credible third place finish in the First Division.
The seasons biggest glory was by far the cup where Ayr United again emphasised their Cup credentials, particularly against Premier League opposition. With two outstanding runs in the Scottish Cup and League Cup United beat the likes of Dunfermline Athletic, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and Hibernian to finally earn their place in a national cup final.
The greatest occasion in the history of the club occurred on 5th February 2002 in the League (CIS) Cup when an Eddie Annand penalty gave Ayr a 1-0 win over Hibernian and a place in the clubs first ever national Cup Final. On St.Patrick’s Day 2002, 12,000 Ayr fans graced Hampden Park for a final clash against Rangers. The Honest Men gave a good account of themselves before finally losing out to the multi million pound Ibrox side by 4-0.
Six days later, Ayr were back at Hampden Park, this time in the semi final of the Scottish Cup and again despite going down, this time to Celtic, it was not until late in the game that the Champions elect killed off United’s hopes.
Again United’s performance earned them much praise in the national media. As the memory fades, many may look at the scorelines of the two games and reflect that Ayr were well beaten but their performances against the odds in both games was summed up by this quote from Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.
‘They were magnificent. They probably didn’t deserve to get beaten 4-0 last week and they most certainly didn’t deserve to get beaten 3-0 tonight. Their Cup exploits have been extraordinary and it took three great goals to win this game’.
In the league however, Ayr were still a long way off promotion to the Premier League with their third place being 14 points behind promoted Partick Thistle. Maybe United’s extensive cup exploits mitigated against points for promotion, but few Ayr supporters would trade the cup runs.
However, the club immediately plunged into a financial crisis and captain John Hughes led the exit of top players from the club.
The season was also notable for the demise of Airdrieonians whose last ever match was the match at Somerset Park on the last day of the season.
|
Date |
Opponents |
H/A |
Competition |
Score – Ayr First |
Comments |
Att |
Programme Issued |
|
16/7/01 |
Blyth Spartans |
A |
2001 Triangular Tornament |
0-0 |
Combined Programme |
|
Yes |
|
18/7/01 |
Darlington |
A |
2001 Triangular Tornament |
0-0 |
Combined Programme |
|
Yes |
|
21/07/2001 |
Berwick Rangers |
A |
Friendly |
0-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
23/7/01 |
Blackpool |
H |
Friendly |
0-2 |
Combined Programme |
|
Yes |
|
25/7/01 |
Queens Park |
A |
Friendly |
3-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
28/7/01 |
Wigan Athletic |
H |
Friendly |
4-0 |
Combined Programme |
|
Yes |
|
31/7/01 |
Dumbarton |
H |
Friendly |
0-0 |
Combined Programme |
|
Yes |
|
4/8/01 |
Falkirk |
A |
1st Division |
02-Jan |
|
|
Yes |
|
7/8/01 |
St. Mirren |
A |
Challenge Cup |
3-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
11/8/01 |
Ross County |
H |
1st Division |
2-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
14/8/01 |
Stranraer |
A |
Challenge Cup |
2-3 |
|
|
Yes |
|
18/8/01 |
Airdrieonians 1878 |
A |
1st Division |
1-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
25/8/01 |
Raith Rovers |
H |
1st Division |
0-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
8/9/01 |
Partick Thistle |
A |
1st Division |
1-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
15/9/01 |
St. Mirren |
H |
1st Division |
4-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
18/9/01 |
Arbroath |
A |
1st Division |
2-3 |
|
|
Yes |
|
23/9/01 |
Clyde |
H |
1st Division |
2-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
25/9/01 |
Stranraer |
H |
Scottish League Cup – 2nd Round |
4-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
29/9/01 |
Inverness C T |
A |
1st Division |
1-3 |
|
1,533 |
Yes |
|
9/10/01 |
Kilmarnock |
H |
Scottish League Cup – 3rd Rnd |
0-0 |
Ayr won 5-4 on pens |
|
Yes |
|
13/10/01 |
Falkirk |
H |
1st Division |
2-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
20/10/01 |
Ross County |
A |
1st Division |
2-3 |
|
|
Yes |
|
27/10/01 |
Partick Thistle |
H |
1st Division |
0-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
3/11/01 |
Raith Rovers |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
10/11/2001 |
Arbroath |
H |
1st Division |
0-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
17/11/01 |
St. Mirren |
A |
1st Division |
1-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
24/11/01 |
Inverness C T |
H |
1st Division |
3-0 |
|
1,999 |
Yes |
|
28/11/01 |
Inverness C T |
H |
Scottish League Cup – Quarter Final |
5-1 |
|
2,710 |
Yes |
|
1/12/01 |
Clyde |
A |
1st Division |
2-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
8/12/01 |
Airdrieonians 1878 |
H |
1st Division |
1-3 |
|
|
Yes |
|
15/12/01 |
Falkirk |
A |
1st Division |
2-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
26/12/01 |
Partick Thistle |
A |
1st Division |
1-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
29/12/01 |
Raith Rovers |
H |
1st Division |
3-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
5/1/02 |
Deveronvale |
A |
Scottish Cup – 3rd Rnd |
6-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
12/01/2002 |
Arbroath |
A |
1st Division |
2-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
19/1/02 |
Clyde |
H |
1st Division |
0-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
26/1/02 |
Dunfermline Athletic |
H |
Scottish Cup – 4th Rnd |
3-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
2/2/02 |
Inverness C T |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
|
1,409 |
Yes |
|
5/2/02 |
Hibernian |
N |
Scottish League Cup – Semi Final |
1-0 |
After extra time |
|
Yes |
|
9/2/02 |
Airdrieonians 1878 |
A |
1st Division |
2-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
16/2/02 |
Ross County |
H |
1st Division |
0-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
23/2/02 |
Dundee United |
H |
Scottish Cup – 5th Rnd |
2-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
26/2/02 |
St. Mirren |
A |
1st Division |
4-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
2/3/02 |
Raith Rovers |
A |
1st Division |
3-3 |
|
|
Yes |
|
6/3/02 |
Dundee United |
H |
Scottish Cup – 5th Rnd Replay |
2-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
9/3/02 |
Partick Thistle |
H |
1st Division |
1-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
17/3/02 |
Rangers 1872 |
N |
Scottish League Cup – Final |
0-4 |
Ayr United’s First Ever Major Cup Final |
Yes |
|
|
23/3/02 |
Celtic |
N |
Scottish Cup – Semi Final |
0-3 |
|
|
Yes |
|
26/03/2002 |
Arbroath |
H |
1st Division |
0-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
30/3/02 |
Clyde |
A |
1st Division |
2-2 |
|
|
Yes |
|
2/4/02 |
St. Mirren |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
6/4/02 |
Inverness C T |
H |
1st Division |
1-0 |
|
1,818 |
Yes |
|
13/4/02 |
Falkirk |
H |
1st Division |
0-0 |
|
|
Yes |
|
21/4/02 |
Ross County |
A |
1st Division |
1-1 |
|
|
Yes |
|
27/4/02 |
Airdrieonians 1878 |
H |
1st Division |
1-0 |
Match abandoned after 21 minutes due to crowd trouble. Last ever Match Against ‘old’ Airdrieonians |
Yes |
|
|
1st |
|
Pld |
|
Home |
|
|
|
|
Away |
|
|
|
|
Overall |
|
|
|
|
Pts |
GD |
|||
|
|
|
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
|
|
||
|
1 |
Partick Thistle |
36 |
|
12 |
6 |
0 |
38 |
15 |
|
7 |
3 |
8 |
23 |
23 |
|
19 |
9 |
8 |
61 |
38 |
|
66 |
23 |
|
2 |
Airdrieonians |
36 |
|
8 |
6 |
4 |
31 |
19 |
|
7 |
5 |
6 |
28 |
21 |
|
15 |
11 |
10 |
59 |
40 |
|
56 |
19 |
|
3 |
Ayr United |
36 |
|
8 |
6 |
4 |
25 |
16 |
|
5 |
7 |
6 |
28 |
28 |
|
13 |
13 |
10 |
53 |
44 |
|
52 |
9 |
|
4 |
Ross County |
36 |
|
10 |
2 |
6 |
33 |
21 |
|
4 |
8 |
6 |
18 |
22 |
|
14 |
10 |
12 |
51 |
43 |
|
52 |
8 |
|
5 |
Clyde |
36 |
|
8 |
6 |
4 |
27 |
21 |
|
5 |
4 |
9 |
24 |
35 |
|
13 |
10 |
13 |
51 |
56 |
|
49 |
-5 |
|
6 |
Inverness Caledonian Thistle |
36 |
|
11 |
3 |
4 |
47 |
22 |
|
2 |
6 |
10 |
13 |
29 |
|
13 |
9 |
14 |
60 |
51 |
|
48 |
9 |
|
7 |
Arbroath |
36 |
|
9 |
3 |
6 |
22 |
28 |
|
5 |
3 |
10 |
20 |
31 |
|
14 |
6 |
16 |
42 |
59 |
|
48 |
-17 |
|
8 |
St. Mirren |
36 |
|
6 |
8 |
4 |
19 |
19 |
|
5 |
4 |
9 |
24 |
34 |
|
11 |
12 |
13 |
43 |
53 |
|
45 |
-10 |
|
9 |
Falkirk |
36 |
|
5 |
5 |
8 |
24 |
36 |
|
5 |
4 |
9 |
25 |
37 |
|
10 |
9 |
17 |
49 |
73 |
|
39 |
-24 |
|
10 |
Raith Rovers |
36 |
|
7 |
5 |
6 |
31 |
25 |
|
1 |
6 |
11 |
19 |
37 |
|
8 |
11 |
17 |
50 |
62 |
|
35 |
-12 |
