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Ayr United Ground Name: Somerset Park Capacity: 10,243 (seated 1,549) Address: Tryfield Place, Ayr, KA8 9NB Telephone No: 01292 263 435 Fax No: 01292 281 314 Pitch Size: 110 x 72 yards Club Nickname: The Honest Men Year Ground Opened: 1896* Home Kit Colours: All White Official Web Site: www.ayrunitedfc.co.uk Unofficial Web Sites: The Honest Page Ayr United History |
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| Contents |
| What's The Ground Like? Future Developments Main Stand & Railway End (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Main Stand & Somerset Road End (photo) Where To Drink? How To Get There By Car & Where To Park Anyone Seen A Pot Of Gold At Somerset Park? (photo) By Train Layout Of The Ground Admission Prices Programme Price Local Rivals Fixtures 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
| What's The Ground Like? |
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A classic traditional looking ground that is predominantly terracing. Only one side has a seating area, in the old Main Stand, part of which dates back to 1924. This stand is covered and the seated area is raised above pitch level. There are also a few supporting pillars which could impede your view. This stand was extended sideways in 1989. In front of the stand are some small sections of terracing, the team dugouts and a small conservatory type structure, that looked to be used by the Police. On the other side is a large open terrace that extends around the corners of the ground. This area is split between home and away fans, who are segregated by a large fence running down the middle of it. At the back of the home fans section is a strange concrete box like structure that looks to have been built behind the existing terrace. This appears to house a number of hospitality boxes that overlook the ground. Both ends are quite similar looking, as they are of roughly the same size and both are covered terracing. The home end, the Somerset Road end is partly covered (to the rear) medium sized terrace, that has a row of supporting pillars running across the front of it. Away fans are located in the opposite end in the Railway Terrace. The ground is completed with a striking set of four floodlight pylons, one located at each corner of the ground. |
| Future Developments |
| The club hoped to be moving to a new 7,650 capacity new stadium in the Heathfield area of the town, for the start of the 2009/10 season, with Somerset Park being re-developed for housing. However, the credit crunch and economic downturn has forced the club to put the scheme on hold. This means that we'll get to enjoy Somerset Park for a bit longer yet.... |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? |
| For the majority of games away fans
will be housed in the small standing enclosure in front of the Main
Stand at one side of the pitch. For the bigger games against Partick
Thistle & Morton then away fans will allocated the covered
Railway End Terrace at one end of the ground, as well as some open
terrace to either side of it. So visiting fans for these games have
a choice as to whether to view the action from either an end or side
of the pitch and unless there is a huge travelling support you will
normally get a good view of the playing action. With the away end
being covered, a relatively small number of away fans can really
create some noise, adding to the atmosphere. There are two
refreshment kiosks in the away section serving the usual array of
pies, hot dogs & burgers. Unfortunately though there is only one
set of toilets that are right by the entrance turnstiles to the away
end. I would have to say that the mens urinals looked as if they
dated back to when the ground opened. I did notice on my visit that
parts of the open terrace had a fair few white blobs all over them,
thanks to the large local population of seagulls. It may be an idea
to make sure you wear a hat if you use the open
terrace! Simon Lyndsay a visiting Falkirk supporter adds; 'This is my favourite away game. It is a great old fashioned ground. With good pubs, pies, great fish and chips and I have never had a bit of bother there. The fans can have a go at one another during the game (loads of verbals), but walking away at the end, there never seems to be any hassle. An enthusiastic two thumbs up from me for Somerset Park'. |
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| Where To Drink? |
| There are no bars in the immediate
vicinity of the ground. So a ten minute walk to the town centre is
required, where there are plenty of pubs to be found. Of note
are three pubs that are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide,
including the Wetherspoons outlet, the West Kirk on Sandgate,
Geordie's Byre on the Main Street and Wellington's Bar on Wellington
Square. If you are arriving by train at Newton-On-Ayr, then there is Wallaces Bar at 6 Tams Brig. |
| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park |
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From the A77 take the A719 (Whitletts
Road) into Ayr. After passing the racecourse on your left, turn
right at the next set of traffic lights for the ground, or turn left
to take you down to an unofficial car park. Turning right will take
you into Burnett Terrace, then left into Hawkhill Avenue and then
right into Somerset Road. The ground is down on the left. There is a
small car park at the ground adjacent to the Main Stand which costs
£1.50, otherwise there is plenty of street parking to be found in
the area around the stadium. |
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| By Train |
| Ayr station is a ten minute walk away
from the ground. Exit the station through the back entrance (to the
left as you come off the platform, over the footbridge) and turn
left once outside. Walk up to the roundabout at the fire station,
and go straight ahead at the roundabout, past the left hand side of
the Civic Theatre. continue up this road (Craigie Road) to the
traffic lights at the top. Go straight across again at this
junction, then take a left and a right and you're there. Away fans
walk to the left, behind the Main Stand. Thanks to Ruaridh Watson
for providing the directions. Callum McCabe adds; 'Newton-On-Ayr station is closer to the ground than Ayr main station, although not as many trains stop there. Go up the hill from the station onto the main Allison Street (A79). Turn right along Allison Street and then cross over to the other side of the road. Continue along Allison Street for a short distance and just before the the bridge where the road crosses the railway, turn left into McCall's Avenue. Go all the way up this road until you cross a railway bridge, and then turn right into Somerset Road. The ground is at the bottom of this road on the right'. |
| Ground Layout |
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| Admission Prices |
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All areas of the
ground: |
| Programme Price |
| Official Programme £1.50. |
| Local Rivals |
| Kilmarnock. |
| Fixtures 2009-2010 |
| For the Ayr fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). |
| Record & Average Attendance |
| Record Attendance: 25,225 v Rangers, 1969. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 1,473 (Division Two) 2007-2008: 1,139 (Division Two) 2006-2007: 1,202 (Division Two) |
| Hotel Accommodation |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Ayr page click here. |
| Feedback |
| If anything is incorrect or you have
something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide.
* The present Somerset Park ground overlies part of the original
Somerset Park ground which dates back to 1888. |
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