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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

Map
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 2008-2009
Record & Average Attendance
Hotel Accommodation
Feedback

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What's The Ground Like?

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.

With the club moving to a new stadium for the start of the 2009/10 season, then this will be the last season that the club will play at Somerset Park. So if you haven't been to the stadium, or not visited for sometime, then make sure you get along this season, before the bulldozers move in.

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Future Developments
The club have commenced construction of a new stadium in the Heathfield area of the town. The proposed covered capacity is 7,650, complete with hospitality suites and a supporters club. The complex will also include office space as well as an indoor training facility. If things go to plan then the club will be kicking off in their new stadium at the start of the 2009/10 season.

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Main Stand & Railway End


Somerset Park

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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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Main Stand & Somerset Road End


Main Stand & Somerset Road End

 

Where To Drink?
There are no bars in the immediate vicinity of the ground. The nearest I could find was the 'The Prince Of Wales' which is about a five minute walk away. It is a fair sized comfortable bar with a large screen television showing SKY Sports. This bar is situated on the A719 (Whitletts Road) going towards Ayr town centre. Otherwise, the town centre is about a ten minute walk away from the ground, where there are plenty of good bars to be found.

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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park

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.

For a map showing the location of the ground click here
(to take you to the Street Map website).

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Anyone Seen A Pot Of Gold At Somerset Park?


Open Terrace

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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'.

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Ground Layout


Layout

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Admission Prices 

All areas of the ground:
Adults �12, Concessions �6.


Disabled fans and their carer are admitted free of charge. Places must be booked in advance with the club.

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Programme Price
Official Programme �1.50.

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Local Rivals
Kilmarnock.

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Fixtures 2008-2009
For the Ayr fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website).

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Record & Average Attendance
Record Attendance:
25,225 v Rangers, 1969.

Average Attendance:
2007-2008: 1,139 (Division Two)
2006-2007: 1,202 (Division Two)
2005-2006: 1,272
(Division Two)

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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.

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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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Copyright � Duncan Adams 2008. All rights reserved.
Last Revised: 07 January, 2008