Somerset Park
| Somerset Park | |
|---|---|
|
San Somerset Somerset | |
 Somerset Park, looking onto the Somerset Road end | |
  | |
| Location | Ayr, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°28′10.47″N 4°37′12.00″W / 55.4695750°N 4.6200000°W |
| Opened | 1888 |
| Owner | Ayr United F.C. (1920–) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Architect | Archibald Leitch[1] |
| Capacity | 10,185 (1,597 seated)[2] |
| Field dimensions | 110 yd × 72 yd (101 m × 66 m) |
| Tenants | |
|
Ayr F.C. (1888–1910) | |
Somerset Park is a football stadium located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It has been the home of Ayr United since they were founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr, who merged with Ayr Parkhouse to form Ayr United.
History
Ayr commissioned Somerset Park in 1888 to replace Beresford Park.[1] Ayr needed an alternative venue for a friendly match against Aston Villa because Beresford Park was being used for the Ayr Cattle Show at the time.[1] The Beresford Park clubhouse and grandstand were dismantled and reassembled at Somerset Park.[1] Ayr entered the Scottish Football League in 1897, but failed to seriously challenge for promotion to the First Division.[3] Ayr Parkhouse, who played at Beresford Park, subsequently joined the league, but were also stuck in the Second Division.[3] The two clubs decided to merge in 1910 to form Ayr United and the new club adopted Somerset Park as its primary home, although Beresford Park was used during the First World War.[3]
Ayr United bought Somerset Park for £2,500 in 1920.[4] Four years later, the direction of the pitch was changed when the club built a new Main Stand.[4] A roof was built in 1933 over the railway end terrace, which was split into male and female sections.[4]
The ground's record attendance of 25,225 was set on 13 September 1969 in a match against Rangers.[4][5] Floodlights were installed a year later.[4] Somerset Park was relatively late in doing this because the ground is in the flight path of the nearby Prestwick Airport.[4] The Somerset Road end terrace was covered in 1971.[4] A new wing was added to the Main Stand in 1989, increasing the seating capacity to 1,450 in an overall capacity of 12,128.[4]
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Ayr United were owned by Bill Barr, whose Barr Construction company built new stands for several clubs, including Kilmarnock, Hibernian, St. Mirren, Stranraer and Airdrie.[4][6] Despite this work on other Scottish grounds, Somerset Park was not developed, which meant that Ayr United could not be promoted to the Scottish Premier League.[7] Barr had plans for an out-of-town stadium rejected by the Scottish Executive.[1][8] He retired in 2004 and passed control of the club to Donald Cameron and his family.[8]
In November 2006, Ayr United publicised plans to sell Somerset Park to housing developer Barratt Homes and move to a new purpose built stadium in the Heathfield area of Ayr.[5][9] The new ground was planned to consist of a single stand of 3,650 seats, with the potential to add another 3,000-seat stand and a 1,000-capacity terrace, giving a total potential capacity of 7,650.[9] South Ayrshire Council gave outline planning permission in January 2008.[10] Barratt Homes pulled out of the deal to purchase Somerset Park in August 2008, however, with the developer claiming that the planning rules were "unworkable".[10] The credit crunch, which depressed housing values, also affected the proposal's viability.[5][10]
The Main Stand roof was damaged by Hurricane Bawbag in December 2011, forcing Ayr United to postpone a First Division match against Ross County.[11]
Transport
Ayr railway station is approximately 10 minutes walk from Somerset Park.[5] Newton-on-Ayr railway station is closer to the ground, but fewer trains stop there. The A77 road is the main route towards Ayr. To reach Somerset Park, take the A719 road (Whitletts Road) into town, passing Ayr Racecourse.[5] There is a small car park next to Somerset Park and nearby street parking is also available.[5]
Stands and Terraces
Main Stand
The current Main Stand built in 1920 and designed by Glaswegian architect, Archibald Leitch, famous for his work designing Hampden Park, Stamford Bridge, White Hart Lane, Goodison Park, Celtic Park, Ibrox Stadium, Highbury Stadium and Craven Cottage, at the cost of £8,000.[1] The capacity of the main stand following its construction was 2,592.[1] In 1989, an extension to the main stand was added to contain an extra 600 seats and contains a disabled section.[1] The current seating capacity of Somerset Park is 1,597. In late 2012, the club were once again forced into further work upon the Main Stand, removing the remaining concrete asbestos tiles on the roof[12] and upgrading the kitchen facilities.[12]
Somerset Road End
In 1971, Ayr United F.C. erected a roof to cover the Somerset Road End terrace at the cost £12,000.[1] To celebrate the construction of the new roof, Ayr United invited English club, Sunderland, the final result was a 1-1 draw.[1] Following the storms of late 2011, the roof had to be totally rebuilt.[12]
North Terrace
The North Terrace is an open terrace, for both home and away supporters, with a segregation fence erected in 1980.[1] There is currently a hospitality suite standing on the north terrace that opened in 1996 and is currently named the "Ally MacLeod Hospitality Suite sponsored by the Ayrshire Post[13] ", which replaced the traditional score board in its place.[1] Each box is named after a club great from either the 1960s, 1970's or 1980's, they are: Quinton 'Cutty' Young, Stan Quinn, Henry Templeton, Davie Stewart and John 'Spud' Murphy.[14]
The Railway End
The Railway End which now houses only away supporters, is a covered terrace opened in September 1933, following a £230 donation from the supporters club and £120 from the ladies supporters club.[1] In 2012, the club totally re-roofed the Railway End, despite not being instructed to at the time.[12]
Floodlights
Somerset Park first had floodlights installed in 1970, when supporters raised £12,201:14s:11d towards the £18,000 that was required.[1] The first floodlight game at Somerset Park was a Second XI match against Partick Thistle although a they were not officially opened until 18 November 1970, when Ayr United beat Newcastle United 2-0 in a ceremonial match for the occasion.[1] In 2011, the original lights had to be replaced, which caused a Challenge Cup match against Raith Rovers to be switched to Greenock Morton's Cappielow Park, Ayr United won 3-0.[15]
Further Developments
Despite gaining planning permission,[16] the club decided to abort the move to a new stadium in the Heathfield area of Ayr, so Ayr United remain at Somerset Park for the foreseeable future. In 2013, following the appointment of new director, Jim Kirkwood, whose company purchased the car park from the club in 2010,[17] Kirkwood made proposals to the further development of Somerset Park,[17] revealing that Somerset Park had saw little of the needed maintenance required in the last decade.[17] Jim Kirkwood revealed that his plans are "not pie and sky, they are very deliverable".[17]
International matches
Under 17's
Under 19's
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 "History of Somerset Park". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ↑ http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/ayr-united/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 292)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Inglis 1996, p. 429
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Ayr United". Scottish Football Ground Guide. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ↑ "Fans out to brew up Barr bill". BBC Sport (BBC). 10 December 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ↑ "Ayr are not at the SPL races". BBC Sport (BBC). 2 April 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Fans gain veto over Somerset Park land Ayr United". Sunday Herald (Herald & Times Group). 6 March 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Ayr poised to sell Somerset Park". BBC News. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Wilson, Mike (29 August 2008). "Developers pull plug on Ayr United's new stadium". Ayrshire Post. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ↑ "Storm damage hits Ayr United's game against Ross County". BBC Sport (BBC). 9 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Ayr United Face Soaring Bill For Stadium Repairs". Ayrshire Post.net. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ayrshire Post Sponsors Ally MacLeod Suite At Somerset Park". Ayrshire Post.net. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ↑ "Ayr United Honour Their Heroes In The Ally MacLeod Suite". Ayrshire Post.net. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ↑ "Ayr United Vs. Raith Rovers Location Update". AyrUnitedFC.co.uk. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ↑ "AUFC achieve planning approval". AyrUnitedFC.co.uk. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Ayr United's New Director Jim Kirkwood Wants To Stay At Somerset Park". AyrshirePost.net. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- Sources
- Inglis, Simon (1996). Football Grounds of Britain. Collins Willow. ISBN 0-00-218426-5.
- Bob Crampsey (1990). The First 100 Years. Scottish Football League. ISBN 0-9516433-0-4.
External links
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