Somerset Park ( Scottish Gaelic : Pàirc Somerset ) is a football stadium located in Ayr , South Ayrshire , Scotland . It has been the home of Scottish Championship team Ayr United since the club was founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr , who merged with Ayr Parkhouse to form Ayr United. The 10,185 capacity stadium was designed by renowned football stadium architect Archibald Leitch .
52-505: After an impressive season in 2017–2018 by Ayr United, debate and discussion began regarding the possibility of Ayr United being promoted to the Scottish Premiership and whether Somerset Park would be eligible for Premiership matches. It was later confirmed that under current league requirements, Ayr United would be allowed to play matches at Somerset Park with minimal improvements to its facilities should they gain promotion to
104-604: A friendly match against Aston Villa because Beresford Park was being used for the Ayr Cattle Show at the time. The Beresford Park clubhouse and grandstand were dismantled and reassembled at Somerset Park. Ayr entered the Scottish Football League in 1897, but failed to seriously challenge for promotion to the First Division. Ayr Parkhouse , who played at Beresford Park, subsequently joined
156-509: A 4–0 win at home to Queen of the South on 26 April 2019 saw them lift the 2018–19 Scottish Championship . Their main rivals are fellow Highlanders, Inverness Caledonian Thistle , with whom they contest the Highland derby . This, unlike many rivalries, is generally friendly as both sets of fans live and work together given their close geographic locations. Due to the geographical proximity of
208-481: A large variation between the wages offered by teams in the Scottish Premiership, with champions Celtic paying an average annual salary of £735,040, per player, whilst traditional rivals Rangers could only pay £329,600 and league runners-up Aberdeen offered £136,382. The lowest salary offered by any of the twelve member clubs was Hamilton's £41,488—one seventeenth that of Celtic, whose wages were close to
260-590: A new purpose built stadium in the Heathfield area of Ayr. 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. South Ayrshire Council gave outline planning permission in January 2008. Barratt Homes pulled out of the deal to purchase Somerset Park in August 2008, however, with
312-645: A penalty shootout where four penalties were missed. Ross County also reached the Challenge Cup final in April 2011 in which they beat Queen of the South 2–0. In November 2010 Derek Adams left to become Colin Calderwood 's assistant at Hibernian . Former Celtic player Willie McStay was appointed as his replacement in November 2010. McStay's tenure was short – lasting only 9 games. Jimmy Calderwood
364-544: A reputation for their good performances in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup , upsetting league teams on eight occasions. The most notable of these upsets came on 8 January 1994, when they won 4–0 at Forfar Athletic , and were elected to the Scottish Football League three days later. At the beginning of season 1994–95 the Scottish Football League was restructured into four tiers, and, following
416-636: A segregation fence erected in 1980. 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 ", which replaced the traditional score board in its place. 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 . The Railway End which now houses primarily away supporters but also home supporters from time to time,
468-516: A very short spell until October 2005, was former Inverness and Hearts manager John Robertson . He left the club on 24 October 2005, due to differences of opinion on a number of fundamental issues with the chairman. Gardner Spiers , a former Aberdeen coach, was appointed caretaker manager , but he too left in April 2006 after being told he would not be considered for appointment on a permanent basis. Director of Football George Adams took temporary charge before former Motherwell player Scott Leitch
520-590: A vote on 11 January 1994, County were allocated one of the two vacancies in the new 10-club Division Three . County gathered 57 votes. They were joined by a new club created as a result of a merger of two teams to form Inverness Caledonian Thistle , who amassed 68 votes. In 1998–99, Ross County were crowned Champions of the Third Division and thereby won promotion to the Second Division, where they finished in third place. This resulted in promotion to
572-532: Is a covered terrace opened in September 1933, following a £230 donation from the supporters club and £120 from the ladies supporters club. In 2012, the club totally re-roofed the Railway End, despite not being instructed to at the time. Somerset Park first had floodlights installed in 1970, when supporters raised £12,201:14s:11d towards the £18,000 that was required. The first floodlight game at Somerset Park
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#1732797279656624-684: 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 . There is a small car park next to Somerset Park and nearby street parking is also available. 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 , Ibrox Stadium , Selhurst Park , Tynecastle , Highbury Stadium and Craven Cottage , at
676-882: The William Hill Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish Premiership was established in July 2013, after the SPFL was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League . There are 12 teams in this division, with each team playing 38 matches per season. Sixteen clubs have played in
728-530: The 2000–01 season , the longest period without change in the history of the Scottish football league system . During this period the Scottish Premier League, and now the Scottish Premiership, has operated a "split" format, that is, split in two phases as is explained below. This is used to prevent the need for a 44-game schedule, based on playing each other four times. That format was used in
780-652: The SPFL Premiership , as the more stringent seating capacity regulations had been removed some years earlier. The stadium was hosted a number of international football fixtures, mostly Scotland national football team under–17s and under–19s matches. Somerset Park was the first stadium in Britain to host the UEFA Women's Cup (now Champions League) in 2001 . Ayr commissioned Somerset Park in 1888 to replace Beresford Park . Ayr needed an alternative venue for
832-446: The SPFL Premiership , as the more stringent seating capacity regulations had been removed some years earlier. In the event, the club remained in the second tier. In September 2022, plans for a new north stand (covering, upgrading and enlarging the existing north terrace rather than demolishing it) were approved by the local authority. Ayr railway station is approximately 20 minutes walk from Somerset Park. Newton-on-Ayr railway station
884-539: The Scottish Championship , provided that the winner satisfies Premiership entry criteria. With the creation of the SPFL, promotion and relegation play-offs involving the top flight were introduced for the first time in seventeen years. The Premiership club in eleventh place plays the Championship play-off winners over two legs, with the winner earning the right to play in the Scottish Premiership
936-752: The Scottish Football Association , determined by Scotland's position in the UEFA country coefficient rankings. The Scottish Football Association in turn allocates a number of these European places to final Scottish Premiership positions. At the end of the 2020–21 season, Scotland was ranked 11th in Europe—granting them two teams in the UEFA Champions League , one team in the UEFA Europa League , and two teams in
988-487: The Scottish Premier Division in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, but it is now too high a number of games in a league season. A season, which runs from August until May, is divided into two phases. During the first phase, each club plays three games against every other team, either once at home and twice away or vice versa. After this first phase of matches, by which time all clubs have played 33 games,
1040-575: The Scottish Premier League . Barr had plans for an out-of-town stadium rejected by the Scottish Executive . He retired in 2004 and passed control of the club to Donald Cameron and his family. Somerset Park was the first stadium in Britain to host the UEFA Women's Cup (now Champions League) in 2001 . It staged the four-club group of Ayr United Ladies, the 2000–01 SWFL champions. In November 2006, Ayr United publicised plans to sell Somerset Park to housing developer Barratt Homes and move to
1092-779: The UEFA Europa Conference League . At the end of the 2022–23 season , the Scottish Premiership winners (Celtic FC) gained qualification to the UEFA Champions League group stage, whilst the second placed team (Rangers FC) entered at the third qualifying round. The third placed team (Aberdeen FC) entered the Europa League in the playoff round, while the fourth place (Heart Of Midlothian FC) got UEFA Europa Conference League 3rd Qualifying Round and fifth place (Hibernian FC) got UEFA Europa Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round. Scotland's place in
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#17327972796561144-744: The 1994–95 season Ross County played in the Highland Football League , a competition they won three times. They have also won the Scottish First Division , Scottish Championship , Second Division , Third Division (once each) and the Challenge Cup on three occasions. In 2010, they reached the Scottish Cup Final, and in 2016 they won the Scottish League Cup . Nicknamed The Staggies , County's colours are dark blue, red and white. The club
1196-533: The Europa League is awarded to the winners of the Scottish Cup . Should the winners of that competition have already qualified for European competition, then the fifth placed team also enters the Europa Conference League second qualifying round, while third placed team (unless they are cup winners themselves) are promoted from Europa Conference League to the Europa League third qualifying round. The 2017 'Global Sports Salaries Survey' report found
1248-619: The First Division thanks to a reorganisation of the League, with the Premier League being expanded from ten clubs to twelve. After seven seasons in the First Division Ross County were relegated back to the Second Division in 2006–07. They won the Second Division in 2007–08, and were promoted back to the First Division. Ross County finished their first season back in the First Division in 8th place. Their manager for
1300-418: The Scottish Premiership during the 2024–25 season. UEFA 5-year Club Ranking after 2023/24 season: awarded As of 2024, Scotland's top-flight league championship has been won 55 times by Rangers , 54 times by Celtic . Nine other clubs have won the remaining 19 championships, with three clubs tied for third place with 4 apiece. The last time the championship was won by a club other than Rangers or Celtic
1352-430: The Scottish Premiership since its creation in the 2013–14 season . Celtic are the current league champions, having won the 2023–24 Scottish Premiership . Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference , and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned league champion . If
1404-467: The advent of the new league body in 2013 had met the previous SPL seating threshold of 6000, therefore little attention was paid to the matter). It was confirmed that the SPFL statutes only required grounds to have 'bronze standard' facilities (500 covered places), meaning Somerset would be accepted as a Premiership venue with minimal improvements. Scottish Premiership The Scottish Premiership ( Scots Gaelic : Prìomh Lìog na h-Alba) known as
1456-479: 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, Kirkwood made proposals to the further development of Somerset Park, revealing that Somerset Park had seen little of the maintenance required in
1508-570: The clubs and despite the rivalry, Inverness CT have signed many former Ross County players over the years, including Billy Mckay , Barry Wilson , Stuart Golabek , Roy McBain , Graham Bayne , Richard Hastings , Steven Hislop, John Rankin , Andrew Barrowman , Lionel Djebi-Zadi and Don Cowie . Many former Inverness CT players have also "crossed the bridge " in the opposite direction, most notably Grant Munro , Michael Fraser , Ross Tokely and Coll Donaldson in recent years. Both Stuart Golabek and Andy Barrowman had two spells at County each, with
1560-476: The cost of £8,000. The capacity of the main stand following its construction was 2,592. In 1989, an extension to the main stand was added to contain an extra 600 seats and contains a disabled section. 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 and upgrading
1612-573: The developer claiming that the planning rules were "unworkable". The Great Recession , which depressed housing values, also affected the proposal's viability. The Main Stand roof was damaged by Hurricane Irene in December 2011, forcing Ayr United to postpone a First Division match against Ross County . In 2018, it was confirmed that under current league requirements, Ayr United would be allowed to play matches at Somerset Park with minimal improvements to its facilities should they gain promotion to
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1664-437: The final of the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history. More than 7,000 Ross County fans travelled to Glasgow to watch the game. In the 2010 Scottish Cup Final on 15 May 2010, County lost 0–3 to Dundee United at Hampden Park . The match was watched by more than 17,000 Ross County fans. Ross County secured promotion to the Scottish Premier League for the first time on 10 April 2012 when their nearest rival to
1716-461: The following season. This enables two clubs to be relegated from the Premiership each season, with two being promoted. Prior to the creation of the Scottish Premiership, only a single club could be relegated each season - with only the second tier champions being promoted. The Scottish Football League had used play-offs amongst its three divisions since 2007. UEFA grants European places to
1768-582: The former also having two spells at ICT. A notable player is Iain Vigurs , who is one of (if not the first) few player(s) to cross the bridge more than twice, having spent two spells with both County and Caley Thistle. The club's nickname is the Staggies , taken from their badge which is a Caberfeidh, or Stag's Head. This in turn was taken from the regimental badge of the Seaforth Highlanders ,
1820-494: The kitchen facilities. In 1971, Ayr United F.C. erected a roof to cover the Somerset Road End terrace at the cost £12,000. To celebrate the construction of the new roof, Ayr United invited English club Sunderland to play a friendly match - the result was a 1–1 draw. Following the storms of late 2011, the roof had to be totally rebuilt. The North Terrace is an open terrace , for both home and away supporters, with
1872-403: The last decade. Jim Kirkwood revealed that his plans are "not pie and sky, they are very deliverable". Ayr United's impressive form at the outset of the 2018–19 Scottish Championship season led observers to examine the latest SPFL entry requirements due to the possibility of the club achieving promotion while still based at the unmodernised Somerset Park (all other promoted teams' stadia since
1924-437: The league splits into two halves – a "top six" section and a "bottom six" section. Each club plays a further five matches, one against each of the other five teams in their own section. Points achieved during the first phase of 33 matches are carried forward to the second phase, but the teams compete only within their own sections during the second phase. After the first phase is completed, clubs cannot move out of their own half in
1976-480: The league, but were also stuck in the Second Division. 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. Ayr United bought Somerset Park for £2,500 in 1920. Four years later, the direction of the pitch was changed when the club built a new Main Stand. A roof was built in 1933 over
2028-407: The league, even if they achieve more or fewer points than a higher or lower ranked team, respectively. At the beginning of each season, the SPFL 'predicts' the likely positions of each club in order to produce a fixture schedule that ensures the best possible chance of all clubs playing each other twice at home and twice away. This is known as the league 'seeding' and is based on clubs' performance in
2080-443: The points, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head results between teams are equal, a play-off game held at a neutral venue shall be played to determine the final placings. The play-off will only occur when the position of the teams affects the outcome of the title, European qualification, relegation, or second stage group allocation and shall not occur otherwise. The top flight of Scottish football has contained 12 clubs since
2132-407: The previous season. If the clubs do not finish in the half where they are predicted to finish, then anomalies can be created in the fixture list. Clubs sometimes play another three times at home and once away (or vice versa), or a club can end up playing 20 home (or away) games in a season. The bottom placed Premiership club at the end of the season is relegated and swaps places with the winner of
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2184-400: The railway end terrace, which was split into male and female sections. The ground's record attendance of 25,225 was set on 13 September 1969 in a match against Rangers . Floodlights were installed a year later. Somerset Park was relatively late in doing this because the ground is in the flight path of the nearby Prestwick Airport . The Somerset Road end terrace was covered in 1971. A new wing
2236-581: The sum of the other eleven clubs combined. The report stated that this disparity was the third-greatest from the 18 leagues surveyed, and that the Scottish Premiership offered the third-lowest salaries of those leagues; by contrast, Celtic's opponents in the Champions League that year paid average wages of £6.5m ( Paris Saint-Germain ) and £5.2m ( Bayern Munich ), seven times higher than the Scottish club. The 12 clubs listed below will compete in
2288-403: The title Dundee failed to beat Queen of the South . During this push to promotion, Ross County embarked on a 40-game undefeated run in league football, which continued into the Scottish Premier League. The run was ended by St Johnstone on 22 September 2012. The Staggies parted company with George and Derek Adams on 28 August 2014 following a poor start to the 2014–15 campaign . Jim McIntyre
2340-420: Was a Second XI match against Partick Thistle although they were not officially opened until 18 November 1970, when Ayr United beat Newcastle United 2–0 in a ceremonial match for the occasion. 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. Despite gaining planning permission,
2392-463: Was added to the Main Stand in 1989, increasing the seating capacity to 1,450 in an overall capacity of 12,128. 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 . Despite this work on other Scottish grounds, Somerset Park was not developed, which meant that Ayr United could not be promoted to
2444-697: Was announced as his replacement in May 2007. However, after a good run of results to start their Division 2 campaign, Campbell and the Ross County board decided to part company on 2 October 2007. Derek Adams (son of George Adams) took over as caretaker, and was confirmed as permanent manager a month later after the side's good form continued. County again reached the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2008. They played Airdrie United at McDiarmid Park . Unlike two years previously, County lost in
2496-419: Was appointed manager on 9 September 2014, with Billy Dodds as his assistant. On 13 March 2016, Ross County won their first ever major trophy when they beat Hibernian 2–1 in the final of the 2015–16 Scottish League Cup . The team's fortunes declined after this success, and they were relegated at the end of the 2017–18 season. The club secured an immediate return to the Scottish Premiership after
2548-501: Was appointed on 18 April 2006. Ross County won their first ever nationwide trophy when they won the Scottish Challenge Cup in November 2006 on penalties with Jason Crooks scoring the deciding spot kick on his competitive debut. Leitch, after winning the Challenge Cup but suffering relegation, stood down at the end of the 2006–07 season, almost exactly one year after his appointment. Former Partick Thistle manager Dick Campbell
2600-546: Was formed in 1929 in what was then Ross and Cromarty after the previous local club from the North of Scotland Junior League Dingwall Victoria United (the 'Dingwall Vics') successfully applied for Highland Football League membership. The club was subsequently renamed Ross County. Playing in the Highland League from 1929, they won the championship on three occasions, first in 1967, then in 1991 and 1992. They also gained
2652-512: Was in 1984–85 , by Aberdeen. The SPFL's domestic TV broadcast deal currently ranks 16th in Europe among European Leagues. Ross County F.C. Ross County Football Club is a professional football club based in Dingwall , Scotland. The club currently play in the Scottish Premiership , being promoted after winning the Scottish Championship in the 2018–19 season. Prior to
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#17327972796562704-441: Was then appointed until the end of the 2010–11 season. In May 2011, it was announced that Derek Adams was to return as manager. On 23 March 2010, they defeated Scottish Premier League club Hibernian 2–1 in a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at home at Victoria Park. In the semi-final, they played Celtic on Saturday 10 April 2010. In one of the biggest upsets in cup history, Ross County won 2–0 at Hampden Park and reached
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