Formed: 1910
Nickname: The Honest Men
Stadium: Somerset Park
Stadium Capacity: 10,185
Head Coach: Scott Brown
Major Honours: Scottish Second Tier (Division Two/Division B/First Division/Championship): 1911/12, 1912/13, 1927/28, 1936/37, 1958/59, 1965/66
HEAD COACH
Towards the end of last month, Ayr United appointed Scott Brown as the club’s new head coach. He replaced Lee Bullen, who departed Somerset Park after two years in charge at the South Ayrshire club with the Honest Men in the Scottish Championship’s bottom two at the time.
Capped 55 times by Scotland during his playing career, former Celtic captain Brown watched from the stands as his side secured an important 2-0 Championship win over Arbroath on January 23 before taking charge for the trip to Queen’s Park four days later.
CLUB CAPTAIN
Born in Maidstone, Kent on 11 August 1993, Sean McGintyjoined Manchester United’s academy in 2009 and was an FA Youth Cup winner with the Red Devils in 2011. During his time with United, the defender was loaned to Morecambe, Oxford United, Carlisle United and Tranmere Rovers. He departed Old Trafford to sign for Sheffield United in 2013 having failed to make a competitive first-team appearance for Manchester United.
Capped by the Republic of Ireland between under-17 and under-21 level, McGinty has since played for clubs including Rochdale, Aldershot Town, Torquay United, Partick Thistle and Greenock Morton. Since signing for Ayr in 2021, he has gone on to play over 100 times for the Honest Men.
BETWEEN THE STICKS
Former Manchester City youth player Charlie Albinson signed for Ayr United in July 2021. Despite spending much of his debut season with the club warming the bench, he eventually wrestled the Ayr’s number one shirt from Aidan McAdams and made 40 appearances in all competitions last season before putting pen-to-paper on an extension to his contract at Somerset Park.
A regular for Ayr once again this season, Albinson had kept five clean sheets in 19 appearances in all competitions during the campaign up to and including the 2-0 win over Arbroath on January 23.
ONE TO WATCH
Former Scotland under-21 forward Logan Chalmers is currently in his second loan spell with Ayr United, having previously netted twice in 12 appearances for the Honest Men between September 2022 and January 2023. The Dundee United player scored in the aforementioned 2-0 win over Arbroath last month, which brought his goal tally to seven in 21 matches this season.
Born in Dundee on 24 March 2000, Chalmers has made 45 appearances for Dundee United to date while his other loan moves have taken him to Arbroath, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Tranmere Rovers.
RISING STAR
Elicha Ahui was released by hometown club Nottingham Forest at the age of 16, having been on the books at the City Ground from the age of seven. He went on to join Lincoln City’s shadow scholar programme and signed his first professional contract with the club in March 2022.
After making his senior debut whilst on loan at non-league side Gainsborough Trinity in December 2021, the defender made the one and only appearance of his Lincoln career so far against Newcastle United under-21s in the EFL Trophy in October 2022. Loaned to Drogheda United for the 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division season, Ahui joined Ayr on loan in August 2023.
PREVIOUS MEETING
Rangers last met Ayr United in a Scottish League Cup quarter-final tie at Ibrox on 26 September 2018. Goals from Nikola Katic and Alfredo Morelos and a brace from Glenn Middleton saw Steven Gerrard’s Light Blues run out 4-0 winners in front of a crowd of 35,042.
Every issue has the best exclusive interviews and in-depth features, read more about what you can find in the Ayr United issue below:
Exclusive interview with Ridvan who is looking forward to an exciting 2024 with the Gers and talks about loving life in Glasgow with the Gers.
We step back in time with an interview with Quintin Young who reflects on his time at Somerset Park with Ayr before landing his dream move to Rangers.
A feature interview with Archie Knox who won three Scottish Cups with the Gers during the Nine In A Row era before moving to Old Trafford with Manchester United.
There's an in depth interview with new Women's Football Managing Director Donald Gillies as he speaks about the women's programme at the club.
Welcome message and update from CEO James Bisgrove
Philippe Clement's and Captain James Tavernier's programme notes
Full lowdown on Ayr United with our opposition focus, and match fast facts.
All this plus so much more can be found in 84-page issue, price just £4.
Programmes can be purchased pre-match at Ibrox Stadium from our sellers outside the stadium, at the bar in Edmiston House, within the Museum Store or at every kiosk inside the stadium, or online here.
TICKETING: There are still tickets remaining for tonights crucial clash with Aberdeen at Ibrox and you can pick up yours right HERE.