Somerset Park
Encyclopedia
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 F.C.
. It currently has a capacity of 10,185 of which 1,597 is seated, making it one of the largest capacity stadiums outside of the Scottish Premier League
. The Somerset Road end is the second-largest enclosed terrace
in Scotland, after Palmerston Park
, the home of Queen of the South F.C.
in Dumfries
.
The ground's record attendance of 25,225 was set on 13 September 1969 in a match against Rangers
.
commissioned Somerset Park in 1888 as a replacement for Beresford Park owing to a need for a replacement venue for a friendly against then-FA Cup
winners Aston Villa
, as Beresford Park was being used for the Ayr Cattle Show at the time.
On 22 August 2008, Barratt Homes pulled out of the deal to purchase Somerset Park. Barratt's decision was based on South Ayrshire Council's proposed Section 75 planning agreements, which they cited as "unworkable".
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
It has been the home of Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
since they were founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr F.C.
Ayr F.C.
Ayr F.C. was a Scottish Football League club from Ayr, Scotland. They were formed in 1879 by a merger of the Ayr Thistle and Ayr Academical football clubs. Their initial home ground was Springvale Park, which they left in 1884 to play home fixtures at Beresford Park, which they in turn left in 1888...
. It currently has a capacity of 10,185 of which 1,597 is seated, making it one of the largest capacity stadiums outside of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. The Somerset Road end is the second-largest enclosed terrace
Terrace (stadium)
A terrace or terracing in sporting terms refers to the traditional standing area of a sports stadium, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
in Scotland, after Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park is a multi-purpose stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, south west Scotland. The site of the ground was formerly a farm called Palmers Toun. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith in Dumfries. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of...
, the home of Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
.
The ground's record attendance of 25,225 was set on 13 September 1969 in a match against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
History
Ayr F.C.Ayr F.C.
Ayr F.C. was a Scottish Football League club from Ayr, Scotland. They were formed in 1879 by a merger of the Ayr Thistle and Ayr Academical football clubs. Their initial home ground was Springvale Park, which they left in 1884 to play home fixtures at Beresford Park, which they in turn left in 1888...
commissioned Somerset Park in 1888 as a replacement for Beresford Park owing to a need for a replacement venue for a friendly against then-FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, as Beresford Park was being used for the Ayr Cattle Show at the time.
Recent events
Recently the club have announced plans to sell Somerset Park and move to a new purpose built stadium in the town's Heathfield District. The new location is planned to consist of a single stand stadium of 3,640 seats with the potential to add another 3,000-seat stand and a 1,000-capacity terrace, with a total potential capacity of 7,640.On 22 August 2008, Barratt Homes pulled out of the deal to purchase Somerset Park. Barratt's decision was based on South Ayrshire Council's proposed Section 75 planning agreements, which they cited as "unworkable".