Ayr United first played Inverness Thistle as part of their long Highland tour in 1949. The visit to Kingsmills Park was the second of the tiring 6 match campaign but United nevertheless disposed of the Highlanders with a 3-0 win.

Thistle twice made the journey to Ayr on Scottish Cup business. The first occasion was on 11th January 1964 in the 1st Round of the Scottish Cup when United finally ran out 3-2 winners against a stuborn Inverness side.

The Highlanders were not so difficult a task for United on 3rd February 1973, this time in the 3rd Round of the Scottish Cup although the Inverness goalkeeper became the hero of the day by making some outstanding saves to thwart Ayr goal scoring machine in their 3-0 win.