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Easy Passage at Hampden Park
 Going to Hampden Park, Glasgow is regarded by most as the pinacle of a successful season. However, it is true to say that the lower division clubs in Scotland probably see more of it than any in the premier league - if only because they play Queen's Park, owners of Scotland's premier stadium, in league games. Ayr United over the years have played their often enough, often to meagre crowds small enough to barely fill one small section of Hampden.
Ayr have played some interesting and historic games at Queen's Park but non more so than on 31st October 1953 - it was the 50th Anniversary of the national stadium. The occassion was celebrated only by a routine ‘B; division match against Ayr who paid little attention to the history. Jim Fraser and Gordon Finnie shared the goals in Ayr's 4-2 win. The match programme - opposite - was regarded as a truly wonderful programme. Only 4,000 fans turned up to watch, but in that crowd were the only four survivors of the 22 who had played in that first match at  Hampden Park 50 years earlier.
When Ayr turned up for the match at Hampden on 24th January 1959 for a 2nd division match they had three McIntyre's in their line up. Alastair and Willie were already regulars when George, a trialist from Kirkintilloch, took the field. Alastair scored twice in Ayr's 4-0 win and George signed on the dotted line after the game.
45 years later Ayr were again present at Hampden Park, itself having had a major re-fit. The occasion was a Scottish League Cup tie and an almost deserted Hampden saw Ayr win 3-1 on 1st August 1998.
Ayr’s last match against Queen’s Park on the hallowed turf was a pre-season friendly played on 25th July 2001 which the Honest Men won 3-0.
 Season 2007/08 saw the clubs on Division Two league business. The newly promoted Spiders beat United on 11th August 2007 by 3-2 in front of 1,265 fans. Michael Moore thought he had gien Ayr a point after scoring in 84 minutes but United ailed to clear their lies and allowed Queen’s a 90th minute winner.
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