Long Wait for the First Win!

The first match between the two sides was a 2nd Division match held on 10th December 1910 at Ayr and United recorded a superb 5-1 win.

Things didn’t go so well when Ayr United played their first ever game at St Bernards home ground - The Gymnasium Ground - on 7th January 1911 as this ended in a disappointing 4-1 defeat.

Ayr's second season in the league - and their second visit to The Gymnasium Ground resulted in a much better 2-2 draw with Ayr already having won 3-2 at Somerset Park n 1st January 1912.

Season 1912/13 should have produced a better result in Ayr's promotion winning year but the breakthrough was not to come and a 3-0 defeat on 22nd March 1913 was not particularly inspiring although it did balance up Ayr’s 3-0 New Year win that season.

St Bernards were not promoted that season but the clubs met again on 21st February 1914 in a friendly match which ended in a 4-1 win for Ayr at Beresford Park.

Due to Ayr's longevity in Scotland's top flight these two clubs did not play again until 13th January 1926 when United at last broke their duck at the Gymnasium Ground. A 2-1 win was recorded bettered the following season by a 4-2 win to the Honest Men on 26th February 1927. United had clearly got to grips with this winning habit and recorded their hat trick of victories on the trot on on Xmas eve 1927 - a 4-0 win. What a happy Xmas down Somerset Road way that year. It also heralded promotion once again for United.

Ayr's next visit was on 28th November 1936 for which the programme cover is shown above. A resounding 5-2 win continued our winning streak away to St Bernards.

This, sadly was Ayr's last ever visit to the Gymnasium Ground as St Bernards did not re-emerge in senior Scottish football after the war.