Somerset Park

Football stadium in Ayr, Scotland

Somerset Park (Scottish Gaelic: Pàirc Somerset) is a football stadium located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It has been the home of Scottish Championship team Ayr United since the club was founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr, who merged with Ayr Parkhouse to form Ayr United. The 10,185 capacity stadium was designed by renowned football stadium architect Archibald Leitch. After an impressive season in 2017–2018 by Ayr United, debate and discussion began regarding the possibility of Ayr United being promoted to the Scottish Premiership and whether Somerset Park would be eligible for Premiership matches. It was later confirmed that under current league requirements, Ayr United would be allowed to play matches at Somerset Park with minimal improvements to its facilities should they gain promotion to the SPFL Premiership, as the more stringent seating capacity regulations had been removed some years earlier. The Beresford Park clubhouse and grandstand were dismantled and reassembled at Somerset Park. Ayr Parkhouse, who played at Beresford Park, subsequently joined the league, but were also stuck in the Second Division. Four years later, the direction of the pitch was changed when the club built a new Main Stand. Despite this work on other Scottish grounds, Somerset Park was not developed, which meant that Ayr United could not be promoted to the Scottish Premier League. Barr had plans for an out of town stadium rejected by the Scottish Executive. Somerset Park was the first stadium in Britain to host the UEFA Women's Cup (now Champions League) in 2001. It staged the four club group of Ayr United Ladies, the 2000–01 SWFL champions.

In November 2006, Ayr United publicised plans to sell Somerset Park to housing developer Barratt Homes and move to a new purpose built stadium in the Heathfield area of Ayr. The new ground was planned to consist of a single stand of 3,650 seats, with the potential to add another 3,000 seat stand and a 1,000 capacity terrace, giving a total potential capacity of 7,650. South Ayrshire Council gave outline planning permission in January 2008. The credit crunch, which depressed housing values, also affected the proposal's viability. In 2018, it was confirmed that under current league requirements, Ayr United would be allowed to play matches at Somerset Park with minimal improvements to its facilities should they gain promotion to the SPFL Premiership, as the more stringent seating capacity regulations had been removed some years earlier.

Ayr railway station is approximately 20 minutes walk from Somerset Park. and upgrading the kitchen facilities. ", which replaced the traditional score board in its place.

The Railway End which now houses primarily away supporters but also home supporters from time to time, is a covered terrace opened in September 1933, following a £230 donation from the supporters club and £120 from the ladies supporters club.

Despite gaining planning permission, the club decided to abort the move to a new stadium in the Heathfield area of Ayr, so Ayr United remain at Somerset Park for the foreseeable future. In 2013, following the appointment of new director, Jim Kirkwood, whose company purchased the car park from the club in 2010, Kirkwood made proposals to the further development of Somerset Park,