Ayr United were formed in 1910 with the amalgamation of Scottish League sides Ayr Parkhouse and Ayr FC, who in turn had been formed by previous club mergers and began playing their home matches at Somerset Park, Ayr from the 1910/11 season.
Until 1994, when the Scottish League admitted an Inverness side to the league, Ayr United were the only Scottish League side to be formed as the result of a merger.
However, as the Inverness sides were an amalgamation of two non-league sides, Ayr United still remains as the only side to be the product of a merger of two former league sides.
Ayr United have the nickname 'The Honest Men' taken from the poetry of Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns, who came from Alloway, near Ayr. He wrote about
'Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a toon surpasses, for honest men and bonnie lasses'.
So with his poetry Ayr United’s nickname of ‘The Honest Men’ was born.
Above: Gordon Dalziels Ayr United side clinch the 1996/97 Second Division Title at Berwick on 10th May 1997
Reserve and Youth Teams Cup successes.
The Ayr United reserve and youth sides have also had their share of success.
Second XI Cup Winners
1939/40
Finalists 1927/28
Reserve League Champions
1971/72, 2001/02
Reserve League (West) Champions
1989/90, 1999/00
Scottish Youth League Champions
2000/01, 2001/02
Reserve League Cup Winners
1981/82
Finalists 2001/02
Scottish Youth Cup Finalists
2001/02
Below: Second Division league champions 1987/88 with manager Ally McLeod in May 1987
League Success- League Structures Since 2013
The Scottish League again re-organised in July 2013, after the Scottish Professional Football League was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League
Ayr United since then have dwelled in the Championship (secong tier) and League 1 (third tier)
League One Champions
2017/18
Runners Up
2015/16
Club Records
Ground capacity - 12,128.
Highest Attendance - The highest attendance at Somerset Park was recorded on 13th September 1969 when Rangers came visiting.
The crowd swelled to a massive 25,225 as young children and adults alike were forced to stand within the boundary wall around the ground. Ayr United won the match 2-1.
Such a crowd could never fit into Somerset Park again since the regulations changed which has reduced the ground capacity.
Record League Win -11-1 on 13th August 1952 v Dumbarton (Scottish League Cup).
Record Defeat - 9-0 on 28th February 1931 v Hearts (1st Division)
and on 4th December 1954 v Third Lanark ('B' Division).
League Success- League Structures prior to 2013
Ayr United have been blessed with league success, and have been lower divisional champions on a number of occassions.
Second Division Champions (Old Style)
1911/12, 1912/13, 1927/28,
1936/37, 1958/59, 1965/66
Runners Up (Old Style)
1910/11, 1955/56, 1968/69
Second Division Champions (New Style)
1987/88, 1996/97
Below: League 1 champions 2017/18
In the Championship winning side of 2017/18, Ayr United were the top scoring SPFL side in the country with 92 goals.