The 1972/73 season was the 100th season of competitive football in Scotland and the 76th season of Scottish league football.
It was also a particularly memorable one for Ally McLeod’s Honest Men. Not just for another league triumph over Rangers --- this was almost becoming routine at Somerset Park -- but for one of Ayr's most determined bids to win the Scottish Cup. It was also Ayr,s first entry into a non-domestic cup competition - The Texaco Cup being paired with Newcastle United. 8,500 people saw Bobby Moncur return to Somerset Park with such as Malcolm McDonald to slog out a 0-0 draw at Somerset Park.
The second leg was notable for Jim McFadzean not being able to be released from his teaching duties and Drew Rogerson made his debut for Ayr in a match which Newcastle won by 2-0 to go through.
Having overcome lesser opposition in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup, Ayr travelled to face Partick Thistle in what was considered to be a tricky tie. They returned with a superb 5-1 victory under their belts and a place in the last four for the first time ever.
Over 50,000 spectators saw them tackle Rangers in the Hampden Park semi-final and a desperately close game was settled by two identical tussles between Ayr's Sanny McAnespie and Rangers striker Derek Parlane with the Ibrox man winning both duels to score the only goals of the game
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