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2001/02
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The 2001/2002 season was the 105th season of Scottish league football.

It was one of the best seasons in the clubs history, reaching a major cup final for the first time in the league cup but lost Rangers but returned to Hampden Park within the week for a Scottish Cup semi final with Celtic as well as a credible third place finish in the First Division.

The greatest occasion in the history of the club occurred on 5th February 2002 in the League (CIS) Cup when an Eddie Annand penalty gave Ayr a 1-0 win over Hibernian and a place in the clubs first ever national Cup Final.  On St.Patrick’s Day 2002, 12,000 Ayr fans graced Hampden Park for a final clash against Rangers.  The Honest Men gave a good account of themselves before finally losing out to the multi million pound Ibrox side by 4-0.

Six days later, Ayr were back at Hampden Park, this time in the semi final of the Scottish Cup and again despite going down, this time to Celtic, it was not until late in the game that the Champions elect killed off United’s hopes.

Again United’s performance earned them much praise in the national media.  As the memory fades, many may look at the scorelines of the two games and reflect that Ayr were well beaten but their performances against the odds in both games was summed up by this quote from Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.

‘They were magnificent. They probably didn’t deserve to get beaten 4-0 last week and they most certainly didn’t deserve to get beaten 3-0 tonight.  Their Cup exploits have been extraordinary and it took three great goals to win this game’.

In the league however, Ayr were still a long way off promotion to the Premier League with their third place being 14 points behind promoted Partick Thistle.  Maybe United’s extensive cup exploits  mitigated against points for promotion, but few Ayr supporters would trade the cup runs. 

However, the club immediately plunged into a financial crisis and captain John Hughes led the exit of top players from the club.  The season was also notable for the demise of Airdrieonians whose last ever match was the match at Somerset Park on the last day of the season.

2001_02_Ayr_Utd_MATCH

Aidrieonians (a) 9 Feb 02

Aidrieonians (a) 9 Feb 02

Airdrieonians (a) 18 Aug 01

Airdrieonians (a) 18 Aug 01

Airdrieonians (a) 9 Feb 02

Airdrieonians (a) 9 Feb 02

Airdrieonians (h) 27 April 02

Airdrieonians (h) 27 April 02

Airdrieonians (h) 8 Dec 01

Airdrieonians (h) 8 Dec 01

Arbroath (a) 12 Jan 02

Arbroath (a) 12 Jan 02

Arbroath (a) 18 Sep 01

Arbroath (a) 18 Sep 01

Arbroath (h) 10 Nov 01

Arbroath (h) 10 Nov 01

Arbroath (h) 26 Mar 02

Arbroath (h) 26 Mar 02

Berwick Rangers (a) 21 Jul 01 FR

Berwick Rangers (a) 21 Jul 01 FR

Blackpool-Wigan (h) Jul 01 FR

Blackpool-Wigan (h) Jul 01 FR

Blyth (a) Darlington (n) 16-18 Jul 01 FR

Blyth (a) Darlington (n) 16-18 Jul 01 FR

Celtic (n) 23rd Mar 02 SC SF

Celtic (n) 23rd Mar 02 SC SF

Clyde (H) 19 Jan 02

Clyde (H) 19 Jan 02

Clyde (a) 1 Dec 01

Clyde (a) 1 Dec 01

Clyde (a) 30 Mar 02

Clyde (a) 30 Mar 02

Clyde (h) 23 Sep 01

Clyde (h) 23 Sep 01

Deveronvale (a) 5 Jan 02 SC3

Deveronvale (a) 5 Jan 02 SC3

Dundee United (a) 23 Feb 02 SC

Dundee United (a) 23 Feb 02 SC

Dundee United (h) 6 Mar 02 SC

Dundee United (h) 6 Mar 02 SC

Dunfermline Athletic (h) 26 Jan 02 SC

Dunfermline Athletic (h) 26 Jan 02 SC

Falkirk (a) 15 Dec 01

Falkirk (a) 15 Dec 01

Falkirk (a) 4 Aug 01

Falkirk (a) 4 Aug 01

Falkirk (h) 13 Apr 02

Falkirk (h) 13 Apr 02

Falkirk (h) 13 Oct 01

Falkirk (h) 13 Oct 01

Hibernian (n) 6 Feb 02 SLC SF

Hibernian (n) 6 Feb 02 SLC SF

Inverness C T (a) 2 Feb 02

Inverness C T (a) 2 Feb 02

Inverness C T (a) 29 Sep 01

Inverness C T (a) 29 Sep 01

Inverness C T (h) 24 Nov 01

Inverness C T (h) 24 Nov 01

Inverness C T (h) 28 Nov 01 LCQF

Inverness C T (h) 28 Nov 01 LCQF

Inverness C T (h) 6 Apr 02

Inverness C T (h) 6 Apr 02

Kilmarnock (h) 9 Oct 01 LC

Kilmarnock (h) 9 Oct 01 LC

Partick Thistle (a) 26 Dec 01

Partick Thistle (a) 26 Dec 01

Partick Thistle (a) 8 Sep 01

Partick Thistle (a) 8 Sep 01

Partick Thistle (h) 27 Oct 01

Partick Thistle (h) 27 Oct 01

Partick Thistle (h) 9 Mar 02

Partick Thistle (h) 9 Mar 02

Queens Park (a) 25 Jul 01

Queens Park (a) 25 Jul 01

Raith Rovers (a) 2 Mar 02

Raith Rovers (a) 2 Mar 02

Raith Rovers (a) 3 Nov 01

Raith Rovers (a) 3 Nov 01

Raith Rovers (h) 25 Aug 01

Raith Rovers (h) 25 Aug 01

Raith Rovers (h) 29 Dec 01

Raith Rovers (h) 29 Dec 01

Rangers (n) SLC Final 17th Mar 02

Rangers (n) SLC Final 17th Mar 02

Ross County (a) 20 Oct 01

Ross County (a) 20 Oct 01

Ross County (h) 11 Aug 01

Ross County (h) 11 Aug 01

Ross County (h) 16 Feb 02

Ross County (h) 16 Feb 02

St Mirren (a) 17 Nov 01

St Mirren (a) 17 Nov 01

St Mirren (a) 2 Apr 02

St Mirren (a) 2 Apr 02

St Mirren (a) 7 Aug  01 CC

St Mirren (a) 7 Aug  01 CC

St Mirren (h) 15 Sep 01

St Mirren (h) 15 Sep 01

St Mirren (h) 2 Jan 02 POST

St Mirren (h) 2 Jan 02 POST

St Mirren (h) 26 Feb 02

St Mirren (h) 26 Feb 02

Stranraer (a) 14 Aug 01 CC

Stranraer (a) 14 Aug 01 CC

Stranraer (h) 25 Sep 01 LC

Stranraer (h) 25 Sep 01 LC

Wigan teamsheet

Wigan teamsheet