Mark Carrick

It’s been all go at Ayr Rugby Club with phase 1 of the Macdonald Legacy development underway on the 11^th of March. The main contractors, WH Malcolm have been busy on site, constructing a new barrier into the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum car park and installing safety fencing in the Museum grounds to keep the attraction safe for visitors. Tree surgeons have been busy removing trees and scrub from the footprint of the new access road which will connect Millbrae with Murdoch’s Lone.

Thursday the 4^th of April was a historic day for the club as a section of the red sandstone wall that separated Millbrae and the Burns Museum came crashing down with the help of a 14-tonne excavator. Within seconds the new opening was created marking a new dawn for the club. The proceedings were watched by Ron Lidell (Project Manager, Rydens), Brian Williamson (Chairman, Ayr Rugby Club), Alan Macdonald (Macdonald Legacy), and Walter Malcolm (Managing Director, WH Malcolm)

The ambitious plan to develop Millbrae as a sporting and community development is now a reality with phase 1 (New access road & car parking) and phase 2 (All-weather pitch and floodlighting) expected to be completed by November 2024. This will be followed by phase 3 which will include refurbishment and extension of the current clubhouse to make a new gym, café, studio and gender-neutral accessible changing facilities.

Brian Williamson, Ayr RFC Chairman said, “All of this has only been made possible by the funding provided by the Macdonald Legacy and the assistance given by the National Trust for Scotland and South Ayrshire Council. Together we have worked through complex negotiations to secure the necessary land and servitude rights to form the new access road from Murdoch’s Lone to Millbrae. This will be a game changer and make the facilities of Ayr Rugby Club accessible to all for generations to come.”

Alan Macdonald, who set up Macdonald Legacy in memory of his son Barry said, “This is a significant moment for Ayr Rugby Club and the wider community. I am delighted that work has started and would like to thank everybody who has helped us get to this point.”

We have successfully moved over 90% of our memberships to our Fanbase app. If you were still on one of our old platforms you will have received a notification saying all memberships are now on Fanbase. Please rejoin on the link below in your relevant category. Having everyone on one platform makes it easier for club administration and particularly the gate volunteers.

Link to our app:

https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Memberships?clubId=187

Ayr Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of David Beattie as Director. The opportunity was created by the recent resignation of Billy McHarg, who is still very much involved in the rugby side of the club.

It was identified that there was a requirement for an experienced business person, preferably with a sporting background to help direct Ayr Rugby Club’s commercial activities.

David Beattie has an impressive track record in business and sport. Since 1980, David has started and sold a number of companies in the food & drink sector including the Enterprise Food Group. David also served as Chairman of Partick Thistle football club for over 11 years, seeing off substantial debt and leading Partick Thistle into the 2013-14 Scottish Premiership.

David hopes to bring the benefit of his commercial and sporting experience to Ayr Rugby Club and assist the board in continued success both on and off the pitch.

Club Chairman, Brian Williamson, said “We are incredibly fortunate to have a person of David Beattie’s caliber join our board of Directors. David was responsible for bringing Glasgow Warriors to Partick Thistle’s ground, Firhill where they were based, from 2007 until 2012. David’s experience and network in both business and sport will be a great asset to the club.”

David moved to Alloway from Glasgow two years ago and has been a regular at club games ever since. A lover of all sport, David said “I actually prefer Rugby over Football as a sport, when I moved to Alloway it was a great bonus to have Millbrae on my doorstep. When I heard about the exciting developments that were happening around Ayr Rugby Club I knew I had to get involved. I am looking forward to helping the board of Directors with their vision for a self-sustaining sports and community facility.”

The Board of Directors

Brian Williamson (Chairman)

Drew Young (President)

Dave Wilkinson (Marketing/Digital Media)

Neil Reid (Finance)

David Beattie (Commercial)

We start our season on April 19th at 7:35pm at Millbrae vs the Stirling Wolves.

Link to tickets and Hospitality:

https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures/Index?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=187

After three tireless years of negotiation and planning the new road from Murdoch’s Loan to Millbrae is to become a reality.

With South Ayrshire Council discharging the final planning conditions this week, work is scheduled to commence on the 11^thof March if not before.

It will be business as usual at Millbrae with the clubhouse and 1^st XV pitch unaffected during this phase of construction.

Safety Fencing will be erected  between the 1^st XV and 2^nd XV pitch and will remain in place until the new access road, car parking and all-weather pitch are completed in late Autumn 2024.

Ayr Rugby Football Club, President, Brian Williamson, said,

“This is a momentous moment for our club and the wider community, by the end of this year we will have vastly improved access, an all-weather multi-use sports pitch and new low energy floodlighting. This has all been made possible by the generosity of the Macdonald Legacy in memory of Barry Macdonald and the unwavering support given by Alan Macdonald.”

The Project Team are now focusing on the plans for phase three which encompasses the clubhouse, café, gym, changing facilities and spectator stand.

Williamson added, “We will be in a position to reveal plans for phase three soon and will be organising events to raise the funds required to complete the project.”

If you would like to get involved please email info@ayrrugbyclub.co.uk

Ayr sporting groups got together last year to organise the 2023 Ayr Santa Dash which took place on Sunday the 17^th of December.

Working together, Ayr Rugby Club, Ayr United & Ayr Cricket Club encouraged their fanbase and the wider community to take part and raise money for local charities and organisations.

Despite the biblical rain, the dash was a great success with over two hundred Santa’s making the treacherous journey from Millbrae to Somerset Park.

The headline charities were The Ayrshire Hospice, Ayrshire Cancer Support and Whiteleys Retreat who benefited from a share of the entry money. Thanks goes to the event sponsor Shoot Soccer plus the many volunteers who marshalled the road crossings in terrible weather.

The organisers hope this year’s event will be even bigger with a return fixture from Somerset Park to Millbrae.

Ayr Rugby Club Chairman, Brian Williamson, said,

“In the last year, sporting clubs in Ayr have started working together to encourage community and togetherness. These fun events give people the ability to raise funds for what is important to them, be it a charity, a local organisation or a sporting group or team. The entry money raised £900 for the headline charities and over £10,000 was raised by runners for their charities. We were amazed and delighted by the turnout and intend to make it a bigger affair this year.”

Cheque presentations

Brian Williamson (Ayr Rugby Club)

Martin Tocker (Ayr United)

Ross Mitchell (Ayr Cricket Club)

Elaine Thomson (Ayrshire Hospice)

Nicola George (Ayrshire Cancer Support)

Gillian McNeilly (Whiteleys Retreat)

Walking Rugby takes place every Monday Morning at Dam Park Stadium:

Join us every Monday at 10 am for a revitalizing experience that combines fitness, camaraderie, and a good old-fashioned catch-up over tea and coffee! Our Walking Rugby sessions at Dam Park Stadium are designed for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or experience level.

Discover the joy of staying active in a friendly and inclusive environment where the emphasis is on fun and social interaction. Walking Rugby is the perfect way to stay fit and healthy while enjoying the game at a leisurely pace. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a complete beginner, you’re welcome to join our diverse community.

The beauty of Walking Rugby lies in its simplicity – it’s a low-impact, accessible version of the traditional game. You’ll experience the thrill of the sport without the intensity, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a different approach to exercise. Plus, the inclusive nature of the game ensures that everyone, regardless of their fitness level, can participate and enjoy the benefits.

After the invigorating session on the pitch, we invite you to join us for a delightful catch-up over tea and coffee. This post-game ritual is more than just a time for refreshments; it’s a chance to forge new friendships, share stories, and create lasting memories. Our vibrant community values the connections made off the pitch just as much as the action on it.

So, get on your kit and head to Dam Park Stadium every Monday at 10 am. Whether you’re looking for a new fitness routine, a social outlet, or simply a way to unwind, Walking Rugby has something for everyone. Embrace the camaraderie, enjoy the exercise, and relish the post-game chats with a warm cuppa in hand. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Walking Rugby family!

For more information or enquiries, email: info@ayrrugbyclub.co.uk

With the SRU announcement disbanding the Super Series it seems a good time to reflect on everything else happening at Ayr Rugby Club.

Preparation has started for the Ayrshire Bulls as they look to defend their Sprint title with the first game scheduled for the 19th of April. We have 4 home games to look forward to, 2 of which are being broadcast live.

As has been well documented our 1st XV completed the return to the Premiership and we are very excited to be back competing for the title we last won in 2019. Our ambition will, as always, be to win the title and be recognised as the top club in Scotland.

Key to the success of our 1st team is the depth of our second XV. Competition for selection has never been as good as it is and the 2nd XV are still pushing to gain promotion this season.

Our Ladies team is another success story with the play offs starting this Saturday away to Dundee as they push for promotion to the Premiership. The success of the Ladies team and number of players getting involved has allowed us to field a second team this season, for the first time ever.

The youth section at Ayr has always been vibrant for boys and girls and it continues to produce players challenging for representative honours at various age group levels. As part of our vision to further enhance our player development we are in the final stages of launching our SRU Accredited Youth Academy in conjunction with University of West of Scotland. This will be based at UWS Ayr campus and our newly acquired Dam Park Stadium.

It is also exciting to announce that the well documented major redevelopment of Millbrae is very close to starting and will ensure our ambition on and off the field is unparalleled.

The goal posts may have been moved again, but we remain focused on the progress of Ayr Rugby Club and the community around us.

The Six Nations begin this month and all games will be shown at our clubhouse at Millbrae, come and join us to support the lads!

CLUBHOUSE OPENING HOURS:

MONDAY: 5:00PM – 10:00PM

TUESDAY: CLOSED

WEDNESDAY: CLOSED

THURSDAY: 5:00PM – 10:00PM

FRIDAY: 5:00PM – 10:00PM

SATURDAY: 12:00PM – 00:00PM

SUNDAY: 12:00PM – 8:00PM