Having taken ownership of Dam Park Stadium in September, the Directors of Ayr Rugby Club have been busy preparing the site for use. Having been poorly maintained for some time the club been clearing the site, tidying the grounds and preparing the grass park for Rugby. This involves increasing the size of the existing football pitch which has meant removing some of the athletics facilities including the long jump, pole vault, shot put and hammer/discuss throwing cage. The athletics track however remains and will be used for training.
Last month we put out an appeal to find a new home for the 30ft high Hammer & Discuss throwing safety cage which had been dismantled and left lying for a couple of years. After research from our Chairman and intrepid historian, Brian Williamson it was uncovered that this was no ordinary throwing cage but the actual equipment used by world class athletes in the 2012 London Olympic Games and
2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. It ended up at Dam Park in 2015 as part of the Commonwealth Games Legacy. It is looking likely that it is going to be rescued and restored by the Scottish Athletics organisation.
This month we are launching a new appeal to find a home for the iconic Dam Park goalposts. Not only has the Dam Park football pitch been home to countless junior cup battles and cup finals, but it also hosted an interesting charity match which took place in the mid’ seventies between the Scotland and England “old crocks.” Organised by local legend Johnny Hubbard, the team list featured England World Cup winners Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks and Billy McNeill, Jim Baxter and John Greig for Scotland. As a last-minute stand-in George McLean of Ayr was replaced by the “Maggie May” singing sensation Rod Stewart who had to be smuggled in a side entrance in a plumbers van. Unfortunately, the Scottish Football Association had forgotten to supply strips for the match and a hurried last-minute call to Ibrox resulted in the Rangers first team kit of the day being delivered in time for the kick-off. Eyebrows were raised as Billy McNeill and Rod Stewart ran out at Dam Park wearing the famous blue Rangers strip.
If you are a community club or organisation who would like to be considered to receive the Dam Park football posts please email media@ayrrugbyclub.co.uk
