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Manchester City

Last updated : 15 January 2007 By Honestman
Bob Hepburn was one of Ayr United's best known goalkeepers and it was fitting, therefore, that the Honest Men attracted a top English team to play a testimonial for him.  Manchester City agreed to come along to Somerset Park on 19th September 1934 and thereby became the first English club that Ayr United had played.

City were FA cup holders when they arrived for the second time in their history to play at Somerset Park - the first being in 1903 when they played Ayr United's predecessors, Ayr FC. The English side had such men as Frank Swift and Matt Busby.

Former Ayr Parkhouse player Alex Bell was also City's trainer. Alas Alex died a few weeks later on 1st December 1934.

The Ayr United team was Hepburn, Taylor, Ure, A McCall, Currie, Holland, Mair, Brae, McGibbons, Fisher and T McCall. City fielded Swift, Dale, Barkas, Busby, Percival, Bray, Toseland, Marshall, Heale, Herd and McLuckie.

By the time that Terry McGibbons headed past the City goalkeeper Swift it was already 4-0 to Manchester City. Naturally Matt Busby was on top form and a local writer discribed him as Scotland's best right half.

4-1 to the blue half of Manchester was he final score and no programme produced.