First Gretna League Match

Last updated : 13 August 2005 By Honestman

Fifty five years after they eloped into English football, Gretna FC came ‘home’ to Scotland in season 2002/03 and rejoined Scottish football by being elected to the Scottish third division to replace the defunct Airdrieonians.

Ayr United and Gretna were not in the same division when the Borders side entered the league and so there have been no league matches between the clubs to date. However, Gretna’s promotion to Division 2 at the end of season 2004/05 co-incided with United’s relegation to the same division, and so the clubs will at last play their first ever league match on Saturday 27th August 2005 when Ayr travel to the border town.

However, United did play a friendly against Gretna at Ryedale Park on 15th August 1983. Alan McInally, Derek Frye and Alan Smart, who got two, scored in a 4-1 win over the then non-league side.

The programme for that day was a one sided sheet of paper with the two teams and some forthcoming fixtures. Lets hope for better when they begin to play their Scottish League games.