Ayrshire teams prepare for season ahead

Ayrshire teams are continuing to prepare for the upcoming competitive season, and some have discovered who they will face in a national cup competition for the first time ever.

The preliminary round draw of the Men’s Scottish Cup was drawn last week which saw Whitletts Victoria and Scottish Amateur Cup winners Shortless learn of their opponents in their debuts in the competition.

Brian Reid’s Whitletts host East of Scotland League side Sauchie Juniors, whilst Colin Smith’s Shortlees face Dundee North End with questions still in the air of where the Kilmarnock side will play this fixture.

The pitch at Grange Academy has been Shortlees home over the years, but looks to be unfit for the upcoming encounter with the City of Discovery side with a nearby replacement venue to be confirmed in due course.

The Vics host their Clackmannanshire opponents at New Voluntary Park, which recently had a seated stand installed at the tail end of the last campaign, with all the preliminary round fixtures taking place on 2 August.

Kilmarnock will be hoping to improve on a bottom six finish in the Premiership as duo Neil McCann and Ayrshire man Billy Dodds put their touch on the squad, which rallied towards the end of the previous campaign.

The Rugby Park side had  Joe Hugill and Tyreece John-Jules flourish in front of goal despite a campaign that saw a 16-game winless run come together, and resulted in the dismissal of Stuart Kettlewell in December 2025 before McCann and Dodds’ arrival.

Signings of the likes of Rangers loanee Bailey Rice and winger Erik Ring from Lincoln City look to be bolstering the ranks in East Ayrshire.

Killie grabbed themselves a double-header of friendly victories in Northern Ireland against Glentoran and Linfield respectively in the past week.

Ayr United will be looking to better last season’s league position with new manager Gary Naysmith taking the reigns at Somerset after he led Stenhousemuir to Championship promotion success via the playoffs.

The former Scotland international was announced as the Honest Men’s latest boss towards the conclusion of the last campaign that saw John Rankin step in on an interim basis following the departure of Scott Brown.

With three pre-season wins under their belt against Glenafton, Dumbarton and Airdrie, Naysmith knows his players have to be ready for the upcoming Premier Sports Cup group games.

Speaking to club media following Saturday’s victory over Airdrie, he said: “We’ve done well to win against teams albeit from a lower level which you would expect us to win.

“In terms of out fitness, I’m quite happy about where we are but I know there is a few things we have to fine tune going into Saturday’s game.

“Against Stranraer, we have to be mindful that it will be a tricky opening game but we have to let them know we are a Championship team. I do have to be grateful though for what the players have given me so far.”

Ayr’s newest additions to the squad have included returning Hearts goalkeeper Harry Stone, Partick Thistle, and former Glenafton, midfielder Luke McBeth, and Peterhead striker Kieran Shanks.

Other Ayrshire football news has seen newly promoted sides to the Lowland League West learn their schedules for the upcoming season.

Double Premier Division and Scottish Communities Cup winners Auchinleck Talbot host Dalbeattie Star at Beechwood Park as rivals Cumnock face former SPFL side Albion Rovers on the opening day of 25 July .

Further fixtures include Stuart Davidson’s Largs Thistle host Cumbernauld Colts at Barrfields, League Cup winners Troon travelling to face Pollok, as Beith Juniors welcome Celtic B to North Ayrshire.