Super Stevo and Bobo did United proud
Prize pair were Ayr play- off heroes
Ryan Stevenson fired Ayr into the First Division with a play- off winning strike that crushed the Diamonds.
And while Stevo was a huge player in FOUR stints at Somerset, Robert Reilly insists unsung hero Martyn Campbell was equally as vital.
Reilly signed both of them and was delighted to see the pair play leading roles as Ayr beat Airdrie in the 2008- 09 promotion play- offs.
A Paul Di Giacomo strike and a Scott Walker OG gave Kenny Black’s men a half- time lead in the first leg at Somerset. But a Mark Roberts double left all to play for in the return at the Excelsior Stadium.
A huge Ayr support filled the visitors’ stand on May 24, 2009 and they were in euphoria after 29 minutes.
Stevenson, now in his third spell at Troon at 36, collected the ball at the edge of the box and curled a sweet shot into the bottom corner.
That proved the winner and Brian Reid’s men easily dealt with Airdrie’s long ball approach which rarely troubled Stephen Grindlay to see out the tie and win 3- 2 on aggregate.
Reilly, 60, recalls: “I knew all about Stevo and was delighted to get him to Ayr from St Johnstone while I had played against big Martyn when he was at Kello and I was at Irvine Meadow.
“I remember going to Martyn’s parents’ house on a Saturday night and persuading him to join Meadow. Dennis Gray had been desperate to sign him for his home town Auchinleck.
“I then took him to Ayr for £ 50 a week and he was immense in 11 seasons. Bobo was an out and out defender.
“Just like Willie Miller, you wouldn’t ask him to pass the ball 10 yards but he could handle himself against top strikers and not give them a sniff.
“He was hampered by injuries but would often just play through them such was his dedication.”
Martyn, 39, started out with Kingsmead and Valspar before joining Tarff Rovers and then Kello. He arrived at Ayr in 2005 from Meadow as Reilly and Robert Connor had to work with a heavily reduced budget.
Bobo was signed along with Chris Strain ( Troon), Ian Cashmore ( Kilwinning), Raymond Logan ( Pollok), Paul Hyslop and Eric Phillips ( Auchinleck), Chris Robertson and Ryan Caddis ( Hurlford) and Andy Essler ( Maryhill).
He made his debut in a 2- 0 win over Dumbarton in August 2005 and lists two promotions as the highlight of his career.
Season 2008- 09 was by far Martyn’s most successful. He made 37 appearances and scored his first competitive goal in a 3- 0 win away to Arbroath en route to their play- off success.
In 2010- 11, Martyn savoured play- off success for the second time as Ayr beat Brechin 3- 2 on aggregate to reclaim their place in the First Division.
He was rewarded with a testimonial against Coleraine when he lined up with elder brother Mark for the first time.
Martyn quipped: “We played and scored AGAINST each other so it was novel to be playing in the same team as Mark.
“Mark scored for Raith when I was playing for Ayr but I bagged an extra- time winner against Queen of the South when he was supposed to be picking me up. I let him know about it later.
“Injuries were difficult but thanks to the support of my amazing wife, various physios and my belief that I would always get back fitter and stronger, I fought back hard every time.”
After 203 appearances, he joined Kilwinning in January 2016 before hanging up his boots.
I took Bobo to Ayr for £ 50 a week and he was immense in 11 seasons - an out and out defender