Football’s silence is not golden
They say football without fans is nothing.
And if Saturday’s pre season return is anything to go by, the terraces can’t come alive soon enough.
Ayr’s 2- 0 defeat against Stirling at Somerset means nothing bar a fitness workout, of course.
But for those who witnessed the reality of the new norm, a testing time lies ahead in more ways than one.
United’s grand old ground has seen a lot in her lifetime.
On Saturday, the introduction of ‘ red’ and ‘ amber’ zones pointed the way for players and officials playing the safety game.
But up in the main stand press box, it was as if the last six months had never happened.
Until the referee’s first whistle. Watching football return in various leagues across Europe this summer, the lack of crowds has been an obvious negative.
To their credit, TV companies have done their bit with artificial stadium noise pumped into our living rooms. But there is no disguising the reality. And here at a game in person, that becomes a reality that none of us want in the long term.
For all that hearing the individual shouts of players and managers is interesting, nothing can or will replace the matchday atmosphere.
Far and above the financial implications for clubs, it is what players themselves feed off.
All young Ayr fans ( and some old for that matter!) dream of scoring in front of the Somerset Road End and celebrating in front of the packed shed.
One day that scene will return, and we can only hope is not too long in the distant future.
For on Saturday, Mark Kerr oversaw his players go through their first paces with only the seagulls for company.
On the pitch, new boy Tom Walsh showed flashes of what is to come with a first half full of promise as Ayr probed but ultimately couldn’t find the target.
Walsh twice went close in the opening half hour while Luke McCowan saw another two efforts saved.
Trialist keeper Viljami Sinisalo had little to do in his 45 minutes between the sticks bar push one header over.
With seven changes at half time, Ayr ultimately lacked fluency after the break and fell behind to a Jack Leith header on 50 minutes.
Midfielder Michael Paton, United’s other trialist on the day, saw a shot deflected wide before Michael Moffat shot over on 70 minutes.
And with the game winding down, young sub Ross Love notched an unfortunate own goal when turning to overhit a passback which flew past Ellis Hare- Reid and put a shine on the scoreline for Albion.
AYR: Trialist ( Hare- Reid 46); Hewitt, Bell ( Baird 46), Roscoe ( Muirhead 46), Reading ( Love 50); Chalmers ( Trialist 46), Murdoch ( Miller 46); McCowan ( Connor 60); Walsh ( Smith 46); Zanatta ( Bilham 60); McKenzie ( Moffat 46).