Ally Macleod inspired a winning mentality at Ayr
It’s 43 years since Ayr United last beat Rangers at Somerset Park.
The Honest Men would love to repeat the feat when they take on the Ibrox men in the Scottish Cup this afternoon.
Their supporters will take some encouragement from the team’s ability in front of goal this season.
Ayr have hit the net 64 times, and are the top scorers in League One by some considerable distance.
They had a free-scoring team when they thrashed the Gers 3-0 during the first season of the Premier Division in 1975.
Gerry Phillips was the youngest member of an exciting and courageous forward line.
But their inspiration came from ebullient manager Ally Macleod.
The tales of his over-the-top wit and wisdom are legendary, but winning was everything to Ally – as Gerry found out on his top-team debut.
He recalled: “I played my first match for Ayr United on New Year’s Day, 1975.
“It was a local derby against Kilmarnock, so it was quite an occasion for an 18-year-old who’d been playing junior football with Cumnock just a few months before.
“Ally took us to hotel in Girvan the night before the game.
“But there were no Hogmanay celebrations for me. Ally sent all of the younger players to their bed before midnight.
“It was one New Year where I wasn’t up for the bells. But it was the ideal preparation for a big match. We won 3-2 and I scored the winning goal. “What a start to my time at Somerset Park.” Results like that secured Ayr’s place in the new 10-team top flight.
Beating Rangers three months into the new season showed they deserved their place.
Victories over the Old Firm weren’t a once-ina-generation experience back then, but many felt this was one of Ayr United’s greatest-ever performances.
Gerry went on: “Ally Macleod created a fantastic atmosphere at the club. Everyone felt involved in things.
“He didn’t believe in splitting the players into first team and reserves.
“We all trained together, and if there wasn’t a reserve match on a Saturday, then everyone was told to report to the ground.
“Those not picked in the team would stay and support the club.
“When I started playing, I was up front with Alex Ingram and Davie Mcculloch – two fantastic players.
“I learnt so much alongside an experienced man like Alex. He was incredibly brave. He would put his head in where others would be scared to put their boot.
“Beating Rangers at home in front of 18,000 fans was something special.
“We were 2-0 up at half-time, but that wouldn’t be enough for Ally.
“He wanted us to go out and get more goals. “I remember a game up at Dunfermline where we were behind at half-time.
“Ally told us we shouldn’t think about coming back in after the match if we were still losing.
“He knew we would then go out and bust a gut to get back on level terms.
“The current Ayr team have good forwards, but we also had some really good defenders like John Murphy, Sanny Mcanespie, Rikki Fleming and Davie Wells.”
Gerry, who was born in England while his dad played for Cheltenham Town, left Ayr for Queen of the South in 1979 when Willie Mclean took over as manager.
His next senior club was Hamilton Accies, where he spent five seasons and was managed by another great character, John Lambie.
Gerry retired at the end of last year after 36 years as a PE teacher at Kyle Academy in Ayr, and is back coaching with Cumnock Juniors.