Arbroath and Ayr Light Up the Championship's Opening Night
The Scottish Championship is back, and with it comes all the beautifully chaotic charm that makes this league such a fan favourite. On Friday night, the season kicked off in classic style with Arbroath hosting Ayr United under the Friday night lights at Gayfield, and what a way to start—late drama, howling wind, and no shortage of passion on the pitch.
Now, Arbroath may be back in the Championship after a brief stint in League One, but don’t let their part-time status fool you. This is a club with a fighting spirit forged in the gusty air of the Angus coast. While Dick Campbell’s iconic reign has ended, his legacy still lingers. Two of his most trusted players from that unforgettable 2021-22 campaign—Colin Hamilton and David Gold—are now steering the ship as player-managers. And before the match kicked off, the Red Lichties proudly unfurled the League One title flag, reminding everyone of their ability to win when it matters.
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But survival in the Championship is a different beast, and Arbroath’s recent 1-0 loss to League Two side Forfar in the League Cup wasn’t exactly the most confidence-inspiring form heading into this game. Still, Gayfield has always had its quirks—especially when the wind is on full blast—and Friday’s draw showed they aren’t going to lie down quietly this season.
On the other side, Ayr United entered the match with high hopes—and rightly so. After a strong League Cup showing where they went four wins from four, including a 4-0 hammering of Arbroath, Scott Brown’s men were full of confidence. The Ayr boss, who had previously hinted at a possible exit after last season’s play-off heartbreak, now seems reinvigorated. With new signings like Dom Thomas, Kevin Holt and Shaun Want—who comes fresh from a successful European stint with Larne—there’s a real sense that this could be Ayr’s year.
Although Ayr looked the more dominant side on paper, Arbroath held firm and clawed their way to a late draw, showing grit that’ll be needed in spades this season.
And really, this is what the Scottish Championship is all about. It’s unpredictable, it’s passionate, and it thrives on moments like these—underdogs holding strong, big names finding their feet, and every match feeling like it could go any which way. With sides like Ross County, St Johnstone, and Dunfermline in the mix, it’s going to be one mad, beautiful ride. The soul of Scottish football has returned—and it’s as bonkers and brilliant as ever.
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