Directors

Allan Gunning – Chair

Allan is a local man and Ayr United season ticket holder.As a lad he was one of the supporters who sat on the track around the pitch when Ayr United beat Rangers 2-1 in 1969, in front of a Somerset record attendance of 25,225.

He attended Newtonhead Primary and Ayr Academy.

After completing research and tutoring at university, Allan joined the UK Parliament’s Exchequer and Audit department and then the National Audit Office where he qualified as an accountant. He also worked in the NHS, mainly in Board appointments at Director and Chief Executive level, before retiring recently.

He has chaired a wide range of national and local initiatives including the Scottish School of Primary Care’s Strategy Board (SSPC is a research collaboration of various Scottish universities). He has also served as a Director on the Boards of several local charities.

He joined the Academy Board in 2015 becoming Chair in January 2018.
He has led a review of AUFA’s business planning and performance management arrangements and oversaw United’s preparation and application for inclusion in the SFA’s new Club Academy Scotland regime (Project Brave).

Graham Peterkin

Graham is an Independent Director on the Academy Board and a long standing Ayr United season ticket holder.

Prior to retiring from full-time employment as a solicitor he was formerly an Executive Director and Deputy Chief Executive with South Ayrshire Council. He is currently a Board Member of Ayr Gaiety Partnership Ltd and a Court Member of University of the West of Scotland.

Phil White

David Smith

David is very much a proud Ayrshire man having grown up in Girvan and has stayed in and around Ayr for over 30 years. He is the Chairman and owner of Ayr United Football Club and has been coming to Somerset Park to support Ayr United for almost 50 years. Since 2021, David has led on the evolution of the football club in terms of people and fabric infrastructure together with the increased activity in the local community.

He has a number of business interests including chairman and owner of Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd, a local construction and development company.

David has had a number of wider role positions within the local community including being on the board of Ayr Renaissance, Chair of DYW Ayrshire and is currently chair of the Pride in Place Board looking at the regeneration of Ayr town centre and beyond.

Callum Yorke

Callum, born in Ayr, runs his own successful independent financial advice firm Goldstone Wealth Management in Ayrshire and has over 35 years experience in banking and financial services. 

He is a Chartered Financial Planner and holds qualifications in Accounting, Economics & complex financial planning areas including trusts, inheritance tax planning, taxation and providing retirement planning strategies to clients.

Callum has used his business and relationship management skills throughout the year in support of Ayr United and the communities he has lived in. 

A current season ticket holder Callum has attended Ayr United games home and away for over 50 years.

A founder member, Chairman and Project Coordinator, of the Honest Men Trust Community Initiative (THMT), formed in 2003, this organisation would be the driving force behind building partnerships to set up the Ayr United Football Academy in 2005. 

One of the sole purposes of setting up THMT was to once again put Ayr United at the heart of the community and rebuild grassroots football in Ayrshire. Callum served  previously as a Director on the Ayr United Football Academy, on behalf of THMT, between 2010-2012.

Outwith football Callum was also responsible for coordinating and delivering community Gala and organised Firework events in the village of Dalrymple after a 20 year absence in the village. The planning blueprint of these events was shared with other villages in Ayrshire who now run these similar events annually.

On his return Callum plans to bring the knowledge, experience and expertise he has gained, over the years, to benefit the Ayr United Football Academy as they move forward into their 20th anniversary and beyond.

Stuart Millar

Stuart Millar is Director of Industry Programmes at Ayrshire College. He has responsibility for the College’s offer for Ayrshire’s businesses which includes courses to develop the skills of the current workforce and the Modern Apprenticeship programme.

Stuart hails from Maybole and, after a number of years living and working in Glasgow, has relocated back there. A keen footballer and Ayr United fan since he was young, he has great memories of Saturday afternoons behind the goal at the Somerset Road end, particularly a certain Andy Walker penalty. With two young children, he unfortunately doesn’t get to watch the team as much as he’d like these days.

A keen Burnsian, Stuart is also a committee member of the Carrick Burns Club.

Mark Inglis

Mark is Director for the South Ayrhire Health and Social Care Partnership. Prior to this he was Head of Service for Children’s Health Care and Adult Justice Services in South Ayrshire and worked in North Ayrshire for 20 years within Children and Justice services in various roles until he joined South Ayrshire on 2019.

Although originally an East Coaster, (from Kirriemuir), Mark has lived in Troon with his wife and Four Children for over 30 years, where he also has a leadership role in Seagate Church and the Meadowgreen community church.

He is a keen sportsman (until his knee gave in), playing football in Ayrshire, and also coaching Troon Thistle and Prestwick Community FC along side David Smith!!

Most recently due to his son’s involvement, he is a regular supporter at Marr Rugby and although he loves it, doesn’t fully understand the rules and still has football as his first love. 

Brian Connolly

Brian is a born and bred Maybole man and sports fanatic. Having completed his education at Queen Margaret Academy he attended Strathclyde University and spent 20 years in the RAF before returning to Maybole.

Brian’s cv includes a tour as a Nimrod captain, Flight Commander and Entry Training Officer at RAF College Cranwell, completing his career when he spent 4 years seconded to the US Navy in Norfolk Virginia.  On completion he returned to South Ayrshire, finally settling back in his home town.

He is an Independent Councillor for North Carrick and is the Council’s representative on the Board.  Having retired from playing in his early forties he took up refereeing for the next 10 years and can now be seen every Saturday enjoying a football match somewhere on the west coast.

Brian owns 2 fuel stations in Ayrshire and continued his education by completing an MBA and hopes to be able to offer something to the Board, in addition to the Council’s full support.   

Lorraine Stobie

Retired Head of Southcraig School in South Ayrshire
Lorraine worked for South Ayrshire Council for more than 40 years where she spent the majority of that time as Head of Southcraig School providing education and care for children and young people with complex additional support needs.

She feels passionate about inclusion and developing opportunities for children and young people within the community and supporting families in the care of their children. In 2014 Lorraine was honoured to receive an OBE for services to children with special needs.

Kevin Gribben