In early 1890, Ardrossan and its second eleven, Ardrossan Swifts, continued to be the major Ardrossan teams. Both went defunct and building work started on Seafield Park. Ardrossan Seafield played occasionally.

ARDROSSAN TEAMS MEET IRVINE TEAMS
It is said that Ardrossan goes to Cochrane Park tomorrow (4 January 1890) to try conclusions with Irvine and Irvine's seconds will have an engagement with the Swifts at Ardrossan.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3 January 1890

SALTCOATS VICTORIA SECOND ELEVEN 3 - ARDROSSAN SWIFTS 7
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3 January 1890
The score was included in a list of results without reports. The game was played on 28 December 1889.

ARDROSSAN 4 - GLASGOW BEARDSEN 1
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3 January 1890
The score was included in a list of results without reports. The game was played on 1 January 1890.

IRVINE 5 - ARDROSSAN 0
On Saturday afternoon (4 January 1890), towards the close of the second half in a football match between Irvine and Ardrossan Football Clubs, a young man named Henry, a member of the Ardrossan team, had his left leg broken about midway between the knee and the ankle. It appears that while his left foot was extended to stop a ball, an Irvine player came in contact. Henry's leg got a twist, and he fell. The bone snapped through, the sound being heard by people outside the ropes fifty yards distant. Splinters were extemporised from the boards of a fence by members of an ambulance class who were present, and Doctor Railey, who was called, found this first aid had been efficiently rendered. The game was stopped.
            Glasgow Herald, 6 January 1890

There is a discrepancy in the result of the Irvine-Ardrossan game in the reports above and below.

IRVINE 9 - ARDROSSAN 0
Irvine had Ardrossan as their guests at Cochrane Park last Saturday (4 January 1890) and, as expected, had a most decisive win. Last season, when these teams met at Ardrossan, the game resulted in a draw but with a somewhat changeable team, no-one could expect Ardrossan to play a similar game with their Irvine friends on this last occasion and the issue has therefore not in any way been disappointing. The game on the whole was a most friendly one, in the first half of which Irvine scored four points and in the second one winning by five to nil but the worst feature in the game was the serious accident which befell one of the Ardrossan players - the most prominent in the team - in the first half. He was in the act of endeavouring to take the ball from one of his opponents when he unfortunately twisted and broke his leg. No blame can be attributed to the Irvine player as the mishap was purely accidental and appeared to have been sustained very simply. This unfortunate occurrence, of course, stopped the game before time and cast a gloom among both players and spectators. Mr McEwan, one of the Irvine's backs, very ably attended to the injured player whose valuable services were highly commended on the arrival of Doctor Railey.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 January 1890

ARDROSSAN SWIFTS 1 - IRVINE 8
Irvine's second string visited (Seafield Park), Ardrossan (probably on 4 January 1890) while the Swifts tried conclusions with their often-successful rivals. The game in the first thirty was fairly well-contested and although Irvine did most of the pressing they could not score, their shooting being erratic. The Swifts, though pressed, showed a good defence against their heavy opponents and by clever work notched the only goal of this half ten minutes from the start. Ends being changed, Irvine equalised matters in five minutes and for the remainder of the game acted mainly on the offensive. Goal followed goal in rapid succession and when time was called the score stood Irvine 8, Ardrossan 1. Second Irvine, having more stamina than the Ardrossan Swifts, scored another 'Bannockburn' victory at Seafield Park. Being the better team, it was this which carried Irvine on to victory and with a little more combination and less hard kicking they should prove a good second. In the first part of the game, the Swifts showed better passing than their opponents and it was this good quality which enabled them to score the first and only goal of this half. Craig and Comrie at that point played a good part while the light back divisions also showed up well against the frequent attacks of the visitors.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 January 1890
This was Ardrossan (Ensign) Swifts final reported game.

ARDROSSAN SWIFTS 1 - QUEEN'S PARK VICTORIA ELEVEN 4
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 24 January 1890
The score was included in a list of results without reports. The game was probably played on 16 January 1890.

ARDROSSAN 2 - SALTCOATS VICTORIA 5
The meeting of Ardrossan and Saltcoats Victoria drew forth something like a record gate at Seafield Park (on 22 February 1890). As usual, partisanship was again a prominent feature in the game and by the issue of which Saltcoats have gained their heart's desire and it must be said very creditably too. On the last occasion when these clubs met at Saltcoats, Ardrossan won by two to one and with such a small win, the young Victoria had, no doubt, good hopes that they might yet succeed in conquering their too-often superior rivals. Since that last meeting, Ardrossan has only played one game which proved so disastrous to their dashing captain and which calamity seems to have affected the other members of the team so much so that they had apparently some difficulty in mustering a team for last Saturday and which, when it appeared on the field, was almost entirely a new setup, only two of the old team being present. On these grounds, it is not difficult to account for Ardrossan's defeat. Victoria, who has been playing hard this season, though not with that measure of success they would have liked had no material difficulty in winning the game as they did. There was nothing very remarkable in the play - suffice it to say that Victoria was decidedly the better of the two and being in prime condition they kept their opponents oftener on the qui vive that vice versa. Ardrossan attacked occasionally with great spirit and during the first half, their play was equal to the visitors but their attempts to score were always abortive. the Victoria's back divisions kicking in nice style. Victoria was the first to score from a swift shot while about ten minutes from the close of the first part, they registered a second. It now looked as if Ardrossan were in for a big drubbing but immediately they galloped off and before the whistle blew, they very cleverly drew level with their rivals two goals each. During the second part, play continued brisk and exciting while the spectators urged on to victory their own favourites. At one time Victoria would be defending and the next Ardrossan would be in the same position though the former were, if anything, having the best of matters. Victoria was again the first to draw blood in this half while the ground team's shooting was very indirect. Victoria still inclined to act on the offensive and after repeated tries, success again crowned their efforts with a fourth point which they supplemented with a fifth a few minutes later. Do as Ardrossan liked, they could not find an entrance for the ball though they had different chances to add to their score, their nearest being on that occasion when they propelled the leather against the sticks. Towards the close, Victoria wrought hard to increase their total but no more scoring took place and a well-contested game ended in a decisive win for Victoria by five to two.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28 February 1890

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON ARDROSSAN v SALTCOATS VICTORIA MATCH
Sir
The numerous spectators who witnessed the match last Saturday (22 February 1890) between those rival clubs Ardrossan and Saltcoats Victoria will agree with me in saying that the game was one of the sportiest played between these teams. Still the game was not played without some disagreeable events cropping up. The Victoria in one instance would not be ruled by the referee, a foul having been given against Ardrossan four yards from their goal-line, Ardrossan's umpire lifted the ball and brought it to where the foul had taken place but before either umpire or referee could clear out, a Victoria player shot the ball through. Even his own men were standing on the Ardrossan goal-line. The Victoria claimed a goal but the referee would not concede the point and being backed up by one of the umpires claiming that the Victoria take their foul. The ball being kicked through without being touched it did not count. Victoria now refused to proceed with he game and seeing this Ardrossan, rather than not have the game stopped, kicked off from the centre. Now, such conduct on the part of any team is most contemptible. Teams should remember that referees are there to give justice and the gentleman who performed the duty on Saturday showed great tact. Ardrossan now knows what it is to turn out an indifferent team, that of Saturday's being composed of young second eleven players and men picked up on the ground. The team which played some time ago for Ardrossan will only please.
Yours,
One Who Loves Fair Play
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28 February 1890

ARDROSSAN 2 - STEVENSTON THISTLE 2
The game between Stevenston Thistle and Ardrossan again drew forth a goodly gathering of spectators to Seafield Park last Saturday (1 March 1890). Owing perhaps to the poor show which Ardrossan made against the Thistle this season on Wandhouse, the game lacked excitement and the visitors were again regarded as likely to score another easy victory. Their performance, however, fell far short of what was anticipated which was to some extent due to the fact that they were not fully represented - Chalmers, Farrell, Monie, Steel and Houston being absent. Ardrossan, on the other hand, knowing well what they had to contend against, secured the services of three players hailing from Saltcoats Victoria - Hogarth, Anderson and Wyllie - each of whom, but especially the first two, made a creditable stand. For some time, play in the first half of the game was both quiet and uninteresting and although the Thistle were having the best of the fight yet the capital defence on the part of Anderson and Hogarth for Ardrossan kept the visitors from scoring and by their strong kicking, the ground team was enabled to make a series of raids on their opponents. For several minutes, the game progressed very evenly, each side fighting hard, though loosely, for every inch of ground they could claim. Not until fifteen minutes' play was anything definite accomplished when Muirhead scored the first point of the game for the Thistle. Little improvement was shown in the play during the next fifteen minutes during which Ardrossan made several close attacks on the visitors' charge but beyond this, their efforts were futile. After a little more promiscuous kicking on both sides, the Thistle again wrought down on the home goal when Garret, who was playing centre this half, scored the second point for the visitors with a swift shot at thirty minutes. At half time, there was no change in the score which was Thistle 2, Ardrossan 0. After resuming the second part, Ardrossan improved on their play and seemed to cope with their opponents with some success for a time. Attack followed attack and after working the ball down again on their right wing, it was centred and a rather soft goal resulted in favour of Ardrossan. Encouraged by this success, the home team strove hard to equalise and about twenty-five minutes, a shot was sent into Thomson, the Thistle's custodian which he repulsed but, being met by Alexander, that player nicley registered goal number two for Ardrossan. The teams were now on equal terms and each side went at it with a will to gain the lead. Bain, the home keeper, quite excelled himself and but for him and a steady back division, Thistle would doubtless have scored on several occasions before the finish. The last quarter of an hour was the most interesting part of the game and although Thistle now did most of the pressing, yet Ardrossan got away betimes on one of which occasions, Williamson looked as if he would gain the honour for Ardrossan but being met by Donnachie, who was playing back, both players came to grief and Williamson's effort was spoiled. Time after time, Ardrossan's goal was surrounded and seemed on the point of capitulating but on each occasion, Bain saved grandly. Thistle, no doubt, experienced hard lines but their efforts did not come off and time was announced with the game standing two goals each. The representations were: Ardrossan - Bain, Anderson, Hogarth, Preston, Robertson, Nicol, Wyllie, Duffin, Barclay, Alexander and Williamson. Thistle - Thomson, Reid, Haining, Lauchlan, Smith, Donnachie, Muirhead, Wilson, Garret, Frew and Strachan. Ardrossan played wonderfully well against Stevenston Thistle, in fact, better than was anticipated with a 'gather-up'. Those who showed up best for them were Bain, Hogarth, Anderson, Nicol, Wyllie, Duffin and Williamson. Alexander, however, did the scoring. Preston and Barclay played hard but Robertson was too dull. Instead of seven to one, the Thistle's first victory over Ardrossan, the Dynamitards had a narrow shave - true - but it was not the proper Thistle - no nor Ardrossan either. Garret in the first half was not in his usual element but he showed, after a change of ends, that it is the right wing he can play and throw in too. The half-back trio, Lauchlan, Smith and Donnachie are the strongest point in the Thistle's team though Reid at back kicked well and rather excelled his mate on the left, Haining. The front rank did not work well together, amongst whom Strachan and Frew did best in this respect. Wilson has lots of dash but less of it would be better. Muirhead is also a strong player.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7 March 1890

ARDROSSAN 1 - IRVINE 5
Five to one! - such was the issue of the game between Irvine and Ardrossan last week (15 March 1890) at Seafield Park. A strong wind prevailed throughout and play for the most part was confined to the leeward goal. Play in the first half was mainly in favour of Irvine, who, playing with four second eleven men - Baird, Ralston, Watt and Campbell being the absentees, scored on four occasions at scrimmaging play. Ardrossan who for some time back have been playing with a different team on almost every occasion got away at intervals to their opponents' end of the field but beyond these raids their stratagems were abortive. Ends being changed, Irvine showed up well against the wind, in fact, almost made the second part equally divided. In a short time, Morgan put through a fifth goal but the point was disallowed on the plea of offside. Subsequently, Ardrossan registered their first point while a few minutes later, Morgan again headed through a shot which was beyond dispute. Ardrossan played hard to increase their score but they failed to find an opening and were thus defeated as above. Irvine, with the wind in their favour, drove Ardrossan like chaff before the wind and it seemed to be the easiest possible thing to cross their line. The Cochranites might have been a little more charitable towards their less successful rivals. Every player, of course, was bent on scoring and had Irvine exercised a little more care, their score might have been larger. It was large enough, however, and Ardrossan, with several new players in their team, were no doubt much chagrined with the result of the game which was in no way exciting.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 21 March 1890

ARDROSSAN SWIFTS 1 - GLASGOW CORUNNA 3
The Ardrossan Swifts were not swift enough for the Glasgow Corunna at Seafield Park (on 22 March 1890). The visitors were the faster of the two and maintained the lead throughout. A game of little interest was played between these teams which was rendered very disagreeable owing to the inclemency of the weather. The Swifts played with the wind in their favour the first half but failed to notch a point while Corunna were more fortunate in that respect, scoring on different occasions. In the second part, the Swifts registered their first and only goal and the game ended in favour of Corunna by three to one.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28 March 1890

ARDROSSAN 2 - QUEEN'S PARK HAMPDEN ELEVEN 5
Ardrossan kicked off at Seafield Park (on 29 March 1890) against the wind and for the first ten minutes or so, play was well-divided, Ardrossan frequently breaking away against the breeze. At fifteen minutes, Hampden scored the first goal and continued to have the best of matters. They scored again at twenty-two minutes. At thirty-five minutes, the game stood four to zero in favour of the strangers and although Ardrossan made occasional runs to the other end of the field, they failed to find an entrance for the ball. Resuming the second part, Hampden opened best and acted mainly on the aggressive for fully five minutes when they were eventually rewarded with a fifth point. Ardrossan afterwards showed up better and for almost ten minutes, they pressed their opponents closely but failed to score until twenty-two minutes when Duffin notched number one for his side. Play became more open for some time afterwards and nothing definite resulted until the last five minutes when Greig headed through the second goal for Ardrossan, the game thus ending in favour of Hampden by five to two. It has been said that Ardrossan will shortly end their football season. Well, after last Saturday's result it is thought the sooner the better as expressions of disappointment at their repeated defeats are becoming very frequent. Last Saturday's defeat was just another to the number and proved the heaviest sustained at the hands of the Hampden this season. At the three games played with their Glasgow friends this year, two at Ardrossan and one at Glasgow, the Hampden XI have scored ten goals against four for Ardrossan. In the front rank on Saturday, Williamson, Duffin and Sloan excelled the right-wing pair Allan and Greig whose play has become very disappointing. Of the half-back trio, Nicol and Cunningham played very effectively. The former was perhaps the hardest worked player and had to put forth great exertions to keep Hampden's right wing in check, a task which was more than he could manage at all times. Cunningham, who made his first debut in the team, gave evidence of being a player of good parts. For a foul kick which he received from one of the visitors, he retaliated very smartly in the Sullivan fashion and to all appearance would have given his assailant more had he been allowed. Robertson, since last seen, showed improved kicking especially in the first half when he seemed for a time to excel his previous efforts. The backs, Preston and Raeburn, kicked fairly well throughout while Bain in goal has been seen to better advantage.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 4 April 1890

ARDROSSAN 2 - PARTICK THISTLE SWIFTS 2
Taking advantage of the Glasgow spring holiday, a team representing the Partick Thistle Swifts tried conclusions with Ardrossan on Monday evening (7 April 1890) at Seafield Park, Ardrossan. The game, which was the last of the season for Ardrossan, was very well-contested and ended in a draw, two goals each. The past season, as their records shows, has not been very successful for Ardrossan being the worst recorded for several years past. This is mainly due to the loss of players which very frequently proves a strong impediment against the success of any team and more especially those clubs which have few playing members to fall back upon. That Ardrossan has experienced these hard lines is too true and on that account, their record for this season can all the more readily be overlooked. However, let us hope that another year will see an improvement in these respects and that brighter days may be in store for the lads of Seafield Park. Following the custom of many other clubs, I hear that four-a-side football competitions are to be held shortly which will be the first of the kind ever held under the auspices of the Ardrossan club.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 11 April 1890
This was Ardrossan Football Club's last game and a reference to its closure was made in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald of 1 August 1890.

KILWINNING ATHLETIC SECOND ELEVEN 4 - ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 4
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 6 June 1890
The score was included in a list of results without reports. The game was played on 31 May 1890.
This was the first of only three Ardrossan Seafield games in 1890.

FORMER ARDROSSAN PLAYER IN SOUTH AFRICA
Football supporters in Ardrossan will be glad to hear that Mr George Stewart, for some time captain of the Ardrossan Ensign Football Club in its palmy days, is still an enthusiastic supporter and player of the manly game dear to all sons of Scotia. He took part in a match played on Saturday 28 June at Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa - Wanderers v Rangers, the semi-final for the Transvaal Association Cup. The Rangers won by four goals to nothing. Stewart, in his old position, right-wing, showed some of his old Ensign form, scoring the last goal after a fine combined run in which all the forwards took part. Stewart is one of the leading players in the Rangers team and takes an active part in all football matches. Mr Andrew Stewart, late of the Irvine team, also took part in the game playing back for the Rangers and through his splendid defence, the Wanderers had seldom a look-in. He also takes a leading place among the backs of South Africa for coolness and hard kicking. Good old Ayrshire! The Rangers' forward combination was the best that has been seen on the Rand for some time and for the half-back trio, Weir, McMillan and Cairns, it was really the best that has been seen in South Africa. The Rangers club is entirely made up of Scotchmen, having a membership of between thirty and forty. They are the favourites for the final tie and play either the Johannesburg Wasps or Pretoria in the final which is expected to come off about the end of the month. The match was played on the ground of the Wanderers, this club having the finest and largest pavilion and grandstand in South Africa together with a cricket ground, tennis and gymnastic courts and a grand bandstand. The Wanderers are the present holders of the cup and are the only premier club in the Transvaal. Messrs Stewart and McLean will be sorry to learn that building operations have been started on the Ensign's field and the club, up to the present, seems defunct.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 1 August 1890
The last sentence suggests that Ardrossan Football Club had gone out of existence.
George Stewart was mentioned in Ardrossan and Saltcoats Heralds of 19 August 1887 and 1 October 1897.

ARDROSSAN IN FIVE-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT
Last Saturday (16 August 1889), there was a five-a-side football tournament under the auspices of Stevenston Football Club. Ardrossan was beaten by Newmilns by three goals to nothing in the first round.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 22 August 1890
Despite Ardrossan Football Club being defunct, a few players may have got together to represent the town in this tournament.

KILWINNING CRUSADERS 2 - ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 6
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 17 October 1890
The score was included in a list of results without reports. The game was played on 11 October 1890.

SALTCOATS VICTORIA STROLLERS 3 - ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 2
This match was played at Brewery Park, Saltcoats (on 18 October 1890). The home team won the toss and after some give-and-take work, Haining scored the first goal for Ardrossan. Immediately after, Victoria equalised which they followed with a second. A second point was also scored in this half by Ardrossan but it was disallowed. During the second part, the Strollers scored one more and Haining added another for Seafield while Sinclair followed up with a third which was disallowed on the plea of offside. The game ended in favour of the Strollers by three to two. The Ardrossan Seafield youngsters think that notwithstanding Saturday's defeat, they could yet overcome the Saltcoats Strollers with Nicol in centre and Beveridge as centre-half.
            Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 24 October 1890