• Roy Aitken – Irvine-born footballer who made over 600 appearances for Celtic.
  • Andrew Auld – Stevenston-born footballer who played in the 1930 World Cup for the USA.
  • Jim Brown – Kilmarnock-born footballer who played for the USA national team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
  • George Burley – Cumnock-born footballer and manager, who played for and managed the Scottish national team.
  • Steve Clarke – Saltcoats-born football player and manager.
  • Thomas Clifford – Kilbirnie-born footballer who played for multiple teams (including Celtic and Motherwell) who was killed in France during WWI in 1917.
  • Duncan Currie – Kilwinning-born footballer who made 45 appearances for Hearts who was killed in France during WWI.
  • Jimmy Galt – Footballer from Saltcoats who went on to play for Rangers. Fought in WWI and survived the war.
  • Jimmy Gordon – Saltcoats-born footballer who made 388 appearances for Rangers.
  • George Hamilton – Footballer from Irvine who part of the 1954 FIFA World Cup squad for Scotland.
  • Bobby Lennox – Legendary Scottish footballer who played for Celtic and Scotland.
  • Lou Macari – Legendary former Celtic & Manchester United player.
  • Alan McInally – Footballer from Ayr who was part of the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad for Scotland.
  • Gordon McQueen – Footballer who played for St Mirren, Leeds & Manchester United. Inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
  • Charles William Miller – Brazilian-born son of John Miller (who was born in Fairlie), who introduced football to Brazil.
  • Steve Nicol – Footballer from Troon who was part of the 1986 FIFA World Cup Scotland squad.
  • Alex Parker – Footballer from Irvine who played for Scotland at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
  • Jemma Reekie – Olympic runner from Beith who has won gold at the U-20 & U-22 European Championships.
  • Jim Stewart – Footballer from Kilwinning who was part of Scotland’s 1974 FIFA World Cup squad.
  • William Wilton – Largs-born footballer who would become the first manager of Rangers and achieved a 100% league record and won multiple trophies.