Airdrieonians F.C. (1878)

For the current club, see Airdrieonians F.C..

Airdrieonians

information at time of demise

Full name

Airdrieonians Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Diamonds
The Waysiders

Founded

1878 as Excelsior F.C.

Dissolved

2002

Ground

Excelsior Stadium
Airdrie, Lanarkshire

Capacity

10,171

League

Scottish First Division

2001–02

Scottish First Division, 2nd

Home colours

Away colours

Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire.

The club became defunct at the end of the Scottish Football League 2001–02 season, despite the team finishing as runners-up in the SFL First Division to Partick Thistle and therefore only narrowly missing out on promotion to the Scottish Premier League.

During their 124-year existence the "Diamonds", as they were nicknamed, won the old Scottish Division Two three times, the Spring Cup once and the Scottish Challenge Cup on three occasions. The club also competed in four separate Scottish Cup finals; winning the competition in 1924.

Airdrieonians were the first club in the Scottish League to fold since 1967, when Third Lanark went bankrupt.

History

Formation and early years

The team was founded in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire in 1878 as Excelsior Football Club, changing its name to Airdrieonians in 1881. It was elected to the Scottish Football League in 1894.^[1]

The club enjoyed its most successful era in the 1920s, following the signing of Hughie Gallacher from Queen of the South in 1921. Airdrie challenged the dominance of Rangers,^[2] as they finished in second place in the Scottish League championship four years in a row between 1923 and 1926 and won the Scottish Cup in 1924. Following this victory, in early summer 1925, the club visited Norway and Sweden, and made a big impression. Translations of local newspaper reports, and some photographs of the tour, are still available.^[3] This successful era came to an end after Gallacher and Bob McPhail were sold to Newcastle United and Rangers respectively.^[2]

Post war era and beyond

Airdrie spent much of the post war era "yo-yoing" between the top flight and Second Division. Airdrie entered the first Texaco Cup competition in 1970–71,^[4] defeating Nottingham Forest in the first round.^[5] That tie was decided by a penalty shootout and Airdrie became the first Scottish club to be involved in that method of deciding a contest.^[5] Airdrie reached the Texaco Cup Final in 1972, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Derby County. They also reached the 1975 Scottish Cup Final, losing 3–1 to Celtic. After the leagues were restructured in 1975, a competition called the Spring Cup was instituted for the teams in the lower divisions.^[6] Airdrie won this competition in 1976, but it was discontinued after one season as clubs preferred to play additional league games instead.^[6]

Alex MacDonald era

Airdrieonians compete in the 1995 Scottish Cup Final.

During the 1990s, with Alex MacDonald at the helm, Airdrie worked their way into the Premier Division in the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons, were regularly considered challengers for promotion and recognised as one of the bigger clubs in First Division.

MacDonald also guided the Diamonds to two Scottish Cup Finals. The first appearance coming on 9 May 1992 when the club faced Rangers in front of 44,045 strong crowd at Hampden Park. Unfortunately for Airdrie on this occasion however, a goal each from Mark Hateley and Ally McCoist earned the blue half of Glasgow a 2–1 victory.

Although Airdrie lost in the 1992 Scottish Cup Final they had already qualified for the 1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup, as Rangers had also won the Scottish league championship in 1992. Airdrie were drawn against Czech side Sparta Prague in the first round. Airdrie lost 1–0 at Broomfield and 2–1 in Prague, losing 3–1 on aggregate. Kenny Black, who later went on to become manager of Airdrie United, scored the only Airdrie goal.

Airdrie also reached the 1995 Scottish Cup Final, where they faced the other half of the Old Firm, Celtic. Airdrie would once again fall at the final hurdle, as they lost 1–0 to a Pierre van Hooijdonk goal. Airdrie also won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1994–95.

Stadium problems

Airdrie sold their Broomfield home to Safeway in 1994, but had to groundshare with Clyde at Broadwood Stadium for four years until the Excelsior Stadium was opened. It is arguably this stadium re-location and the difficulties generated by it that was Airdrie's first step towards oblivion. The mismanagement of the entire situation by the club's board, as well as North Lanarkshire Council's lengthy delay in granting planning permission caused Airdrieonians financial situation to reach critical level. This was not helped by the low attendances at Excelsior Stadium following the completion of the move which, was connected to the quality of football on display due to the lack of funds available to be spent on the team.

The demise of Airdrieonians was personified by the sudden and unexpected death of Joey Rowan, the club's sole remaining director. Rowan had a long and intimate association with the club and was son-in-law and advisor to Airdrieonians long term benefactor Jack Dalziel (recognised by having the main stand named after him). Rowan, already a popular figure with the club's supporters due to his passion, candour and trademark ponytail, gained even more respect by remaining with Airdrieonians and incurring substantial personal losses whilst trying to steer the club away from liquidation despite the fact that the rest of the board had resigned amid finger-pointing and acrimony in an attempt to avoid reproach and financial liabilities. He is considered the club's last great hero for his selfless sacrifice and unyielding loyalty.

Liquidation

In February 2000, KPMG were appointed as provisional liquidators of Airdrieonians.^[7] This move came soon after Rangers chairman David Murray had applied for a court order to seize some of Airdrie's revenue in lieu of funds owed to another of his companies.^[7] KPMG and the board hoped more private investment would be made in the club.^[7] Most of the playing staff were made redundant at the end of the 1999–2000 season.^[8] Steve Archibald put forth a bid for the club and during the 2000–01 season he brought in many foreign players, including David Fernández, Jesus Sanjuán, Antonio Calderón and Javier Sánchez Broto, that became popular with the fans^[9] and won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2000. KPMG terminated their management deal with Archibald in February 2001,^[10] stating that Archibald had not kept up to date with payment of fees.^[11] After difficulty fulfilling their fixtures, Airdrie narrowly avoided relegation to the Second Division.

Despite the obvious financial problems, Ian McCall managed to build a new Airdrie team and retained the Scottish Challenge Cup.^[12] The club also performed well in the 2001–02 Scottish First Division and chased promotion to the Scottish Premier League. A run of only two victories in the last 14 games, however, meant that Partick Thistle won the First Division and the promotion place. The final match played by Airdrieonians was an away game against Ayr United at Somerset Park on 27 April.^[13] The match was abandoned by the referee after a crossbar was broken during a pitch invasion by Airdrie fans, who were protesting against the Ayr United owner Bill Barr.^[13] His Barr Construction company had built the Excelsior Stadium and became one of the major creditors of Airdrie.^[13]

After Airdrieonians went out of business on 1 May 2002, local accountant Jim Ballantyne attempted to gain entry to the Scottish Football League (SFL) with a team named Airdrie United.^[14] His bid for league status was rejected, however, in favour of the application by Gretna, who were then playing in the English Northern Premier League.^[15] Ballantyne then opted to buy control of Clydebank, another SFL club experiencing extreme financial hardship.^[16] With approval by the SFL, their name was changed to Airdrie United, the team relocated to Airdrie and the strip was altered to the famous diamond style of Airdrieonians.^[16]

In June 2013, the SFA allowed Airdrie United to change their name to Airdrieonians.^[17]

Stadium

Main articles: Broomfield Park and Excelsior Stadium

Broomfield Park

Front Entrance to Excelsior Stadium

For most of its history, Airdrieonians played at Broomfield Park, which was opened in 1892.^[18] The ground was located in a hollow in Airdrie town centre.^[18] The Broomfield pitch was very narrow, at just 67 yards wide.^[18] These physical features and the proximity of the stands to the pitch meant that Broomfield had a raucous atmosphere, which visiting clubs disliked.^[18] Broomfield was known for its distinctive corner pavilion, which was built in 1907.^[18] After winning the 1923–24 Scottish Cup, the club built a main stand, adjacent to the pavilion.^[18]

The final game at Broomfield took place in May 1994 after which the ground, having been sold to supermarket chain Safeway, was demolished to make room for their new store.^[18] The club planned to make use of the funds generated from the sale to build a new all-seated stadium, but had difficulties acquiring planning permission.^[18] Airdrie went on to groundshare with Clyde at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld^[18] for four seasons with the club eventually moving into its new home, the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, in time for the 1998–99 season. Airdrieonians played their home games there until they were liquidated in 2002.

The last ever Airdrieonians team

2001–02 Squad Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Neil Bennett
		GK	Allan Ferguson
		DF	Paul Armstrong
		DF	Kevin James
		DF	Allan McManus
		DF	Craig McPherson
		DF	Joseph McAlpine
		DF	Stuart MacDonald
		DF	Sandy Stewart
		DF	Tony Smith
		MF	Darren Beesley

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Stephen Docherty
		MF	Lee Gardner
		MF	Neil MacFarlane
		MF	Stuart Taylor
		FW	Owen Coyle
		FW	Robert Dunn
		FW	Colin McDonald
		FW	Stephen McKeown
		FW	Mark Roberts
		FW	Paul Ronald
		FW	Jérôme Vareille

Honours and records

Honours

Scottish Football League
- Runners up (4): 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26
Scottish Football League First Division:^[19]
- Winners (3): 1902–03, 1954–55, 1973–74
- Runners up (9): 1900–01, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1965–66, 1979–80, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1996–97, 2001–02
Scottish Cup:
- Winners (1): 1923–24
- Runners up (3): 1974–75, 1991–92, 1994–95
Scottish Challenge Cup:
- Winners (3): 1994–95, 2000–01, 2001–02
Lanarkshire Cup:
- Winners (32): 1885–86, 1886–87, 1887–88, 1890–91, 1891–92, 1896–97, 1897–98, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1917–18, 1918–19, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1924–25, 1930–31, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1995–96
Spring Cup:
- Winners (1): 1976

General club records

Record Type	Record	Additional Information
Most Capped Player	Jimmy Crapnell, 9	for Scotland
Most League Points in a Season	60	in Scottish Division Two – 1973–74 (2 points per win)
	61	in Scottish First Division – 1994–95 (3 points per win)
Most League Goals by a Player in a Season	Hughie Baird, 53	in 1954–55 Season
Record Attendance	24,000	-v- Heart of Midlothian on 8 March 1952 at Broomfield Park
	8,762	-v- Celtic on 19 August 1998 at Shyberry Excelsior Stadium
Record Victory	15–1	-v- Dundee Wanderers F.C. in Scottish Division Two on 1 December 1894
Record Defeat	1–11	-v- Hibernian in Scottish First Division on 24 October 1959
Record Appearances	John Martin, 755	between 1980 and 1999

League record

The Diamonds Twelve Year League Record

Red = Scottish Football League Premier Division (before Scottish Premier League)

Yellow = Scottish Football League First Division

Top league goalscorers

Year	Player	Goals Scored
2001–02	Owen Coyle	23
2000–01	David Fernández	7
1999–00	Niall Thompson & Alex Neil	5
1998–99	Steve Cooper	8
1997–98	Brian McPhee	12
1996–97	Steve Cooper, Paddy Connolly & Brian McPhee	8
1995–96	Jim McIntyre	9
1994–95	Andy Smith	12
1993–94	Davie Kirkwood	10
1992–93	Owen Coyle	9
1991–92	Owen Coyle	11
1990–91	Owen Coyle	20
1989–90	Owen Coyle	10
1988–89	Kenneth Macdonald	22
1987–88	David McCabe	20
1986–87	David McCabe	13
1985–86	John Flood	11
1984–85	David McCabe	21
1983–84	John Flood	11
1982–83	Blair Millar	12
1981–82	Sandy Clark	15
1980–81	Sandy Clark	10
1979–80	Sandy Clark	22
1978–79	Sandy Clark	23
1977–78	Joe Cairney	22
1976–77	Derek Whiteford	15
1975–76	Derek Whiteford	8

European record

Airdrieonians qualified for a UEFA club competition on one occasion. In 1992, Airdrieonians reached the final of the Scottish Cup and were beaten by Rangers. The winner of the Scottish Cup would normally qualify for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but because Rangers had already qualified for the European Cup through their league ranking in the Scottish Premier Division, the place was passed to Airdrie as runners-up. Airdrie were eliminated in the first round by Sparta Prague of Czechoslovakia in a two-legged tie.

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Aggregate
1992–93	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Sparta Prague	0–1	1–2	1–3

References

↑ Crampsey 1990, p. 29
1 2 Crampsey 1990, p. 71
↑ "Airdrieonians in Norway/Sweden 1925"
↑ Crampsey 1990, p. 183
1 2 Crampsey 1990, p. 184
1 2 Crampsey 1990, p. 197
1 2 3 "Hope remains for struggling Airdrie". BBC News (BBC). 2 February 2000. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
↑ "Sacked Airdrie players to appeal". BBC News (BBC). 16 June 2000. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
↑ Gordon, Phil (3 September 2000). "Airdrie owner's Spanish colony". Independent on Sunday. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
↑ "Postponement gives Airdrie time". The Guardian. 22 February 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
↑ "Airdrie closest yet to closure". BBC Sport (BBC). 16 February 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
↑ "Airdrie retain Challenge Cup". BBC Sport (BBC). 14 October 2001. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
1 2 3 "Airdrie match stopped by invasion". BBC Sport (BBC). 27 April 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
↑ Lindsay, Clive (17 June 2002). "Airdrie may edge out Gretna". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 17 June 2012.
↑ "Gretna beat Airdrie United to Scottish League place". The Guardian (Guardian News and Media Limited). 18 June 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
1 2 "Airdrie United given green light". BBC Sport (BBC). 1 July 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
↑ Paterson, Colin (3 June 2013). "Airdrieonians name revived after SFA approval". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser (Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser). Retrieved 3 June 2013.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Inglis 1996, p. 427
↑ Known as second division prior to 1975

Sources

Crampsey, Bob (1990). The First 100 Years. Scottish Football League. ISBN 0-9516433-0-4.
Inglis, Simon (1996). Football Grounds of Britain. Collins Willow. ISBN 0-00-218426-5.

Airdrieonians Football Club (1878)

History (new Airdrieonians) Last ever team Players Managers

Honours & Records Notable matches

Broomfield Park Broadwood Stadium Excelsior Stadium Lanarkshire derby

Scottish Football League (1890–2013)

≫ Scottish Professional Football League (2013–present)

Divisions	Premier Division (1975–1998) First Division (1975–2013) Second Division (1975–2013) Third Division (1994–2013)

Cup competitions	League Cup Challenge Cup

Clubs	Aberdeen Abercorn Airdrieonians (1878) Airdrieonians (2002) Albion Rovers Alloa Athletic Annan Athletic Arbroath Armadale Arthurlie Ayr Ayr Parkhouse Ayr United Bathgate Beith Berwick Rangers Bo'ness Brechin City Broxburn United Cambuslang Celtic Clackmannan Clyde Clydebank Cowdenbeath Cowlairs Dumbarton Dumbarton Harp Dundee Dundee United Dundee Wanderers Dunfermline Athletic Dykehead East Fife East Stirlingshire Edinburgh City Elgin City Falkirk Forfar Athletic Galston Greenock Morton Gretna Hamilton Academical Heart of Midlothian Helensburgh Hibernian Inverness Caledonian Thistle Johnstone Kilmarnock King's Park Leith Athletic Linthouse Livingston Lochgelly United Meadowbank Thistle Mid-Annandale Montrose Motherwell Nithsdale Wanderers Northern Partick Thistle Peebles Rovers Peterhead Port Glasgow Athletic Queen of the South Queen's Park Raith Rovers Rangers Renton Ross County Royal Albert Solway Star St Bernard's St Johnstone St Mirren Stenhousemuir Stirling Albion Stranraer Third Lanark Thistle Vale of Leven

Seasons	1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13

Clubs Stadia Monthly awards Representative team

Defunct and former Scottish football clubs

Former Scottish Football League members	Abercorn Airdrieonians (1878) Armadale Arthurlie Ayr Ayr Parkhouse Bathgate Beith Bo'ness Broxburn United Cambuslang Clackmannan Clydebank Cowlairs Dumbarton Harp Dundee Wanderers Dykehead Edinburgh City Galston Gretna Helensburgh Johnstone King's Park Leith Athletic Linthouse Lochgelly United Mid-Annandale Nithsdale Wanderers Northern Peebles Rovers Port Glasgow Athletic Renton Royal Albert Solway Star St Bernard's Third Lanark Thistle Vale of Leven

Former Highland League members	Caledonian Elgin Caledonian Inverness Celtic Inverness Citadel Inverness Thistle Inverness Union

Former East of Scotland League members	Edinburgh Athletic Tollcross United

Former South of Scotland League members	5th Kirkcudbrightshire RV Cronberry Eglinton Lanemark Mauchline Springbank Stranraer Athletic Tarff Rovers Whithorn

Other senior clubs	23rd Renfrew RV Aberdeen (1881) Airdrie Alexandra Athletic Ayr Academicals Ayr Thistle Barholm Rovers Barrhead Bellstane Birds Blythswood Bon Accord Bridge of Allan Bute Rangers Callander Campsie Clifton & Strathfillan Clydesdale Coylton Coila Crown Dumbreck Dundee East End Dundee Harp Dundee Our Boys Eastern Gairdoch Grahamston Grangemouth Granville Grasshoppers Inveraray Kilsyth Wanderers Kirkcaldy United Laurieston Lochgilphead Orion Oxford Redding Athletic Rovers Shawfield Amateurs Slamannan Southern Strathmore (Arbroath) Strathmore (Dundee) Thornliebank Vale of Bannock Vale of Leven Rovers (Alexandria) Vale of Leven Rovers (Glasgow) Victoria United West End Western

Other junior clubs	Arbroath SC Baillieston Juniors Bankfoot Athletic Blackburn Athletic Blantyre Celtic Burnbank Athletic Duntocher Hibernian Glenbuck Cherrypickers Maryhill Hibernians Parkhead Port Glasgow Athletic Juniors Shawfield Strathclyde

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