Airdrieonians F.C. (1878)
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Full name | Airdrieonians Football Club | ||
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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 | ||
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Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, was 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
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
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.[4] This successful era came to an end after Gallacher in December 1925 and McPhail in 1927 were sold to Newcastle United and Rangers respectively.[2]
Post war era and beyond
Airdrie spent much of the post war era "
Alex MacDonald era
During the 1990s, with
MacDonald also guided the Diamonds to two
Although Airdrie lost in the
Airdrie also reached the
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.[10] He is considered the club's last great hero for his selfless sacrifice and unyielding loyalty.
Liquidation
In February 2000,
Despite the obvious financial problems, Ian McCall managed to build a new Airdrie team and retained the Scottish Challenge Cup.[16] 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.[17] 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.[17] His Barr Construction company had built the Excelsior Stadium and became one of the major creditors of Airdrie.[17]
After Airdrieonians went out of business on 1 May 2002, local accountant
In June 2013, the SFA allowed
Stadium
For most of its history, Airdrieonians played at Broomfield Park, which was opened in 1892.[23] The ground was located in a hollow in Airdrie town centre.[23] The Broomfield pitch was very narrow, at just 67 yards wide.[23] These physical features and the proximity of the stands to the pitch meant that Broomfield had a raucous atmosphere, which visiting clubs disliked.[23] Broomfield was known for its distinctive corner pavilion, which was built in 1907.[23] After winning the 1923–24 Scottish Cup, the club built a main stand, adjacent to the pavilion.[23]
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.[23] 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.[23] Airdrie went on to groundshare with Clyde at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld[23] 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 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.
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Honours and records
Honours
- Scottish Football League
- Scottish Football League First Division:[24]
- Winners (3): 1954–55, 1973–74
- Runners up (9):
- Winners (3):
- Scottish Cup:
- Winners (1): 1923–24
- Runners up (3): 1994–95
- Scottish Challenge Cup:
- 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)
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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
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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
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11 |
1984–85 | David McCabe | 21 |
1983–84 | John Flood
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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
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
- ^ a b Crampsey 1990, p. 71
- ^ "Hughie Gallacher on Queens Legends, www.qosfc.com". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ ""Airdrieonians in Norway/Sweden 1925"". Archived from the original on 4 May 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2007.
- ^ Crampsey 1990, p. 183
- ^ a b Crampsey 1990, p. 184
- ^ a b Crampsey 1990, p. 197
- ^ "Airdrie pay the penalty". The Herald. 1 October 1992. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ "Celtic's compensation". The Independent. 27 May 1995. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ THE FINAL SAY ...; Joey Rowan's heart failed him but he failed no one. Daily Record (21 February 2000). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- ^ a b c "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. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ Gordon, Phil (3 September 2000). "Airdrie owner's Spanish colony". Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ "Postponement gives Airdrie time". The Guardian. 22 February 2001. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. 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. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ a b c "Airdrie match stopped by invasion". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 April 2002. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ Lindsay, Clive (17 June 2002). "Airdrie may edge out Gretna". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 15 March 2004. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ "Gretna beat Airdrie United to Scottish League place". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 18 June 2002. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Airdrie United given green light". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 July 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2004. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Airdrieonians FC. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ Paterson, Colin (3 June 2013). "Airdrieonians name revived after SFA approval". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 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.
External links
- Results and statistics at Fitbastats