The club have won three trophies in their short history – the Scottish Second Division in 2003–04 and the Challenge Cup in 2008–09 and 2023–24. Once described as "the luckiest team in the Scottish League",[2] the club have benefited in league division placements due to other club's misfortunes on three occasions (2008, 2009 and 2012). However the club have lost six Scottish league play-off finals (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2021 and 2022) and two semi-finals (2010 and 2017) in total, eventually offset by a Championship play-off final victory in 2023 against Hamilton Academical.
The club was formed in 2002 as Airdrie United, following the bankruptcy of the original Airdrieonians.[3][4]
Airdrieonians had finished runners-up in the Scottish First Division in the 2001–02 season[5] but went out of business with debts approaching £3 million.[6] The collapse of "The Diamonds", as they were known due to their distinctive kits,[7] created a vacancy in the Scottish Football League (in the Scottish Third Division). Accountant and Airdrieonians fan Jim Ballantyne attempted, with the help of others, to gain entry with a club called "Airdrie United" who were essentially to be a reincarnation of Airdrieonians.[8] Their application however was rejected as the then English Northern Premier League side Gretna were preferred by league members over the new Airdrie United.[9]
Airdrie United then went on to complete a buy-out of the ailing Second Division side Clydebank[10] and with SFL approval the club was relocated to Airdrie,[11] the strips were transformed to resemble that of Airdrieonians, and the name was changed to Airdrie United. While this means that the club is therefore officially a legal continuation of Clydebank, it is almost universally accepted as a reincarnation of Airdrieonians, with a new version of Clydebank being reformed by supporters' groups and entering into the West Region Junior League.[12]
Early years:– league title & new manager (2002–2006)
During the rest of Stewart's tenure the club reached the final of the Challenge Cup in 2003 (losing 2–0 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle),[20] and won the Second Division title in 2003–04 season.[21] Having started poorly Airdrie went on a run that saw them unbeaten in the last 18 games of that season,[22][23] including the final game of the league campaign which saw a crowd of over 5,700 at New Broomfield to watch Airdrie defeat Morton 2–0 and lift the League Championship trophy,[24] the club having been confirmed champions the previous week following their 1–0 victory away to Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park.[22]
In November 2006, Stewart was sacked[25] and replaced by former Airdrieonians player and Airdrie United coach Kenny Black, his first management post.[26]
Mixed fortunes:– play-offs, cup win & promotion (2006–2013)
Under Kenny Black the club suffered four successive play-off defeats:
In the 2007–08 season as promotion play-off finalists (losing 3–0 on aggregate to Clyde).[28] However the enforced relegation of Gretna to the Third Division,[29] after being put into administration,[30] prompted a restructuring of the leagues, and Airdrie were promoted to the First Division as the losing play-off finalists.[31]
In the 2008–09 season as relegation play-off finalists (losing 3–2 on aggregate to Second Division runners up Ayr United).[32] Again Airdrie were given a reprieve as the continued uncertainty over the future of Livingston meant that the West Lothian club were relegated to the Third division, so Airdrie were reinstated to the First Division as losing play-off finalists.[33]
In the 2009–10 season as relegation play-off semi-finalists (losing 3–1 on aggregate to Brechin City).[34] Unlike the previous two seasons there was no reprieve.[35]
The club won the Challenge Cup in 2008, defeating Ross County 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw,[36] and despite another play-off defeat by 6–2 on aggregate to Dumbarton in the promotion play-off final at the end of 2011–12 season[37] Airdrie were lucky again as the liquidation of the company that operated Scottish Premier League side Rangers[38] and the decision by Scottish Football League clubs that Rangers should play in the Scottish Third Division,[39] meant that an additional team from each tier of Scottish football was promoted for the 2012–13 season.[40] As Airdrie were runners up in the previous season's Second Division promotion play-offs, they were promoted to the Scottish First Division.[40] A season in the First Division came to an end in May 2013, with the club finishing bottom of the league and relegated to Division Two.[41]
Airdrieonians name returns (2013–2015)
In June 2013, the club officially changed its name from Airdrie United Football Club to Airdrieonians Football Club.[4] The name change revived the name of the club it was formed to replace in 2002, following the liquidation of the original Airdrieonians.[42] The Airdrieonians all red club crest was also revived,[43][44] with an alternate black and red version used for the away kits.[45]
New ownership at the club (2015–2018)
In June 2015 Jim Ballantyne sold control of the club to Tom Wotherspoon, a Lanarkshire businessman and owner of M & H Logistics (who had previously sponsored Hamilton Academical, East Fife and BSC Glasgow). Wotherspoon became chairman and Ballantyne vice-chairman, appointing former Scottish Sun newspaper Head of Sport Iain King as Chief Executive (King left the club in June 2016).[46]
Despite retaining his majority shareholding Tom Wotherspoon resigned as chairman and director of Airdrieonians on 5 June 2017, with former chairman Jim Ballantyne taking Wotherspoon's place as chairman.[47]
Takeover, COVID-19 and play-off disappointments (2018–2022)
In January 2018, it was announced that a consortium of various businessmen (including former Airdrieonians manager Bobby Watson) had taken control of Tom Wotherspoon's controlling shares, bringing to an end a tumultuous period for the club. The majority of the previous board was replaced, including Jim Ballantyne, and subsequently Director of Football Gordon Dalziel (appointed Oct 2016) departed.
With Rhys McCabe subsequently appointed as player manager, Airdrie finished the 2022–23 season in 3rd place, defeating Falkirk 7–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final and Hamilton Academical 6–5 on penalties after extra time in the Championship play-off final at New Douglas Park in May 2023, therefore relegating Hamilton to League One and earning Airdrie a place in the Scottish Championship.
At the beginning of the 2023–24 season, McCabe guided the side to a clean sweep of their group in the Scottish League Cup, gaining 12 points, including defeating top-flight Dundee 1–0 with McCabe himself scoring an 89th minute winner from the spot.
After the group stage, Airdrie were drawn against Premiership side Ross County at home. After a hard-fought 3–3 draw during 90 minutes, coming back from 3–1 down, they eventually lost 4–3 after extra time.
Airdrie reached the fifth round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in over 10 years, where they faced a tie against Hearts. The Diamonds lost the match 4–1, with their goal coming from captain Adam Frizzell.
Airdrie play their home fixtures at Excelsior Stadium, also unofficially known as New Broomfield. For sponsorship reasons the venue was originally known as The Shyberry Excelsior Stadium (after Shyberry Design Ltd. who had sponsored the construction) and from 2018 to 2022 as The Penny Cars Stadium.[49]
The ground was built when now defunct Airdrieonians' previous home, Broomfield Park, was sold to supermarket chainSafeway, who were given permission to build a new store on the site.[citation needed] This transaction has been cited as being the cause of the financial ruination of the club, as their old ground was demolished several years before they acquired planning permission for the new stadium. In the intervening years the club ground-shared Broadwood Stadium, in Cumbernauld, the home of Clyde.
Excelsior Stadium has an all-seated capacity of 10,101.[1] At the end of the 2009–10 season a new 3G artificial surface was installed.[50] This was replaced at the end of the 2021–22 season. The main pitch and adjoining small-sided facilities are all made available for local community use.[51]
In 2003 a ground share was proposed with Falkirk as their ground did not meet SPL requirements;[52] this was later refused as Falkirk could not prove the SPL fixtures would have priority.[53]Queen of the South played their Uefa Cup tie in 2008[54] at the stadium, as did Motherwell in 2009.[55]Queen's Park utilised the stadium for their "home" games from December 2013 until May 2014, due to the redevelopment of Hampden Park for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.[56][57]
Colours and crest
Colours
Airdrie United inherited Airdrieonians' distinctive playing colours of a white shirt with a red diamond. The design was the basis of Airdrieonians' nickname, The Diamonds, which has also been adopted by Airdrie.
Crest
The club badge of AFC, used for 26 years by the old club and three by the revival, was declared illegal in 2015.
When Airdrie United were formed, they used a blue double-headed eagle device on a white shield for their badge, with a red scroll below the shield that read "Airdrie United F.C.", amended to bearing "Airdrie F.C." when the club rebranded in 2012.[58] The eagle recalled the Airdrie town arms.[58]
When the club inherited the Airdrieonians name in 2013, they also restored the badge worn by their predecessors:[58] the original AFC bore this emblem from 1974 until their demise in 2002, excepting the 2000–01 season.[59] This badge featured a cockerel sitting atop a shield containing two lions passant and the club's initials. The club were informed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in March 2015 that as their badge features a shield, it constitutes a heraldic device, and heraldic devices are not permitted to carry lettering.[60] On 19 June 2015, Airdrieonians unveiled a new crest, removing the shield and instead using a chevron–representing the "Airdrie Diamond"–to separate the scroll from the remainder of the badge.[61]
McBride was originally appointed Acting Head Coach from June 2016 until such time as Eddie Wolecki Black was fit and able to return to work after suffering from a stroke (away to Cowdenbeath in March 2016).
A Hall of Fame was established by the new club in 2002 to honour noted players of the previous entity (some of whom also played for the new club), with more entrants added each year.[78]
