Paradoxically Airdrieonians FC, having been formed in 1878, a decade earlier than Glasgow Celtic, illustrates both the past and present of Scottish football. The club first made its mark locally in 1885 by winning a charity football tournament run by the cricket club. The following year Airdrieonians gained national recognition beating Glasgow Rangers 10-2, that club's worst known loss on its own ground.
The club’s most successful period in the 1920s culminated in a Scottish FA Cup Final victory in 1924 over Hibernian, whilst from 1922 to 1926 it took Rangers and Celtic to prevent the club winning the Scottish League.
Nicknamed The Diamonds, cup runs became the club’s trademark as it reached three other Scottish FA Cup Finals, and innumerable other semi-finals in that tournament and the Scottish League Cup. The club also won the Spring Cup in 1976 and the Bells Challenge Cup in both 2000 and 2001.
In the days when Scottish football regularly produced wonderful players, Hughie Gallacher, one of the all-time great centre-forwards, sprang to national and international prominence at Airdrie.
Despite a history of over-achievement, even as a part-timers, Airdrieonians FC truly stepped into the modern era in 2002 when it became the first Scottish senior club to go out of business since Third Lanark in 1967. But the spirit of the club lived on and the town welcomed first Airdrie United into being, and for the start of the 2013-14 season the name Airdrieonians was restored to that North Lanarkshire town of some 37,000 people.
Head Coach: Mark Wilson
Ground: Excelsior Stadium also known as new Broomfield (after their old ground which was sold to Safeway the supermarket chain).
Travel
Airdrie railway station is on the North Clyde Line, providing a frequent service to Glasgow via Coatbridge, Sunnyside and Easterhouse, whilst there is also a direct commuter service to Bathgate, Livingston North and Edinburgh Waverley. Drumgelloch railway station serves the eastern end of the town.
The town has road links to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Livingston, Motherwell, and Cumbernauld and is situated close to the M8 motorway. Bus services to Glasgow are provided by First Glasgow.
A map can be accessed via the club website www.airdriefc.com
The club’s most successful period in the 1920s culminated in a Scottish FA Cup Final victory in 1924 over Hibernian, whilst from 1922 to 1926 it took Rangers and Celtic to prevent the club winning the Scottish League.
Nicknamed The Diamonds, cup runs became the club’s trademark as it reached three other Scottish FA Cup Finals, and innumerable other semi-finals in that tournament and the Scottish League Cup. The club also won the Spring Cup in 1976 and the Bells Challenge Cup in both 2000 and 2001.
In the days when Scottish football regularly produced wonderful players, Hughie Gallacher, one of the all-time great centre-forwards, sprang to national and international prominence at Airdrie.
Despite a history of over-achievement, even as a part-timers, Airdrieonians FC truly stepped into the modern era in 2002 when it became the first Scottish senior club to go out of business since Third Lanark in 1967. But the spirit of the club lived on and the town welcomed first Airdrie United into being, and for the start of the 2013-14 season the name Airdrieonians was restored to that North Lanarkshire town of some 37,000 people.
Head Coach: Mark Wilson
Ground: Excelsior Stadium also known as new Broomfield (after their old ground which was sold to Safeway the supermarket chain).
Travel
Airdrie railway station is on the North Clyde Line, providing a frequent service to Glasgow via Coatbridge, Sunnyside and Easterhouse, whilst there is also a direct commuter service to Bathgate, Livingston North and Edinburgh Waverley. Drumgelloch railway station serves the eastern end of the town.
The town has road links to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Livingston, Motherwell, and Cumbernauld and is situated close to the M8 motorway. Bus services to Glasgow are provided by First Glasgow.
A map can be accessed via the club website www.airdriefc.com