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| Full name | Airdrieonians Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Diamonds | |||
| Founded | 2002; 23 years ago (2002) (asAirdrie United FC) | |||
| Ground | Excelsior Stadium,Airdrie | |||
| Capacity | 10,101[1] | |||
| Chairman | Paul Hetherington | |||
| Manager | Vacant | |||
| League | Scottish Championship | |||
| 2024–25 | Scottish Championship, 9th of 10 | |||
| Website | www | |||
Airdrieonians Football Club, commonly known asAirdrie, is a Scottish professionalfootball team inAirdrie, North Lanarkshire, who compete in theScottish Championship as members of theScottish Professional Football League. They were formed in 2002 asAirdrie United Football Club following the folding of theoriginal Airdrieonians, before returning to its traditional name on 1 June 2013.
The club have won three trophies in their short history – theScottish Second Division in2003–04 and theChallenge Cup in2008–09 and2023–24. 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 four occasions (2008, 2009, 2012 and 2025). However the club have lost sixScottish league play-off finals (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2021 and 2022), two semi-finals (2010 and 2017) and one quarter-final (2024) in total, eventually offset by two Championship play-off final victories, in 2023 againstHamilton Academical and 2025 againstCove Rangers.
The club was formed in 2002 as Airdrie United, following the bankruptcy of the originalAirdrieonians.[3][4]
Airdrieonians had finished runners-up in theScottish First Division in the2001–02 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 theScottish Football League (in theScottish Third Division). Accountant and Airdrieonians fanJim 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 EnglishNorthern Premier League sideGretna were preferred by league members over the new Airdrie United.[9]
Airdrie United then went on to complete a buy-out of the ailingSecond Division sideClydebank[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, witha new version of Clydebank beingreformed by supporters' groups and entering into theWest Region Junior League.[12]
Managed bySandy Stewart, Airdrie United's first match took place atNew Broomfield[13] againstForfar Athletic in August 2002, with captainStephen Docherty scoring the only goal of the game with Airdrie United winning 1–0.[14] Their debut season saw the club only narrowly fail to achieve promotion by one point[15] due to a late injury-time goal fromBrechin City[16] which saw them promoted instead.[15] The club reached the second round of theChallenge Cup,[17] the third round of theScottish Cup[17] and the third round of theScottish League Cup[18] having beatenPremier League sideKilmarnock in the second round.[19]
During the rest of Stewart's tenure the club reached the final of theChallenge Cup in 2003 (losing 2–0 toInverness Caledonian Thistle),[20] and won the Second Division title in2003–04 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 defeatMorton 2–0 and lift the League Championship trophy,[24] the club having been confirmed champions the previous week following their 1–0 victory away toAlloa Athletic atRecreation Park.[22]
In November 2006, Stewart was sacked[25] and replaced by former Airdrieonians player and Airdrie United coachKenny Black, his first management post.[26]
UnderKenny Black the club suffered four successive play-off defeats:
The club won theChallenge Cup in 2008, defeatingRoss County 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw,[36] and despite another play-off defeat by 6–2 on aggregate toDumbarton 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 operatedScottish Premier League sideRangers[38] and the decision by Scottish Football League clubs that Rangers should play in theScottish 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 theScottish 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]
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 theoriginal 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]
In June 2015Jim Ballantyne sold control of the club to Tom Wotherspoon, a Lanarkshire businessman and owner ofM & H Logistics (who had previously sponsoredHamilton Academical,East Fife andBSC Glasgow). Wotherspoon became chairman and Ballantyne vice-chairman, appointing formerScottish 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 chairmanJim Ballantyne taking Wotherspoon's place as chairman.[47]
In January 2018, it was announced that a consortium of various businessmen (including former Airdrieonians managerBobby 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, includingJim Ballantyne, and subsequently Director of FootballGordon Dalziel (appointed October 2016) departed.
ManagerIan Murray led the club to fifth, third and two second placeScottish League One finishes in2019,2020,2021 and2022 respectively, with the club missing out on play-off games (due to theCOVID-19 pandemic) in 2020, losing toChampionship sideMorton over a two-legged play-off final in May 2021, and losing toScottish League One sideQueen's Park over a two-legged play-off final in May 2022. After this defeat Murray departed the club forRaith Rovers in theScottish Championship.
WithRhys McCabe subsequently appointed as player manager, Airdrie finished the 2022–23 season in third place, defeatingFalkirk 7–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final andHamilton Academical 6–5 on penalties after extra time in the Championship play-off final atNew Douglas Park in May 2023, therefore relegating Hamilton to League One and earning Airdrie a place in theScottish Championship.
At the beginning of the 2023–24 season, McCabe guided the side to a clean sweep of their group in theScottish League Cup, gaining 12 points, including defeating top-flightDundee 1–0, then losing 4–3 after extra time against Premiership sideRoss County in the next round. Following a defeat of Premiership sideSt. Johnstone, Airdrie reached the fifth round of theScottish Cup for the first time in over 10 years, but lost toHearts 4–1.
In March 2024, Airdrie reachedthe final of theScottish Challenge Cup, and defeatedWelsh sideThe New Saints atFalkirk Stadium 2–1 through goals fromLiam McStravick andNikolay Todorov to lift the trophy for the first timesince 2008.[48]
The club finished the league in fourth place and earned a play-off spot. However an aggregate defeat toPartick Thistle over two quarter-final ties saw the club remain in the Championship for another season.
At the end of season 2024–25 fellowChampionship clubHamilton Accies were deducted 15 points by theSPFL and dropped to the bottom of the table, leading to them being relegated. The decision meant Airdrie escaped automatic relegation and entered the Championship relegation play-offs. A (two legged) semi-final win overStenhousemuir saw Airdrie then faceCove Rangers in the play-off final, defeating them 2–1 on aggregate over two legs and thus retaining their Championship status for season 2025–26.
Rhys McCabe left the club on 15 August 2025, with former acting managerDanny Lennon appointed his successor on 27 August 2025.
Airdrie play their home fixtures atExcelsior 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), from 2018 to 2022 as The Penny Cars Stadium[49] and from 2024 onwards as The Albert Bartlett Stadium.
The ground was built when now defunctAirdrieonians' previous home,Broomfield Park, was sold tosupermarket 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-sharedBroadwood Stadium, inCumbernauld, the home ofClyde.
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 withFalkirk 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 theirUefa Cup tie in 2008[54] at the stadium, as didMotherwell in 2009.[55]Queen's Park utilised the stadium for their "home" games from December 2013 until May 2014, due to the redevelopment ofHampden Park for the2014 Commonwealth Games.[56][57]
When the stadium originally opened the Main/West Stand was named the Jack Dalziel Stand in memory of the formerAirdrieonians Chairman, and in May 2025 the club announced that the East Stand would be permanently renamed theIan McMillan Stand in honour of theAirdrieonians player and manager.
Airdrie United inheritedAirdrieonians' distinctive playing colours of a white shirt with a reddiamond. The design was the basis of Airdrieonians' nickname,The Diamonds, which has also been adopted by Airdrie.
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 theAirdrie 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 the2000–01 season.[59] This badge featured a cockerel sitting atop a shield containing twolions passant and the club's initials. The club were informed by theLord 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 achevron–representing the "Airdrie Diamond"–to separate the scroll from the remainder of the badge.[61]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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The Diamonds have appointed ten permanent managers in their history, while six have taken charge on a caretaker basis.
The longest-serving manager was Sandy Stewart, who served for four years and 135 days. Rhys McCabe is the only player-manager in Airdrieonians' history.
Only three managers have won a trophy at Airdrieonians. Stewart won the Second Division title in 2004, while Kenny Black and McCabe won the Challenge Cup in 2008 and 2024 respectively.
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
 Sandy Stewart[63][25] | 2002–2006 |
| Kenny Black[64][65] | 2006–2010 |
| Jimmy Boyle[66][67] | 2010–2013 |
| Gary Bollan[68][69] | 2013–2015 |
| Eddie Wolecki Black[a][72][73] | 2015–2016 |
| Mark Wilson[73][74] | 2016–2017 |
| Stephen Findlay[75][76] | 2017–2018 |
| Ian Murray[77][78] | 2018–2022 |
| Rhys McCabep[79][80] | 2022–2025 |
 Danny Lennon[81][82] | 2025 |
p Denotes player-managers
| Record type | Record | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Most league points in a season | 72 | inLeague One 2021–22 |
| Most league goals by a player in a season | 23,Andy Ryan | inLeague One 2016–17 |
| Record total league appearances | 159,Stephen McKeown | |
| Record total goals | 71,Calum Gallagher | including 59 league goals |
| Record home attendance | 9,044 | vRangers on 23 August 2013 inLeague One |
| Record cup wins | 11–0 & 8–0 | 11-0 vGala Fairydean on 19 November 2011 inScottish Cup 3rd Round[84] & 8–0 vEast Kilbride on 16 July 2024 in theScottish League Cup Group Stage. |
| Record league win | 7–0 | vPeterhead on 18 March 2023 inLeague One & vDundee on 11 March 2006 inDivision One |
| Record loss | 0–7 | vPartick Thistle on 20 October 2012 inDivision One[85] |
Only includescaps won while playing for Airdrieonians.
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18 players were selected forScotland while playing for the original Airdrieonians, collecting 47 caps in total.[86]
On 18 May 2024 the club announced that the player of the year award would be renamed theIan McMillan player of the year award after his passing earlier that year.
AHall of Fame was established by the new club in 2002 to honour noted players of theprevious entity (some of whom also played for the new club), with more entrants added each year.[88]
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