Mr_Grieves
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Airdrieonians
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Not quite Aberdeen but a return to Scottish football with a club that starts with an "A" and play in reds who have been all over the pot since there 90's heydays
From the outskirts of Glasgow Airdrieonians football club have just come through there latest troubled times with the club recently being taken over to give them there millionth glimmer of hope since originally going bust in 2002.
History
Formed in there first form in 1878 "The Diamonds" under the futuristic name of "Excelsior Football Club"
The clubs golden Era was the early 1920s with there greatest ever player Hughie Gallacher who later joined Newcastle. Leading the team they finished 2nd in the top flight four years in a row winning there only Scottish Cup along the way in 1924, I hope by 2024 we can challenge to win it again on the 100th anniversary.
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After loosing Gallacher in 1925 and Bob McPhail, who went on to be Rangers record goalscorer for over 50 years till Ally McCoist broke the record. For Airdrie the next 70 years were largly forgettable time split between the top two divisons There stand out moments was being the first Scottish team to win on penaltys in 1970 and there victory in the only ever "Spring Cup" a early version of the Challenge cup for lower league teams when the SFL couldnt figure out how to restructure the league.
Famous corner pavilion at the old Broomfield
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Alex MacDonalds 2nd golden genearation
The club were back in the early 90s playing a few seasons in the top flight and enjoying several solid cup runs twice reaching the Scottish Cup final, loosing them both to the Old firm giants Rangers 2-1 in 1991 and Celtic 1-0 in 1995.
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Unraveling
On the pitch they were having there best period in 70 years however off the pitch in 1994 the club was unknowingly walking into oblivion. They sold there stadium to Safeway supermarkets and relocation was a disaster. Not embraced by fans under 2000 a game, taking 4 years to rebuild, the death of club figurehead Joey Rowan and the whole board resigning leaving the clubs long time money man Jack Dalziel to take a huge hit financially to keep the club going.
Crisis
By 2000 The administrators and liquidators were at the club and despite a memorable 2 years from 2000-2002 they won back to back Challenge cups, took in players that would stand out in future SPL teams like David Fernández, Jesus Sanjuán, Antonio Calderón and Javier Sánchez Broto and amazingly despite the problem they challenge for the title and promotion to the SPL. The final ray of hope ended with there promotion push being decimated by the administrators laying off players & staff and the club winning 2 of there final 14 games ending up 10 points behind title winner Partick but worst of all the club was liquidated and closed down at the end of the season.
Awakening
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The demise lasted weeks. Undeterred local accountant Jim Ballantyne tried to enter the Scottish leagues with a team named Airdrie United but it was Gretna who won the vote and that should have been the end.
Not so! another Scottish Club Clydebank were also in financial problems and Ballantyne bought them out, renamed them Airdrie United
The first decade
A Challenge cup win 2009 and third tier league and gaining the nickname "the luckiest team in Scotland" 2008, 2009 & 2012 they lost a playoff to drop down a division problems with Livingston and Rangers and Gretna going bust saved them from relegation.
The last 10 years aside from changing there name back to Airdrieonians have been a disaster. Managers coming and going, jumping between part time and full time and major disputes between new owner & chairman.
2018 Hope
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The final splutters of the old board were removed as a consortium led by a former manager Bobby Watson & Sir Alex Ferguson's brother Martin took control of the club removing the old board and setting the club up for a fresh start
My aim is to not only take the club back to there top flight heyday of the 20's but try and win the league title while building a squad of players that will spend there career at the club. This is a team i've never played as but have a strange connection to. In as a 10 year old 1998 my dad, a vintage enthusiast took us to the Dorset steam fair during our holidays and we were going through some sales stands where i seen football tops, Man Utd, Liverpool and a few other top teams and right in the middle for a mere £10 was this white and red Airdrieonians top. Stunned such a thing was there i had to buy it thinking whats the chances i'll get this chance again, little did i know that 4 years later that club was wound up.
Major Airdieonans Records 1878
Record appearances - John Martin 755
Most League goals in a season 53 - Hughie Baird 1955
Record Attenance 24,000 - 1952
Save Record
| Season | League | Scottish Cup | Scottish League Cup | Europe | European Coefficients |
| 2017/18 | League 1 Winners | 4th Round | 2nd Round | Irn Bru Cup Winners | NA |
| 2018/19 | Championship 3rd | 4th Round | Runner Ups | Irn Bru Cup QF | NA |
| 2019/20 | Championship Winners | 4th Round | Group Phase | Irn Bru Cup QF | NA |
| 2020/21 | SPL 3rd | 5th Round | Semi Finals | NA | NA |
| 2021/22 | SPL 3rd | Semi Final | Quarter Finals | Europa League Qualifyers | 192nd |
| 2022/23 | SPL 2nd | Winners | Runner Up | Europa League Runner Up | |
| 2023/24 |
Trophys
Scottish Cup *1Championship *1
League One *1
Irn Bru Cup *1
Airdie Save Stars
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