airdrieman

A shame there’s no Saturday afternoon games but I was expecting that to be the case. Winning at Firhill and Kirkcaldy on a Friday night and Dingwall on a bank holiday Sunday will be fun regardless.

Assume we won’t play in them, but it’d be a crime if we don’t get at least a full team photo in the centenary top.

First class delivery to come home to.

This will be an absolute treat with John’s knowledge alone. Looking forward to listening. Thank you @CapitalDiamondand everyone else involved in putting it together

100 years ago today, the greatest Airdrieonians made their place in history.

Loved Jim Lister. A shame he never played in a better Airdrie team. I can’t remember the exact sequence of seasons but we can’t have been that far off being able to pick a forward line from Lister, Prunty, Cadden, Ryan and Iain Russell. Guess we have Wotherspoon, Iain King and EWB to thank for that one. Speaking of which, surprised Kevin Schmidt hasn’t been mentioned yet.

We shouldn't really be giving a Falkirk wee guy the time of day (on here or Twitter FWIW) but 2002 onwards I think Coyle, Gow and Gal are the top 3 if you're rating them in terms of ability and importance. Ryan and Russell were possibly better players than Gal but they only played for us for a season so their importance isn't comparable. Prunty would be up there too but I think he'd rank behind the aforementioned 3. Gal and Prunty are the club's top scorers 2002 onwards with 71 and 43 respectively. Probably broadly similar appearance numbers? Although worth mentioning that Gal played in far more successful Airdrie teams than Prunty did. As an aside Prunty was the last Airdrie player to finish top scorer of the 2nd tier with 15 in 05/06 (alongside Jason Scotland).

It can feel glib to consider a footballer as a 'hero' when you're an adult. And I often baulk when folk consider modern or current players as 'legends'. But I think either of those labels are more than deserved for Gal. Top goalscorer post-2002 by a fair margin but, even beyond the sheer numbers, Gal has been a critical part of our success and transformation on and off the park over the last 5 years. Others have said it but it feels like we've been on an upward trajectory ever since he scored that last minute winner v Falkirk. Still get a buzz in my stomach thinking about that goal, the scenes afterwards and how it almost literally lifted the place. It seemed to give us a belief that we could, finally, compete at the top end of League 1 and get out if it. And (I think) we'd already had the overhead kick v Clyde and lob v Bohemians before that point. Wasn't just Airdrie as a club who went on an upward trajectory during Gal's time though. He did too. He'll maybe always 'run funny' but his growth culminated in him becoming the best part-time striker, if not player, in Scotland. 23 goals, including a hat-trick and that goal v Kelty, but his overall hold-up play was outstanding last season and was evidently a key component in us scoring 99 goals and finally getting out of League 1. Being part of that team alone is enough to make him a hero. I'm not surprised he's away but that doesn't make me any less gutted. I don't think his numbers are that bad this season. 9 goals and 5(?) assists, with the scope for more, isn't terrible and could arguably make him worthy of a place in a Championship squad. He hasn't really been at the required level though ever since the Queen's Park game and Todorov getting going. And it does not really make sense to have our training days beholden to the needs of one player. But all the same, it's a sad day. Delighted that he's going into the Hall of Fame. A more than deserved accolade and acknowledgement of all he's contributed to the club. And I'm pleased for him that he's got a decent move to a level he will still excel at. I just hope he gets more celebratory moment on the park.

Horrible little club. Get it round ye 4ed67745-433e-4ffc-8cc8-abd34b360b04.mov

Any old fucking cup

The Wheatsheaf Inn is a cracker. We went there before the play-off game and planning to go again on Sunday. Old school 'proper' boozer and less than 10 minute walk from Grahamston. Behind the Wall is right at Grahamston. A bit too 'trendy' and modern for my taste but decent enough and it's right at the station which is always helpful.

Yeah he can’t have played much, if any, football in the best part of a year now. That is a concern but hopefully one he withstands.