FLDiamond

Well I can’t help but post on this special anniversary and a look back on our most successful day as a club. It’s easy to feel a bit melancholy about the old Airdrieonians and everything the club achieved. But since I became a supporter as a young boy the older supporters raved about the famous 1924 team that won the big one. Met a few who claimed to have been there, men back in the late 80s who were themselves in their 80s. I always thought about how good it would be to go all the way to Hampden to be part of that experience. I was born in ‘75 so missed that one but seeing us beat Motherwell in the semis would have been priceless. ‘92 was a great experience, loved the semis against Hearts although everyone knew the final against Rangers would be tough. Rangers just missing out on a European final that same year I believe. I remember Gerry McNee predicting a ‘5 or 6-1 victory’ for the Gers on Scotsport on the Friday night. Went to bed pissed off and felt the team had been written off but the narrow 2-1 loss didn’t do much to heal the pain. Stayed behind to see McCoist and co lift the trophy - it hurt. Only the Cup winners Cup place made up for the disappointment. ‘95 was a missed opportunity, Celtic hadn’t won a domestic trophy in 7 years and were there for the taking. I was pissed off for 90 minutes and saddened that we couldn’t get the ball in the net. Overall it was another great run by a superb Airdrie side, a real pity we couldn’t seal the deal. Went home feeling shit, went to bed at 8pm thinking I’d give my left foot to see us win the cup. And no European place as compensation Some of our most famous moments have come from Cup games. The Sandison/Syme fiasco, back to back Challenge cups, Scottish cup underdogs, Texaco cups. I know a lot of our fans didn’t witness the 90s moments but the real successes were for the older generations most of whom are now gone. You lucky, lucky b*****ds to have ‘been there’ Hopefully I get to see it before I kick the bucket, with my prosthetic left foot

More of a not lose game for us but Rhys only has only one thing in mind and that’s 3 points. It’ll be cigars on Saturday night with a win but I’m expecting Dunfermline to treat this like a cup final. And surely they’ll want revenge for last month. all in all an exciting game expected - I dare not predict anything other than a home win. This team comes up with the goods all the time. 3-1 (that seems to be the new 2-1)

Nice summary, things talking shape in the league for sure. Although it’s a few weeks off, was looking at the final day fixtures which could be exciting. Barring the Ayr v Dunfermline game all others could hold significance. Possibly DU needing to beat Partick to win title, Thistle needing to win to secure 3rd? IC needing to beat Morton to secure 8th? QP needing to beat Airdrie for safety or us winning to get 3rd or possibly to secure 4th? RR to beat relegation boys Arbroath to win the title? or maybe final league positions will be secured by that weekend making games meaningless doubtful all to play for across the league

This. Please!!!!!

I think Frizz has steadily been improving over the last few weeks and tonight we got a glimpse of the player that run a mock in L1 last season. Brilliant performance from him and the rest of the team deserve a huge congrats on another brilliant result. It doesn’t end there and the next couple of weeks could see us jump in to third. Thistle well and truly looking over their shoulder now. is it just me or does anyone really give a shit about the opposition, home or away, over the next 3 weeks? This team are capable of beating ANYONE and probably will. well done Rhys and the lads!!

Keep the points, we’ll take the playoff spot

Didn’t have us down as taking all 3 points for this one so feel like a bit of a traitor to the lads! Well done Frizz for an outstanding double - the whole team deserve big plaudits. Feel like we’re 90 mins away from pretty much securing playoff football. If Raith do us a favour this weekend and we beat Dunfermline it will be game on for the following weekend against Plastic Whistle. Absolutely loving this season, lots to play for in the last few weeks

Tomorrow will be interesting from an Airdrie standpoint - three injuries to key players who would normally start to begin with. That includes the gaffer who, I’m sure, would normally start in this one. Players that are probably much needed for a game against opposition like this. But as ever this will come down to McCabes tactics. He gets these pretty much spot on 80% of the time. Can we frustrate RR enough to get that ‘not again’ bug inside the players and fans heads? Honestly, I can’t really call this one. My initial thoughts was a home win with the title on the line and everyone fired up. But I’m thinking there’s a great chance of a draw if we can play football the way we want and Rhys always seems to figure Murray’s games tactics. Away win is highly unlikely but after DU a couple of weeks back, who knows. And if Todorov is in the mood…. I guess the only silver lining to losing is that maybe the title will go all the way to the final weekend Best of luck to the Rovers regardless of tomorrows result

Missed the tweet, what was being said?

In the next few days we’ll be playing 2 teams fighting for that 4th spot. Feel like Rhys will be playing these 2 games like cup finals. Regardless of the score at Raith, if we beat Morton and Dunfermline we’ll be as good as there for that playoff spot. Since those 2 games are at home I’m expecting us to be playing to win. Saturday will be tough, always give Morton much respect but if we’re clever and the players fielded do their job we can get the win. Agree with one goal in it, Gabby and Mason with the goals. 2-1 and talking about dirty b@stards I think there’s a red card in there too but for who?? dunno

The point about Ayr is valid, a team with one eye on a relegation playoff spot - we should have done better against them. And if it had been 4 draws instead of wins for them they’d be in a relegation fight. And we’d be fighting The Jags for third spot. Hindsight Feel tonight’s game was a bit of a reflection of our overall season. Narrow win, dominated possession and chances without taking too many. We rarely win by a large margin or lose by much (our last 3 games have been 2-1). I know there’s a lot of talk about next season and players staying/going. But until the Rhys situation is sorted things will be as clear as mud I think. And the playoff situation makes things even more complicated - I actually think we’ll make it! Advantages for and against being there but I know McCabe will be pushing like crazy to give us a chance. Feel like as a club we’re not ready for a step up to the top flight but when you think QP, Arbroath have been so close to making it in recent years, why shouldn’t we be having a serious go. The last few weeks will be fun.

Have to add that it was great to see Josh joining in the final celebrations at full time and helping lift the trophy. I suppose his recovery will take a bit but he looked in good spirits and on the mend

If you could take one big negative from the cup win its the obvious attention it’s drawing to Rhys. How many boards are already getting ready to chop their manager in May and have Rhys on the shortlist? One more step to go for him and that’s getting the team to the playoffs. Even if we don’t progress much, that’s a big achievement with one of the smallest budgets in the Championship. The cup runs are nice but the final league position/playoff results will determine a lot. Like someone said, unless we manage to get that step up to the Premiership it’s likely Rhys and Dycey will go. I’d be really pleased for them if they got a great move and then it’s down to our Board to get the right men in. I know it’s not a done deal, but they are earning a big reputation right now and a few clubs are taking notice So happy we won the cup, proud of the whole team! Let’s finish the season strong and at least get a shot at earning a place in the top flight

This from Greenfields after installing Airdrie pitch 15 years back….. Less postponements with Artificial Turf Gordon Thompson, managing director of GreenFields (All Sports) UK, says: “Just tell me when summer ends and winter begins in Scotland? We never know when to expect decent weather and matches have to be rescheduled all the time. Airdrie had to call a lot of their home games off because of the harsh winter. Neighbours Alloa and Stenhousemuir only had a few games off. Why? They both have artificial turf pitches. The club realized that there’s only one way to stop fixture pile-up and increase revenues- and that’s artificial turf.” At the end of season 2009-2010 work began on converting the stadium pitch to meet FIFA standards, with the installation of a new 3rd generation artificial turf football pitch. Works were done by GreenFields (All Sports) UK on a full design and build basis. The new pitch will allow far greater use and limit the amount of postponements that the existing pitch is susceptible too. As for snow, I thought you could clear an artificial pitch with a snow blower?? Not too sure. Unsure how Falkirk fans are enjoying the playing surface but I’d hate to change it at Airdrie unless we absolutely had to for top flight reasons (no pissy comments required, don’t think we’ll see that football for a while)

I’m not 100% sure but I think Airdries last pitch was rated for 10 years but replaced after 11 or 12 ?? It looked like it needed to go but our new pitch is less than 2 years old. Again, I think it’s rated for 10/12 years. I guess the club wouldn’t mind replacing it every 5 years if we were guaranteed SPL money. FYI - this from Hearts fan some weeks ago after they knock us out of the Scottish Cup David McCaig Posted February 12 To be honest the Airdrie surface is so good, its better than the vast majority of grass pitches. Certainly vastly better than the ploughed field awaiting us at Cappielow!!

That is really annoying to hear about the Parkhead trip and it feels like every club in Scotland outside the OF has an obligation to have a community outreach program to attract the younger kids/families and stop them from being sucked in to the Rangers/Celtic tribal crap. Like most of you, I’m really happy that we are getting involved with the local schools. But like ElDiamondo said, this should be more of a weekly thing than a one off. Even if we could have a monthly occasion where we invite an entire classroom of kids to a game, each kid gets to have at least one accompanying adult/minder and a ticket for a free pie and a drink. Even if a local business could step in to support this idea and provide funding to cover the limited costs. unlike most OF fans who start out green or blue because of their dads/uncles, a lot of Airdrie fans start out because of a mate or maybe the team being involved in a bigger occasion like a cup SF or something. Me? I got denied entry into Cliftonhill as a 13 year old and so I hopped on the bus to Airdrie and made it into Broomfield just in time for KO. The 500 crowd I expected to be part of that day turned into 5000 and the atmosphere had me hooked. It only took one visit and I was addicted. My wife says I need AA, Airdrie Anonymous. Point is, gets the kids in to try it out. If they get even a fraction of the thrill I had that day 36 years ago they’ll be back. For sure they’ll be back

My apologies, yes, we did have a call off. Frozen pitch. All I can say is that is not the norm for the artificial surface and mostly the surface is playable in those weather conditions

Rangers losing their shit this weekend over the Dundee farce, it was a ridiculous situation but one you’ll always have with grass surfaces. Airdrie had a postponed Dunfermline away game a few weeks ago because of a burst pipe from under soil heating. Another ‘grass’ issue. Airdrie have played on an artificial surface for several years now. In the long term it must be a money saver since it doesn’t need cut etc and we don’t have the frozen/waterlogged pitches etc that we all too often see in Scotland November thru March. Some of the poor pitch conditions we’ve seen at Dunfermline, Partick Thistle in recent years can be a nightmare at the business end of the season and it doesn’t make for a good game of football. If Raith Rovers win the league, they deserve to be in the top flight and nobody should be allowed to deny them their place.

I was hoping for 49-50 points but maybe I’m looking at it with diamond tinted glasses. I think we’ll be the banana skin for Raith and DU on the run in and I would be surprised with a bit of an ‘upset’ against PT or possibly the Ayr tv game

From the Scotsman: In the national pit dispute which stretched over the winter of 1984-5, Martin joined workmates at the Monktonhall colliery in Midlothian on the picket line. He was part-time with Airdrie, earning £30 a week, so the food parcels handed out to the miners were gratefully received in his house. “Then one day they stopped. I asked why down at the Pans Labour Club and was told that because I was taking a wage from football I didn’t need them. ‘You’re effin’ kidding,’ I said. After tax and travel – two nights a week training, getting up at five in the morning, putting in a shift, going through to the ground by assorted buses because I didn’t drive, then not getting back home until 11 at night – I was left with just 20 quid. In other households, the wives were bringing in good money from their jobs. Angela didn’t have a job – she was doing her bit for the strike, serving at the soup kitchen. I said that for me the strike was over and I was going back. After that shift I was told the problem was sorted but I was scunnered by the whole thing and carried on working. So every morning I got on the bus and they shouted ‘Scab’ at me.” And at many football grounds, too. “Honestly, it didn’t bother me. That guy I bumped into recently… there were a few after the strike was done who shunned me. I didn’t have any problem with what I did. Ally MacLeod was the Airdrie manager at the time. He’ll have known miners from being at Ayr United. About me going back he just said: ‘Son, it’s nobody’s business but yours.’ Later, Gordon McQueen took over and he made us full-time, which I was glad about. “Folk who called me a scab during games didn’t know the full story. Sometimes I’d turn round and say: ‘Of course I am.’ But fans were always shouting stuff at me. I’d get: ‘Hey Martin, you’re effin’ hopeless!’ So I’d go: ‘Really? And which club do you play for?’ Their mates would laugh and you wouldn’t hear another peep. Then there was Fergie, Hamilton Accies’ biggest nutter – I had some fun with him. One time he shouted: ‘Hey Martin, your wife’s a good ride.’ I shouted back: ‘Aye you effin’ better believe it!’”

So the next couple of games will have a big impact on our final league standing imo. Since we are playing two teams below us it gives us a massive opportunity to jump by Morton and keep the relegation battle well in the rear view mirror. A couple of bad results would leave the team in a slump and firmly battling to stay ahead of that pack. I honestly think Rhys will have the boys playing a cup final mentality up in Inverness. We could open up an 8 point gap on ICT by the weekend and possibly more after Arbroath. I really want us to switch mentality from ‘8th or better’ to ‘4th’. This team is more than capable of making the playoffs but we’d need to be at our best. Morton’s bubble is just about burst here and I know they will win plenty before the end of the season but they are no longer the ‘in form’ team. Nothing to fear on our road trip north. I’m not thinking about a point and fighting out a draw - we’ve taken six points on the road against Dunfermline and Dundee and the mindset has to be 3 points. Mon the fvckin Airdrie

we’re coming to get yooz……

Think Airdrie clearly deserved all 3 points but only because we were a lot more clinical up front. The amount of Dunfermline attempts that went flying in to row x or crosses that sailed over the Airdrie goal, lots wasted by the Pars. Thought Frizzell, despite the horror tackle, had his best 90 in a while. Telfer was awesome and as usual, McCabes presence has helped us scoop 3 points. A really win against a solid team below us in league position, I think we can really cement our Championship status in the next 180 minutes of football. and not wanting to end our bromance with the Dunfermline fans, so I’ll say that I was really impressed with Otoo, Welch-Hayes and Fagan-Walcott. Players like these are exactly what you need in the run in and I honestly feel the Pars WONT be relegated. I think they’ll finish strong. really hoping we can do you a favour and take a full six against ICT and Arbroath. best of luck for the run in

Well we got a goal hero from the bench, but it wasn’t Gal! Gals goals have dried up and I know this league is a step up from L1 but I’m thinking he’s got a great chance against QP who are possibly on a level with Airdrie, but not better. In the upcoming games we need our strikers performing to get us the vital points we need and they’ve been few and far between recently. I said Pre-game that I was hoping to limit QP to one goal or better to give us a chance to get all 3 points but we never looked capable of that today. Glad Mason earned us a vital point

Thought we were a bit hesitant in the first half and the clinical passing disappeared for a bit. Frizzell was having a nightmare in the first half and we just didn’t seem to be able to get flowing although Toddy’s headed save was immense, thought for sure it was going in. Started to get into the game as the half wore on but felt we didn’t deserve to be level at the half. first part of the second half was much the same with us failing to create real chances but the Murray-esk triple substitution made the difference and of course Hancock was a stand out when he came on, what a goal. Friz much better second half but our strikers just didn’t make anything happen with a touch of brilliance. McGill, Toddy etc just couldn’t get it done today and it cost us. Is it just me or is McCabe having a much better influence when he’s on the park? He brings a bigger level of composure and reassurance to the team, I truly believe we could have bagged 3 points if he was playing. As it is, a draw was definitely a fair result. I think both QP and Airdrie would be happy for 8th place, results elsewhere going against both teams. This league is shaping up for a cracking finish at both ends thought McStravick looked lively all game, Megwa was his usual brilliant self and Mason turned it on coming on as a sub. Not a clean sheet, but thought Josh did well after a nice performance at Dundee. We just need a purple patch with goals, not sure who’s going to turn it on though