The town of Airdrie has absorbed considerable embarrassment at the understandably bad press they have indirectly received as a result of the financial demise of the old Airdrieonians FC.

However, we cannot forget the tremendous pride that a football club can give to a community - why should our 500 year old town lose the right to enjoy similar successes in future? Airdrieonians FC (1878 - 2002). Indeed, a club called "Airdrie" was playing around the time Queen's Park pioneered the game in Scotland . From Sept. 23, 1922 , until Dec. 5, 1925 , Airdrieonians were undefeated on their own ground- a record to remember with pride.

Airdrieonians FC played in four Scottish Cup Finals, winning the cup in 1924. In 1992/3 they played Sparta Prague in The European Cup Winners Cup - losing only 3-1 on aggregate!

More recently, they won the Bells Challenge Cup in both 2000 and 2001 and again in 2008, a considerable feat for a club that, at that time, was making more news from off-the-park activities.

The list of well-known ex- Airdrieonians FC players is so impressive that it would probably take our new Airdrie United FC another 100 years to emulate - only if we get this important first step of league admission! - Jock Ewart, Hughie Gallacher, Willie Russell, Bob McPhail, Jimmy Crapnell (9 caps - 1928-34), Bobby Flavell, Frank Brennan, Hughie Baird (53 goals in 1954/5), Ian Macmillan, Tommy Murray, Paul Jonquin (708 appearances 1962-79), Jim Black, Drew Jarvie, Derek Whiteford, Sandy Clark, John Martin (755 1980-99), Jimmy Sandison, David Fernandez, Owen Coyle and Sandy Stewart. The list can go on and on - let's hope the tradition can also!