List of Airdrieonians F.C. (1878) seasons

This is a list of Airdrieonians F.C. seasons in Scottish football, from their foundation in 1878 to their dissolution in 2002. It details the club's achievements in senior league and cup competitions and the top scorers for each season. The list of top scorers also chronicles how the club's scoring records have progressed throughout the club's history.

The original Airdrieonians were formed in 1878 as Excelsior F.C. The club soon became members of the Scottish Football Association and initially began competing in the Scottish Cup and Qualifying Cup, before joining the Scottish Football League in 1895.

The Diamonds won the Scottish Cup in 1923–24, beating Hibernian in the final, and were also runners-up three times, in 1974–75 (losing to Celtic), in 1991–92 (to Rangers) and in 1994–95 (again to Celtic).

They were never champions of the Scottish League but finished second four times in succession between 1923 and 1926 in what was their most successful period.[1] During the 1990s, in addition to the Scottish Cup final appearances (the first of which earned them a place in the 1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup) they also reached the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup in the same seasons, but lost on penalties both times. Those were two of six occasions where Airdrie reached the penultimate stage of the League Cup, but they never made it to the showpiece match in that competition.

In 1994 the club moved from their Broomfield Park home after 102 years. They spent four seasons as tenants of Clyde at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. The burden of the construction cost of their new all-seater ground (the Excelsior Stadium) was made worse with the deterioration of their supporter base due to lack of investment in the playing staff and the years playing away from their home town, which placed severe financial strain on the club.[2] Despite managing to remain in the second tier for nine successive seasons and win the lower-division Scottish Challenge Cup two years running,[3] they were dissolved in 2002 due to debt.[4]

Local businessmen subsequently took control of struggling Clydebank, renamed them Airdrie United and relocated the team to Airdrie for 2002–03, changing the playing colours to those of the original Airdrieonians but retaining the league place of Clydebank.[5] In 2013, the new club was allowed to call themselves Airdrieonians F.C. and use a close approximation of the historic entity's badge; however they are not a legal continuation of the 1878 club.[6]

Seasons

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Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Top scorer
Division Position
1878–79 N/A N/A Unknown N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1879–80 N/A N/A Unknown N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1880–81 N/A N/A Unknown N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1881–82 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1882–83 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1883–84 N/A N/A First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1884–85 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1885–86 N/A N/A Fourth round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1886–87 N/A N/A Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1887–88 N/A N/A Third round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1888–89 N/A N/A First round N/A Glasgow Exhibition Trophy –
First round
Unknown Unknown
1889–90 N/A N/A Fourth round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1890–91 Did not enter N/A Fourth round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1891–92 Did not enter N/A Unknown N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1892–93[a] Did not enter N/A First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1893–94 Did not enter N/A First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1894–95 Division Two 6th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1895–96 Division Two 5th Unknown N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1896–97 Division Two 3rd Unknown N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1897–98 Division Two 8th Unknown N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1898–99 Division Two 5th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1899–1900 Division Two 9th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1900–01 Division Two 2nd First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1901–02 Division Two 4th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1902–03 Division Two 1st First round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1903–04 Division One 11th= First round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1904–05 Division One 4th Semi-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1905–06 Division One 3rd Quarter Final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1906–07 Division One 4th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1907–08 Division One 6th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1908–09 Division One 5th First round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1909–10 Division One 9th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1910–11 Division One 11th Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1911–12 Division One 10th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1912–13 Division One 3rd= Third round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners James Reid 30[b]
1913–14 Division One 6th Third round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners James Reid 27[b]
1914–15 Division One 11th N/A[c] N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1915–16 Division One 15th N/A[c] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1916–17 Division One 4th N/A[c] N/A N/A Bert Yarnall 39[b]
1917–18 Division One 15th N/A[c] N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1918–19 Division One 13th N/A[c] N/A
Unknown Unknown
1919–20 Division One 7th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1920–21 Division One 10th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1921–22 Division One 16th Third round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1922–23 Division One 2nd Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1923–24 Division One 2nd Winners N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1924–25 Division One 2nd Third round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1925–26 Division One 2nd Quarter-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1926–27 Division One 4th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1927–28 Division One 13th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1928–29 Division One 15th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1929–30 Division One 12th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1930–31 Division One 9th Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1931–32 Division One 14th Semi-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1932–33 Division One 18th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1933–34 Division One 18th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1934–35 Division One 14th Quarter-final N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1935–36 Division One 19th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1936–37 Division Two 4th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1937–38 Division Two 3rd First round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1938–39 Division Two 4th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1939–40 Emergency League West[d] 9th N/A[c] N/A Emergency Cup –
Semi-finals
Unknown Unknown
1940–41 Southern League[d] 4th N/A[c] Southern League Cup –
Group stage
Summer Cup –
First round
[10]
Unknown Unknown
1941–42 Southern League[d] 14th N/A[c] Southern League Cup –
Group stage
Summer Cup –
First round
[10]
Unknown Unknown
1942–43 Southern League[d] 15th N/A[c] Southern League Cup –
Group stage
Summer Cup –
First round
[10]
Unknown Unknown
1943–44 Southern League[d] 14th N/A[c] Southern League Cup –
Group stage
Summer Cup –
First round
[10]
Unknown Unknown
1944–45 Southern League[d] 16th N/A[c] Southern League Cup –
Group stage
Summer Cup –
First round
[10]
Unknown Unknown
1945–46 Southern League B Division[d] 4th N/A[c] Southern League Cup –
Semi-final

Unknown Unknown
1946–47 Division B 2nd First round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1947–48 Division A 15th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1948–49 Division B 3rd First round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1949–50 Division B 2nd First round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1950–51 Division A 14th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1951–52 Division A 13th Quarter-final Group stage Unknown Unknown
1952–53 Division A 14th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1953–54 Division A 15th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1954–55 Division B 1st Semi-final Semi-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1955–56 Division One 7th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1956–57 Division One 11th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Hugh Baird 33[b]
1957–58 Division One 16th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1958–59 Division One 5th Second round Group stage Unknown Unknown
1959–60 Division One 16th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1960–61 Division One 13th Semi-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1961–62 Division One 15th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1962–63 Division One 11th Second round[e] Group stage Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1963–64 Division One 15th Third round Group stage Summer Cup – Group stage[10] Unknown Unknown
1964–65 Division One 15th Second round Group stage Summer Cup – Group stage[10] Unknown Unknown
1965–66 Division Two 2nd First round Quarter-final Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1966–67 Division One 13th Second round Group stage Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1967–68 Division One 13th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1968–69 Division One 7th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1969–70 Division One 12th Second round Group stage Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1970–71 Division One 9th Semi-final Group stage
Unknown Unknown
1971–72 Division One 15th Fourth round Group stage
Unknown Unknown
1972–73 Division One 18th Quarter-final Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1973–74 Division Two 1st Third round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1974–75 Division One 11th [f] Runners-up Semi-final Drybrough Cup –
First round
[12]
Unknown Unknown
1975–76 First Division 8th Third round Group stage
Unknown Unknown
1976–77 First Division 6th Third round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1977–78 First Division 10th Third round First round N/A Unknown Unknown
1978–79 First Division 6th Fourth round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1979–80 First Division 2nd Fourth round Second round Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1980–81 Premier Division 7th Third round First round
Unknown Unknown
1981–82 Premier Division 10th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1982–83 First Division 5th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1983–84 First Division 10th Fourth round Group stage Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1984–85 First Division 5th Third round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1985–86 First Division 9th Fourth round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1986–87 First Division 5th Third round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1987–88 First Division 6th Fourth round Second round Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1988–89 First Division 4th Third round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1989–90 First Division 2nd Third round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1990–91 First Division 2nd Fourth round Second round Challenge Cup
Second round
Unknown Unknown
1991–92 Premier Division 7th Runners-up Semi-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1992–93 Premier Division 12th Third round Second round
Unknown Unknown
1993–94[g] First Division 3rd[h] Quarter-final Third round Challenge Cup
Quarter-final
Unknown Unknown
1994–95[i] First Division 4th Runners-up Semi-final Challenge Cup
Winners
Unknown Unknown
1995–96[i] First Division 8th Quarter-final Semi-final
Unknown Unknown
1996–97[i] First Division 2nd[j] Third round Third round Challenge Cup
Second round
Unknown Unknown
1997–98[i] First Division 4th Third round Third round Challenge Cup
Quarter-final
Unknown Unknown
1998–99[k] First Division 4th Third round Semi-final Lanarkshire Cup winners[l] Unknown Unknown
1999–2000 First Division 9th Third round Second round Challenge Cup
Second round
Unknown Unknown
2000–01 First Division 8th Fourth round Third round Challenge Cup
Winners
Unknown Unknown
2001–02 First Division 2nd Third round Third round Challenge Cup
Winners
Unknown Unknown
2002–03 Club dissolved.
Clydebank F.C. (seasons) rebranded as Airdrie United (seasons) to represent the community.
  1. ^ First season playing home matches at Broomfield Park.
  2. ^ a b c d League goals only; top scorer in division.[7]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l The Scottish Cup was not held in the 1914–15, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18 or 1918–19 seasons due to World War I, or the 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1944–45 or 1945–46 seasons due to World War II.[8]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g The official Scottish Football League was suspended from 1939 to 1946 due to World War II. Unofficial competitions were held.
  5. ^ The first round tie against Stranraer was rearranged 33 times due to inclement weather during the winter of 1962–63 in the United Kingdom.[11]
  6. ^ The teams placed 11th–18th were relegated to the new First Division, below a new Premier Division and above a new Second Division.
  7. ^ Last season playing home matches at Broomfield Park.
  8. ^ The teams placed 8th–12th were relegated to the Second Division, with a new Third Division below.
  9. ^ a b c d Home matches played at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld.
  10. ^ Lost in a promotion play-off.
  11. ^ First season playing home matches at Excelsior Stadium.
  12. ^ The Scottish Challenge Cup was not held in the 1998–99 season.

League performance summary

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The Scottish Football League was founded in 1890 and, other than during seven years of hiatus during World War II,[a] the national top division has been played every season since.[b] The following is a summary of Airdrieonians' divisional status until their dissolution in 2002:

  • 105 total eligible seasons
  • 60 seasons in top level[c]
  • 41 seasons in second level[d]
  • 0 seasons in third level[e]
  • 0 seasons in fourth level[f]
  • 4 seasons not involved – before club was league member
  1. ^ The incomplete 1939–40 edition has not been counted in the totals.
  2. ^ The top tier became the Scottish Premier League in 1998, and all four divisions became the Scottish Professional Football League in 2013.
  3. ^ Has existed between 1890–1939, and since 1946.
  4. ^ Has existed between 1893–1915, 1921–1939 and since 1946.
  5. ^ Has existed between 1923–1926, 1946–1949, and since 1976.
  6. ^ Has existed since 1994.

References

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  1. ^ "Airdrieonians". Historical football kits. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Airdrie closest yet to closure". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 February 2001. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Airdrie retain Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 October 2001. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  4. ^ "End of the line for Airdrie". The Scotsman. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Airdrie buy Bankies". BBC. 9 July 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Airdrie United change name to Airdrieonians following Scottish FA approval". STV News. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Scotland - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Scottish Cup - Past Winners". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Victory Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Summer Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Ayr cup switch appeal is rejected". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b c "Drybrough Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 20 August 2018.

Sources

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