DiamondDownSouth

Is this an omen? (aka more meaningless trivia from me): In 1980 we were promoted to the Premier League 11 years later, in 1991, we were promoted to the Premier League 11 years later, in 2002, we (cough) transitioned to Airdrie United. We were pretty much a shoe-in for promotion to the Premier League until things unravelled that season 11 years later, in 2013, we were renamed Airdrieonians and were relegated to League One, where we stayed until last season In 2024 it is 11 years later and we are within touching distance of the Premiership play-offs...

20. LATENIGHTPASS, Odds: 25-1 Worth a flutter in tomorrow's Grand National?

Completely pointless of course but for what it's worth here's a mini-table based on league games so far this season between Airdrie, Dundee Utd & Raith: Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points Airdrieonians 6 3 1 2 10 Raith Rovers 6 2 2 2 8 Dundee United 6 2 1 3 7

Very sad news. Ian McMillan was the Airdrie manager in the early '70s when my dad started taking me to Airdrie games. Their swashbuckling and never say die attitude, instilled by the manager, endeared us to the club and led us to become lifelong supporters. RIP

Agree with your post Airdrie76 - would only add that the through ball for Hearts second goal was positively McCabeesque! A few thoughts from me not really picked up elsewhere. Firstly, credit to both sets of players and the officials for the spirit in which the match was played and refereed - all the big decisions were correct (I don't think the challenge on Telfer was a foul) and not a single yellow card. Next, the Hearts fans in the south stand supported their team magnificently, never stopping singing all match. And finally Liam McLeod was an absolutely superb commentator. Not only did he know all our players and their histories, but he knew their positions, their strengths & weaknesses, who was on form etc. Clearly the BBC researchers had done their job and he had read his brief - it was just like listening to AndyDD!

Delighted for Dycey to get player of the match as I love big, solid centre halves like Allan McManus, or for those of a certain age Jim March. I thought McCabe was absolutely outstanding yesterday - he hardly ever wastes a ball and can find an Airdrie player even when under intense pressure. Telfer again bossed the midfield, including keeping Easton in check, but the other player I would particularly pick out was McGregor. I was a bit sceptical of him at the start of the season but he has really developed and even after 90 minutes of solid running was harrying the Raith backline. His commitment to the cause and fitness are incredible.

Watching on DTV what a great, full-blooded contest - it took me back to the games of about 50 years ago! It is so good to be enjoying games like these after 10 years in the wilderness that is League One. Charlie Telfer thoroughly deserved to be Airdrie's MoM too.

What a performance and what a result - both teams got exactly what they deserved. Last 16 here we come!

A few years back Dunfermline made an illegal approach to at least one of our players (Joe Cardle?). When the then manager Kenny Black found out he understandably blew a gasket and dropped the player(s) in question due to their lack of commitment to Airdrie and they eventually left before the season end. In the meantime we obviously reported DAFC- can anyone on here remember this and what the outcome was?

My thoughts on where we are, for what it is worth. Firstly, the squad. It was recognised by all of us that at the start of the season, we needed to strengthen, and in particular the defense. Rhys brought in the three Hibs loanees plus Hancock and replaced Smith & Devenny with Todorov & McStavrick. Megwa, Aiken and Hancock have been brilliant, along with Ballantyne, Watson and Fordyce, so the defense is sorted. There may be the odd error that leads to a goal, but that is true of any team at any level in any country. In attack, McGill seems to have gone off the boil, Todorov has yet to produce and none of McStavrick, O'Connor or McGregor are the finished article. Gallagher for me has been a brilliant servant to the club and in years to come will be looked back upon as an Aidrie legend. Without service he can't do it all alone up front and I think Rhys's idea against Morton when he subbed on Todorov & O'Connor was to either put balls behind the defense for O'Connor to run on to and pass to Tod, or to Tod to knock down for O'Connor to run on to. This didn't work and highlights what we need in January: someone to create opportunities plus someone to put the ball in the net, either alongside Gallagher or as an alternative. When you look back at where we have come from in the past 12 months, and are now competing easily with teams like Morton compared to when they gubbed us in the play-offs a couple of years ago, I am enjoying where we are. Remember that if we end up 8th with 40 points that means something like 10 wins, 10 draws and 16 defeats so that won't always feel good. Rhys has a huge football brain and is well aware of what needs to be done and I am confident will do it - he had a real twinkle in his eye when he said Diamonds fans should look forward to 2024!

He was also key to our '75 cup final goal against Celtic by using his body to protect/ create space for McCann. RIP - a true Airdrie legend.

Agree with this. Every game should be treated the same, and not targetting any particular teams, especially at this time of the season

From the BBC website: "It's not every day you see an Airdrie top in the middle of an away end in Cyprus. But, there you go." Photo is in the next post.

And yet here you are...