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New Broomfield is the home of Airdrie United F.C. of the Scottish Football League First Division and previously of Airdrieonians for whom it was originally built. The ground is named as such as a tribute to the fact that Airdrieonians began life as Excelsior Football Club in 1878. When the stadium first opened it was officially titled Shyberry Excelsior Stadium (”Shyberry” being the company who sponsored the stadium when it first opened). Now though even the name Excelsior Stadium is rarely used by Airdrie United supporters as well as opposing fans and even the media as the stadium has instead come to be referred to as New Broomfield which is more palatable from an Airdrie perspective due to its association with the former home of Airdrieonians; Broomfield Park.

History

Following the sale of Airdrieonians’ home ground (Broomfield Park) to large supermarket chain Safeway in 1994, the club searched for several years for a suitable site, and planning permission for, a new home. The motive for the move was to build a stadium that would allow the club entry to Scottish Premier League (Clubs were required to have a stadium with a seating capacity of at least ten thousand). The Building work on Excelsior Stadium was eventually completed in 1998 and Airdrieonians played here until the club went out of business due to heavy debts in May 2002. This left an opening in the Scottish League, which was filled by English UniBond League side Gretna F.C..

To attain a position in the league, the Airdrie United F.C. owner, Jim Ballatyne, bought out the ailing Clydebank F.C., and changed their name and strip and relocated the side to Airdrie. It should be noted that ownership of the stadium lies with the local North Lanarkshire Council rather than the club itself.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

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Airdrie United FC official website
wikipedia entry
The Scottish FA
The Scottish Football League
Football Ringtones
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