Excelsior Stadium

Excelsior Stadium
New Broomfield
Location in North Lanarkshire
Location	Airdrie
Coordinates	55°51′35.09″N 3°57′35.11″W / 55.8597472°N 3.9597528°W / 55.8597472; -3.9597528
Opened	1998
Surface	3G artificial pitch
Capacity	10,171 (all seated)
Field dimensions	115 × 75 yds
Tenants
Airdrie United FC

The Excelsior Stadium is the home of Airdrie United F.C. of the Scottish Football League Second Division. It was built in 1998 to house Airdrieonians F.C., and when Airdrieonians went into liquidation four years later, Airdrie United began playing their home games there.

When the stadium first opened it was officially titled Shyberry Excelsior Stadium ("Shyberry" being the company who sponsored the stadium when it first opened). The fans, and indeed sometimes the media often refer to the stadium 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 Northern Premier League side Gretna

To attain a position in the league, the Airdrie United owner, Jim Ballantyne, bought out the ailing Clydebank, and changed their name and strip and relocated the side to Airdrie.

The ground seats 10,171 and, as well as hosting Airdrie United first, youth and ladies team games, various local amateur sides and several charity events, it has also played host to a Scottish Challenge Cup final, as well as Scotland Under-21 fixtures and Old Firm reserve matches.

In 2003 Falkirk enquired about groundsharing at the stadium for a season, as their former home, Brockville did not meet SPL criteria. This was later rejected in a meeting between SPL chairmen, meaning Falkirk were denied a place in the SPL. In August 2008 it played host to Queen of the South's UEFA Cup 2nd qualifying round 1st leg against Nordsjælland. The stadium also hosted all of Motherwell's Europa League qualifying round ties in the 2009-10 season, against Llanelli, Flamurtari and Steaua Bucharest.^[1]

Since Airdrieonians FC went into liquidation, the ownership of the stadium has been in several hands. Currently the stadium is owned by a limited liability partnership called Excelsior Stadium LLP. The current stadium management company is called Excelsior Stadium Ltd. The Directors of Excelsior Stadium Limited incorporated a new company on 11 March 2011 called Broomfield Stadium Ltd. Excelsior Stadium Limited is currently active with the latest annual accounts due to be lodged at Companies House by 30 September 2011. The owners work in close co-operation with Airdrie United, with personnel involved in coaching youth players, along with various commercial and sponsorship initiatives.

Records and facts

The record attendance at New Broomfield was for the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final, played between Hamilton Academical and St. Mirren on 6 November 2005. 9,613 spectators attended the game, which St. Mirren won 2–1.

The highest attendance for an Airdrieonians match was 8,762 and this was set when Airdrie played against Celtic in a Scottish League Cup match on August 1998. Currently the highest attendance for an Airdrie United game is 5,924 and this was set during the Scottish Cup third round tie against Lanarkshire derby rivals Motherwell on January 2007.

Excelsior Stadium is the second highest altitude stadium in Scottish league football, at 124 metres above sea level, 3 metres below the highest, Clyde's Broadwood Stadium.

Facilities

View from Jack Dalziel stand toward South stand

In addition to the executive match-viewing boxes that look onto the pitch, the stadium boasts conference and banqueting facilities, with six separate spaces and a public bar being situated within the main (Jack Dalziel) stand. Disabled facilities are also provided in the North, East and South stands. A Sports Injury Clinic operates from the main stand.

Nine five-a-side football pitches were installed for community use in early 2010, adjacent to the stadium on the South stand side and to the East stand side. The car parks were resurfaced, and new fencing and gates were erected around the perimiter of the stadium and land.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, a new 3G artificial surface was installed.^[2] Although due for completion prior to season 2010-2011, in July Airdrie United played their opening Alba Challenge Cup 1st Round game v Ayr United at Alloa Athletic's Recreation Park ground, as the work had been delayed due to heavy rain. The first competitive game played on the new surface was on August 14, 2010, as Airdrie entertained Ayr United.

Stadium dimensions

References

1. ^ Miller, Stevie (5 August 2009). "Steaua's story". BBC Sport (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8184991.stm. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
2. ^ "Airdrie install artificial pitch at Excelsior Stadium". BBC Sport (BBC). 22 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/airdrie_united/8698763.stm. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 

External links

• Excelsior Stadium official website
• Airdrie United FC