Short review of 2003/2004


By Chris Mac
June 19 2004

A short review of the season from a few points of view. Has 2003/2004 been a success only you the fans of Airdrie and the supporters Trust can decide?


 

Final Standings!

 

Airdrie

  

 

 

 

 

 

After the fiasco of last season at Stranrear Airdrie are back where most of us feel we belong, the SPHell is a dream that most of us think we will achieve some day but when and whether we will say there can be dealt with in time.
For now we look forward to life in the Bells First Division and matches against Partick Thistle/Inverness, St Mirren, Falkirk, Clyde and St Johnstone to name a few.
Every season has it's ups and down and this season was no different, in fact if it wasn't for one of those down matches, the 1-0 defeat at home to Arbroath Sandy Stewart and the back room staff may not have been in a job. But it was that defeat by a mediocre team that forced them to sit down and look at things directly and so the revolution began.
In came Owen Coyle, with help from the Supporters Trust, Kevin Christie, Paul Lovering and a young lad who's name I think is Willie McLaren and suddenly the Diamonds began to shine, now eighteen games unbeaten and we are Champions and having fun while were at it.
I'm not sure how many fans would admit it, but I think we have became a sullen lot over the past five years and with good cause, thoughts that everyone is out to get us still echo in the messages on the Stomp and will for a while yet.
But times are good and every one of us should enjoy them while we can, in fact I'm sure the bars in Airdrie, especially the Double A, West End Bar and Broomfield Tavern are due a great amount of thanks for all there support and relaxed manner they have let the team and fans mix. If no-one else has said it.

 Thank you all.

 

 

 

By: Chris MacMillan  

 

 

 Airdrie Team Of the Season Line Up

 

 

 

Mark McGeown
Willie Wilson, Alan McManus, Neil McGowan, Paul Lovering
Jerome Vareille, Stephen Docherty, David Dunn, Willie McLaren
Owen Coyle, Alan Gow

Subs: Kevin Christie, Martin Glancy, Marvin Wilson, Scott Wilson, Mark Roberts, Paul Ronald

I have selected a team that was possibly our strongest through out the season and it was very difficult to drop a few of the players to the bench I will let you have your own thoughts on that. Paul Ronald is in there for two reasons, he sacrificed himself for the good of the team moving to Dumbarton on good terms and scoring the first goal against Morton.

 

 

 Prediciton League

 

 

 

It has been a good competition and as I managed to pick up some of the early bonus points it put me ahead for most of the season, there are some fans who know what it's like to be so far ahead in a competition and then to lose it at the death.

Position

Name

Wk 44

points

Wk 45

1

EIM

170

13

183

2

Chris Mac

177

3

180

3

Techno

167

3

170

4

Ceefax

161

3

164

5

Pat B

152

10

162

 

So well done EIM, for stealing my new Airdrie top at the death, how am I going to persuade my Mrs to buy me two, Seriously well done and it was nice meeting you in Weatherspoons last weekend. Sorry I had to call the night short.

 

 

 

 Airdrie V Head To Heads season 2003/2004

 

 

No. Date Ven Opponent Result Attend
1 09-Aug-03 A Morton L 1-3 3,806
2 16-Aug-03 H Alloa Athletic W 1-0 1,445
3 23-Aug-03 A Hamilton Academical L 1-2 2,007
4 30-Aug-03 H Dumbarton W 2-0 1,468
5 13-Sep-03 A East Fife L 1-3 885
6 20-Sep-03 H Arbroath W 2-1 1,385
7 27-Sep-03 A Berwick Rangers W 1-0 732
8 04-Oct-03 A Forfar Athletic D 1-1 650
9 11-Oct-03 A Alloa Athletic W 4-1 636
10 18-Oct-03 H Stenhousemuir W 2-0 1,406
11 01-Nov-03 H Morton L 1-6 3,159
12 08-Nov-03 H East Fife D 1-1 1,418
13 16-Nov-03 A Dumbarton L 0-2 1,361
14 02-Dec-03 A Arbroath D 1-1 405
15 06-Dec-03 H Berwick Rangers D 1-1 1,254
16 13-Dec-03 H Forfar Athletic D 3-3 1,074
17 27-Dec-03 A Stenhousemuir W 1-0 1,243
18 24-Jan-04 H Arbroath L 0-1 1,267
19 07-Feb-04 A East Fife W 1-0 793
20 14-Feb-04 H Dumbarton D 1-1 1,379
21 21-Feb-04 H Stenhousemuir W 4-0 1,324
22 02-Mar-04 H Hamilton Academical W 3-0 1,634
23 06-Mar-04 H Alloa Athletic W 2-1 1,542
24 09-Mar-04 A Morton D 1-1 3,252
25 13-Mar-04 A Hamilton Academical W 1-0 2,559
26 16-Mar-04 A Berwick Rangers D 1-1 502
27 23-Mar-04 A Forfar Athletic W 3-1 710
28 27-Mar-04 A Dumbarton W 2-1 1,536
29 31-Mar-04 H East Fife W 2-1 1,597
30 03-Apr-04 H Berwick Rangers W 6-0 1,546
31 10-Apr-04 A Arbroath W 4-0 1,074
32 17-Apr-04 A Stenhousemuir W 3-0 1,475
33 24-Apr-04 H Forfar Athletic D 2-2 1,959
34 01-May-04 H Hamilton Academical D 1-1 2,936
35 08-May-04 A Alloa Athletic W 1-0 1,635
36 15-May-04 H Morton W 2-0 5,709

 

 

 

 

 Supporters Trust

 

 

I have a personal Interest in saying that I think the Airdrie United Supporters Trust has been a success for this season but it is not those who do the work that really get to say whether it has or has not been a success.

It is you the supporters who enjoy all the hard work that gets to decide, we can only do our best  and take our lead from you.

Our aims this season were three fold build on the membership and support the football club, set up events that everyone can enjoy and bring the local population in to the club we love.

Have we done this?

The First : Our AGM will be coming up shortly and this will be the test of the membership as for supporting the club our investment in Owen Coyle has paid dividends  we were not the only group to help finance this bid and thanks must go to them all.

The second we have had three events, a race night , 70's night and the player of the year night well I enjoyed them did you?

Involving the local community: The United Schools Cup has been a massive challenge for us all and something you would have thought would be easy probably took the most effort. Our initial plans were to resurrect the original competition this was never going to happen. We met obstacles at every step from the council and the schools. New competition rules mean primary schools cannot compete in these events.

So we had to bend and change our plans and our next option was to go for secondary schools having three in Airdrie was going to make the competition a non event, so what were our choices? Eight Secondary schools in Airdrie and Coatbridge were invited and the finals were held last weekend with St Ambrose beating Chryston on a penalty shoot out.

A few or the boys have also been offered trials with the club so a success, only those who entered and watched the games will know.

 

 

 Prediction

Season 2004/2005 what do we need to do, we need to finish 8th at worst and maybe forth will give us promotion to the SPhell,, will one season in the first division make us strong enough to proceed?

Who knows it will be a case of taking one game at time and I'm sure Sandy and Kenny have learnt a massive  lesson this season and will realise that if changes need made, they can make them and not be afraid of having to do so.

The learning process continues for us all and development is the main aim.

Tell us what you want and we will see what we can do.