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Excelsior Stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Excelsior Stadium | |
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| New Broomfield | |
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| Location |  Craigneuk AvenueAirdrie North Lanarkshire Scotland UK |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Owner | North Lanarkshire Council |
| Operator | "Airdrieonians Football Club" |
| Surface | Grass 115 yds by 75 yds |
| Former names |
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| Tenants | |
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(Scottish Second Division) |
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| Capacity | |
The Excelsior Stadium 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
This stadium is also used by Celtic FC's reserve squads.
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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.
The record attendance at New Broomfield was that of the Challenge Cup Final between Hamilton Academical and St Mirren which took place on the 6th of November, 2005. 9,612 spectators attended the game, which St Mirren won 2-1. New Broomfield is the highest altitude stadium in Scotland at 408 feet above sea level
As of Thursday 19th October 2006, management of the stadium is under the control of a new company called "Airdrieonians Football Club", which is owned by the directors of Airdrie United Football Club.
The ground seats 10,171 and, as well as Airdrie United home games, has also played host to Scottish Challenge Cup finals, as well as Scotland Under-21 fixtures and Old Firm reserve matches.
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 The Mercedes Sports bar being situated within the Jack Dalziel Stand.
Disabled facilities are also provided in the North, East and South Stands
Stadium Director: Alistair Cameron
Commercial Manager: Morna Watkins
New Broomfield can be reached via the following routes:
There is a train from Glasgow Queen Street train station to Airdrie train station every 15 minutes. From the Station beyond Airdrie, Drumgelloch, there is a a train every 30 minutes.
No 201 from Airdrie Town Centre
From Glasgow or Edinburgh leave the M8 at Newhouse junction (A73) and the stadium is 2 1/2 miles north of Newhouse. From Cumbernauld, the stadium is 6 miles south on the A73.
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