Young fans hold key to Airdrie United's future

Jun 17 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

WILLIE MARSHALL says the Airdrie United Supporters’ Trust will attempt to secure the club’s future fan base by tapping into the youth market.

Members held a meeting on Sunday as they look ahead to next season and identify areas and projects that may benefit the Diamonds and the town.

And Willie revealed the launch of a new supporters’ club for young fans is at the top of their summer priority list.

He told the Advertiser: “We are a group that tries to attract people from the wider community as well as football supporters.

“We are hoping the new junior fan club will encourage the youngsters in the town to support the team and allow us to get them involved at an early age.”

Some of the benefits of the scheme would see the young Diamonds offered the chance of meeting the players and becoming a matchday mascot.

The creation of a junior fans’ club extends the trust’s involvement with Monklands’ youth as they currently organise the Airdrie & Coatbridge Schools’ Cup and a kids’ Christmas party.

The trust was set up six years ago following the demise of the original Diamonds and has a membership of 108.

Willie added: “The catalyst for the forming of the trust was the club going bust, and when we re-formed, we wanted to do what we could to prevent something like that happening again.”

Like a growing number of trusts across the UK, Airdrie have a presence on the club board with chairman Veronica MacGregor the fans’ representative.

The trust also have a five per cent share in the club and have donated a whopping £38,500 in funds since 2003.

Ongoing football-related commitments include the running of the annual player-of-the-year awards and Hall of Fame ceremony.

A number of events have been arranged over the years in a bid to generate funds and appeal to the wider community of Airdrie and those who don’t follow their local team all that closely.

Trust members also took to their heels in April and raised cash for the Diamonds’ youth development section and St Andrew’s Hospice by walking all the way to Dundee for a league match.

This followed on from a previous excursion which saw a group of fans negotiate the West Highland Way in a sponsored walk.

With Airdrie playing second division football next season, and an expectation of lower attendances, it could be argued that the trust has a key role to play in helping to raise the Diamonds’ profile.

Willie said: “It is going to be a difficult season but we need to do more to encourage people in the town to support the local club.”