Airdrieonians are undergoing a summer rebuild. Ben Wilson, last season’s top scorer with 17 goals in 46 appearances, was snapped up in a reported £200,000 deal by The New Saints. Adding to the turnover, club captain Adam Frizzell also opted to end his stay at the Penny Cars Stadium after four years and 169 appearances for the Diamonds. Those are two significant departures – without even considering the exits of Lewis McGregor, Mason Hancock, and Craig Watson.
To fill those voids, the club has turned to some familiar Championship names. Euan Henderson is a forward with proven experience across the Scottish leagues, known for his pace, movement, and goal threat. He made 39 appearances during his six years at Hearts but failed to establish himself in the first team. Notably, he spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Alloa Athletic, where he delivered an impressive return of 14 goals in 28 appearances as Alloa made a late charge for the playoffs. After leaving Tynecastle in 2023, Henderson joined Hamilton Academical, where he featured 80 times and scored 13 goals. Although Alloa expressed interest in re-signing him, Henderson chose to remain in full-time Championship football, completing his move to Airdrieonians in June.
Fellow Hamilton teammates Jamie Barjonas – who also racked up over 80 appearances for Accies – and veteran defender Sean McGinty have also made the switch across Lanarkshire to join Rhys McCabe’s side. Alex King returned to Scottish football as well, with the former Greenock Morton midfielder ending a short six-month stint at Crusaders in Northern Ireland.
It hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Alloa in Airdrie in recent years. You’d have to go back to 2020 for their last win at the, then named, Excelsior Stadium, when Alan Trouten and Robert Thomson scored in a routine 2-0 victory under Peter Grant. Since then, the home side has dominated this fixture. In their promotion-winning season, the Diamonds swept aside Alloa 4-0 and 2-0, with the Wasps struggling to cope with McCabe’s free-flowing style.
Has this team rediscovered that exciting brand of football? On recent evidence, the answer looks like yes. Airdrie confidently claimed a 3-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose, earned a statement victory away to Dundee at Dens Park, and saw off Montrose 2-1 on Wednesday night to return to the top of the table. That sets up a decisive showdown with Alloa on Saturday. The winner – whether in normal time or via penalties – will progress as Group C champions. As for the runner-up, nine points will almost certainly not be enough for Alloa to sneak through as one of the best second-placed sides, though Airdrie could still have an outside chance of advancing via the three “lucky loser” spots.
