Excelsior Stadium (Airdrie)

The Excelsior Stadium, is a football stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the home ground of Airdrieonians of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). Since the 2021–22 season it has also been used by Celtic for the home matches of their women’s team in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) and B team in the Scottish Lowland Football League, as well as by Glasgow University F.C. of the West of Scotland Football League.

General information

Arena capacity: 10,101 spectators

Address: Craigneuk Avenue, Airdrie, ML6 8QZ

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 55°51′35.09″N 3°57′35.11″W

Year of construction: 1998

Field: 3G artificial pitch lawn with dimensions of 115 × 75 yds

Seating plan of Excelsior Stadium

The Excelsior Stadium is a smart looking all seated ground comprising four separate, single tiered, covered stands. The Jack Dalziel Stand (named after a former Airdrieonians Chairman) at one side of the pitch, is the largest of the four stands. Impressive looking, it has a row of executive boxes running across the back. The other three stands are of an equal height which gives the ground a balanced look. The corners of the ground are open apart from the tall floodlights. The Club plays on an artificial 3G pitch.

The modern ground is certainly an excellent one and the facilities available are not bad. However, the atmosphere generated within the ground can be quite lacking at times. For most games the ground is only a quarter full and just a couple of stands (and for some games only one stand) are open. It would be great to return to this ground to see a game in front of a full house, as that would then do it justice.

Away fans are normally located in the East Stand at one side of the pitch. Dependant on away numbers, you may find only the portion of the West Stand allocated (this stand is shared with home supporters) or just the East Stand, or both. In the event that the Club were to draw one of the Old Firm sides, then the Club would give their maximum allocation of away seats (6,500), comprising all the stadium apart from the West Stand.

How to get there?

Celtic Park is accessible from a range of motorways, rail stations and bus networks. This page is designed to help you navigate your way to Paradise on a matchday. We hope you find this useful and wish you a safe and memorable trip to Celtic Park.

Leave the M8 at Junction 6, the Newhouse Junction and take the A73 towards Cumbernauld. After two miles turn right into Petersburn Road (B8058) and you will see the ground over on the left. There is a fair-sized car park at the ground, which costs £2. Away fans have their own entrance to the car park, which is signposted on approaching the ground. Allow extra time for your journey as the access roads around Airdrie do tend to get quite clogged up.

By Train

The closest railway station to the ground is Drumgelloch which is just over a mile away, whilst Airdrie station is a around 1.5.miles away. Both stations are served by Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh.

As you come out of the main entrance at Airdrie station, turn left along Broomknoll Street, proceeding under the railway bridge. At the roundabout turn right and go along the A89. At the next roundabout turn left, still proceeding along the A89 and then at the next roundabout turn right onto Graham Street (still the A89). After around half a mile you will reach another roundabout which is the junction with the A73, turn right onto the A73 Carlisle Road and the ground is down this road on the left.

From Drumgelloch station, proceed up to the top of the station car park and exit in the top left corner. A minor road leads to Forrest Street. Turn left and go straight along Forrest Street until you reach another roundabout which is the junction with the A73. Turn left onto the A73 Carlisle Road and the ground is down this road on the left.

Where to eat and drink?

There is a supporter’s bar at the ground, within the Jack Dalziel Stand. Otherwise, the nearest pub is the Albert Bar on Clark Street, which is a good ten minutes walk away from the Excelsior Stadium.

Facilities

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 (Joseph Dalziel) stand. Disabled facilities are also provided in the North, East and South stands. A Sports Injury Clinic operates from the main stand and Crossfit have a fitness facility operating out of the North 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 perimeter of the stadium and land.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, a new 3G artificial surface was installed. Although due for completion prior to season 2010–11, in July Airdrie United played their opening 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 14 August 2010, as Airdrie entertained Ayr United.

Accessibility

Celtic Football Club is committed to the needs of disabled people in obtaining safe and secure access to the premises and enjoying the experience and services they offer. This section details the facilities available on a matchday.

Parking

The Celtic Disabled Supporters Association (CDSA) allocate all matchday parking spaces for blue badge holders at Celtic Park. Carparks are located between the East Stand and the Lisbon Lions 2 car park (enter via “ES 27” area on map above), and an area of the Jock Stein Upper coach park.

The CDSA carry out a ballot on a match-by-match basis, and this is mainly carried out by email. Please email: [email protected] for more information or call. Please note the car parks close 1-hour prior to kick-off. Away supporters should email [email protected] or call the above number at least 72 hours prior to kick-off. Further details can be found at on the CDSA website.

Toilets

There are 23 accessible toilets throughout Celtic Park, all toilets have the following facilities:

• Toilet and sink grab rails
• Accessible Lever Flush
• Backrest
• Emergency assistance alarm fitted to floor level

The green circles on the stadium map shows where the accessible toilets are located within the Stadium.

Changing

Celtic Park became the first football stadium in Scotland to install a Changing Places toilet – a facility that improves the provision for disabled supporters at the stadium. The Changing Places toilet, housed within the North Stand at Celtic Park, has the following features:

• Larger than a standard disabled toilet
• Height-adjustable changing bench
• A hoist
• Room for a wheelchair, the user and carers

Standard accessible toilets often do not meet the needs of all people with a disability. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use toilets safely and comfortably.

Superstore

The Celtic Superstore is located at the Celtic Way and is open 7 days a week, including post-match on a home match day. The superstore has automatic doors, a low-level serving counter and staff on hand to assist. On a non-matchday there are accessible parking bays available in the Celtic Superstore car park.

Kiosks

There are low level counter kiosks located on the North West Viewing Platform (TBV), the South Stand next to Gate 2 and also the North Stand Lower. There are alternative menu formats available at the kiosks in both braille and large print.

Lifts

There are five accessible entrances into the stadium, which allow ground level access to accessible seating areas together with lift access. The entrances are open one and a half hours prior to kick-off. Stewards will assist with entry and all tickets will be checked here with readers.

• Entry Gate 2 – This provides access to the South Stand accessible seating area
• Entry Gate NS 1 – This provides access to the North Stand (West) accessible seating areas
• Entry Gate ES27 – This provides access to the North Stand (East) accessible seating areas
• Entry Gate 1 – This provides access to the accessible seating areas in the Lisbon Lion Lower Stand
• Entry Gate 35 – This provides lift access to the elevated positions located in area 419 of the Lisbon Lion Upper Stand. Please take the lift to level
• North West Platform – Enter via Janefield Street West and take the lift to level 3
• Area 437 Jock Stein Upper – Enter via the Kerrydale Suite entrance and take the lift to level 5

Stewards

There are dedicated Accessibility Stewards and these can be identified by high visibility jackets marked “Disabled Assist” on the back. The Accessibility Stewards will be on hand before, during and after the game to ensure you make the most of your matchday experience.

Commentary

Audio descriptive commentary is available to supporters in the South Stand’s Visually Impaired Section and across the stadium to any supporter who requires access. Please email [email protected] for further information and to arrange an audio box.

Sensory Room

Situated in Celtic Park’s east stand and overlooking the pitch, The Lions’ View Sensory Room is a free of charge, safe space for children and young people living with auditory, visual or sensory disorders, including autism and similar conditions.

Supporters interested in accessing The Lions’ View Sensory Room on a matchday, or learning more about the facility, should contact [email protected]

Ticket Office

There is an accessible counter within the Celtic Park Ticket Office for any ticketing enquiries, for details on ticket availablity for the accessible seating areas, please visit the Accessible Tickets page. Please note, there is a very limited number of tickets available for home matches and priority will be given to those on the accessible season book waiting list.

Qualifying For Tickets

All supporters with a disability/access requirement should complete and submit this Personal Requirement Application Form giving details of all access/exit support requirements. Disabled supporters have the opportunity to purchase individual match tickets, which are subject to availability. Proof of disability may be required for supporters wishing to purchase tickets in any of the accessible areas. To qualify for accessible seating the supporter must have a higher rate of DLA or enhanced rate of PIP.

Assistants

Seats are available for personal assistants within the accessible seating areas for supporters who require assistance. If you are an ambulant disabled supporter attending the game, you can enter the stadium through specified gates (as shown on the map) instead of the turnstile entry points. Accessibility Stewards will be on hand to assist.

History

The stadium was opened in 1998 by the original Airdrieonians F.C., who were returning to Airdrie four years after leaving their previous ground, Broomfield Park. The name of the stadium derives from Airdrieonians’ original name, the club having been founded as Excelsior F.C. in 1878. Originally known as the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium (after Shyberry Design Ltd. who had sponsored the construction), the stadium is also sometimes unofficially referred to as New Broomfield, after the former Airdrie ground. Following the liquidation of the original Airdrieonians in 2002, the Excelsior Stadium became home to the new Airdrie United F.C.; they subsequently revived the Airdrieonians name.