Section B

Section B are a group of football supporters who follow Airdrieonians FC, and before the current clubs formation in 2002, followed the original Airdrieonians FC. The group, formed in 1977, have been well known throughout Scottish football for their boisterous, vociferous and often violent behaviour for nearly 40 years. The group is widely regarded as one of the most violent gangs in Scotland.^[1]

Section B have featured in several publications over the years, including The Idler Book Of Crap Towns II (2004), Hooligans^[2] (September 2005 & updated September 2007), and Front Magazine (February 2006).

Formation

During the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s the town of Airdrie often witnessed hooliganism and misbehaviour in and around the old Broomfield stadium where Airdrieonians played. The larger clubs — namely Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs, would have an element of their support that would often cause bother with the local fans. Section B were formed as a direct response to this threat, and were originally made up of an amalgamation of smaller groups of gangs from around the town. This diverse mixture combined punks, mods and others.

Contrary to popular belief, Section B were not named after the area of terracing where they mainly stood, but in tribute to a local punk band by the same name who were active at the time. This is acknowledged commercially via a Section B website.

In the last few years Section B have attended the more important and significant games (and clashes with rivals where the football clubs are not meeting) where numbers can still attain 50-80 plus, and on occasion as high as 100 or more.

Activity

In 2006 Airdrie fan Izak Cowie became the first person in Scotland banned from every football ground in the UK.^[1] Airdrie fan Ian Bear received a 5-year banning order after being charged with making Nazi salutes and challenging rival fans to fights in Paisley in March 2006.^[3] In April 2013 they were involved in a fight with rival fans where a policeman was seriously assaulted (see Ayr Utd, below), with an Airdrie fan subsequently jailed for 3 years in November 2014. Following an incident against a player at Station Park, Forfar in April 2015 (see Forfar Athletic, below) 4 Airdrie fans (including Ian Bear who had received a previous banning order - see above) were due to appear in court charged with various offences (including 3 for assault) in August 2015.

Along with clashes with Celtic Soccer Crew, Aberdeen Soccer Casuals and several others hooligan groups, Section B have been involved in many incidents throughout the years:

Albion Rovers:

• At Cliftonhill the game was stopped twice with around 50-70 Section B storming the home support. At the time the riot made the front page of The Glasgow Herald (1983).
• Fighting broke out in the Cliftonhill ground at half time.^[4] (July 2010).
• Section B wall and pitch graffiti were reported by local press at Cliftonhill pre-derby clash (March 2012).^[5]

Ayr Utd:

• Pitch invasion, crossbar snapping and subsequent abandonment of the game at Somerset Park (May 2002).
• ASC (Ayr Service Crew) at Airdrie with 1 Airdrie fan arrested (October 2009).
• Fighting in Airdrie town centre with Ayr United^[6] ASC (March 2011).
• 1 policeman is seriously assaulted and 9 are arrested as a total of 60 Section B and ASC battle near Coatbridge town centre (April 2013).^[7] Following this incident, police make 20 further arrests in Ayrshire in June 2013.
• Police intervene after scuffles between security/stewards and 10-15 Section B at Somerset Park during a league game (November 2015).

Bury:

• Section B are charged at by mounted police in Lancashire (October 1980).

Clydebank:

• Section B caused trouble in The Atlantis pub on Kilbowie Road. This incident was reported in The Clydebank Post (1991).

Dumbarton:

• Some Section B came on to the park and challenged the celebrating Dumbarton fans at the end of the play-off final in Airdrie. They were escorted off the park by stewards (May 2012).

Dundee:

• 60-70 Section B faced the Dundee Utility Crew outside McDiarmid Park in Perth after a B&Q Cup Final game (November 1994)).
• 60-70 Section B caused disorder and tried to engage with the Utility after the game in Airdrie (February 2006).
• Police tried (and failed) to keep around 50 plus Section B in New Broomfield stadium at the end of the game — Section B rushed the police and the scene was captured on camera (May 2006).

Dunfermline Athletic:

• After a controversial Skol Cup game at Tynecastle Park Edinburgh, 40-50 Section B vandalized cars and smashed windows of a pub (September 1991).
• 100 Section B in Fife and the police locked in the home fans at the end of the game (April 2006).
• Dunfermline CSS (Carnegie Soccer Service) met Section B after the end of the game in Airdrie (November 2009).
• Fighting in the stadium bar at Airdrie before the game (May 2010).

Falkirk:

• 50 travelled to meet around 30 Falkirk Fear — the fight was captured on CCTV.(March 2002).
• Minor confrontations after league games (Falkirk — January, Airdrie — March 2013).

Forfar Athletic:

• Some Airdrie fans invade Station Park pitch at the end of a league game to confront goalkeeper Rab Douglas (April 2015).

Gretna:

• Section B were involved in a racial incident at Gretna^[8] (September 2006).

Hamilton:

• Running battles with Hamilton's ACF (Accies Casual Force) near New Douglas Park (March 2007).

Hibs:

• The Hibs team bus is attacked in Airdrie (1978).
• After a Cup game Section B clash with the CCS (Capital City Service) (March 1992).
• Fighting around Easter Road with the CCS (Capital City Service) after a play-off tie (May 1997).

Kilmarnock:

• After the game a group of Kilmarnock Paninaro are charged at outside Rugby Park, with 2 Airdrie fans arrested (September 2002).

Morton:

• Around 100 Section B taunted the Greenock fans at New Broomfield, with a few fans trading blows with Morton MSC (Morton Soccer Crew) on the pitch at the end of the game (May 2007).

Motherwell:

• Section B had a major clash with local rivals Motherwell's SS (Saturday Service)^[9] (January 2007).
• Confrontation with the SS at the annual central Scotland Apprentice Boys of Derry parade which was being held in Airdrie that year.(May 2007).

Partick Thistle:

• A pitched battle and mass brawl with Partick Thistle^[10] NGE (North Glasgow Express) (May 2009).

Rangers:

• 20-25 Section B are prevented by police from leaving the outside of New Broomfield and escorted to the town centre after league matches with Rangers (August 2013, January 2014).

Ross County:

• 2 Airdrie fans are charged with vandalizing McDiarmid Park stadium in Perth at a Challenge Cup Final game (November 2008).

Sparta Prague:

• 150 travelled to the Czech Republic and clashed with Sparta hooligans before and after the game (1992).

St. Johnstone:

• Whilst trying to engage with the FCF (Fair City Firm) 2 Airdrie fans were arrested outside McDiarmid Park (March 2006).

St. Mirren:

• The LSD (Love Street Division) were in Airdrie for a cup final v Hamilton and fought with Section B (November 2005).
• Fighting in Paisley town centre with St Mirren^[11] LSD (March 2006).

External links

• http://www.sectionb.co.uk/

References