Section B

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

Section B
Founding locationAirdrie, Scotland
Years active1977–present
TerritoryAirdrie
EthnicityMostly white Scottish
Membership (est.)80-100
Criminal activitiesFootball hooliganism and violent fighting

Section B have featured in several publications over the years, including The Idler Book of Crap Towns II (2004), Hooligans[2] (September 2005 and updated September 2007), Front Magazine (February 2006) and Lifted Over The Turnstiles (DC Thomson, 2018). In March 2020, Section B were discussed on BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme.

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 Park where Airdrieonians played. The larger clubs — namely Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs, would typically 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 Section B were formed as a direct response to this threat, and were originally made up of an amalgamation of smaller groups of gangs from around the town.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[3] by the same name who were active at the time.

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

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

Albion Rovers
  • In 1983 at Cliftonhill, the home ground of Albion Rovers, 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.
  • In July 2010, fighting broke out in the Cliftonhill ground at half time.[4]
  • In March 2012, Section B wall and pitch graffiti were reported by local press at a Cliftonhill pre-derby clash.[5]

Ayr United
  • In May 2002 at Somerset Park, home of Ayr United, the game was abandoned due to a pitch invasion and crossbar snapping.[6]
  • In October 2009, a confrontation with the Ayr Service Crew (ASC) at Airdrie with one Airdrie fan arrested.
  • In March 2011, fighting occurred in Airdrie town centre with the ASC.[7]
  • In April 2013, a policeman was seriously assaulted and nine fans were arrested as a total of 60 Section B and ASC battled near Coatbridge town centre.[8] Following this incident, police made 20 further arrests in Ayrshire in June 2013.[9] This resulted in an Airdrie fan being jailed for 3 years.[10]
  • In November 2015, police intervened after scuffles broke out between security/stewards and 10-15 Section B at Somerset Park during a league game.[11]
  • In April 2016, prior to a fixture at Somerset Park, a number of Section B were involved in a disturbance with police in Ayr town centre, resulting in the arrest of an individual who was later charged for being in possession of a knife. A year later, Airdrie fan Stephen McInnes had been charged and fined £4000 and banned from attending football grounds for three years.[12]

Bury

Celtic
  • In January 2019, prior to a Scottish Cup game against Celtic trouble flared as Section B joined up with Wigan Athletic's 'Goon Squad' (for previous links, see Rangers), the 140-strong group making their way from Glasgow City Centre via Gallowgate and the Barras, with police intervening following skirmishes in the area. Mounted police escorted the group along London Road. During the game, three red and white flares were let off in the away end, and afterwards (following a 20-minute lock in) the group were escorted back along London Road, a brief exchange with Celtic taking place in the Barras area again. Three Celtic fans and one from Wigan were arrested.[13]

Clydebank
  • In 1991, when the team was to play Clydebank, Section B caused trouble in The Atlantis pub on Kilbowie Road. This incident was reported in the Clydebank Post.

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

Dundee
  • In November 1994, between 60 and 70 Section B members faced the Dundee Utility Crew outside McDiarmid Park in Perth after the 1994 Scottish Challenge Cup Final (B&Q Cup Final).
  • In February 2006, between 60 and 70 Section B members caused disorder and tried to engage with the Dundee Utility Crew after the game in Airdrie.
  • In May 2006, police tried (and failed) to keep around 50-plus Section B in Excelsior Stadium (New Broomfield) at the end of the game — Section B rushed the police and the scene was captured on camera.[14]

Dunfermline Athletic
  • On 24 September 1991, after losing by penalty kicks to Dunfermline Athletic in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup at Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh, between 40 and 50 Section B vandalised cars and smashed windows of a pub.
  • In November 2009, Dunfermline's Carnegie Soccer Service (CSS) met Section B after the end of the game in Airdrie.
  • In May 2010, fighting broke out in the stadium bar at Airdrie before the game.

Falkirk
  • In the mid 1990s Airdrie Section B and 'Falkirk Fear' clashed outside a Falkirk pub. A number on each side were arrested. When the court case took place the judge reviewed the CCTV footage and asked which side was which. When told one group was the Falkirk Fear the judge replied, "they look more like the Falkirk Fearties to me!"; the judge's comments were carried in local press at the time.
  • In March 2002, around 20 Section B members travelled to meet about 30 Falkirk Fear — the fight was captured on CCTV.
  • In 2013, a group of section B entered the Mill Inn before the match and a short skirmish occurred.

Forfar Athletic
  • In April 2015, some Airdrie fans invaded Forfar Athletic's pitch, Station Park, at the end of a league game to confront goalkeeper, Rab Douglas.[15][16][17] As a result of this, Ian Bear (who had received a previous banning order - see St Mirren) and Ryan Lawrence (son of former Airdrie player Alan Lawrence) both received a 3-month jail sentence and a 5-year banning order in August 2016.[18]

Greenock Morton
  • In May 2007, at the end of a home league game some, Section B and Morton Soccer Crew (MSC) fought on the pitch.

Gretna
  • In September 2006, Section B were involved in a racial incident at Gretna.[19]

Hamilton Academical
  • In March 2007, Section B were involved in running battles with Hamilton's Accies Casual Force (ACF) near New Douglas Park.

Heart of Midlothian
  • In January 2020, prior to a Scottish Cup game, around 80 Section B clashed with Hearts near the stadium, with two men arrested. The incident was reported in the Scottish press.

Hibernian

Kilmarnock
  • In September 2002, after the game a group of Kilmarnock 'Paninaro' were charged at outside Rugby Park, with two Airdrie fans arrested.

Motherwell
  • In September 2001, around 50 Section B clashed with around 60 Motherwell Saturday Service (SS) outside Airdrie Sheriff Court. A number of lads on either side received injuries, with the fighting lasting a considerable length of time.
  • In January 2007, Section B had a major clash with the SS in Airdrie town centre.[20]
  • In May 2004, there was a confrontation with the SS at the annual central Scotland Apprentice Boys of Derry parade which was being held in Airdrie that year.

Partick Thistle
  • In 2002, around 60 Section B clashed with a small number of Partick Thistle's North Glasgow Express (NGE) outside Firhill Stadium before the match. After the match, around 15-20 NGE attacked the Section B with weapons on Maryhill Road but had to run after being overwhelmed by Airdrie's larger numbers.
  • In May 2009, Section B were involved in a pitched battle and mass brawl with the NGE near Charing Cross in Glasgow.[21][22]

Rangers
  • In 2007, a number of younger Section B travelled to Glasgow when the Airdrie game was postponed due to snow, and engaged in a pre-arranged fight with Rangers ICF in the Gorbals.
  • In August 2013 and January 2014, about 20-25 Section B were prevented by police from leaving the outside of New Broomfield and escorted to the town centre after league matches with Rangers.
  • In July 2018, a group of Section B joined up with some Wigan Athletic 'Goon Squad' (after their club's friendly at Ibrox) in Glasgow city centre and fought with Rangers ICF.

Ross County

Sparta Prague
  • In 1992, 150 fans travelled to the Czech Republic and clashed with Sparta hooligans before and after the game.

St Johnstone
  • In March 2006, whilst trying to engage with St Johnstone's Fair City Firm (FCF), two Airdrie fans were arrested outside McDiarmid Park.

St Mirren
  • In November 2005, St Mirren's Love Street Division (LSD) were in Airdrie for the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final against Hamilton and fought with Section B.
  • In March 2006, Section B were involved in fighting in Paisley town centre with the LSD.[23] Following this, 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.[24]

References
  1. "Airdrie fan banned from every UK football ground". News.scotsman.com. 17 November 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  2. "Milo Books". Milo Books. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  3. About Us, Section B
  4. "Violence erupts at derby clash — Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser". Acadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  5. "Vandals target Cliftonhill". Acadvertiser.co.uk. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  6. "Airdrie match stopped by invasion". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  7. "Airdrie and Ayr United fans face-off in town centre — Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser". Acadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  8. "Football hooligans clash in Coatbridge". Daily Record. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  9. 20 arrests in Ayrshire in relation to football disorder
  10. Police attack football casual Gary Russo jailed
  11. Ayr v Airdrie
  12. Airdrie football thug caught with Stanley blade in jacket after clashes ahead of away game against Ayr, Daily Record / Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 7 April 2017
  13. Four arrested after clashes between Celtic and Airdrie fans ahead of Scottish Cup tie, Daily Record, 20 January 2019
  14. Airdrie - Dundee
  15. 'Stay out of my area or accept what you get': Ex-Celtic & Scotland keeper Rab Douglas fights off rival fan during Forfar match
  16. Rab Douglas forced to defend himself after pitch invasion by Airdrie fans Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Football fans facing charges over alleged attack on keeper Rab Douglas
  18. Men jailed for attack on former Scotland goalkeeper, BBC News, 11 August 2016
  19. "UK | Scotland | South of Scotland | Ku Klux Klan fan incident probed". BBC News. 4 October 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  20. "CCTV may lead to arrests of football hooligans". Motherwell Times. 10 January 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  21. "Football fan seriously hurt in Partick Thistle Airdrie riot | Football | STV Sport". Sport.stv.tv. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  22. "Man seriously hurt in street battle between Partick Thistle and Airdrie United fans". Daily Record. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  23. "Fans battle after match — European — Scotsman.com". Sport.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  24. John Ferguson (13 December 2007). "Nazi Salute Football Fan Banned For Five Years". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
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