The talented set of players brought in by Steve
Archibald when Ardrieonians F.C., so-called because they were of Spanish nationality. With this group of new players added to the squad, led by Steve Archibald, it was thought that Airdrieonians might have revived their hopes of success, although few would have expected them to reach
the heights of the 1920s, when Ardrieonians came second place in the Scottish League Championship, won the Scottish Cup and toured Norway and Sweden. Alas, despite the valiant efforts of many, including the loyal Joey Rowan and later Steve Archibald and his Spanish Armada, Ardrieonians finally went into administration in 2002, having become
mired in debt. It is commonly acknowledged, however, that they live on in the new team,
Airdrie United, formed from what was
Clydebank, then renamed and moved to Airdrie and their strip also features the famous diamond design of the Ardrieonians.
It could be said that the Spanish Armada was a
last-ditch effort by Airdrieonians to avoid
bankruptcy. It alludes to the Spanish fleet sent to conquer England by King Phillip of Spain and the historical football term is not related to the historical military term in any
tangible way.