An Airdrie fan has told how he regrets making a rude gesture in the background of a photograph of children at a recent match after the club slapped him with an indefinite ban.
Gary Cunningham, 53, who was caught sticking his fingers up in the snap, says he is sorry for the spur of the moment prank he pulled on a group of unsuspecting kids at the match on October 29. Days later the lifelong club supporter, who runs the Cue Here pub in the North Lanarkshire town, received a letter from the Airdrieonians FC board informing him he was no longer welcome at the Excelsior Stadium.
The letter said: "This is unacceptable conduct that we simply do not expect from adults and especially from a well-known publican who should know better about behavioural standards in a public place. We are working hard at encouraging young people to come along and enjoy football at the stadium and they should not be subjected to this type of abuse."
Gary shared a copy of the letter with a supporters' group on Facebook. It was then picked up by Scottish Football Away Days, a social media page that shares images of Scots football fans, turning Gary into a viral sensation.
Since then, the publican says he has been inundated with hundreds of supportive messages – including from, he claims, parents of the children in the photograph, who have found it more amusing than the bosses of the League One team.
He told the Record: "I wasn't really paying any attention, I was there with my brother and said to him, 'what a chance for a photobomb'. I leant out, gave the fingers, leant back in – all in half a second.
"It was just a stupid wee thing. Next thing I know someone's posted the photo on the Airdrie supporters page saying, 'oh, there's always one stupid guy doing this'.
"Two days later I get a letter from the club, and that was that. Of course I regret it.
"I've had parents get in touch just laughing about the picture, saying their kids were howling at it. They've seen the funny side.
"There was an away game last Saturday and I was nearly crying in the pub because I didn't know what to do with myself. I go to Airdrie every game, I run the supporters bus, I've followed the team for 47 years, and I've had a season ticket since 1983.
"I've tried emailing the club offering to let them tear a strip off me, which is what they should have done in the first place. They're using a steamroller to crush a grape."
Gary added that he's had support from friends who are stopping by for a pint on match day instead of heading over to the Excelsior. As the main provider of a supporter's bus for away games, he hopes the club will see sense and accept his apology.
One fan took to social media to say: "This is the guy who has regularly gone out of his way to welcome visiting supporters to his premises. Surely this reaction is way over the top? [Especially] given how easy it is to photoshop him out of the pictures. #letgaryback."
Another said: "Complete shambles!!! Get it lifted or see the attendance for away matches disappear."
Gary continued: "My mates have cancelled their hospitality. I've got 10-12 boys who normally get my bus to the games that are coming to the pub instead - it's going to cost the club thousands in tickets and hospitality each match.
"Football is all I do. I go to the football every week. That's my life.
"I've tried apologising twice but they're not responding to me or anyone else contacting them. I've never been barred from anything before, and I don't run about with idiots.
"I don't know what else I can do. Eventually it'll get to the stage of resenting them for it but I don't want that – I want to go to the games, it's what I do."
Airdrieonians FC has not commented publicly on the ban. The Record has contacted the club for comment.
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