1940s to 1990s

The 1940s

After World War II the club’s distance runners continued where they had left off. J.E. Farrell completed the treble in winning S.A.A.A. titles at three, six and ten miles.

The first ever Scottish Marathon Championship in 1946 saw Maryhill take the first three places with McNab Robertson, Wright and Andy Burnside taking first, second and third respectively. The 1947 Championship saw Maryhill victorious again with McNab Robertson retaining his title and J.E. Farrell finishing in second place. For the inaugural Championship in 1946 Maryhill presented the S.A.A.A. with the A.H. Blair Memorial Trophy (in honour of Maryhill Harrier Andy Blair) – this is still awarded to the National Marathon Champion to this day. 

The McAndrew and Kingsway Relays saw Maryhill victorious in most of the 1940 editions of the races. The first ever Nigel Barge Road Race (see dedicated section on website) was run on 1st January 1943 and is still being organised by the club today.

The 50s and 60s

During the 1950s and 1960s membership dwindled to the low 20s. The principal causes being the lack of facilities for athletes in the area and the de-population of the Maryhill district which affected all sports.

During this period the club still produced fine athletes. Jim Brennan won the Midland District Junior Championship in 1967 and two years later took the S.A.A.A. 10 mile championship. He also gained international colours as both a junior and senior.

In 1962 George Dallas was awarded an MBE for services to Scottish Athletics.

The 1970s

1970 saw the end of 49 years of club members being secretaries of the Western District through George Dallas, Dunky Wright and Fred Graham.

Fred was appointed team manager for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and elected president of the S.A.A.A. in 1972. The Scottish team mascot for the 1970 Games was a large teddy bear dressed in team kit and called ‘Dunky Dick’ – ‘Dunky’ for Dunky Wright and ‘Dick’ for Frank Dick the team coach.

Bill Yate won a number of road races in the 70s – his finest performance came in the 1975 West Championships where he won the 10k. He also dominated the club championship, winning the E.W Langlands Trophy from 1973-1981 inclusive.  

The 1970s also saw the start of the Scottish Veteran Harriers movement. Maryhill were prolific in this area and once again showed they were a force to be reckoned with by winning the British Vets over-50 Championships Team Race in 1971, 1972 and 1973 along with various individual British and Scottish Championships.

The 80s, 90s and into the 21st Century

The 1980s and 1990s were rather lean years for the club although member numbers increased throughout the 80s as the club profited from the running boom.

The veterans of the club continued to keep Maryhill Harriers in the news throughout this period with greats such as J.E. Farrell securing titles and records on the road, track and cross country. Gordon Porteous (1914-2008) scored many victories and records (still standing) at National, European and World level as recently as 2004.

2012 saw ex-Maryhill Harrier veteran Andy Coogan (1917-2017) carry the Olympic torch and during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow he handed the Queen’s baton to his great-nephew Sir Chris Hoy.

Ronnie Macdonald training at Balgray Playing Fields (Kelvinside Academy) and running alongside Shettleston’s Graham Everett
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