Shettleston Harriers

"If you go round you’ll still see branding from the Commonwealth Games on the track... we were very fortunate."
Two adult coaches from Shettleston Harriers with a group of young athletes, who are a mix of genders, at Crownpoint athletics track in Glasgow.

After Glasgow 2014, the athletics track at Hampden was removed and put down at Glasgow Club Crownpoint.

Many athletes and clubs have benefitted from this, including Shettleston Harriers.

We caught up with John Mackay, the club secretary, to find out how it has positively impacted the club.

Q) Can you tell us about Shettleston Harriers?

"Our club is really associated with the east end of Glasgow and has been for 120 years.

"We’ve got over 400 members. After the Commonwealth Games there was initially a boost in numbers but like everything as time goes on the effect does get diluted. Some of the kids at training tonight weren’t even born when the Games were happening.

"What we have noticed is we’ve got a much greater number of female athletes now, particularly older ones. It seems to be older females in our sport and it is mirrored in all Glasgow clubs and not just ours.

"We still produce Olympians and we’ve had a number of athletes at Commonwealth Games. We had three athletes at the Rio Olympics, from a wee club in the east end of the club. We also had athletes
compete in Glasgow 2014 and other Commonwealth Games.

"We’ve got a strong community base and we’ve embraced the multicultural nature of Glasgow. You just need to look out on the track and you see athletes from lots of different backgrounds.

"We have a development officer, and one of his jobs is to link with the local community and Glasgow Life Sport athletics development officers.

"At the recent World Athletics Indoor Championships, we did a lot of around community engagement. We work with DASH, a local organisation funded by Glasgow Life in Dennistoun, to encourage as many young people as possible to come down to the track.

"The club is very strong, maybe the Commonwealth Games helped cement the strength of the club."

Q) The Glasgow 2014 track from Hampden was put down here at Crownpoint, what impact has that had on the club?

"The major impact for us is the refurbishment Crownpoint and that was a legacy project from the Commonwealth Games. Recently there has been more investment in the track, and they’ve brought it up to a good standard.

"This is the only track in Glasgow which can be used every day of the year, so we’re delighted with the commitment Glasgow Life has given to Crownpoint.

"They had enough mondo [from the track at Hampden] to do two tracks. So, there was a warm-up track at Hampden and the main track. If you go round you’ll still see branding from the Commonwealth Games on the track, it’s a bit faded now but you’ll still see the logos on the track. We were very fortunate.

"We were also very fortunate that when they laid this track they did the correct base for it, so they really invested in the maintenance of the track at that time."

Q) How does it benefit your athletes?

"It’s important, as we look down on the track here you can see one of the recent sub-four-minute milers. Another boy who has just come down here is one of the top sprinters in the UK from our club. He just got his first Scottish vest at the weekend.

"All these young kids are getting the opportunity to train on this world-class standard track. This is a
phenomenal track. The GA miler meetings are held here, and the national championships are held here.

"Now it has been updated you’re going to get 10 to 15 high-quality events at this track. It’s now been recognised as a venue which produces fast times, the upgrades and maintenance are so important."

Shettleston Harriers athletes in action

Two young Shettleston Harrier athletes at a competition, both are wearing club vest which are blue and yellow. One of the young athletes has their hands on their head.
Credit: Gee Bee Images
A young Shettleston Harrier athlete jumping over hurdles during a race.
Credit: Gee Bee Images
Four young Shettleston Harrier athletes after a race standing in a line with their arms round each other. They are wearing the blue and yellow club colours and racing numbers on their front.
Credit: Gee Bee Images
Three young athletes racing during an athletics sprint event. They are wearing different club colours and are in separate lanes on the track.
Credit: Gee Bee Images
A young Shettleston Harrier athlete in mid-air during the long jump who is just about to land in the sand. Their arms are in the air and three adults, who are officiating, are watching closely.
Credit: Gee Bee Images
Four young athletes, representing different genders and ethnicities, standing side by side on a running track. They are all wearing the blue and white club colours of Shettleston Harriers.
Credit: Gee Bee Images
Three young sprinters, representing different age, genders and ethnicities, racing round the bend and into the straight during an athletics event.
Credit: Gee Bee Images

Q) What do the new refurbishments to the track entail?

"We've got LED floodlighting, the track has been cleaned and relined, and a new throwing cage has been put in. They’re putting new covers for the long jump, they’re upgrading the water jump area so there is real investment in the track."

Q) So do you think it’s fair to say if you didn’t get the Hampden track this wouldn’t happen, was it the catalyst?

"Yeah, I think it’s been recognised this is an important venue for athletics. Athletics is a gold standard sport for the city, the World Indoors and European Indoors came here. We may not get outdoor events, but you’ve got to make sure your local community has the opportunity to participate in track and field athletics."

Q) Shettleston have always been a huge club, how different would it have been without the Games coming to Glasgow?

"I think post-Games there’s a noticeable difference for a few years, but as times go on people forget which is natural.

"However, the World Athletics Indoor Championships has given it another wee push, you get push post-Games.

"I think what it did was it gave the club the opportunity to set up schemes and developments to be more focused on recruiting athletes. Athletics is in huge competition now, especially girl’s athletics with football. We are noticing a difference with girl’s football because we live in Glasgow and it’s popular.

"We’ve got make our sport more attractive, having a world-class facility and the Emirates helps that as well."