THE HERALD REPORTS

DOUG GILLON June 22 2005

ATHLETICS in Glasgow could be revolutionised by a potentially historic gathering this evening at the West of Scotland Sports Institute in the Palace of Art, Bellahouston.
Anyone with an interest in the sport – athletes, clubs, coaches, parents – is invited to meet (7.00pm) to form a Glasgow Athletics Association.
The catalyst is the rebuilding of Scotstoun, the city's new centre for professional rugby and athletics, under a management board with representatives of both sports and Glasgow City Council, who will let the property. Athletics will effectively be sub-tenants of rugby.
Ronnie Stevenson, acting chair of the athletics steering group, urges all branches of the sport to attend: track and field, cross-country, road, and hill running: "It's vitally important there's a strong, organised voice of those involved in athletics in Glasgow, to ensure we're heard."
Tonight's meeting will adopt a draft constitution and discuss issues affecting other athletics venues in the city.
There are concerns that rugby, with more financial clout but a fraught recent management history, will dictate what athletics does, though given the seasonal nature of the sports, potential conflict should be minimal. These concerns should be addressed by draft agreement proposals.
There is no doubt this is a chance for the sport to build a home and a vastly improved future, if there is the vision and drive to take the opportunity.
Some clubs have suspicions about the agenda, though with few exceptions, Glasgow clubs are in decline. A new home could reverse that, but Luddite posturing, clinging to a historic past, could spike future plans.
Glasgow's best-value review contains a pledge to help such organisations. Indeed, over the past five years, the city has more than doubled to £12,000 per year, its contribution to the Glasgow Development Group for Athletics. If the Glasgow Athletics Association gets off the ground, at least that sum should be available, with the possibility of more.

NOTE FROM ED
Why should only Glasgow Rugby be involved in discussions of this nature and import --maybe clubs in Glasgow should also be at the table.Rugby clubs across the city have evolved and developed on parallel routes to the athletic clubs with examples of overlap and cooperation and in many instances now face challenges similar to their athletic counterparts in a changing world.
Scotstoun has been the spiritual home to famous athletics clubs like Victoria Park and Glasgow A.C but is also the home of Hyndland .Historically it also played a part in the evolution of West,Kelvinside Accies and Glasgow HSFP.
Athletics and rugby have been linked from the very start of organised sport as when the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association was formed in 1883 the founding clubs included Watsonians,West of Scotland,Edinburgh and Glasgow Academicals through to Eric Liddell,Old Anniesland stalwart Jimmy Currie GHSFP and Bellahouston Harriers and even now GHK flyer Liam McDermid is competing for Victoria Park and Hawks Liam McIntyre is throwing the discus for Edinburgh Southern

This article was originally posted on 22-Jun-2005, 07:52 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 22-Jun-2005, 11:02.