This Saturdays derby match at Burnbrae between West and Hawks continues a tradition that goes a long way back, as far back as 1868 when West first played Glasgow Accies twenty years before the first Old Firm match and the connection between West and the clubs that now make up Glasgow Hawks runs deep

When West was formed in 1865 several of the founder members were Glasgow Accies including the McClure brothers and in their early years West were partly sustained by former pupils of Glasgow High School including High School's H.M Napier.who was capped in 1877

In 1884 when Glasgow High School F.P. was formed one of the founder members was T.C. Connell who was at the time playing for West

During the 1920s several Glasgow Accies played for West including Scottish Cap H.D Greenlees

When West hit hard times in the 1930s Glasgow Accies Jimmy Nelson and Max Simmers organised benefit matches in three successive years to alleviate West's financial difficulties

In 1945 when West were evicted from Hamilton Crescent by the Cricket Club Kelvinside Accies came to the rescue and the K of GHK played as Kelvinside/West for six years using Balgray as their home.

Throughout the 1950s West remained homeless training and playing many of their home matches at Old Anniesland and were allowed to retain the gate money

Fortunes changed for West when they opened their new ground at Burnbrae and their first match at their Milngavie home was held on 17th September 1960 against Glasgow HSFP

West are now back in Premier 1 after eight years and we seem to have gone full circle with one of Glasgow Accies finest John Beattie in the role of Head Coach

This article was originally posted on 25-Aug-2008, 19:01 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 25-Aug-2008, 19:12.