Willie, on the right, winning the 2000 M70 10k Road title in Spain, was almost certainly the most consistent of all the Clyde Valley Vets.

Over the period between 1970 and 1990 there were many quite superb runners who were role models for other, younger, athletes.    It seemed at times as though a disproportionate number of them came from Lanarkshire – any maybe from Motherwell in particular.   One who really stands out is Andy Brown of Motherwell YMCA: his father was also a distance runner of some ability who ran distances up to the marathon and his younger brother Alex was also a Scottish international athlete.   Andy was often found speaking to another member of his team at the start of a race passing on advice of a immediate practical nature that was picked up by others in the vicinity and used for years afterwards.   Example number 1: On the start line for a handicap race it was “Watch the starter – you’ll see the smoke from the gun before you hear the shot and you can pick up ground by starting on the smoke!”    Example number 2 to an athlete about to start a 3 miles race on a cinder track: “The track is going to cut up but there is always a wee firm strip right on the inside next to the kerb, use that.”   There are many other examples.   His long time club mate Bert McKay was a real role model and a lot could be learned just watching his warm up and preparation on race day.    They, and many of their team mates, were members of the very good Clyde Valley team of veteran runners.    Their natural ability, their racing nous and wee tricks on the track and over the country make for interesting reading.   Their team mate Joe Small, no mean runner himself, has written the following piece about the Clyde Valley team as veteran runners. 

Joe Small (left) running in the Nigel Barge Road Race

Having looked at the achievements of Clyde Valley AAC over its relatively short history, one area not covered: the successes in the veterans age groups.   From the very start of the veteran harriers movement in Scotland, names like Andy Brown, Bert McKay, Willie Marshall, Willie McBrinn, Willie Russell etc. all made their mark on the various age groups.   
Most available results are all from the National (Masters) Veterans Cross Country championships.
In the 1976/77 event, Bert McKay finished in second place, 20 seconds behind Bill Stoddart. The team of Bert, Willie Marshall (14th) and Willie Russell (17th) picked up the bronze medals. Further back in the field were Willie McBrinn, Jim Clark, Jimmy Geddes and Roddy Devon.   They were all well known names and several had been office bearers in the Scottish Marathon Club.   
The following year, 77/78, Willie Marshall finished 7th overall, first in the over 50 age group. Backed up by Willie Russell (38th) and Jim Clark (43rd) the team finished 4th.
78/79 was not a great year for the club, Willie Marshall (9th overall) was 2nd in the over 50’s age group behind Hughie Mitchell of Shettleston, the team were a distant 11th – obviously missing some of their better runners.
Next time out, Willie Marshall, consistent as ever, finished 1st on the over 50 race, Willie McBrinn 13th in the overall results (McBrain in the newspaper report!) With Bert McKay (34th), the team finished 5th.

1980/81 saw the first appearance in the Championship of Andy Brown (above). The race was easily won by Martin Craven (ESH) with Andy a distant second. Along with Bert McKay (5th) and Willie Marshall (14th and again first over 50), Clyde Valley were clear winners of the team race from Aberdeen. Willie McBrinn was 2nd in the over 50 age group.
81/82 saw Andy Brown going one place better and reversing the previous years result, beating Martin Craven into second place by 39 seconds. In the team race Clyde Valley finished third with Willie McBrinn (2nd over 50) and Willie Marshall (3rd over 50) backing up Brown.
The only notable results from 1982/83 were Willie McBrinn’s 2nd place in the over 50 & Jim Clark winning in the over 60 age groups.
83/84 was even poorer, only McBrinn, 3rd over 50 featuring in the results. However, the club did finish 2nd in the inaugural Alloa to Bishopbriggs road relay behind Shettleston Harriers.
The final year of Clyde Valley participation, 1984/85, saw the ever present Willie McBrinn 2nd over 50 behind Bill Stoddart with Jim Clark winning the over 60s title.
This article only covers the results of the runners competing for Clyde Valley. Following the demise of the club people like McBrinn, Brown & Marshall continued to be successful with their new clubs, for example, on the track it appears that Andy Brown holds the fastest Scottish 5000m time of 16min 48.4sec (Ayr 1994) and Marshall the over 60s time with 19min. 16.8 sec (1999 Edinburgh.)

There were obviously numerous other good results from open races etc. where veterans prizes were awarded for the different age groups, but it is almost impossible to document these in any detail from the information available.
More information on the people involved can be found in their individual profiles on this site.   Below is Bert McKay, in his Motherwell days, who was the first Clyde Valley runner in the 1976/77 Scottish veterans cross-country championships.