Mention to any runner from the 1970’s, 80’s 90’s or early 2000’s the word “Coatbridge” and their eyes will light up and a smile appear. Then the memories are shared. Coatbridge hosted County, District and National Championships. It held Schools championships and the held veteran championships. It hosted a very high quality 5 miles race for many years and also held a 24 hour race. It held track races, cross-country races and even road races. It was spoken of in the same breath as Gateshead in the North England and hosted international meetings featuring world record holders – men and women – from countries as far apart geographically as Russia, America and New Zealand. The following piece is written by former Monkland and Clyde Valley athlete Joe Small who played his part in establishing Coatbridge as a quality venue for any branch of athletics that you care to mention. Read what Joe has to say here.
If you have read any of the articles in this site regarding Monkland Harriers or Clyde Valley A.A.C., you might have seen mention of the `track at Coatbridge.’
The official name for this venue, situated in the Langloan area of the town, was the Coatbridge Outdoor Sports Centre.
It was built in the mid 1970s, as part of an expansion of sporting facilities in Airdrie, Coatbridge and surrounding districts. Also constructed around the same time was the Indoor Sports Centre & Time Capsule a few hundred yards along the road from the track, which housed swimming facilities, indoor football, gym and an ice rink. In Airdrie, the Rawyards Leisure Centre was built adjacent to the existing running track which dated from the late ‘60s.
David McMeekin (left) and Tom Clarke, then Provost of Coatbridge, in a publicity shot before the opening of the track.
The track consisted of an 8 lane `Olymprene’ all weather synthetic surface together with full field event facilities and floodlights. There was a single storey building on the back straight which provided changing facilities together with a large room with catering facilities. The remaining three sides consisted of a terraced grass spectating area, capable of accommodating 8000 people.
The completed complex was probably the first of its type in Scotland outwith Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh to meet 8 lane all weather standards for international competition.
The official account and planned usage as printed in the Athletics Weekly on 6th March, 1976, by Scottish athletics historian Colin Shields is below.
With the completion of the facility, the Council appointed well known athletes Eddie Knox and Dave McMeekin as manager and assistant manager respectively. Reports suggest that the opening event of the track was on the 24th April 1976, however, there was a meeting held on the 6th September 1975, with Ronnie McDonald and Jim Brown of Clyde Valley listed as finishing 1st and 2nd in the 3000m in 8:08.4 and 8:08.8 respectively, a familiar result over the years!
The Glasgow Herald also carried a report on the 22nd September from Ron Marshall:
“Ronnie McDonald (Clyde Valley) and Frank Clement (Bellahouston Harriers) were the outstanding competitors at the opening of Coatbridge’s new all weather track on Saturday (20th Sept.).
In wet, gusty conditions McDonald, twice a four minute miler this season won the Monkland Mile in 4min. 10.2sec from Chris Garforth (Leeds) and Martin Knowles (Leicester).
Clement, the British mile record holder, moved up to the 5000m where he clocked 14min. 53.0sec. For a 50 yard victory over Laurie Spence (Strathclyde University.)”
There is also a listing of McDonald winning a 5000m the next day (21st. Sept.), in 14:31.6. Roy Baillie is also noted as having run a 50.0 sec. 400m on the same day. I haven’t been able to confirm any details of this meeting, possibly a qualifying match for the Scottish Athletics League?
These reports suggest that the track was in use for quite a few months before the `official’ opening. I know that it was certainly used for training purposes throughout the winter of ‘75/76.
On the 8th May 1976, a very high class international meeting was held at the track. A look at the ‘cast list’ is stunning in its brilliance – world, continental, national champions from countries scattered across the globe. Those listed are all track athletes but there were also field events where the competitors included Olympic athletes.
Frank Clement won the 3000m from Englishman Dave Black in a time of 7min. 57.6 sec., a Scottish all-comers and native record. Black had won the SAAA 5000m several times and in 1974 won silver for the 10,000m and bronze for the 5000m at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Danie Malan of South Africa (on honeymoon in Scotland) turned up unannounced and won the 1500m in 3min. 47.9sec. Geoff Capes won the shot putt. Sonia Lannaman, Chris Black and Donna Murray were other winners on the day.
The 21st August 1977 saw another international standard meeting held. Timed to take place the day after the Edinburgh Highland Games, in an attempt to attract athletes competing in that meeting, a crowd of 5100 turned out to watch some of the stars from the Edinburgh meet.
Brian Hooper attempted, but failed, a British record in the pole vault. Nick Rose won the 1500m in 3min. 45.8 and Frank Clement again won a 3000m at Coatbridge, recording 8min. 7.4sec. in windy conditions. This after winning the mile the previous day in 3min. 59.1 sec.
In August 1978 the international meeting again again took place on the day after the Edinburgh Games. Winners included Allan Wells with a 100m/200m double, Dave Moorcroft beating Graham Williamson by 0.1sec over 1000m in a record beating 2min. 21.6sec, Clement this time beating Nick Rose and Nat Muir over 2000m, his time 0f 5min. 4.5sec. Would have been a record but for a shortage of timekeepers.
This was the last of the big meetings held at the track.
Following on from the 1978 meeting, the S.A.A.A. had launched an inquiry in payment of illegal expenses claims to “amateur” athletes at the Edinburgh Highland Games. They requested a copy of the accounts for the Coatbridge meeting. John Dillon, Monklands convenor of leisure and recreation said that two international stars had been paid £200 (£1100 in today’s money) expenses and several other £100, but that is a whole story on its own.
In addition to these big meetings, many other events were held at the venue, ranging from local schools races through County & District championships, league meetings, Scotland v Belgium women’s international match, British Universities championships etc.
Monklands/Shettleston Ladies were based there for a number of years. Other users included a local junior football team, American football team & Monklands Archery Club.
On May 7th 1978 the BBC tv programme It’s A Knockout was held at the track, with teams from Coatbridge, East Kilbride and Clydebank competing. East Kilbride won from Coatbridge following a tie-break.
In recent years the track has been the home of Airdrie Harriers, however due to neglect and lack of investment by North Lanarkshire Council the facility has deteriorated. Vandalism and an arson attack on the main building, resulting in its demolition last year, has left the place in a sorry state.
Last year Airdrie submitted a Community Asset Transfer application to the Council which would have given them ownership of the facility. The Council rejected their request and subsequent appeal. They currently still use the track but it’s future is still in doubt.