Joe Small of Monkland and Clyde Valley has written this profile of John Mulvey, a very good young distance runner indeed following his recent coverage of the career of Jim Finn of Monkland. Both from the same area, both very talented and an interesting portrait of a local area and what can be produced there in the way of athletic talent. First is a photograph of the young Mulvey.
Following on from an earlier article on Jim Finn, a similar story can be told about a young boy from the same area. In the late 1960’s/early 70’s Monkland Harriers held a series of cross country races for local schools. 2 races were held before Christmas, 2 after. The main reasons for organising these races was to provide competition for schools and hopefully recruit new club members. A good number of runners were unearthed, probably the best known would be Nat Muir and Ronnie MacDonald. However, one person slipped through the clubs fingers – John Mulvey.
From Chapelhall, just outside Airdrie, John was an outstanding junior and senior boy over the country. In the early schools races John finished in second place in the first two races, before winning the third race, Paul Bannon finishing second. A few days after his first appearance in the local schools race, he was approached and asked if he would like to join Monkland “I’ve already joined Shettleston” was his answer. Alex Naylor (who else!) had appeared at his door one night and signed him up, together with a few of his St. Aloysius schoolmates like Peter Fairlie and Terry Hughes, also talented runners.
In December 1967 John won the junior boys title at Lanarkshire cross country championships, later in the season he won his first national title, again as a junior boy, at the National Cross Country Championships. A second place, behind Laurie Spence, at the Scottish Schools Championships completed what appears to have been his first competitive season.
The next winter, 1968, he had moved into the senior boys age group and swept the board, taking the Lanarkshire, Inter-Counties, Midland District & National cross country titles. It is possible to win races of course against good opposition but if we look at the calibre of athlete that he was racing against we get a measure of his ability: Lawrie Spence (Glenpark Harriers), Lawrie Reilly (VPAAC and Paul Bannon are just some of the opposition. In addition, he won the Scottish Schools cross country championship, reported as follows: “Easiest winner in the three races was J Mulvey (St. Aloysius Chapelhall). He was never challenged after the halfway mark & won by over 100 yards.”
The next season? Same again – victorious in all three senior boys championships, beating Laurie Spence at the National & Jim McLuckie from Larkhall in the Midland and Lanarkshire races.
In the ‘69/70 season, another win in the Lanarkshire senior boys race was followed by a Midland District win and victory in the Inter-County cross-country championships held at Bellshill. With Lawrie Reilly (Victoria Park) and John Buntain (Springburn in second and third there was no doubt abut the team victory. Another tow firsts in one afternoon. There was then a third successive National cross country title, beating Lawrie Reilly of Victoria Park into second place.
1970/71 saw John enter the youths age group. The season again kicked off with a Lanarkshire win. In the Midland District championship he finished third, behind winner Laurie Reilly and Stewart Gillespie of Springburn. This was the first sign of a fall off in his performances. The National in February of ‘71 produced a fourth place, winner again was Reilly with W. Rowan of Ayr Seaforth second and Shettleston teammate Paul Bannon in third.
There is no record of any results in the next season apart from a mention in the National championships official results, where it is noted that Shettleston failed to close a team, but one of the three finishers in 54th place was J. Mulvey. This appears to have been a huge drop in standards, reasons unknown, possibly injury, lack of training or just the process of stopping running. There is no further mention of John in any available results.
All of the above were cross country races. A few performances on the track were recorded. In 1968 at a schools competition at Rawyards in Airdrie he won the 13-15 age group 880 yards in 2min 16 sec. In 1969, as a boy, he won the West District 800m in 2.11.4 and the Inter Counties 1500m in 4.27.3, these results ranked him fourth over 800m and third over 1500m for that year. It would seem that strength over the country rather track speed was his main attribute. Looking at the photograph with his school team mates, he appears to be much bigger & stronger than everyone else.
It is difficult so many years later trying to figure out why the likes of Laurie Reilly and Paul Bannon went on to have successful careers at junior and senior level, while others, like John, disappeared from the scene at a relatively young age. One coach tells us that there are two ages which are vital in an athletes’ career which determine his future and possible realisation of his talent. One is at 16 years of age when school work starts to bite, when the youngster and his family are looking ahead to possible careers and a decision to prioritise the things that matter to them. The other is 26 years old when marriage, maybe children are on the agenda and when careers start to make demands if the runner is to make progress. It is maybe more likely however that people like John with an abundance of natural ability and physical advantages, find it difficult when rivals starting beating them either through training harder or just generally maturing later – who knows?