This little feature shall hopefully prove to be of historical interest. Whitemoss has competed in the Central and South of Scotland Athletics League for most of its history and rose through the ranks to be one of its major forces. Every age group has its part to play, from under 11 to senior and veteran status, and team managers, committee and coaches have been witnessed at various times running, throwing or jumping for those crucial points. It is, without doubt, a team effort.

The league was previously named the Scottish and North West Athletics League (SNWL), consisting of four meetings held at various athletics venues in Scotland. Whitemoss began life at the bottom rung of the ladder, Division 5, but managed to achieve promotion in the early 1990s. By the time of my own debut, at Coatbridge in August 1996, the club were toiling to stay in Division 4. For the record, my first two Whitemoss races were a 2^nd place in the under 13 boys 75m hurdles and a win in the 100m B race. I’ve never had it that easy since.

Decent shows at Coatbridge and at East Kilbride (yes, we had a meeting at the John Wright track) on 15^th September 1996 saw Whitemoss just keep their Division 4 status, finishing 6th. As the table shows though, it was tight. Our friends at East Kilbride AC were a creditable 5th in Division 2.

The Whitemoss squad, which remember included in its number a young sprinter and triple jumper named Allan Scott, fared little better in the 1997 summer season. Over 4 meetings held at Coatbridge, Grangemouth (which, as far as I recall, was a horrible day with driving wind, rain and a waterlogged track), Wishaw and Dumfries, the club again could only finish 6^th ahead of the two relegated outfits, L & L Track Club and Penicuik Harriers. We were 5^th, 6^th and 6^th at the first three meetings respectively but saved ourselves at Dumfries on 14^th September 1997. We had 10 points after three competitions when we headed south, only 2 clear of L & L. I have wondered what course history may have taken had we been in the bottom two since, in 1998, Division 5 was disbanded, seeing Whitemoss form Division 3 with the other clubs who had beat the drop, Girvan, Avonside and the relegated Springburn/Strathkelvin and Edinburgh Woolen Mill. L & L and Penicuik formed the new fourth tier with Helensburgh, Stewartry and Hamilton from the old Division 5, and Lasswade. Livingston, 5th in the old Division 4 in 1997, withdrew altogether. Would our rise have merely been delayed if we had taken L & L or Penicuik’s place or could our progress have stalled more long term?

Either way, fortunes improved in 1998. Consistent performances at Grangemouth, Dumfries, Ayr and Coatbridge saw an impressive third place achieved behind City of Edinburgh (champions) and Kirkintilloch Olympians (runners up) but well clear of fourth placed Larkhall. Amazingly, the top four finished in those positions in every meeting that year. My abiding memories are being pipped on the line for first place in the under 15 boys 800m at Ayr and by an Edinburgh athlete over 400m at Coatbridge. Our 4 x 100m relay team comprised myself and three Allans, Potts, Scott and Couper (whatever happened to them?)

We had knocked on the door now for a long time looking for an answer. We were a Division better off but by default due to a league reshuffle. Rewards came in 1999 when Whitemoss were promoted off their own steam for the first time since the early 90s. The club moved up to Division 2 as runners up behind Lasswade after contesting meetings at Coatbridge, Grangemouth, Coatbridge again and Scotstoun. Some controversy arose when the committee of the time questioned the scrutinised results, arguing Whitemoss were champions. Unfortunately I don’t have the full data to allow further debate. Remember at this point the club had never won a trophy aside from championship medals won by individuals. However, we only had one more year to wait.

SNWL Division 4, 1997 (after 3 meetings, final result unavailable)

SNWL Division 3, 1998, Final

SNWL Division 3, 1999 (after 3 meetings, final result unavailable)

By the new millenium, the face of Whitemoss was evolving. The club was very different from the way it was at its inception. Brian Cullie, a founding member in 1990, and Hugh Elder who, with Brian, was a veteran of the Division 5 promotion year, had stepped down as coaching co-ordinator and chairman respectively thanks to pressing work commitments. A new group of volunteers were coming on board who became, and in some cases remain, Whitemoss mainstays as committee members, coaches and athletes. Among them were the McEwans (Iain Senior, Anne, Iain Junior, Craig and Jamie), Leggates (Robert, Lea, Graeme and Erin) and Smiths (Mike, Stella, Graeme and Joanne). They and others joined the core group already in place and replaced those departing. Together with team manager, Joan Boyd at the helm, Whitemoss were set for a promotion challenge.

The season started promisingly at Grangemouth. Whitemoss won the meeting ahead of Victoria Park and Nithsdale. I recall running my first ever track 3000m that day and receiving a huge roar as I finished. After the second competition at Coatbridge, we stayed top, accumulating 15 points ahead of Dunfermline & West Fife and Victoria Park, both on 13. The Glasgow club’s challenge faltered thereafter and Nithsdale, 4^th at the halfway point, became our closest challengers with Dunfermline.

The meeting on 30^th July 2000 at Dumfries was probably the one that sealed the league for us. We were missing the odd athlete due to holidays and were competing in scorching 70 degree heat. One of our athletes even unfortunately suffered a seizure during a race. We emerged having taken 3^rd on the day and stayed top overall on 21 points. Nithsdale (19) and Dunfermline (18) stayed in hot pursuit. Nithsdale prospered on their home turf by winning on the day. It all pointed towards an exciting finale at Scotstoun on 10^th September 2000.

This was one of those great Whitemoss afternoons no-one in attendance will, or should, ever forget. Every man, woman, boy and girl competing were roared on by the large gathering of family members who had answered the team manager’s plea for a huge support. You could sense we just wanted it that bit more than our rivals. When the relays concluded, the organisers frantically added up the points tallies. We waited, and waited…and waited. Finally, a voice crackled over the PA system. Results were given in reverse order. Down to the top three. No Whitemoss yet. Third, Nithsdale. Second, Dunfermline…the remainder was drowned out by our celebrations. After 10 years, Whitemoss had not only arrived in Division One of the SNWL but also won its first ever trophy. A tradition of sorts thereafter commenced when team manager Joan Boyd was thrown into the steeplechase pool. Not to worry, the rest of the team, myself included, followed her in shortly afterwards.

Words struggle to describe how good a day this was. As I penned on the website at the time, “bring on the big boys because Whitemoss have arrived.”

SNWL Division 2, 2000, Final

2001- 2006: Holding Our Own

With success came further rewards. Like London buses, after a long wait for trophies, more came our way very quickly. Whitemoss were crowned Scottish Athletics Federation Club of the Year in 2000. On the other hand, the governing body renamed the league as the Central and South of Scotland Athletics League (CSSAL) and cut the number of meetings from four to three. Discussion ensued amongst the committee. One member suggested we resigned from the set up. I and the majority of the committee were vehemently opposed to the idea. We argued it was unthinkable to let years of hard toil go to waste and, after all, what other worthwhile summer competition would remain for our athletes, especially those who didn't always enter championships. Open graded meetings?  Not a great deal to get excited about. Thankfully, sense prevailed and we took our place in Division One in 2001.

I had a small fear complacency would set in among my fellow athletes, resulting in a quick relegation. However, this proved unfounded as Whitemoss remarkably claimed runners up spot behind Giffnock North who had won the league every year since 1999, aided I may say by a few former Whitemoss personnel. This followed competitions at Ayr, Dumfries and Scotstoun. Whitemoss were also Scottish Athletics Club of the Year silver medallists in 2001. We again competed well in 2002. Sadly, in the same season, our neighbours at East Kilbride AC withdrew from the league. They were relegated from Division 2 when we were promoted in 1999. This was their second successive demotion. Happily, they rejoined in 2004, boosted by a booming membership.

Admittedly, by this point, my own involvement in Whitemoss had waned. Having been an ever present from 1996 to 2001 inclusive, a combination of work, university and a club switch to our friends at Calderglen Harriers meant I was more out of touch with weekly club activity. I raced in 2 meetings in the 2003 summer season, at Dumfries and Grangemouth, as Whitemoss again took second spot but was totally absent in 2004 as we toiled to our lowest finish, 5th, since being promoted. On a personal note, I spent 6 months of that year on a student exchange in Sweden but, in athletics terms, had been suffering from inconsistent form and lack of self belief anyway. The time abroad enjoying a break from the old routine, sampling a new culture, did the power of good. Anyway, I digress.

I would suggest Whitemoss was having another transitional phase in 2004, similar to that at the turn of the century. Either way, in 2005 when the league shrunk again from four divisions to three, fortunes improved for both Whitemoss and myself. We finished 4th and improved further to 3rd in 2006. A club tradition was maintained in these years. Outgoing women's team manager Janice Mackie received a soaking at Wishaw in August 2005. "We would all like to thank Janice for her years of hard work...it was Cathy Robertson & the under 11 girls that instigated the soaking at Wishaw but how you never seen it coming I have no idea." (AGM Minutes, 27th September 2005, Secretary's Report) Men's team gaffer Richard Douglas suffered a similar fate at Grangemouth in August 2006.

One thing is clear from the foregoing, Whitemoss have made significant progress over a short time. Today, a fresh batch of  members, assisted by a dedicated coaching team and strong committee, continue to compete and maintain Whitemoss' status as one of the UK's best clubs for young athletes. Some aim for international recognition, others simply to set a new personal best. The club has a lot to be proud of. Let's hope it remains that way.

CSSAL Division One, 2001, Final

Club	Points
Giffnock North	24
Whitemoss	20
Kilbarchan	17
City of Glasgow/Shettleston	12
Nithsdale	11
Ayr Seaforth	10
City of Edinburgh	8
Annan and District	6

CSSAL Division One, 2003, Final

Club	Points
Giffnock North	24
Whitemoss	19
Kilbarchan	16
City of Glasgow/Shettleston	15
Central	14
Ayr Seaforth	9
Nithsdale	8
Corstorphine	3

CSSAL Division One, 2004, Final

Club	Points
Giffnock North	23
Kilbarchan	22
City of Glasgow/Shettleston	16
City of Edinburgh	14
Whitemoss	13
Central	11
Ayr Seaforth	5
Falkirk Victoria Harriers	4

CSSAL Division One, 2005, Final

Club	Points
Giffnock North	23
City of Edinburgh	20
City of Glasgow/Shettleston	16
Whitemoss	13
Kilbarchan	11
Airdrie Harriers	11
Central	10
Law and District	4

CSSAL Division One, 2006, Final

Club	Points
Giffnock North	24
City of Edinburgh	20
Whitemoss	16
Airdrie Harriers	14
Kilbarchan	12
Ayr Seaforth	10
City of Glasgow/Shettleston	8
Kirkintilloch Olympians	3