History – 1973 - 2009
Readers of “The First 75 Years” would gain the impression that Western’s main preoccupation for most of its existence had been “accommodation”. True – clubs without home bases (the majority in Scotland) are always in danger of folding, and Western could not breathe easily until the home at Auchenhowie was secured in 1969. The Club was fortunate at last in having one of the best grass pitches in Scotland, and exclusive access to 3 blaes pitches at Blairdardie school.
Artificial grass pitches
We were not to know then that the game of hockey was about to change radically in the 1980s, causing the Club once again to seek new playing surfaces. But this time it wasn’t a question of accommodation. Auchenhowie remained our home, but the gradual introduction of artificial grass surfaces internationally resulted in a search for such pitches for home games. At first only the 1st eleven were required to play on ‘astro’ resulting in a serious club split. Members of the lower elevens had few opportunities to mix with 1st XI players as the latter played ’home’ games at various venues, initially Helenvale, then Millerston and Linwood. Lower teams played at the rubber composite pitch at Crownpoint , the ill-fated artificial grass surface at Springburn and the remaining grass pitch at Auchenhowie. A further casualty was the separation in 1985 of Western ladies, then as now the pre-eminent women’s club in Scotland, who had rejoined the men in 1981. For 5 years Auchenhowie was a powerhouse of hockey in Scotland, with the Ladies’ section setting the pace in Europe. Like the men’s 1st XI they were forced to go elsewhere for playing facilities and membership of M&B Sports Club became less attractive to them. (See Wildcats - Women’s Section). It is to the credit of team captains and other members of the committee that during this period the Club held together and continued to prosper. But, as the Club Captain at the time Roddy Philp later pointed out, the fate of Western as an integrated club hung dangerously in the balance during the 1980s. Once again members pulled together to raise funding (£210,000) for our own artificial surface with floodlights, a superb facility opened in 1994. This important achievement stood testament to the determination of Western to stay not only alive but in the forefront of Scottish Hockey. From then on all players have mixed and trained together, and teams have supported each other before or after their own games. The effect on morale and performance throughout the club, 1sts to 7ths, Juniors, Women and Veterans, has been incalculable. Gradually the use of artificial surfaces for all games spread down the elevens, as the unlamented old blaes pitches, once prevalent particularly in Glasgow, became defunct.
Another step-change occurred, appropriately at the start of the 21st Century: International developments in hockey required that all top-level matches must be played on “water-based” artificial surfaces. As it was only a matter of time before this became a requirement for domestic league and cup competition, Western decided in 2000 to meet the challenge by installing a water-based facility at Auchenhowie to replace the obsolescent sand-based pitch. Failure of the Vida project (see below) meant that the Club had to do this on its own, and “The Wildcats Challenge“ was set up to raise the projected cost of £250,000. Meanwhile the current pitch had a sand replacement carried out, costing £20,000. This sum was raised by the club, with significant contributions made by individuals and Friends of Western.
Training venues
Almost as important for hockey development as playing facilities are training venues. Since the late 60s Western provided for both indoor and outdoor training. Outdoor, it was initially running in the dark at and around Auchenhowie, until a few rather inadequate floodlights were erected at one end of the main pitch. It was some time before regular training under adequate lights started at Strathclyde University’s facility at Millerston, facilitated by Niall Sturrock. Prior to that the club experimented with a variety of locations such as a floodlit pitch down the M74 at Hamilton, and the first ‘astro’ pitch in Glasgow at Helenvale. The Floodlight League of the 1980s at the latter location allowed the club to blood its young hopefuls.
Again these disparate venues conspired to limit club cohesion, which to some extent was maintained by indoor training: With the rise of indoor hockey in the late 1970s, Western began to take this form of the sport more seriously, combining it with indoor training sessions. For many years an indoor hall at Blairdardie served as Western’s main indoor training venue. The hockey and training though great fun, were largely unstructured and bore little resemblance to modern indoor hockey and training methods. One of the Club’s first indoor tournaments was held here – the inscrutably titled “Great bear memorial Trophy”. There was a proper cup and medals for the winning squad, all organised by the indefatigable Gus Scott (shades of the Glenfiddich Tournament to come a few years later). As the indoor game developed, Western began to look for more appropriate accommodation. A new facility became available in 1977 at the local Allander Sports Centre, both in the main gym and an outside “tent”. The “tent” became a major location for Juniors coaching in the 1980s,which laid the foundation for the Club’s success in the next decade. In 1984 the services of the legendary Jackie Husband at Partick Thistle Football Club. Jackie conducted first-class physical training sessions with the 1st XI until his untimely death. Later the indoor squad began to use the indoor halls at Glasgow Academy and latterly Kelvinside Academy. General training Indoors became less necessary with the advent of the floodlit pitch at Auchenhowie, and competitive indoor hockey became more or less restricted to an annual competition at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth. Also, in 2000, extra 1st XI sessions began to be held at Bellahouston , then the only water-based facility in Glasgow and therefore essential for preparation for European competition.
Coaching
Organised coaching, as opposed to training, was almost unheard of at Western until the mid 90s. Despite our having qualified coaches in the club membership, coaching tended to be ad hoc until the appointment of Callum McLeod as 1st XI coach in 1994. This marked a watershed in the Club’s attitude to proper coaching, and it was taken further in 1997 with the signing of Australian goalkeeper/coach Gordon Simpson in 1997. Andy Meredith, another Aussie, took a short spell before Callum returned in 1999. After immense service to the club over many years Callum resigned in 2006 to take up a prestigious position at the SHU. Harry Dunlop alternated with Callum as coach and at other times player-coaches filled the role. Coaching for other teams was not neglected and Dave Rickards, assisted by Ian Hall and Niall Sturrock, set an example in the 1990s for others to follow. Neil Menzies did a stint in 1998 before Gordon McKenzie took on the role from 2000-2006. Our Second Team now train alongside the 1sts on a Thursday as part of a Development session under the direction of Barry Kane. The return of Dave Rickards, assisted by a variety of other, means that Tuesday Club Training is as structured, thoughtful and productive as befits an institution of Western’s stature and the enormous popularity of this session reflects its positive nature.
Managers
Increasing pressures on 1st XI Captains and the coach pointed to the need for a team manager, and the multi-tasking Gus Scott did two stints in this position, from 1992 to 94 and 2007-2009. Others who took on the role for a period included Gary Thompson, Alan ‘Beej’ Johnston and Tony Smith.
Clubhouse and grounds:
Around 1998 a new changing room block was added and team dugouts were constructed.
There followed a most unfortunate episode in Western’s history. Negotiations began between the parent Club M&B Sports Club with Vida, a subsidiary of Rangers F.C., to build a completely new clubhouse, lay a water-based pitch with changing facilities and other supporting provisions. The grass pitch would be sacrificed to a 5-a-side football enterprise which would be Vida’s primary revenue earner. Western stalwart Jimmy Cuthbertson, in his role as Sports Club President, spent many months horse-trading among the various interested parties, and at a Sports Club EGM in 2002 members eventually voted for proposals to transfer the club’s assets to Vida. Vida were continuing negotiations with “only minor” issues to resolve and a date for transfer of ownership from M&B Sports Club to the new company was set for 31 July 2003. Then with little warning Vida went into receivership and the deal was abandoned leaving Western to think again about its future.
Club structure and constitution
The years 2000 to 2003 were very important in the club’s development. Concurrent with the negotiations for a new pitch and clubhouse, Western under President Alastair Gray set about making a whole raft of changes:
An open brainstorming session sought out ideas from the whole club and distilled from them The Way ahead for Western Hockey Club which included several major proposals: Increasing membership by at least 20 members; securing a water-based pitch; further development of the junior section; a new women’s section; the same style of coaching to be developed throughout the club; and setting up an umpires pool.
A new club administrative structure was proposed by Euan Miller, agreed by the membership and implemented, the main innovation being a division between playing and non-playing responsibilities (See diagram).
The traditional post of Club President, though not abolished, has been unfilled since 2007. However Bill Matheson, President from 1978 to 1986, has been Honorary President since 1987.
In 2003 the 1st XI, and ultimately the whole club, was “re-branded” as Western Wildcats, because of the potential for marketing and attracting juniors and sponsors
Following an EGM the Club was registered in 2003 as Western Hockey Club 1898 Limited – a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital and incorporated under the Companies’ Act 1985 in Scotland. Technically “Western Hockey Club” no longer exists!
The Club sought and achieved charitable status in 2008 under the CASC scheme (Community Amateur Sports Club), which confers huge opportunities and effects a significant change in its ability to maximise its financial potential, for example enabling receipt of Gift Aid. It also has implications for the way in which the club interacts with and benefits the local community.