Campsie Black Watch back in business after year out

Formed in 1943 the club has won over 200 cups, including 11 Scottish Cup wins and 16 final appearances.

When it celebrated its 70th birthday with a dinner at Hampden in 2013 ex players travelled from all over Europe for the occasion.

But a massive question mark has been hanging over the club for the past 12 months, as long-serving president Gerry Marley explained.

He said: “Last season Black Watch had no other alternative but to resign from 21s after 70 years as the most successful team in Scotland.

“The demise of the club at 21 level was devastating. Players failed to appear for the pre-season training so the decision to take a season out was neccessary.

“The committee agreed to start up as an amateur side and applied to join the Fosters Central League.”

Gerry said that after being called to a meeting before a league committee panel at a Hamilton hotel he was led to believe their application would be looked on favourably and dealt with quickly.

But he said that two weeks later he received a phone call with the bad news that Black Watch’s application had been turned down because two clubs in the league had blocked their entry .

Gerry said: “The committee were shocked and angry. These are clubs over many years who have had players too old for Black Watch join them and had great success.

“Then Robert Campbell and his committee from Waterside Amateurs decided they could be accepted into the Fosters Central League as a joint club.

“Watch agreed and decided to go ahead and this has taken place for the new season.

“It is Black Watch /Waterside with the Waterside committee now playing a role making it the strongest group at Campsie for many years.

This team will prove to be a success despite other clubs trying to block their progress.”

The season kicks off next Saturday, August 13, at Station Road when Campsie take on Clydebank AFC, kick off 2pm.