Before the Clubs: 1883

The first Scottish amateur athletic clubs to hit the scene appeared in 1885.   Before that there was only an SAAA which had appeared in 1883 and catered for University clubs and private school old boys clubs.   The other sports clubs – football, cycling, boxing, etc – provided athletes too but the scene before that is vague as far as most are concerned.

This page covers the events that took place in 1883 – it is a simple list of events Saturday by Saturday to indicate what the athletics public had to satisfy their interest.   That there was such a public is shown by the number of spectators at many of the significant meetings and the regular professional meetings at Shawfield Ground in Glasgow.

Just click on the link to go to that month.

[ April 1883 ] [ May 1883 ] [ June 1883 ] [ July 1883 ] [ August 1883 ]