1924 is the oldest recorded formation of the club, although it is likely that there was something prior.   In 1924, one of the members was Nat Hayes, who, like David Cummings, was a member of Paisley Harriers. Nat continued to run for Paisley Harriers but around 1930, began to compete for Kilbarchan and was one of their top runners.  Later in life, Nat became Provost of Johnstone.

Around 1955 the club was no longer active, other than the continued organisation of the annual Kilbarchan Relay for the Marshall Trophy.

In 1963-65 some efforts were made to restart the club and in 1964 a boys team won the South West District XC Championships, however the club again became inactive and it was not until 1974 that the club was effectively started again.

In November 1974 Elsie Gibson from Kilbarchan placed adverts in a local newspaper inviting interest in restarting the club as she was keen to keep her 2 boys active.  A group of 12 met at the Steeple Hall in Kilbarchan and agreed to restart the club. Arthur Smith was elected Vice Chairman at that meeting and has been a driving force in the club ever since.

Initially the Club met at Kilbarchan Park pavilion. Both boys and girls were involved in the club from the start. Soon it became apparent that a track was required for training and the Club started to meet at Johnstone High School.   In the early 1990’s the club moved its base to Linwood Sports Centre when Renfrewshire Council agreed to provide a track there.

The club is currently based at the On-X Sports Centre in Linwood and look forward to having a new Indoor Training Facility adjacent to the track, opening in 2020.

Initially the main activity in the club was Cross Country and Road Running, but this quickly expanded to include Track and Field in a wide range of disciplines with involvement in all the major Scottish Leagues. Over the years many athletes from the club have competed at national level, winning Scottish Championships and representing Scotland in Home Internationals at both age group and Senior level. A number have also competed at International level, competing for GB.  Our Officials have also been involved in high level competition.

Kilbarchan AAC had 2 athletes competing for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, Claire Gibson in the 400m and Hailey Haining in the marathon.  At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 Derek Hawkins and Hailey Haining both competed in the marathon, and Callum Hawkins was in the final of the 10,000m.   Callum Hawkins ran in the marathon in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.

GB representation at the Olympic Games includes David Cummings who competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics, and Callum and Derek Hawkins who ran in the Marathon in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Photo taken in Kilbarchan Park, 6 August 1910

1990 at Johnstone High School