Club History

About

Albertville Harriers is a running and athletics club based in North Belfast. We are one of Belfast’s longest established running clubs, founded in 1919 and we are affiliated to  Athletics Northern Ireland. Please spend some time browsing our new web site and contact us if you would like more information. We are a friendly group and invite you to come along to our Tuesday or Thursday evening training session’s to find out a bit more about us. It doesn’t matter if you are a complete beginner or an experienced runner. We hope to hear from you or meet you at one of our training nights soon.  Albertville Harriers welcomes members irrespective of age, race, gender or religious belief.

History

The club began in 1919 when a bunch of lads attended a bible class in the Albert Hall on the Shankill Road, Belfast. The club then found premises in Ardoyne Village which is now long gone. Ardoyne Village was a cluster of white washed cottages from Ardoyne up towards Ballysillan on the site of the old Everton School.

In 1939, the lads who were in the club and who had joined the Territorials were mobilised. A club member collected the club trophies and any club information he could gather, he put them in a bag and stowed them away in a coal shed. Club members were scattered across the world and the war years began….

By 1952, Albertville Harriers had secured premises at 2a Olive Street (Woodvale). On Saturdays, a zinc bath was filled with warm water for club members to have a wash, the club also rigged up a type of shower which scattered icy cold water in all directions.

From Olive Street, the club moved to a scout hall in Bray Street for training and from there they moved to Woodvale Recreation Centre until Ainsworth Community Centre offered the club accommodation.

After a few years, it was decided that Ballysillan Leisure Centre had better facilities (and warm showers!) and it was while based here the club flourished.