A look backthrough our Cumbernauld News archives.

CELTIC ace Malky McKay was the guest of honour at the opening of Kildrum’s new youth club. Malky took the time to chat and sign autographs for fans after carrying out the opening ceremony at Sacred Heart parish church’s Stairway Youth Club. Parish priest Father Jim Rooney said: “Malky was great with the youngsters. They were glad to see him.”

MOONwalking astronaut Charles Duke took a giant step when he visited Cumbernauld to talk about his experiences in the lunar module of Apollo 16 which landed on the moon in April 1972. The 61-year-old would be appearing at Cumbernauld Community Church and Glenhead Primary – and would also be shedding light on his Christian commitments which saw him act as a lay minister in his native Texas.

Crisis hit Clyde FC were took taking time out before deciding whether to keep the club full time. Despite axing 12 full time players and a number of part-time youngsters, the board was still to rubber stamp boss Alex Smith’s plans for full-time football at Broadwood. Club secretary John Taylor said: “We had no option but to trim back and we now have to see how we can get best value’’. And fans would have to wait months to find out.

1986

Former Communist Jimmy Reid returned to Cumbernauld 20 years after he had stood for political office in the town and had plenty to say about the new version of the new town. “The town has appeared to have matured. It is much more settled. It has not been without problems but lessons have been learned from the past. In the past the optimism of the young couples who moved out here transcended everything else. I hope that the people who have made Cumbernauld such a happy place are happy now.”

“A FAIRLY major overspend’’ - that was the description of a council repairs bill that had run £5,000,000 over budget. Four main factors were identified as influencing such an increased sum. This referred to an increase in the volume of affairs, overcharging by contractors, overestimates and increased inflation. However, councillors said that there was little that could be done. Councillor Craig Combe said: “There’s no way we can contemplate reducing our policy on repairs.”

AN UNCONVENTIONAL local club celebrated its first birthday at Abronhill Community Education Centre. The Ringlord Fantasy Games Club donned costumes to showcase their role playing talents with mock battles and puzzles with dice.

1976

BINMEN continued to strike in Cumbernauld as talks remained deadlocked but they were not the only group involved in unrest. For students staged a lighting sit-in at Cumbernauld Technical College to protest at cutbacks in education – while the controversial new building remained open for just ten students. The protestors were chiefly drawn from Jordanhill and Callendar Park College of Education and many feared that there would be no teaching posts for them in the near future.Kildrum protestor John Farrell (23) said: “This situation needs all the publicity it can get. We hope our efforts will act as a catalyst in Cumbernauld.”

MorE than 2000 locals turned up in torrential rain at Guys Meadow to see Scotland beat England in a junior international fixture which was also hailed as a triumph for Cumbernauld United. Officials were told they could be assured of more fixtures of this scale because of the tip-top facilities. The club itself praised spectators too and not just for the turnout. “Everybody should have got a medal for putting up with the rain,” said match secretary Jim Tominey.

1970

BURROUGHS continued to live up to its reputation as one of the most troubled workplaces in the country after 400 further redundancies were announced. The axe was set to fall on white collar and supervisory staff. A total of 500 jobs had gone just months before, in a move put down to the fall in demand for decriminalisation equipment. This was swiftly followed by the loss of 101 more jobs, due to a drop in production targets and orders. Workers looked set to follow the example of Burroughs employees in Strathleven who had mounted an all-out strike.

A CUMBERNAULD churchman was headed for a new life in Italy. Reverend Dane Sherrard of Abronhill Parish Church would be leaving for the port city of Genoa to minister at the Sailors Rest run by the Church of Scotland. Meanwhile Cumbernauld High School had a new rector after Dunbartonshire Community Council appointed James M. Mearns to take the place of Matthew Brown who was retiring at the end of the session.

A £50,000 facelift aimed to correct “shanty’’ conditions at Cumbernauld Station. The project would create a new footbridge over the Carbrain ring road, new bus bays, a taxi rank and kiosks.