Nithsdale Athletic Club was formed in 1994 from an amalgamation between Dumfries Athletic Club and Nith Valley Athletic Club.

Dumfries Athletic Club

Dumfries AC had its beginnings in the 1960s and was based on the playing fields at Dumfries High School and folded in the 1970s.

In the summer of 1985 the club was reborn from a split between committe and coaches of Nith Valley AC. The club rapidly grew to over 100 members within two years. 

The strength of the club was its cross country and middle distance runners and throwers.

Nith Valley Athletic Club

Nith Valley AC was formed in the 1970s with bases in both Sanquhar and Dumfries. At that time there was an ash running track at Lorimer Park in Sanquhar.  The main strength in the club was the sprinters and hurdlers.  Many Scottish and schools championship medals were won. 

In the early 1990s with numbers dwindling and the folding of the local Solway League, it was decided to amalgamate the two clubs and the fledgling Nithsdale AC was born just as Nithsdale District disappeared with local government reorganisation.

The amalgamated club competed in their respective colours until the latest vest was commissioned after a vote by all the competing athletes.

At one time Dumfries boasted two teams in Division 1 of the Scottish and North Western League as well as teams winning through to finals of the Young Athletes League and teams in both the Mens and Women's Scottish Leagues.

Numbers have continued to fall but the current athletes are working hard and beginning to show promise in both track and field and cross country with 2003/4 showing  a rise to prominance of the middle distance group.