The very first Eilean an Fhraoich Cup was won by the West and they still maintain the record for longest holders of the trophy, yet they suffered a fall from grace in later years and after struggling for numbers and form, the team fell out of the league in 1977.
What followed was an eight year absence until 1984 when a group of men from the West Side, led by Domhnall Iain Maclean helped the sleeping giant back to its feet and into the league where it belonged.
Domhnall Iain said: "I was playing with Carloway in the 1970s and into the early 80s at right-back. There were a lot of young guys who weren't getting into the team and a lot on the fringes, like myself, who would often slip out of the team when the students came home. Good players like John Matheson and David Campbell. There was an obvious pool of players so I decided to try and restart the West Side football team which had been out of the league for quite some time.
"I put some feelers out to test the feeling in the community and there was a very good response. I always checked how difficult it would be to get back into the league. We had posters up and organised meetings and generated great interest.
"Finlay Smith came on as chairman and I was player manager and secretary for the first season to see how it would go."
The support in the local community was overwhelming and Arnol Motors gave the resurgent Siarachs a boost as they sponsored them to the tune of new strips every year for the first six years.
When they kicked off in their return to the league they boasted a sizeable squad of some 20 players, but their return to action saw them face the league's most potent threat.
"Our first game when we rejoined the league was against the reigning league and Highland Amateur Cup champions Ness and they gubbed us something like 16 - 1, which was the heaviest defeat I have ever been involved in," recalled Domhnall Iain.
"After the first season we got a new manager and our results improved a little, but like anything it takes a while to build something up and I think we were bottom of the league for the first three seasons we were in it.
"Ken Kennedy and Ali 'Ban' Maclennan took stints in charge and our results really started to turn for the better. Ali 'Ban' signed a lot of Shawbost boys for us and that helped and I think we then became a mid-table team," explained Domhnall Iain.
In recent years the West Side have shown signs of a hint to a return to their former glories but as yet they have failed to win any silverware. The last winners medal for the West Side came in 1959 when the West picked up the Stornoway Cup.
He continued: "During my time with the West Side we tried to start the juniors but it was very difficult as Shawbost, Carloway and Ness all had junior teams and I don't think there were enough young players around.
"The West Side have a junior set-up now and they're doing really well for themselves. The senior team are also doing well and were in two cup finals last season, one the year before and two again the year before, but they still haven't managed to win anything since they rejoined the league."
A damaged cartilage brought Domhnall Iain's playing career to a premature end but it didn't keep him off the football pitch as he has been a referee for nearly 16 years.
"I have been refereeing since 1990 and I love it. I always wanted to be involved with football and when I had to give up playing I decided to become a ref.
"I really enjoy reffing but of course not everyone agrees with all my decisions. You're not doing you job properly if everyone agrees with all your decisions.
"I remember hearing a story about a former referee, Murdo Macdonald in charge of a match down in Harris.
"Whatever happened he gave a decision against Harris that they were furious about. After the game he went to get changed and his clothes and his car keys and everything had been stolen. He got them back eventually I believe. Luckily nothing like that has happened to me," laughed Domhnall Iain.
Domhnall Iain's football career began in Shawbost School as a youngster and back then he was the last line of defence as school goalkeeper.
He revealed: "The only trophies I ever won was with the school team when I was young. We beat Ness in the Builders Cup 5 - 4, which was great and at that time I was in goals. We also won the indoor five-a-sides which was brilliant.
"I later remember playing for the West Side at the indoor league at the hangar one year. This was a competition that Aths always did brilliantly at. They had Magnus and Murdo Johnson and Ali Suggan in the team, but one year we drew them in the cup and beat them. We were over the moon but in the next round we were gubbed by a far worse team."
In his role as the man in the middle Domhnall Iain is fortunate enough to see all of the league's promising youngsters on a regular basis.
"I like David Macmillan and David Black of Lochs and Back have some excellent young players, but I didn't see very much of them last year as I only reffed one of their games," he added.