1889–90 Dumbarton F.C. season

Players

Amongst those leaving the club from the first XI were, John Madden to Celtic, William Lapsley to Third Lanark, Geordie Dewar to Blackburn Rovers and James Bell to Aston Villa.

Those joining the first XI included a number of players following the demise of near neighbours Dumbarton Athletic, notable among those being James Galbraith, John McLeod and Daniel Watson. In addition John Taylor joined from Newtown Thistle.

August

The season began poorly on 10 August with a 4-2 away defeat to local county side, Kirkintilloch Athletic.

The following week however fortunes changed when a trip to Edinburgh resulted in a 6-3 win over Leith athletic.

On 24 August, Boghead hosted its opening game of the season where a 1-1 draw was fought out against Methlan Park.

August ended with a well merited 1-1 draw against Celtic in Glasgow.

September

The month began with the first competitive match of the season – a first round Scottish Cup tie against old rivals and neighbours Vale of Leven at Alexandria – ending in a 0-0 draw.

The following week the replay was held at Boghead, the result being a 1-1 draw, but rather than a further match both clubs advanced to the next round.

On 21 September Hearts visited Boghead and left as victors by 2-1.

A week later it was back to Scottish Cup business where a trip to county neighbours Renton resulted in a 2-1 victory in the second round of the competition.

October

The month began with a visit to Hampden Park, and Dumbarton’s sluggish start to the season continued with a 1-0 reverse.

On 12 October, Stewart; McMillan; McLeod and Bell played in the Dumbartonshire team against Ayrshire at Ayr, and were on the losing side by 1-4. On the same day, a scratch Dumbarton side met their neighbours Union at Boghead, but despite the missing talent still managed a 2-0 win.

The following week saw Dumbarton pitted against the previous year’s champions, Third Lanark in the third round of the Scottish Cup. The game at Boghead could have gone either way but in the end finished in a 1-1 draw.

The replay on 26 October at Cathkin Park was another titanic struggle but it would be the cupholders who would prevail 1-0.

November

With interest in the Scottish Cup at an end, Dumbarton turned their attention to the Dumbartonshire Cup, and on 2 November duly defeated Kirkintilloch Athletic 2-0 in the first round.

The following week Dumbarton were on their travels again with a visit to the Thistle in Glasgow, and came away with a 2-0 win.

On 16 November, Jamestown were visitors to Boghead on county cup business. The second round tie ended in a 7-1 rout in favour of Dumbarton.

Then a week later saw a trip to Glasgow to play Celtic, and despite three of the first team missing from injury, Dumbarton managed to carve out a 2-2 draw.

The final game of the month was held at Dumbarton with a drab 1-1 draw being played out against Cowlairs.

December

The month began with the visit of Methlan Park to contest the semi final of the Dumbartonshire Cup, and it would result in a comfortable 4-1 victory for Dumbarton.

The visit to Boghead by Abercorn on 14 December turned into a ‘nasty’ affair. Questionable tactics, mostly on the part of Dumbarton, led to two of the Abercorn players having to leave the field injured. However despite the handicap of playing with only 9 men, the visitors secured a 3-2 win.

On 21 December, it was another home game, this time against Partick Thistle and it would take a last minute goal to rescue a 2-2 draw.

The final game of 1889 would see a cracking local derby against Renton at Boghead, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

January

The New Year’s holiday was taken up with a tour of north Scotland and Fife. The hectic schedule began with a trouncing by Forfar Athletic 0-7, but improved greatly over the next three days with wins over Our Boys Dundee (4-1), Arbroath (8-3) and Dunfermline (8-0).

On 11 January, Dumbarton visited Tynecastle with a ‘scratch’ team and came away with a 2-2 draw. Hearts ‘scored’ a third goal which the referee allowed, but following a Dumbarton protest, the Hearts players agreed that the ball had gone over the bar, and the goal was disallowed.

Following a free week, it was Kilmarnock who were visitors to Boghead, and left having been defeated 3-1.

February

The month began with a free week for Dumbarton – but not it’s players. Two inter-county games were played, with McMillan; Keir; Bell and Galbraith playing against the East of Scotland and McLeod; Hannah and Lindsay playing against Refrewshire. Both games were lost 3-5 and 5-7 respectively.

After another blank week, 15 February saw the playing of the Scottish Cup final between Queens Park and Vale of Leven. However on the same day Dumbarton were represented in the final of the Scottish Second XI Cup against Rangers, but finished as runners-up after a 1-0 defeat.

On the 22 Dumbarton at last played a match – against neighbours Methlan Park at Boghead – a 3-0 win being recorded in a ‘quiet’ game.

March

On 1 March Dumbarton, the Dumbartonshire cupholders faced Vale of Leven, runners up in the Scottish Cup the week previously, in the final of the county championship – and it was Dumbarton who would retain the cup with a 2-0 win.

A week later, a trial match was held at Celtic Park to decide on the players to represent Scotland in the upcoming Home Internationals, with both John Bell and John McLeod taking part.

At the same time the second strings of Dumbarton and Vale of Leven met to decide on the destination of the Dumbartonshire Second XI Cup, and Dumbarton made it a county double with an easy 7-1 win.

On 15 March, Dumbarton visited Renton for a local derby match, and came away with a 4-0 win.

It should be noted that on 20 March a Scottish Football League committee was formed to draft rules for the ‘trialling’ of a football league the following season. 12 clubs would be involved, one of which would be Dumbarton.

Dumbarton played host on 22 March to a trial match for the Dumbartonshire Junior Association XI and the juniors put up stiff opposition before going down to the senior team by 3-2.

On 29 March, Scotland played Ireland in Belfast. John McLeod and John Bell were both capped for this match – which resulted in a 4-1 win for the Scots. On the same day, Dumbarton travelled to Kilmarnock, and despite the missing personnel, returned with a 2-1 win.

April

The month began with a local derby at home against Clydebank on 5 April – and resulted in a 4-1 win.

Two days later as part of the Easter holidays Dumbarton set sail for their first ‘overseas’ challenge, and played out an exciting 4-4 draw with Belfast Distillery.

On 12 April Dumbarton played in the first round of a tournament organised by Glasgow Hibernians – Glasgow Thistle were the opponents and were duly dispatched 6-1.

The following week, while the team rested, three of the players, Hannah; McMillan and Boyle, were on county duty, with Dumbartonshire losing 2-4 to North Eastern Glasgow.

On 24 April, Dumbarton travelled to Edinburgh and beat St Bernards 5-3, then a couple of days later played their first tie in the Greenock Charity Cup, beating Dykebar 6-0 at Cappielow.

May

The month began with a match on 3 May against Rangers at Ibrox, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

But it would not be until 23 May until Dumbarton played their next match – coincidentally again against Rangers at Ibrox. This time it was in the first tie of a competition for the benefit of United Abstainers FC. The result was a 3-2 win.

31 May saw another piece of silverware being taken back to Dumbarton as they thrashed Morton 9-0 at Cappielow in the final of the Greenock Charity Cup.

June

Only one tie remained to be decided at the beginning of June and that was the result of the United Abstainers FC tournament, which pitted Dumbarton against Third Lanark. On 5 June the teams turned out at Ibrox Park and fought out a goalless draw, but in the replay a fortnight later, it was Third Lanark who got the decisive goal in a close encounter.

The season ended with the publication of the fixture list for the first ever Scottish Football League – Dumbarton’s first tie would be against Cowlairs at home on 16 August. However one honour had already been achieved with former player Alex Lawrance of Dumbarton being voted in as Chairman of the League.

Scottish Cup

Dumbartonshire Cup

Greenock & District Charity Cup

United Abstainers F.C. Gold Cup

Other matches

Squad^[3]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK		John McLeod	5	0	5	0
	DF		John Hannah	4	0	4	0
	DF		Duncan Stewart	5	0	5	0
	MF		Dickie Boyle	5	1	5	1
	MF		Leitch Keir	5	0	5	0
	MF		Alex McDonald	1	0	1	0
	MF		Tom McMillan	4	0	4	0
	FW		Ralph Aitken	3	0	3	0
	FW		John Bell	5	0	5	0
	FW		James Fraser	5	1	5	1
	FW		James Galbraith	3	0	3	0
	FW		Joe Lindsay	3	1	3	1
	FW		Hugh Mair	2	1	2	1
	FW		Alex Miller	3	0	3	0
	FW		James Weir	2	0	2	0

Scottish Second XI Cup

Dumbartonshire Second XI Cup