Dumbarton F.C.

Dumbarton Football Club is a semi-professional football club in Dumbarton, Scotland.[3] Founded on 23 December 1872, they are one of the oldest football clubs in Scotland.[4][5][6] The club plays home games at the Dumbarton Football Stadium next to Dumbarton Castle.

Dumbarton
Full nameDumbarton Football Club
Nickname(s)The Sons
Founded23 December 1872 (1872-12-23)
GroundDumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
Capacity2,020[1]
ChairmanJohn Steele[2]
ManagerJim Duffy
LeagueScottish League One
2019–20Scottish League One, 6th of 10
WebsiteClub website

The club were one of the most successful of the nineteenth century, winning the Scottish Football League in the first two seasons of the competition (the first jointly with Rangers). Since then, the club have spent the majority of their history outside the top flight, with their last appearance at the top level coming in 1984–85 and the side currently playing in League One. The club were the first team (and one of only two) to win at least one league title in each of the top four tiers in the Scottish football league system.

Jim Duffy is currently the club's manager having been appointed in October 2018.[7]

Colours and badge

For 2020–21, the side will wear strips from the Joma brand for the 7th season. After 7 seasons playing in predominantly white the home strip features yellow and black stripes, taking inspiration from the clubs colours from 1890–1930, a period in which the team won two league titles and the Scottish Cup. The away kit is white with black trim.

The clubs' badge features an elephant with a castle on its back, this represents Dumbarton Rock with Dumbarton Castle upon it, based on the historic town crest. Dumbarton Rock, a volcanic plug, is said to resemble an elephant. The teams nickname 'The Sons' is derived from the phrase 'Sons of The Rock', a term used for those born in the town of Dumbarton.

Stadium
Main articles: Dumbarton Football Stadium and Boghead Park
View of the stand at the Dumbarton Football Stadium
View from the stand at the Dumbarton Football Stadium

Dumbarton play their home games at Dumbarton Football Stadium, known as the C&G Systems Stadium for sponsorship reasons (commonly referred to as "The Rock" by supporters). The 2,020[1] all seated stadium has been used since 2 December 2000. The main (and currently only) stand is overshadowed by Dumbarton Rock & sits aside the banks of the River Leven. The stadium has been named for sponsorship purposes for most of its existence:

  • Strathclyde Homes Stadium (Dec 2000 – Sep 2011) until the receivership of Strathclyde Homes [8]
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium (Sep 2011 – Feb 2012)
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium Sponsored by DL Cameron (Feb 2012 – Jul 2012)
  • The BetButler Stadium (Jul 2012 – Sep 2014) until the liquidation of BetButler[9]
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium (Sep 2014 – Jun 2015)
  • The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium (Jul 2015 – May 2017)
  • The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium (July 2017 – May 2018[10])
  • C&G Systems Stadium (May 2018 – )[11]

Prior to December 2000, the team played at Boghead Park from 1879 until the end of the 1999–00 season; 121 years is currently the longest a senior Scottish club has stayed at the same ground. Between May and November 2000, Dumbarton shared Cliftonhill in Coatbridge with Albion Rovers.

In November 2014 the club's owners, Brabco, formally announced their intention to move to a new ground[12] after only 15 years at their current home, situated in what is currently Young's Farm to the North of Dumbarton between Dalreoch and Renton. The proposed development would have doubled the existing capacity to 4,000, with the existing site being used to build 180 houses and a walkway along the River Clyde connecting the town centre with Dumbarton Castle. The plans were rejected by West Dunbartonshire Council in March 2018.[13]

Attendances
Season League Average Highest
2019–20 League One 663 1,394
2018–19 League One 637 1,353
2017–18 Championship 838 1,652
2016–17 Championship 1,130 1,660
2015–16 Championship 1,033 1,978
2014–15 Championship 1,074 1,850
2013–14 Championship 938 1,469
2012–13 First Division 927 1,530
2011–12 Second Division 660 1,088
2010–11 Second Division 640 853
2009–10 Second Division 695 1,227
2008–09 Third Division 722 1,396
2007–08 Third Division 560 907
2006–07 Third Division 709 1,089
2005–06 Second Division 946 1,594
2004–05 Second Division 900 1,446
2003–04 Second Division 1,039 1,861
2002–03 Second Division 950 1,501

Supporters

Dumbarton were the first league club in Scotland to have a supporters' trust, which works to strengthen the links between the club and the fans. The trust own a significant number of shares in the club and are currently the fourth largest shareholder. Following a £25,000 direct investment, the trust also has a representative on the club board of directors. The supporters' trust works with the club to produce the match programme & run the club website. As well as those important functions, the trust's main role at the club is that of overseeing commercial activity.

Players

Current squad
As of 1 June 2020[14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
2 DF Lewis Crawford
4 MF Ruaridh Langan
5 DF Morgyn Neill
6 MF Stuart Carswell (captain)
8 MF Kyle Hutton
10 FW Stefan McCluskey
11 MF Ross Forbes
No. Position Player
14 MF Joe McKee
15 FW Robert Jones
17 FW Isaac Layne
20 MF Callum Wilson
22 DF Ryan McGeever
24 FW PJ Crossan

Hall of Fame

Recently, the club and its fans named their "best player of all time" and a "Hall of Fame" including:

Coaching staff
Position[15]Name
ManagerJim Duffy
Assistant ManagerBarry Smith
Goalkeeping CoachJamie Ewings[16]
Club DoctorDr Khalid Hassan
PhysiotherapistKirsten Murray
Kit ManVacant[17]

Recent league history
Season P W D L GF GA GD Pts Pos League
2019–20 28 11 5 12 35 44 -9 38 6 League One
2018–19 36 12 10 14 60 60 0 46 6 League One
2017–183679202763−36 309(R)Championship
2016–1736912154656−10 398Championship
2015–1636107193566−31 378Championship
2014–153697203679−43 347Championship
2013–14361561564640 515Championship

Managerial history

Manager records for all league, league play-offs, League Cup, Scottish Cup & Challenge Cup games (i.e. not including friendlies & Stirlingshire Cup games)[18]

  • Permanent managers only. Stats include permanent managers who had initial caretaker spells.

As of match played 7 March 2020:

Name Nat. From To Record
Pld W D L %won
Jim Duffy October 2018 Present 6223132637.09
Stephen Aitken May 2015 October 2018 15442387427.27
Ian Murray November 2012 May 2015 10841155237.96
Alan Adamson October 2010 October 2012 8332163538.55
Jim Chapman December 2007 October 2010 11340274635.39
Gerry McCabe June 2006 November 2007 5725112143.86
Paul Martin December 2004 June 2006 6712153517.91
Brian Fairley March 2003 December 2004 6630102645.45
David Winnie June 2002 March 2003 341161732.35
Tom Carson October 2000 June 2002 6732132247.76
Jimmy Brown March 1999 October 2000 6626103039.39
Ian Wallace November 1996 March 1999 9526244527.37
Jim Fallon September 1995 November 1996 5026424.00
Murdo MacLeod June 1993 August 1995 8828243531.81
Billy Lamont April 1990 June 1993 13854305439.13
Jim George October 1988 April 1990 7729202837.66
Bertie Auld January 1988 September 1988 24481216.66
Mark Clougherty July 1987 January 1988 30971430.00
Alex Totten July 1986 April 1987 462381550.00
Derek Whiteford May 1986 May 1986
Alex Wright (caretaker) February 1986 May 1986 1765635.30
Davie Wilson March 1984 February 1986 9732224333.00
Billy Lamont July 1981 February 1984 12444262635.48
Sean Fallon July 1980 May 1981 4314121732.56
Davie Wilson July 1977 April 1980 12751383840.16
Alex Wright March 1973 May 1977 19266428434.37
Jackie Stewart November 1968 January 1973 19089346746.84
Ian Spence September 1967 October 1968 4613112228.26
Willie Toner October 1964 September 1967 13147275735.88
Jackie Fearn May 1962 September 1964 10041174241.00
Bobby Campbell July 1961 May 1962 4310102323.26
Bobby Combe May 1959 November 1960 6328142144.44
Peter McGown May 1954 April 1959 216108337550.00
William Irvine June 1950 May 1954 15551327232.90
William Guthrie August 1946 June 1950 15342278427.45
Jackie Milne June 1945 August 1946 381461836.84
William Guthrie (secretary) August 1944 June 1945 30 9 3 18 30.00
Fred Donovan (secretary) June 1940 June 1944 120 45 20 55 37.50
Jimmy Smith January 1939 June 1940 45 9 8 28 20.00
Fred Donovan (secretary) June 1931 January 1939 274 98 48 128 35.77
Donald Colman June 1922 May 1931 359 139 65 155 38.72
Paddy Travers April 1920 May 1922 95 24 17 54 25.27
George Livingstone March 1919 April 1920 47 14 12 21 29.79
James Collins May 1914 March 1919 174 55 46 73 31.61

Honours

League

Cup

National

Other

Reserves
  • Scottish Second XI Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1881–82
    • Runners-up (3): 1883–84, 1886–87, 1889–90
  • Glasgow & District Reserve League:
    • Runners-up (2): 1942–43 (First Series), 1943–44 (First Series)
  • Scottish Alliance Reserve League:
    • Winners (1): 1956–57 (First Series)
    • Runners-up (1): 1956–57 (Second Series)
  • Combined Reserve League:
    • Winners (1): 1958–59 (Second Series)
    • Runners-up (1): 1958–59 (First Series)
  • Scottish Reserve League (West):
    • Runners-up (1): 1985–86
  • Glasgow & District Reserve League Cup:
    • Runners-up (1): 1942–43
  • Dumbartonshire Second XI Cup:
    • Winners (5): 1888–89, 1889–90, 1890–91, 1891–92, 1892–93

Youths
  • Scottish Under 19s League:
    • Runners-up (1): 2010–11

Club records

Biggest win:
(Scottish Cup): 13–2 v Kirkintilloch Central (1 September 1888)

Biggest loss:
Scottish Football League: 1–11 v Albion Rovers (30 January 1926)
Scottish League Cup: 1–11 v Ayr United (13 August 1952)

Biggest home attendance:
Boghead Park: 18,001 v Raith Rovers, (2 March 1957)
Dumbarton Football Stadium: 1,978 v Rangers, (19 September 2015)[21]

Most goals in a season: Kenny Wilson (38), 1971–72

References
  1. "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. Findlay, Alan. "BOARDROOM UPDATE". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  3. "About Us". Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. "Dumbarton Football Club -About Us". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. "Who are Scotland's oldest professional football clubs". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. "Football - Dumbarton". www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  7. Galloway, Andy (21 October 2018). "JIM DUFFY IS NEW DUMBARTON MANAGER". Dumbarton Football Club.
  8. "Strathclyde is latest Scots victim of building slump". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  9. "BetButler update". Gambling Commission. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  10. "CLUB STATEMENT - YOUR RADIO". Dumbarton Football Club. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  11. Barrow, Simon (5 May 2018). "C&G SYSTEMS ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSORS". Dumbarton Football Club.
  12. "Dumbarton Relocation Planning update". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  13. "CLUB STATEMENT". Dumbarton Football Club. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  14. "2019–20 Dumbarton squad". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  15. "Dumbarton Football Club – Management". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  16. Findlay, Alan. "FRIENDLIES ARRANGED". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  17. "Dumbarton Football Club - KIT MAN LEAVES". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  18. Kemp, David. "Club Managers Past & Present". Sons Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  19. Shared with Rangers after both clubs ended the season on 29 points. A play-off game at Cathkin Park on 21 May 1891 finished 2–2, so the clubs were declared joint champions
  20. Known as second division prior to 1975
  21. "Dumbarton 1–2 Rangers". Retrieved 4 June 2016.
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