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]

Dumbarton

Full name	Dumbarton Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Sons
Founded	23 December 1872; 151 years ago (1872-12-23)
Ground	Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
Capacity	2,020[1]
Owner	Cognitive Capital[2]
Chairman	Dr Neil Mackay
Manager	Stephen Farrell
League	Scottish League One
2023–24	Scottish League Two, 4th of 10 (promoted via play-offs)
Website	http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/
Home colours Away colours
Current season

The club plays home games at the Dumbarton Football Stadium next to Dumbarton Castle.

They 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).

The club ceased playing in 1901 and did not return to action until 1905. Although at the time it was emphasised that this was a new club, subsequent directives by the SFA and Scottish Combination appear to countermand this, possibly to fast-track the re-formed club into their competitions.^[7]

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 Scottish 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.

Stephen Farrell is the club's manager, having been appointed in May 2021.^[8]

In May 2021, it was announced that Dumbarton were to change ownership, with previous owners Brabco selling their majority share to Cognitive Capital.^[2]

Colours and badge

For 2024–25, the side will wear strips from the Macron brand for the third season. The home strip is mainly white with a black and gold band. The away kit is gold and black.^[9]

The club's 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 team's 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 (commonly referred to as "The Rock" by supporters). The 2,020^[1] all seated stadium has been used since 2 December 2000. The 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^[10]
• 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^[11]
• 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)^[12]
• C&G Systems Stadium (May 2018 – May 2021)^[13]
• Dumbarton Football Stadium (May 2021 – September 2021)
• Moreroom.com Stadium (September 2021 – March 2022)^[14]

Prior to December 2000, the team played at Boghead Park from 1879 until the end of the 1999–00 season; at that time their tenure of 121 years was the longest a senior Scottish club had 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^[15] after only 15 years at their home, situated in what is 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.^[16]

Attendances

Season	League	Average	Highest
2023–24	League Two	662	2,020
2022–23	League Two	635	1,086
2021–22	League One	539	1,198
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

Supporters and culture

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 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

Squad

As of 11 September 2024^[17]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NIR Brett Long 2 DF  SCO Aron Lynas 3 DF  SCO Greig Young 4 DF  CAN Ethan Brown (on loan from Kilmarnock) 5 DF  SCO Mark Durnan (captain) 6 MF  SCO Ryan Blair 7 MF  SCO Kalvin Orsi 8 MF  SCO David Wilson 9 FW  SWE Joel Mumbongo 10 MF  SCO Finlay Gray 11 MF  SCO Tony Wallace (vice-captain)

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 DF  SCO Carlo Pignatiello 16 FW  GRE Panos Grivas 17 MF  SCO James Hilton 18 MF  SCO Jacob Shields 19 GK  SCO Paddy O'Neil 20 MF  SEN Mouhamed Niang 21 MF  SCO Craig McGuffie 22 DF  SCO Matthew Shiels 23 FW  SCO Michael Ruth 24 DF  SCO Cammy Clark 31 MF  SCO Michael Miller

Hall of Fame

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

• Lawrie Williams – 372 apps (1970–1980)
• Ray Montgomerie – 180 apps (1981–1988)
• Murdo MacLeod – 87 apps (1975–1978) and 66 apps (1993–1995) as Player/Manager
• Donald McNeil – 320 apps (1975–1988)
• Colin McAdam – 70 apps (1969–1975)
• Albert Craig – 138 apps (1981–1986)
• Tom McAdam – 76 apps (1970–1975)
• Johnny Graham – 385 apps (1967–1977)
• William Wallace – 84 apps (1972–1975)
• Kenny Wilson – 74 apps (1970–1972)
• Charlie Gibson – 257 apps (1989–1996)

Internationals

18 Dumbarton players were chosen to represent Scotland between 1880 and 1898.^[18] The club's international players were as follows:^[18]

Ralph Aitken Jack Bell Robert 'Sparrow' Brown Robert 'Plumber' Brown Geordie Dewar Leitch Keir Archie Lang Joseph Lindsay James McAulay William McKinnon

John McLeod Thomas McMillan Peter Miller William Robertson Duncan Stewart Jack Taylor William Thomson Hugh Wilson

In 2018 midfielder Dimitris Froxylias received a call-up to the Cyprus national football team, making his debut against Montenegro in March 2018. It was the first of two caps he would earn whilst a Sons player, becoming the club's first international since Irishman Harry Chatton in 1932.^[19]

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Manager	Stephen Farrell[20]
Assistant manager	Frank McKeown
Goalkeeping coach	Eric Phillips
Sports scientist	Calum Strang
Video analyst and head of youth development	Gordon Scanlan

Recent league history

Main article: Dumbarton F.C. seasons

Season	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Pos	League
2023–24	36	16	9	11	56	44	12	58	4(P)	League Two
2022–23	36	18	8	10	49	39	10	62	2	League Two
2021–22	36	9	7	20	48	71	-23	34	9(R)	League One
2020–21	22	7	4	11	14	24	-10	25	9	League One
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
2017–18	36	7	9	20	27	63	−36	30	9(R)	Championship
2016–17	36	9	12	15	46	56	−10	39	8	Championship
2015–16	36	10	7	19	35	66	−31	37	8	Championship
2014–15	36	9	7	20	36	79	−43	34	7	Championship
2013–14	36	15	6	15	65	64	1	51	5	Championship

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)^[21]

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

As of match played 19 October 2024:

Name	Nat.	From	To	Record
				Pld	W	D	L	%won
Stephen Farrell		May 2021	Current	156	55	38	63
Jim Duffy		October 2018	May 2021	94	33	18	43	35.11
Stephen Aitken		May 2015	October 2018	154	42	38	74	27.27
Ian Murray		November 2012	May 2015	108	41	15	52	37.96
Alan Adamson		October 2010	October 2012	83	32	16	35	38.55
Jim Chapman		December 2007	October 2010	113	39	27	47	34.50
Gerry McCabe		June 2006	November 2007	57	25	11	21	43.86
Paul Martin		December 2004	June 2006	67	12	15	35	17.91
Brian Fairley		March 2003	December 2004	66	30	10	26	45.45
David Winnie		June 2002	March 2003	34	11	6	17	32.35
Tom Carson		October 2000	June 2002	67	32	13	22	47.76
Jimmy Brown		March 1999	October 2000	66	26	10	30	39.39
Ian Wallace		November 1996	March 1999	95	26	24	45	27.37
Jim Fallon		September 1995	November 1996	50	2	6	42	4.00
Murdo MacLeod		June 1993	August 1995	88	28	24	35	31.81
Billy Lamont		April 1990	June 1993	138	54	30	54	39.13
Jim George		October 1988	April 1990	77	29	20	28	37.66
Bertie Auld		January 1988	September 1988	24	4	8	12	16.66
Mark Clougherty		July 1987	January 1988	30	9	7	14	30.00
Alex Totten		July 1986	April 1987	46	23	8	15	50.00
Derek Whiteford		May 1986	May 1986
Alex Wright (caretaker)		February 1986	May 1986	17	6	5	6	35.30
Davie Wilson		March 1984	February 1986	97	32	22	43	33.00
Billy Lamont		July 1981	February 1984	124	44	26	26	35.48
Sean Fallon		July 1980	May 1981	43	14	12	17	32.56
Davie Wilson		July 1977	April 1980	127	51	38	38	40.16
Alex Wright		March 1973	May 1977	192	66	42	84	34.37
Jackie Stewart		November 1968	January 1973	190	89	34	67	46.84
Ian Spence		September 1967	October 1968	46	13	11	22	28.26
Willie Toner		October 1964	September 1967	131	47	27	57	35.88
Jackie Fearn		May 1962	September 1964	100	41	17	42	41.00
Bobby Campbell		July 1961	May 1962	43	10	10	23	23.26
Bobby Combe		May 1959	November 1960	63	28	14	21	44.44
Peter McGown		May 1954	April 1959	216	108	33	75	50.00
William Irvine		June 1950	May 1954	155	51	32	72	32.90
William Guthrie		August 1946	June 1950	153	42	27	84	27.45
Jackie Milne		June 1945	August 1946	38	14	6	18	36.84
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

• Scottish Football League: Winners 1890–91,^[22] 1891–92
• Scottish First Division:^[23] Winners 1910–11, 1971–72
  • Runners-up 1907–08, 1983–84
• Scottish Second Division: Winners 1991–92
  • Runners-up 1994–95
  • Play-Off Winners 2011–12
• Scottish Third Division: Winners 2008–09
  • Runners-up 2001–02, 2022–23
  • Play-Off Winners 2023–24
• Scottish Combination League:^[24] Winners 1905–06

Cup

National

• Scottish Cup: Winners 1882–83
  • Runners-up 1880–81, 1881–82, 1886–87, 1890–91, 1896–97
• Scottish Challenge Cup: Runners-up 2017–18
• Scottish Qualifying Cup: Runners-up 1911–12
• Scottish Consolation Cup: Runners-up 1907–08, 1910–11
• Scottish Supplementary Cup: Runners-up 1945–46
• Festival of Britain St. Mungo Quaich: Winners 1951–52

Other

• Stirlingshire Cup: Winners (16) 1952–53, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13
  • Runners-up 6 times
• Dumbartonshire Cup: Winners (20) 1884–85 1888–89, 1889–90, 1890–91, 1891–92, 1892–93, 1893–94, 1894–95, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1914–15, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1939–40
  • Runners-up 17 times
• Dumbartonshire Association Tournament: Winners 1885–86
• Stirlingshire Consolation Cup: Runners-up 1950–51
• League Charity Cup: Winners 1890–91
• Glasgow Charity Cup: Runners-up 1881–82, 1884–85
• Greenock Charity Cup: Winners 1889–90, 1890–91
  • Runners-up 1888–89, 1891–92
• Dumbartonshire Charity Cup:
  • Winners 1916–17, 1917–18, 1919–20, 1921–22, 1922–23
  • Runners-up 1918–19, 1924–25, 1925–26
• Clydebank Charity Cup: Runners-up 1918–19
• United Abstainers F.C. Gold Cup: Runners-up 1889–90
• Oban Saints Keyline Trophy: Winners 2005–06

Reserves

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

Youths

• Scottish Under 19s League: Runners-up 2010–11
• West Region Under 18s Cup: Runners-up 2022–23
• West Region Under 17s Cup: Runners-up 2022–23

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: 2,020 v Rangers, (20 January 2024)^[25]
• Most goals in a season: Kenny Wilson (38), 1971–72

References

1. "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
2. "Dumbarton: Private equity firm Cognitive Capital Ltd buys Scottish League 1 club". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
3. "About Us". Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. 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. "Dumbarton F.C. 1872, 1889 or 1905?". www.scottishleague.net. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
8. "Stevie Farrell is Dumbarton's new manager". Dumbarton FC. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
9. "NEW FRONT OF HOME SHIRT SPONSOR FOR 2024/25 SEASON". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
10. "Strathclyde is latest Scots victim of building slump". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
11. "BetButler update". Gambling Commission. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
12. "CLUB STATEMENT - YOUR RADIO". Dumbarton Football Club. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
13. Barrow, Simon (5 May 2018). "C&G SYSTEMS ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSORS". Dumbarton Football Club.
14. "Dumbarton Football Club - MOREROOM EXTENSIONS LTD ARE DUMBARTON'S MAIN HOME SHIRT AND STADIUM SPONSORS FOR SEASON 2021/22". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
15. "Dumbarton Relocation Planning update". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
16. "CLUB STATEMENT". Dumbarton Football Club. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
17. "First Team Squad". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
18. "Dumbarton [Scotland international players by club]". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
19. "Dimitris Froxylias | Player Statistics | Dumbarton (Sons Archive)". sonsarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
20. "Dumbarton Football Club – Manager". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
21. Kemp, David. "Club Managers Past & Present". Sons Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
22. 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
23. Known as Division Two prior to 1975
24. Scottish Combination, Scottish Football Historical Archive, 9 February 2022
25. "Dumbarton 1–4 Rangers". Retrieved 20 May 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Supporters Trust Website