Dumbarton F.C.

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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 nameDumbarton Football Club
Nickname(s)The Sons
Founded23 December 1872; 151 years ago (1872-12-23)
GroundDumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
Capacity2,020[1]
OwnerCognitive Capital[2]
ChairmanDr Neil Mackay
ManagerStephen Farrell
LeagueScottish League One
2023–24Scottish League Two, 4th of 10 (promoted via play-offs)
WebsiteClub website
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 2023–24, the side will wear strips from the Macron brand for the second season. The home strip is mainly white with a black and gold stripe. The away kit is black and pink.[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

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

SeasonLeagueAverageHighest
2023–24League Two6622,020
2022–23League Two6351,086
2021–22League One5391,198
2019–20League One6631,394
2018–19League One6371,353
2017–18Championship8381,652
2016–17Championship1,1301,660
2015–16Championship1,0331,978
2014–15Championship1,0741,850
2013–14Championship9381,469
2012–13First Division9271,530
2011–12Second Division6601,088
2010–11Second Division640853
2009–10Second Division6951,227
2008–09Third Division7221,396
2007–08Third Division560907
2006–07Third Division7091,089
2005–06Second Division9461,594
2004–05Second Division9001,446
2003–04Second Division1,0391,861

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 1 July 2024[17]

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

No.Pos. NationPlayer
12DF  SCOCarlo Pignatiello
17MF  SCOJames Hilton
19GK  SCOPaddy O'Neil
20MF  SENMouhamed Niang
21MF  SCOCraig McGuffie
22DF  SCOMatthew Shiels
23FW  SCOMichael Ruth
24DF  SCOCammy Clark
31MF  SCOMichael Miller

Hall of Fame

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

Internationals

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

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

PositionName
ManagerStephen Farrell[20]
Assistant managerFrank McKeown
Goalkeeping coachEric Phillips
Sports scientistRoss Banks
Video analyst and head of youth developmentGordon Scanlan
KitmanGary Johnstone

Recent league history

SeasonPWDLGFGAGDPtsPosLeague
2023–243616911564412584(P)League Two
2022–233618810493910622League Two
2021–223697204871-23349(R)League One
2020–212274111424-10259League One
2019–2028115123544-9386League One
2018–193612101460600466League One
2017–183679202763−36 309(R)Championship
2016–1736912154656−10 398Championship
2015–1636107193566−31 378Championship
2014–153697203679−43 347Championship
2013–14361561565641 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)[21]

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

As of match played 17 May 2024:

NameNat.FromToRecord
PldWDL%won
Stephen Farrell May 2021Current140533156
Jim Duffy October 2018May 20219433184335.11
Stephen Aitken May 2015October 201815442387427.27
Ian Murray November 2012May 201510841155237.96
Alan Adamson October 2010October 20128332163538.55
Jim Chapman December 2007October 201011339274734.50
Gerry McCabe June 2006November 20075725112143.86
Paul Martin December 2004June 20066712153517.91
Brian Fairley March 2003December 20046630102645.45
David Winnie June 2002March 2003341161732.35
Tom Carson October 2000June 20026732132247.76
Jimmy Brown March 1999October 20006626103039.39
Ian Wallace November 1996March 19999526244527.37
Jim Fallon September 1995November 19965026424.00
Murdo MacLeod June 1993August 19958828243531.81
Billy Lamont April 1990June 199313854305439.13
Jim George October 1988April 19907729202837.66
Bertie Auld January 1988September 198824481216.66
Mark Clougherty July 1987January 198830971430.00
Alex Totten July 1986April 1987462381550.00
Derek Whiteford May 1986May 1986
Alex Wright (caretaker) February 1986May 19861765635.30
Davie Wilson March 1984February 19869732224333.00
Billy Lamont July 1981February 198412444262635.48
Sean Fallon July 1980May 19814314121732.56
Davie Wilson July 1977April 198012751383840.16
Alex Wright March 1973May 197719266428434.37
Jackie Stewart November 1968January 197319089346746.84
Ian Spence September 1967October 19684613112228.26
Willie Toner October 1964September 196713147275735.88
Jackie Fearn May 1962September 196410041174241.00
Bobby Campbell July 1961May 19624310102323.26
Bobby Combe May 1959November 19606328142144.44
Peter McGown May 1954April 1959216108337550.00
William Irvine June 1950May 195415551327232.90
William Guthrie August 1946June 195015342278427.45
Jackie Milne June 1945August 1946381461836.84
William Guthrie (secretary) August 1944June 194530931830.00
Fred Donovan (secretary) June 1940June 194412045205537.50
Jimmy Smith January 1939June 194045982820.00
Fred Donovan (secretary) June 1931January 1939274984812835.77
Donald Colman June 1922May 19313591396515538.72
Paddy Travers April 1920May 19229524175425.27
George Livingstone March 1919April 19204714122129.79
James Collins May 1914March 191917455467331.61

Honours

League

Cup

National

Other

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

References