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Dumbarton F.C.

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Dumbarton
Full nameDumbarton Football Club
Nickname(s)The Sons
Founded23 December 1872; 152 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)
Websitewww.dumbartonfootballclub.com
Current season

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.

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]

In November 2024 the club was placed in administration.[9]

Colours and badge

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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.[10]

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

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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[11]
  • 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[12]
  • 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)[13]
  • C&G Systems Stadium (May 2018 – May 2021)[14]
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium (May 2021 – September 2021)
  • Moreroom.com Stadium (September 2021 – March 2022)[15]

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[16] 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.[17]

Attendances

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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

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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

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Squad

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As of 11 September 2024[18]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Northern Ireland NIR Brett Long
2 DF Scotland SCO Aron Lynas
3 DF Scotland SCO Greig Young
4 DF Canada CAN Ethan Brown (on loan from Kilmarnock)
5 DF Scotland SCO Mark Durnan (captain)
6 MF Scotland SCO Ryan Blair
7 MF Scotland SCO Kalvin Orsi
8 MF Scotland SCO David Wilson
9 FW Sweden SWE Joel Mumbongo
10 MF Scotland SCO Finlay Gray
11 MF Scotland SCO Tony Wallace (vice-captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF Scotland SCO Carlo Pignatiello
14 MF Scotland SCO Jacob Shields
16 FW Greece GRE Panos Grivas
17 MF Scotland SCO James Hilton
19 GK Scotland SCO Paddy O'Neil
20 MF Senegal SEN Mouhamed Niang
21 MF Scotland SCO Craig McGuffie
22 DF Scotland SCO Matthew Shiels
23 FW Scotland SCO Michael Ruth
24 DF Scotland SCO Cammy Clark
31 MF Scotland SCO Michael Miller

Hall of Fame

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

Internationals

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18 Dumbarton players were chosen to represent Scotland between 1880 and 1898.[19] The club's international players were as follows:[19]

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.[20]

Coaching staff

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Position Name
Manager Stephen Farrell[21]
Assistant manager Frank McKeown
Goalkeeping coach Eric Phillips
Sports scientist Calum Strang
Video analyst and head of youth development Gordon Scanlan

Recent league history

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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

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Manager records for all league, league play-offs, League Cup, Scottish Cup & Challenge Cup games (i.e. not including friendlies & Stirlingshire Cup games)[22]

  • 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 Scotland May 2021 Current 156 55 38 63
Jim Duffy Scotland October 2018 May 2021 94 33 18 43 35.11
Stephen Aitken Scotland May 2015 October 2018 154 42 38 74 27.27
Ian Murray Scotland November 2012 May 2015 108 41 15 52 37.96
Alan Adamson Scotland October 2010 October 2012 83 32 16 35 38.55
Jim Chapman Scotland December 2007 October 2010 113 39 27 47 34.50
Gerry McCabe Scotland June 2006 November 2007 57 25 11 21 43.86
Paul Martin Scotland December 2004 June 2006 67 12 15 35 17.91
Brian Fairley Scotland March 2003 December 2004 66 30 10 26 45.45
David Winnie Scotland June 2002 March 2003 34 11 6 17 32.35
Tom Carson Scotland October 2000 June 2002 67 32 13 22 47.76
Jimmy Brown Scotland March 1999 October 2000 66 26 10 30 39.39
Ian Wallace Scotland November 1996 March 1999 95 26 24 45 27.37
Jim Fallon Scotland September 1995 November 1996 50 2 6 42 4.00
Murdo MacLeod Scotland June 1993 August 1995 88 28 24 35 31.81
Billy Lamont Scotland April 1990 June 1993 138 54 30 54 39.13
Jim George Scotland October 1988 April 1990 77 29 20 28 37.66
Bertie Auld Scotland January 1988 September 1988 24 4 8 12 16.66
Mark Clougherty Scotland July 1987 January 1988 30 9 7 14 30.00
Alex Totten Scotland July 1986 April 1987 46 23 8 15 50.00
Derek Whiteford Scotland May 1986 May 1986
Alex Wright (caretaker) Scotland February 1986 May 1986 17 6 5 6 35.30
Davie Wilson Scotland March 1984 February 1986 97 32 22 43 33.00
Billy Lamont Scotland July 1981 February 1984 124 44 26 26 35.48
Sean Fallon Republic of Ireland July 1980 May 1981 43 14 12 17 32.56
Davie Wilson Scotland July 1977 April 1980 127 51 38 38 40.16
Alex Wright Scotland March 1973 May 1977 192 66 42 84 34.37
Jackie Stewart Scotland November 1968 January 1973 190 89 34 67 46.84
Ian Spence Scotland September 1967 October 1968 46 13 11 22 28.26
Willie Toner Scotland October 1964 September 1967 131 47 27 57 35.88
Jackie Fearn Scotland May 1962 September 1964 100 41 17 42 41.00
Bobby Campbell Scotland July 1961 May 1962 43 10 10 23 23.26
Bobby Combe Scotland May 1959 November 1960 63 28 14 21 44.44
Peter McGown Scotland May 1954 April 1959 216 108 33 75 50.00
William Irvine Scotland June 1950 May 1954 155 51 32 72 32.90
William Guthrie Scotland August 1946 June 1950 153 42 27 84 27.45
Jackie Milne Scotland June 1945 August 1946 38 14 6 18 36.84
William Guthrie (secretary) Scotland August 1944 June 1945 30 9 3 18 30.00
Fred Donovan (secretary) Scotland June 1940 June 1944 120 45 20 55 37.50
Jimmy Smith Scotland January 1939 June 1940 45 9 8 28 20.00
Fred Donovan (secretary) Scotland June 1931 January 1939 274 98 48 128 35.77
Donald Colman Scotland June 1922 May 1931 359 139 65 155 38.72
Paddy Travers Scotland April 1920 May 1922 95 24 17 54 25.27
George Livingstone Scotland March 1919 April 1920 47 14 12 21 29.79
James Collins Scotland May 1914 March 1919 174 55 46 73 31.61

Honours

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League

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Cup

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National

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Other

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Reserves

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  • 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

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ "Scottish League 1 Dumbarton enter administration". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  10. ^ "NEW FRONT OF HOME SHIRT SPONSOR FOR 2024/25 SEASON". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Strathclyde is latest Scots victim of building slump". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  12. ^ "BetButler update". Gambling Commission. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  13. ^ "CLUB STATEMENT - YOUR RADIO". Dumbarton Football Club. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  14. ^ Barrow, Simon (5 May 2018). "C&G SYSTEMS ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSORS". Dumbarton Football Club.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Dumbarton Relocation Planning update". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  17. ^ "CLUB STATEMENT". Dumbarton Football Club. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  18. ^ "First Team Squad". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Dumbarton [Scotland international players by club]". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Dimitris Froxylias | Player Statistics | Dumbarton (Sons Archive)". sonsarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Dumbarton Football Club – Manager". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  22. ^ Kemp, David. "Club Managers Past & Present". Sons Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  23. ^ 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
  24. ^ Known as Division Two prior to 1975
  25. ^ Scottish Combination, Scottish Football Historical Archive, 9 February 2022
  26. ^ "Dumbarton 1–4 Rangers". Retrieved 20 May 2024.
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