| Club: | Dumbarton |
| Season: | 1980–1981 |
| Manager: | Sean Fallon |
| Stadium: | Boghead Park, Dumbarton |
| League: | Scottish League Division 1 |
| League Result: | 8th |
| Cup1: | Scottish Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth Round |
| Cup2: | Scottish League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | First Round |
| Matches: | 43 |
| Total Goals: | 53 |
| League Topscorer: | Brian Gallacher (13) |
| Season Topscorer: | Brian Gallacher (14) |
| Prevseason: | 1979–80 |
| Nextseason: | 1981–82 |
Season 1980–81 was the 97th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 75th time, the Scottish Cup for the 86th time and the Scottish League Cup for the 34th time.
For the sixth year running, Dumbarton played league football in Division 1, and with Sean Fallon taking over the manager's post, there was some confidence that this season could see a top two finish. However, despite a promising start, results were mixed, and it was clear by the beginning of the year that any hopes of promotion had gone. Indeed, things might have been worse had there not been an unbeaten run in the final 6 games, and in the end Dumbarton finished in 8th place with 37 points, 20 behind champions Hibernian.
In the Scottish Cup, Dumbarton beat Premier Division opponents St Mirren in the third round before losing a close encounter in the next round to fellow Division 1 team Motherwell.
It was the same old story however in the League Cup, where Dumbarton lost in the first round, this time to Raith Rovers.
Locally, however, in the Stirlingshire Cup, there was something to cheer, with the silverware returning to Boghead after a final win over Stirling Albion.
See main article: 1980–81 Scottish Football League.
See main article: article and 1980–81 Scottish Cup.
See main article: article and 1980–81 Scottish League Cup.
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Amongst those players joining and leaving the club were the following:[2]
| Player | From | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin McGowan | Campsie BW | 22 Jul 1980 | |
| Mark Clougherty | Clyde | 16 Aug 1980 | |
| John Donnelly | Motherwell | 30 Sep 1980 | |
| Pat McGowan | Glenboig | 7 Oct 1980 |
| Player | To | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Hunter | Alloa Athletic | 27 Aug 1980 | |
| Pat McCluskey | Airdrie | 8 Oct 1980 | |
| Laurie Williams | Motherwell | 17 Oct 1980 |
Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League First Division (West), winning 6 and drawing 6 of 26 games - finishing 11th of 14.
In the Scottish Second XI Cup, Dumbarton again lost to Dundee United in the fourth round, and in the Reserve League Cup, Dumbarton lost to Partick Thistle in the first round.