| Club: | Dumbarton |
| Season: | 1981–1982 |
| Manager: | Billy Lamont |
| Stadium: | Boghead Park, Dumbarton |
| League: | Scottish League Division 1 |
| League Result: | 11th |
| Cup1: | Scottish Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth Round |
| Cup2: | Scottish League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Prelims |
| Matches: | 47 |
| Total Goals: | 59 |
| League Topscorer: | Raymond Blair (9) |
| Season Topscorer: | Raymond Blair (12) |
| Prevseason: | 1980–81 |
| Nextseason: | 1982–83 |
Season 1981–82 was the 98th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 76th time, the Scottish Cup for the 87th time and the Scottish League Cup for the 35th time.
For the seventh year in a row, Dumbarton played league football in Division 1, and with another new manager in place - Billy Lamont - hopes were high to see if promotion could finally be won. Unfortunately, despite a few excellent results, including wins over Hearts, the campaign was a disappointment, and although relegation was never a real threat, an 11th place finish with 35 points was all that was achieved, 26 behind champions Motherwell.
In the Scottish Cup, Dumbarton again began well by beating Premier Division opponents, this time Partick Thistle, in the third round but lost out to a powerful Rangers side in the next round.
The League Cup was a bit of a disaster. The format reverted to sectional games for qualification to the latter stages, and Dumbarton could only manage two home wins from six games, from what was 'on paper' an easy section.
Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, Dumbarton almost retained the cup, but lost out on penalties to Alloa in the final.
See main article: 1981-82 Scottish First Division.
See main article: 1981–82 Scottish League Cup.
See main article: 1981–82 Scottish Cup.
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Graeme Sinclair played for Scotland in a 'semi-pro' international tournament involving teams from England, Holland and Italy. Scotland won the tournament by beating Holland Amateurs 2-1, drawing 2-2 against Italy Serie C and drawing 1-1 against England semi pro.
Amongst those players joining and leaving the club were the following:[3]
| Player | From | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Montgomerie | Newcastle Utd | 26 Aug 1981 | |
| Mick Dunlop | Benburb | 24 Oct 1981 | |
| Albert Craig | Yoker Ath | 30 Dec 1981 | |
| Ally McRoberts | Falkirk | 27 Jan 1982 |
| Player | To | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Gallacher | Kilmarnock | 20 May 1981 | |
| Ally MacLeod | Kilmarnock | 10 Sep 1981 | |
| Tommy McGrain | Pollok | 30 Nov 1981 | |
| John Gallacher | Retired |