Dumbarton F.C. Explained

Clubname:Dumbarton
Upright:0.7
Fullname:Dumbarton Football Club
Nickname:The Sons
Ground:Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
Owner:Cognitive Capital[1]
Chairman:Dr Neil Mackay
Manager:Stephen Farrell
Website:http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/
Current:2023–24 Dumbarton F.C. season
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Dumbarton Football Club is a semi-professional football club in Dumbarton, Scotland.[2] Founded on 23 December 1872, they are one of the oldest football clubs in Scotland.[3] [4] [5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

In May 2021, it was announced that Dumbarton were to change ownership, with previous owners Brabco selling their majority share to Cognitive Capital.[8]

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

See main article: Dumbarton Football Stadium and Boghead Park.

Dumbarton play their home games at Dumbarton Football Stadium (commonly referred to as "The Rock" by supporters). The [10] 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:

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

width=70Seasonwidth=110Leaguewidth=70Averagewidth=70Highest
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

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

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

See main article: Dumbarton F.C. seasons.

width=70Seasonwidth=30Pwidth=30Wwidth=30Dwidth=30Lwidth=30GFwidth=30GAwidth=30GDwidth=30Ptswidth=30Poswidth=110League
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
2017–18 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]

As of match played 17 May 2024:

NameNat.FromToRecord
width=30Pldwidth=30Wwidth=30Dwidth=30Lwidth=50%won
Stephen FarrellMay 2021Current147543459
Jim DuffyOctober 2018May 20219433184335.11
Stephen AitkenMay 2015October 201815442387427.27
Ian MurrayNovember 2012May 201510841155237.96
Alan AdamsonOctober 2010October 20128332163538.55
Jim ChapmanDecember 2007October 201011339274734.50
Gerry McCabeJune 2006November 20075725112143.86
Paul MartinDecember 2004June 20066712153517.91
Brian FairleyMarch 2003December 20046630102645.45
David WinnieJune 2002March 2003341161732.35
Tom CarsonOctober 2000June 20026732132247.76
Jimmy BrownMarch 1999October 20006626103039.39
Ian WallaceNovember 1996March 19999526244527.37
Jim FallonSeptember 1995November 19965026424.00
Murdo MacLeodJune 1993August 19958828243531.81
Billy LamontApril 1990June 199313854305439.13
Jim GeorgeOctober 1988April 19907729202837.66
Bertie AuldJanuary 1988September 198824481216.66
Mark CloughertyJuly 1987January 198830971430.00
Alex TottenJuly 1986April 1987462381550.00
Derek WhitefordMay 1986May 1986
Alex Wright (caretaker)February 1986May 19861765635.30
Davie WilsonMarch 1984February 19869732224333.00
Billy LamontJuly 1981February 198412444262635.48
Sean FallonJuly 1980May 19814314121732.56
Davie WilsonJuly 1977April 198012751383840.16
Alex WrightMarch 1973May 197719266428434.37
Jackie StewartNovember 1968January 197319089346746.84
Ian SpenceSeptember 1967October 19684613112228.26
Willie TonerOctober 1964September 196713147275735.88
Jackie FearnMay 1962September 196410041174241.00
Bobby CampbellJuly 1961May 19624310102323.26
Bobby CombeMay 1959November 19606328142144.44
Peter McGownMay 1954April 1959216108337550.00
William IrvineJune 1950May 195415551327232.90
William GuthrieAugust 1946June 195015342278427.45
Jackie MilneJune 1945August 1946381461836.84
William Guthrie (secretary)August 1944June 194530931830.00
Fred Donovan (secretary)June 1940June 194412045205537.50
Jimmy SmithJanuary 1939June 194045982820.00
Fred Donovan (secretary)June 1931January 1939274984812835.77
Donald ColmanJune 1922May 19313591396515538.72
Paddy TraversApril 1920May 19229524175425.27
George LivingstoneMarch 1919April 19204714122129.79
James CollinsMay 1914March 191917455467331.61

Honours

League

Cup

National

Other

Reserves

Youths

Club records

13–2 v Kirkintilloch Central (1 September 1888)

1–11 v Albion Rovers (30 January 1926)

1–11 v Ayr United (13 August 1952)

18,001 v Raith Rovers, (2 March 1957)

2,020 v Rangers, (20 January 2024)[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dumbarton: Private equity firm Cognitive Capital Ltd buys Scottish League 1 club. www.bbc.co.uk. 2021-05-24.
  2. Web site: About Us. 6 June 2016. 1 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001161306/http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/contact2/. dead.
  3. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club -About Us. www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. 2020-01-19.
  4. Web site: Who are Scotland's oldest professional football clubs. www.scotsman.com. en. 2020-01-19.
  5. Web site: Football - Dumbarton. www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk. en. 2020-01-19.
  6. Web site: Dumbarton F.C. 1872, 1889 or 1905?. www.scottishleague.net. en. 2022-06-16.
  7. Web site: Stevie Farrell is Dumbarton's new manager . Dumbarton FC . 29 May 2021 . 29 May 2021.
  8. Web site: Dumbarton: Private equity firm Cognitive Capital Ltd buys Scottish League 1 club. www.bbc.co.uk. 2021-05-24.
  9. Web site: NEW FRONT OF HOME SHIRT SPONSOR FOR 2024/25 SEASON . 2024-08-16 . dumbartonfootballclub.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  11. Web site: Strathclyde is latest Scots victim of building slump. The Scotsman . 17 August 2011.
  12. Web site: BetButler update. Gambling Commission . 30 October 2014.
  13. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT - YOUR RADIO. 1 May 2018. Dumbarton Football Club. 1 May 2018.
  14. Web site: C&G SYSTEMS ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSORS. Barrow. Simon. 5 May 2018. Dumbarton Football Club.
  15. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club - MOREROOM EXTENSIONS LTD ARE DUMBARTON'S MAIN HOME SHIRT AND STADIUM SPONSORS FOR SEASON 2021/22. 2021-10-01. www.dumbartonfootballclub.com.
  16. Web site: Dumbarton Relocation Planning update. Dumbarton FC . 6 November 2014.
  17. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT. 29 March 2018. Dumbarton Football Club. 21 April 2018.
  18. News: Dumbarton [Scotland international players by club]]. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 18 July 2021.
  19. Web site: Dimitris Froxylias Player Statistics Dumbarton (Sons Archive) . 2024-05-01 . sonsarchive.co.uk . en.
  20. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club – Manager. dumbartonfootballclub.com. 26 Jan 2023.
  21. Web site: Club Managers Past & Present. Kemp. David. Sons Archive. 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. http://sfha.org.uk/scottishcomb.htm Scottish Combination
  25. Web site: Dumbarton 1–4 Rangers. 20 May 2024.