Dumbarton Football Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Marbill Coaches Stadium
Pushpin Map:Scotland West Dunbartonshire
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in West Dunbartonshire
Pushpin Label Position:left
Coordinates:55.9383°N -4.5614°W
Location:Castle Road
Dumbarton
G82 1JJ
Opened:2000
Owner:Dumbarton F.C.
Surface:Grass
Former Names:
  • Strathclyde Homes Stadium (2000–2011)
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium Sponsored By DL Cameron (2012)
  • The Bet Butler Stadium (2012–2015)
  • The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium (2015–2017)
  • The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium (2017–2018)
  • C&G Systems Stadium (2018–2021)
  • Moreroom.com Stadium (2021–2023)
Tenants:Dumbarton Football Club (2000–)
Broomhill FC (2023–)
Seating Capacity:[1]

The Dumbarton Football Stadium, known as the Marbill Coaches Stadium and commonly known as The Rock, is a stadium in Dumbarton, Scotland, used mostly for football matches; it is the home ground of Dumbarton Football Club and, as of 2023, Broomhill Football Club. The stadium has a capacity of,[2] and was built in 2000 after the move away from Dumbarton's former home, Boghead Park. It was built on part of the site formerly occupied by Denny's shipyard. The stadium is 5–10 minutes walk from Dumbarton East railway station[3] on the North Clyde Line. Dumbarton have the third smallest stadium in the SPFL.

History

The stadium has just one stand, officially opened on Saturday 2 December 2000 prior to the visit of Elgin City; a match which ended 3–0 to the Sons. It is nicknamed The Rock by fans, as it is adjacent to Dumbarton Castle. Open areas ring the three sides without stands.

The Scotland international team have also used the stadium for training purposes before playing home matches.[4] Celtic have used the stadium for UEFA Youth League home games.

In 2023, Lowland Football League side Broomhill announced a deal to move from Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld and play their matches in Dumbarton.

Aside from football the stadium also hosts many other events; wedding receptions, conferences & parties.

Names

The original name of the stadium, Strathclyde Homes Stadium, changed after the stadium sponsor, Strathclyde Homes, went into receivership in September 2011.[5] On 18 February 2012, the stadium was officially renamed Dumbarton Football Stadium, sponsored by DL Cameron.[6] It was renamed again, just five months later on 20 July 2012, The Bet Butler Stadium.[7] On 9 July 2015, the stadium was unveiled as the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, after fan Alex Couper and his company took over the sponsorship.[8] At the end of the 2016–17 season the name reverted to Dumbarton Football Stadium.[9] In July 2017 the club agreed a deal with local radio station Your Radio, which would see the stadium known as 'The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium' for at least the next two years.[10] That deal was cancelled in May 2018 with Your Radio facing an uncertain future,[11] with C&G Systems agreeing a three-year deal a week later.[12] In September 2021 Manchester-based housing specialists Moreroom agreed a deal with the club to be the sponsors for the 2021-22 season and the name of the stadium was changed to the Moreroom.com Stadium.[13] Following the dissolution of Moreroom in 2023, the name reverted to The Dumbarton Football Stadium.[14] In July 2024 Marbill Coaches bought the naming rights, with the ground renamed The Marbill Coaches Stadium.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium (The Rock Stadium) – . Stadiumdb.com . 2022-08-22.
  2. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  3. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club -Directions and Prices . 2014-01-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131219053855/http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/directions/ . 19 December 2013.
  4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dumbarton/8134605.stm Dumbarton investigate new stadium
  5. http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=3654 STADIUM SPONSORSHIP
  6. https://archive.today/20130121183357/http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=3838 STADIUM SPONSORSHIP
  7. https://archive.today/20130122071955/http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=4059 STADIUM IS RENAMED
  8. https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1958 STADIUM SPONSORSHIP
  9. Web site: Findlay. Alan. SPONSORSHIP DEAL ENDS. Dumbarton Football Club. 30 May 2017.
  10. Web site: Findlay. Alan. SPONSORSHIP NEWS - YOUR RADIO ON BOARD. Dumbarton Football Club. 17 July 2017.
  11. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT - YOUR RADIO. 1 May 2018. Dumbarton Football Club. 5 May 2018.
  12. Web site: C&G SYSTEMS ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSORS. Barrow. Simon. 5 May 2018. Dumbarton Football Club.
  13. Web site: MOREROOM EXTENSIONS LTD ARE DUMBARTON'S MAIN HOME SHIRT AND STADIUM SPONSORS FOR SEASON 2021/22. 17 September 2021. Dumbarton Football Club.
  14. Web site: Clarke . Fraser . 2022-03-02 . Claims Dumbarton FC's major sponsors still to pay for stadium and shirt deals . 2024-07-10 . Daily Record . en.
  15. Web site: MARBILL COACHES ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSOR . 2024-07-10 . dumbartonfootballclub.com . en-US.