Dumbarton F.C.
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Dumbarton Football Club is a football (soccer) club from Scotland. They come from the town of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire and play their home games at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, next to Dumbarton Castle.
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History
Formed in 1872 the club are amongst the oldest in Scotland. They were founder members of the Scottish Football Association in 1873 and were one of the biggest clubs in the country around this period. They were joint winners (with Rangers) of the inaugural Scottish Football League in 1891. They were outright winners of the league the following season.
At the period of their formation there were a number of other clubs playing in the town of Dumbarton and surrounding areas, but they have survived as the sole 'senior' club in the area (although the 'junior' sides of Vale of Leven and Clydebank play not too far away).
Dumbarton's early success was not to be maintained and they have spent most of their existence playing outwith the top flight of Scottish football.
They did have an upsurge when they won the Second Division in 1971-72, under manager Jackie Stewart, with players like "goal-hungry" Kenny Wilson and Roy McCormack. However they had difficulty sustaining this, the next season they only narrowly avoided relegation, and they sold Kenny Wilson and Jackie Stewart left. The last season they played in the top division was 1984-85.
The club are famous for having tried to sign the Dutch international Johan Cruyff in the early 1980s. They were ultimately unsuccessful though when he opted to play in America instead.
In season 2001-02 they moved from their traditional home at Boghead Park in the north-east of the town to their purpose built Strathclyde Homes Stadium (commonly referred to as the Rock by supporters). The move co-incided with an up-turn in the clubs fortune as they were shortly after promoted from the Third Division to the Second. Crowds have been larger since they moved as well.
The club plays in Gold and Black strips (uniforms) and is nicknamed the Sons (as in Sons of the Rock, a term for those born in the town of Dumbarton, the rock being the extinct volcano the town's castle sits on).
Famous Players
Honours
Division I: 1890/91 1891/92
Division II: 1910/11, 1971/72
Second Division: 1991/92
Club Records
Biggest league win: 13-1 .v. Kirkintilloch in 1888
Biggest league loss: 1-11 Albion Rovers F.C.(1926) Ayr United F.C.(1952)
Biggest home attendance: 18,000 .v. Raith Rovers F.C., 1957
Most goals in a season: Kenny Wilson, 1971-72
External links
- Official Website (http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/)
- Supporters Trust Website (http://www.sonstrust.net/)
- On the Rocks, Unofficial Website (http://www.ontherocks.org.uk/index.php)
- Cruyff Says No, Unofficial Website (http://www.cruyffsaysno.co.uk)