Dumbarton F.C.


Dumbarton Football Club is a semi-professional football club in Dumbarton, Scotland. Founded on 23 December 1872, they are one of the oldest football clubs in Scotland.
The club plays home games at the Dumbarton Football Stadium next to Dumbarton Castle. They currently play in.

History

They were one of the most successful of the nineteenth century, football champions|winning] the Scottish Football League in the first two seasons of the competition.
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.
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. The club were the first team to win at least one league title in each of the top four tiers in the Scottish football league system.
In May 2021, when Stephen Farrell was appointed as the club's manager, it was announced that Dumbarton were to change ownership, with previous owners Brabco selling their majority share to Cognitive Capital. In November 2024 the club was placed into administration.
On 24 June 2025 the club was taken over by a new company wholly owned by Canadian businessman Mario Lapointe, with the original company entering liquidation. Dumbarton remained in League Two with the remaining 5 point deduction as already planned.
The club is currently managed by Frank McKeown who was appointed in December 2025.

Colours and badge

For 2025–26, the side will wear strips from the Macron brand for the fourth season. The home strip is mainly white with a black and gold band. The away kit is gold and black.
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

Dumbarton play their home games at Dumbarton Football Stadium. The 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:
  • Strathclyde Homes Stadium until the receivership of Strathclyde Homes
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium Sponsored by DL Cameron
  • The BetButler Stadium until the liquidation of BetButler
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium
  • The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium
  • The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium
  • C&G Systems Stadium
  • Dumbarton Football Stadium
  • Moreroom.com Stadium
  • Marbill Coaches Stadium
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 at the time, Brabco, formally announced their intention to move to a new ground 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.

Attendances

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 owned a significant number of shares in the club and were the fourth largest shareholder prior to Mario Lapointe's takeover in 2025. The supporters' trust works with the club to produce the match programme and run the club website.

Players

Squad

On loan

Hall of Fame

The club has a hall of fame plaque in the stadium displaying prominent players and teams from the clubs history.
Individuals
Teams
  • 1882–83 Scottish Cup Winners
  • 1890–91 Scottish League Champions
  • 1891–92 Scottish League Champions
  • 1910–11 Division Two Champions
  • 1971–72 Division Two Champions
  • 1983–84 Division One Runners Up
  • 1984–85 Premier Division Season
  • 1991–92 Division Two Champions
  • 2008–09 Third Division Champions

    Internationals

18 Dumbarton players were chosen to represent Scotland between 1880 and 1898. The club's international players were as follows:
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.

Coaching staff

Recent league history

SeasonPWDLGFGAGDPtsPosLeague
2024–2536811175166-1520*10 League One
2023–243616911564412584League Two
2022–233618810493910622League Two
2021–223697204871-23349League One
2020–212274111424-10259League One
2019–2028115123544-9386League One
2018–193612101460600466League One
2017–183679202763−36 309Championship
2016–1736912154656−10 398Championship
2015–1636107193566−31 378Championship
2014–153697203679−43 347Championship
2013–14361561565641 515Championship

*Deducted 15 points for entering administration.

Managerial history

Manager records for all league, league play-offs, League Cup, Scottish Cup & Challenge Cup games
  • Permanent managers only. Stats include permanent managers who had initial caretaker spells.
As of match played 3 January 2026:

Honours

League

National