1980–81 Dumbarton F.C. season

Dumbarton
1980–1981 season
ManagerSean Fallon
StadiumBoghead Park, Dumbarton
Scottish League Division 18th
Scottish CupFourth Round
Scottish League CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Brian Gallacher (13)
All: Brian Gallacher (14)

Season 1980–81 was the 97th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 75th time, the Scottish Cup for the 86th time and the Scottish League Cup for the 34th time.

Overview

For the sixth year running, Dumbarton played league football in Division 1, and with Sean Fallon taking over the manager's post, there was some confidence that this season could see a top two finish. However, despite a promising start, results were mixed, and it was clear by the beginning of the year that any hopes of promotion had gone. Indeed, things might have been worse had there not been an unbeaten run in the final 6 games, and in the end Dumbarton finished in 8th place with 37 points, 20 behind champions Hibernian.

In the Scottish Cup, Dumbarton beat Premier Division opponents St Mirren in the third round before losing a close encounter in the next round to fellow Division 1 team Motherwell.

It was the same old story however in the League Cup, where Dumbarton lost in the first round, this time to Raith Rovers.

Locally, however, in the Stirlingshire Cup, there was something to cheer, with the silverware returning to Boghead after a final win over Stirling Albion.

Results & fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

Scottish First Division

Main article: 1980–81 Scottish Football League
9 August 1980 Scottish Division 1 Falkirk 0-5 Dumbarton Brockville Park
Brown 15'
MacLeod 71' (pen.)
Rankin 72'
Blair 84', 87'		 Referee: D Galloway
16 August 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 0-3 St Johnstone Boghead Park
Morton 27'
Brannigan 42'
McCoist 73'		 Attendance: 1,000
Referee: K Stewart
23 August 1980 Scottish Division 1 Clydebank 1-4 Dumbarton Kilbowie Park
McGorm 72' Gallacher,B 11'
Blair 33', 68'
Coyle,J 48'		 Attendance: 2,000
Referee: J Duncan
6 September 1980 Scottish Division 1 Hamilton 1-1 Dumbarton Douglas Park
Fairley 79' Rankin 50' Attendance: 2,000
Referee: C White
9 September 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 Dumbarton East End Park
O'Brien 49' Brown 64' Attendance: 2,400
13 September 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-2 East Stirling Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 56'
MacLeod 58'		 Coyle,T 10' (OG)
McCulley 54' (pen.)		 Attendance: 600
Referee: P McKenzie
17 September 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-0 Berwick Rangers Boghead Park
Coyle,J
MacLeod 		Attendance: 1,250
20 September 1980 Scottish Division 1 Raith Rovers 4-1 Dumbarton Starks Park
Harrow 8'
Urquhart 34'
Lawson 47', 49'		 Coyle,J 77' Attendance: 1,600
Referee: A McFaull
27 September 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-2 Motherwell Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 40' Kidd 72' (pen.)
McKeever 88'		 Attendance: 1,000
Referee: E Pringle
1 October 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-0 Hibernian Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 68'
Rankin 86'		 Attendance: 2,500
4 October 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dundee 3-1 Dumbarton Dens Park
Fleming 2'
Shirra 32'
Sinclair 59'		 Schaedler 62' (OG) Attendance: 3,553
Referee: A McFaull
11 October 1980 Scottish Division 1 Stirling Albion 0-1 Dumbarton Annfield Stadium
Donnelly 41' Attendance: 700
Referee: W Anderson
18 October 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 0-1 Ayr United Boghead Park
Morris 60' Attendance: 1,000
Referee: W Waddell
25 October 1980 Scottish Division 1 East Stirling 2-1 Dumbarton Firs Park
Lamont 22'
Rennie 87'		 Gallacher,B 73' Attendance: 550
Referee: L Thow
1 November 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-1 Hamilton Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 9', 72' Fairlie 56' Attendance: 550
Referee: D Galloway
8 November 1980 Scottish Division 1 Berwick Rangers 2-2 Dumbarton Shielfield Park
Hamilton 70' (pen.), pen' Donnelly 68'
Brown 85'		 Attendance: 759
Referee: P McKenzie
15 November 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-2 Raith Rovers Boghead Park
Donnelly 6'
McGowan,P 78'		 Harris 27'
Ballantyne 73'		 Attendance: 750
Referee: A Waddell
22 November 1980 Scottish Division 1 Motherwell 4-2 Dumbarton Fir Park
Forbes 28'
Clelland 39'
McClelland 67'
Soutar 83'		 Jackson 26'
Smith 29' (OG)		 Attendance: 2,223
Referee: J Renton
29 November 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-2 Dundee Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 19' Stephen 47', 87' Attendance: 800
Referee: H Alexander
6 December 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-0 Stirling Albion Boghead Park
Clougherty 25'
Gallacher,B 77'		 Attendance: 250
Referee: B Robertson
13 December 1980 Scottish Division 1 Ayr United 0-0 Dumbarton Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,875
Referee: A Ferguson
20 December 1980 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-0 Dunfermline Athletic Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 40' Attendance: 400
Referee: K Hope
27 December 1980 Scottish Division 1 St Johnstone 2-0 Dumbarton Muirton Park
Docherty 14', 75' Attendance: 2,018
Referee: W Knowles
1 January 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-1 Clydebank Boghead Park
Brown Attendance: 2,900
3 January 1981 Scottish Division 1 Hibernian 1-0 Dumbarton Easter Road
Murray 25' Attendance: 5,546
10 January 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 0-1 Falkirk Boghead Park
Brown 71' Attendance: 400
Referee: F McKenzie
31 January 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-0 East Stirling Boghead Park
MacLeod 20' Attendance: 450
7 February 1981 Scottish Division 1 Raith Rovers 1-0 Dumbarton Starks Park
Jackson 89' (OG) Attendance: 1,500
Referee: R Cuthill
21 February 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-1 Berwick Rangers Boghead Park
Donnelly 78' Hamilton 36' Attendance: 400
Referee: D Galloway
11 March 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dundee 2-1 Dumbarton Dens Park
Scrimgeour 5'
Carson 55' (OG)		 Gallacher,J 16' Attendance: 2,812
Referee: L Thow
14 March 1981 Scottish Division 1 Stirling Albion 0-0 Dumbarton Annfield Stadium
Attendance: 500
Referee: R Ballantyne
21 March 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-4 Hibernian Boghead Park
Rankin 28' Rae 1', 72'
Murray 59', 76'		 Attendance: 913
Referee: W McLeish
28 March 1981 Scottish Division 1 St Johnstone 2-1 Dumbarton Muirton Park
Brogan 9'
Kilgour 58'		 Gallacher,B 43' Attendance: 2,476
Referee: D Galloway
4 April 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 2-1 Hamilton Boghead Park
Gallacher,B 31'
Brown 43'		 McDowall 89' Attendance: 400
Referee: J Timmons
8 April 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 0-0 Motherwell Boghead Park
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: B McGinley
11 April 1981 Scottish Division 1 Falkirk 1-3 Dumbarton Brockville Park
Smith 68' Blair 50', 65'
Brown 55'		 Attendance: 1,500
18 April 1981 Scottish Division 1 Dumbarton 1-2 Dunfermline Athletic Boghead Park
Brown 77'
Gallacher,B 89'		 Jenkins 67' Attendance: 450
Referee: T Muirhead
25 April 1981 Scottish Division 1 Ayr United 1-2 Dumbarton Somerset Park
Morris 52' Blair 12', 18' Attendance: 998
Referee: M Delaney
2 May 1981 Scottish Division 1 Clydebank 0-0 Dumbarton Kilbowie Park
Attendance: 300
Referee: J Thomson

Scottish Cup

Main article: 1980–81 Scottish Cup
24 January 1981 Scottish Cup round 3 St Mirren 0–2 Dumbarton Love Street (stadium)
Donnelly 23'
Coyle,J 86'		 Attendance: 6,209
Referee: D Syme
14 February 1981 Scottish Cup round 3 Motherwell 2–1 Dumbarton Fir Park
Gahagan 2'
McLaughlin 67'		 Coyle,J 68' Attendance: 4,374
Referee: B Robertson

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 1980–81 Scottish League Cup
27 August 1980 Scottish League Cup round 1(1) Dumbarton 0–1 Raith Rovers Boghead Park
Harrow 51' Attendance: 600
30 August 1980 Scottish League Cup round 1(1) Raith Rovers 0–0
(1–0 agg.)		 Dumbarton Starks Park
Attendance: 1,750
Referee: A Harris

Stirlingshire Cup

13 October 1980 First Round Falkirk 1–2 Dumbarton Brockville Park
McRoberts 62' Kennedy 9'
McGowan,P 89'
14 April 1981 Semi Final Dumbarton 3–0 Stenhousemuir Boghead Park
Brown
29 April 1981 Final Dumbarton 3–0 Stirling Albion Boghead Park

Scottish Brewers Trophy

27 July 1980 Group Forfar Athletic 2–1 Dumbarton Kynock Park
28 July 1980 Group Keith 0–2 Dumbarton Kynock Park

Pre-season/Other matches

5 August 1980 Friendly Dumbarton 0–6 Coventry City Boghead Park
Gooding 10'
Hunt 54' (pen.)
Thomson 70'
Dyson 82'
Van Gool 86'
English 90'		 Attendance: 800
Referee: A McFaull
6 March 1981 Friendly Dumbarton 0–2 Celtic XI Boghead Park

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
6 Ayr United 39 17 11 11 59 42 +17 45
7 Hamilton Academical 39 15 7 17 61 57 +4 37
8 Dumbarton 39 13 11 15 49 50 −1 37
9 Falkirk 39 13 8 18 39 52 −13 34
10 Clydebank 39 10 13 16 48 59 −11 33
Source: RSSSF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Player statistics

Squad

No. Pos Nat Player Total First Division Scottish Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  SCO Tom Carson 37 0 33 0 2 0 2 0
GK  SCO Donald Hunter 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
DF  SCO Rob Campbell 16 0 11+5 0 0 0 0 0
DF  SCO Martin McGowan 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
DF  SCO Joe O'Donnell 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
MF  SCO George Brannigan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
MF  SCO Mark Clougherty 34 1 32 1 0 0 2 0
MF  SCO Tommy Coyle 33 0 29+1 0 2 0 1 0
MF  SCO John Gallacher 27 1 23 1 2 0 2 0
MF  SCO Billy Hutchinson 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
MF  SCO Dave Jackson 8 1 7+1 1 0 0 0 0
MF  SCO Jim Martin 15 0 5+9 0 0 0 1 0
MF  SCO Ally MacLeod 43 4 39 4 2 0 2 0
MF  SCO Donald McNeil 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
MF  SCO Graeme Sinclair 40 0 36 0 2 0 2 0
FW  SCO Steve Armstrong 2 0 0+2 0 0 0 0 0
FW  SCO Raymond Blair 34 8 22+8 8 0+2 0 2 0
FW  SCO Ally Brown 25 7 23 7 0 0 2 0
FW  SCO Joe Coyle 29 5 25 3 2 2 2 0
FW  SCO John Donnelly 18 5 14+2 4 2 1 0 0
FW  SCO Brian Gallacher 37 14 33 13 2 0 2 1
FW  SCO Ian Gibson 3 0 0+3 0 0 0 0 0
FW  SCO Joe Kennedy 7 0 4+3 0 0 0 0 0
FW  SCO John Mailer 11 0 11 0 0 0 0 0
FW  SCO Gerry Marshall 3 0 1+1 0 0 0 0+1 0
FW  SCO Pat McGowan 27 1 21+4 1 2 0 0 0
FW  SCO Tommy McGrain 28 0 23+2 0 2 0 1 0
FW  SCO Mike Rankin 32 4 23+5 4 2 0 1+1 0
FW  SCO Sean Sweeney 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0

[1]

Transfers

Amongst those players joining and leaving the club were the following:[2]

Reserve team

Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League First Division (West), winning 6 and drawing 6 of 26 games - finishing 11th of 14.

In the Scottish Second XI Cup, Dumbarton again lost to Dundee United in the fourth round, and in the Reserve League Cup, Dumbarton lost to Partick Thistle in the first round.

Trivia

  • The League match against Dunfermline on 9 September marked Joe Coyle's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 82nd Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
  • The League match against Motherwell on 27 September marked Ally MacLeod's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 83rd Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
  • The Scottish Cup match against Motherwell on 14 February marked John Gallacher's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 84th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
  • The League match against Hamilton on 4 April marked Graeme Sinclair's 200th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 15th Dumbarton player to break the 'double century'.
  • The signing fee of £13,500 paid to Clyde for Mark Clougherty was a new club record.
  • During the season there was an amazing attempt to sign Johan Cruyff on a match-to-match basis. The £1,500 per match offer was eventually declined in favour of a £1.5 million contract from the USA.
  • The disappointing season was in the end to result in Sean Fallon's resignation as manager.

See also

References

  1. ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
  2. ^ Litster, John. Record of Post-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
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