1894–95 Dumbarton F.C. season

The 1894–95 season was the 22nd Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League and the Scottish Cup. In addition Dumbarton played in the Dumbartonshire Cup.

Dumbarton
1894–95 season
StadiumBoghead Park, Dumbarton
Scottish League Division One9th
Scottish CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague: William Campbell (7)
All: William Campbell/ Hugh Craig (7)

Story of the Season edit

August edit

On 11 August Dumbarton travelled down the coast to open Somerset Park for the season and came away with a 1-1 draw.

The first real test for the new look Dumbarton team came a week later with a visit to Ibrox in the league. Rangers ran out easy 3-0 winners, but it was not all gloom as the result may have been different but for the lack of a Dumbarton striker.

September edit

After a free week, Dumbarton entertained Leith Athletic in the league and recorded their first win by 3-2. Leith however were not aided by an injury to one of their players requiring them to play with a man short for most of the second half.

On 8 September it was a trip north for a league match against Dundee and after holding their own in the first half it was the home side who triumphed 3-0.

A week later St Bernards were entertained at Boghead and after well contested game it was the visitors who left with both points after a 4-3 win.

On 22 September, Dumbarton travelled to Paisley to play St Mirren in the league. Goal scoring was no problem but it would be their old colleague John Taylor who did the damage by scoring a hat-trick for the Saints in a second 4-3 defeat in a row.

The run of defeats continued a week later when unbeaten league leaders Hearts left Boghead having inflicted a crushing 4-1 defeat on the Dumbarton men.

So at the end of September Hearts led the league with 10 points from 5 matches, followed by Rangers with the same number of points from 6 games. Dumbarton lagged at the bottom along with Leith and Third Lanark with just one win to show from 6 games.

October edit

After a free week, Dundee came to Boghead to fulfil the return league fixture and unfortunately the result was no different with a 4-2 defeat being suffered. As in previous weeks the problem seemed to be staying power as Dumbarton led 2-1 going into the second half. In addition an injury to D Thomson required yet a further call on the 2nd XI with James Hartley being the newest recruit so far.

The downward spiral continued on 13 October when a visit to Parkhead finished in a 6-0 thrashing from Celtic.

And it was no different the following week where Dumbarton continued their travels, this time to Tynecastle, and suffered a 3-1 defeat to unbeaten Hearts.

At the end of October Hearts were running away at the top of the league unbeaten with 18 points from 9 games followed by Rangers with 12 points from 8 games. Dumbarton were marooned at the bottom with 2 points to show from their 9 games.

November edit

A home game at Boghead on 3 November against Clyde brought some hope of a return to winning ways, but things were against Dumbarton from the start as Tom McMillan was missing due to injury requiring a shuffling of the pack. As it happened his defensive skills were much missed as Clyde left with a 2-1 victory.

The return of McMillan a week later against Third Lanark at Cathkin Park did little to stem the run of bad results and Dumbarton left having suffered a 6-3 beating. Again it was a case of holding their own until the latter stages of the game before tiring badly. It proved however to be Tom McMillan's final appearance for the club - during his ten seasons he set a record of 111 appearances in all national competitive matches.

On 17 November Dumbarton travelled to Cappielow in a friendly against Second Division Morton. The match was evenly contested but finished in a 2-1 victory for the home side.

A week later there was a welcome relief from the league with Dumbarton’s first tie in the Scottish Cup. However this was no walkover with the visit of Ayrshire side Galston who had already a few scalps to their name in the competition. Being his 100th appearance for Dumbarton, McLeod switched to striker with 2nd XI player, Robert Colquhoun replacing him as goalkeeper, and while his effect up front was ineffectual, Dumbarton managed to scramble a 2-1 win.

The league at the end of November looked more and more like Hearts for the taking with 11 wins from 11 games, Rangers trailing 8 points behind, though with 2 games less played. Dumbarton sat at the bottom with their solitary win.

December edit

The first Saturday in December saw a return to league duty and the daunting visit of Rangers to Boghead. Rangers were trying their best to keep pace with league leaders Hearts but on Dumbarton’s side was the fact that Rangers had not yet won a league match at Boghead. As it was Rangers wait would be extended for a further season with Dumbarton pulling off an incredible 1-0 victory.

On 8 December Dumbarton carried forward their new found confidence with a friendly win at Alexandria against Vale of Leven by 3-1.

The mini revival came to an end the following weekend with a 2-1 second round Scottish Cup defeat against King’s Park at Stirling. The task was more challenging than would have been the case with the loss of Tom McMillan and yet another 2nd XI debutant, George Jackson, taking his place in the team.

Things went from bad to worse on 23 December when Dumbarton returned from Edinburgh having suffered a 5-0 league thrashing from St Bernards.

On the last day of the year Dumbarton played a friendly at Tontine Park against neighbours Renton and came away with a 2-1 win.

The league at the end of 1894 still looked like a stroll for Hearts, though having tasted defeat for the first time, they headed Rangers by 6 points with 6 games to play. Dumbarton were joined at the bottom by Leith Athletic both with 2 wins.

January edit

The first two weekends in January saw little football due to frost, but on 19 January Dumbarton and Vale of Leven turned out to play the semi-final of the county cup at Boghead. The state of the pitch was still considered unplayable by the referee, nevertheless a friendly was played which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The weather put paid to the rest of the month.

February edit

Whilst freezing conditions continued to play havoc with club matches, William Thomson played for the Scottish League XI against the Irish League in Belfast on 2 February – the Scots winning 4-1.

March edit

Dumbarton returned to competitive football for the first time in over two months on 2 March but the tale of woe continued with another league defeat this time to Third Lanark at Bognead losing 4-2. Again it was a case of the Dumbarton men failing to last the pace as they held their opponents at 2-2 till late in the game.

Another home league game was played a week later this time against Celtic and while the result was yet another defeat the scoreline of 2-0 reflected the stiff resistance put up by the home side.

The league game against Clyde on 16 March was another of those which had marked most of the season – Dumbarton having most of the play – 1-0 up at half time – then fell away as the game went on – eventually losing 3-1.

After a free week Dumbarton played their penultimate league match against St Mirren at Boghead on 30 March. As had been the case for most of the season Dumbarton put on agreat show in the first half and led 2-0 – but unlike the rest of the season this time they maintained their form and ran out 4-1 winners.

So at the end of March – Hearts having long ago secured the championship, the only matter to be decided in the league was who would join Dumbarton and Leith Athletic in the bottom 3 places and be subject to the dreaded election process for relegation.

April edit

The final league game of the season took place on 6 April against fellow strugglers Leith Athletic in Edinburgh. A win would see Dumbarton lift themselves off the bottom of the table but this would be a hard ask as not a single point had been earned away from Boghead all season. As it was the result was a 1-1 draw and both clubs finished on equal records.

The Easter weekend was spent across the border where Dumbarton played friendlies against Arsenal on 13 April and Chatham two days later losing 5-1 and 3-2 respectively.

On 20 April while Dumbarton had a rest weekend, neighbours Renton aimed to follow up their success ten years earlier with a win in the Scottish Cup final against St Bernards. It would a big ask of the Second Division side and it was the capital side who walked away with the cup after a close 2-1 win.

The last game of the month saw Dumbarton entertain Vale of Leven in the semi-final of the Dumbartonshire Cup and achieved a well-earned 5-0 victory.

May edit

On 4 May Dumbarton travelled to Aberdeen to play a friendly against Orion and in an evenly contested match the home side won 3-2.

With the county cup final fixed for the 25th, a practice match was played against junior side Dunipace which Dumbarton won comfortably 4-1.

And so the final game of the season saw Dumbarton come up against the Scottish Cup runners up Renton for ownership of the county cup and it was Dumbarton who kept a tight grip on the trophy for the seventh year in a row with a 2-1 win.

June edit

The season ended on a positive note as Dumbarton retained their First Division status in the league elections on 3 June – results were as follows:

Team Votes Result
Dundee 14 Re-elected to First Division
Hibernian 11 Promoted from Second Division
Dumbarton 10 Re-elected to First Division
Motherwell 4 Not promoted to First Division
Leith Athletic 3 Relegated to Second Division

Match results edit

Scottish League edit

18 August 1894 Scottish League Rangers 3-0[1][2] Dumbarton Ibrox Park
Barker   4', 46'
 
1 September 1894 Scottish League Dumbarton 3-2[3][4] Leith Athletic Boghead Park
Nash  
Johnstone  
Craig   90'
  8'
Paterson  
8 September 1894 Scottish League Dundee 3-0[5][6] Dumbarton Carolina Port
Sawers   1'
scrimmage  
Fleming   80'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: J Marshall
15 September 1894 Scottish League Dumbarton 3-4[7][8] St Bernard's Boghead Park
Craig  
Boyle  
Nash  
Oswald   5', 85'
McMillan   7' (OG)
Brady   62'
Referee: Mr Maxwell
22 September 1894 Scottish League St Mirren 4-3[9][10] Dumbarton Love Street (stadium)
scrimmage  
Taylor   
Connell  
Craig  
Campbell  
Boyle  
29 September 1894 Scottish League Dumbarton 1-4[11][12] Hearts Boghead Park
Campbell   1' Michael   
 
 
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: A McKenzie
13 October 1894 Scottish League Dumbarton 2-4[13][14] Dundee Boghead Park
Thomson  
Craig  
Thomson  
scrimmage  
Fleming   
Attendance: 700
Referee: Mr Cameron
20 October 1894 Scottish League Celtic 6-0[15][16] Dumbarton Celtic Park
Cassidy  
Madden    
Blessington  
 
27 October 1894 Scottish League Hearts 3-1[17][18] Dumbarton Tynecastle Stadium
Chambers   
Baird  
Boyle   Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Mr Kirkwood
3 November 1894 Scottish League Dumbarton 2-3[19][20] Clyde Boghead Park
Craig  
Campbell  
Miller   
Leslie  
10 November 1894 Scottish League Third Lanark 6-3[21][22] Dumbarton Cathkin Park
McMillan   20' (OG)
  30'
scrimmage  
Barber  
Gardner  
 
Thomson,W   31'
Boyle  
Seaton  
Referee: Mr Baillie
1 December 1894 Scottish League Dumbarton 1-0[23][24] Rangers Boghead Park
Campbell   Referee: Mr Richardson
22 December 1894 Scottish League St Bernard's 5-0[25][26] Dumbarton New Logie Green
Wilson  
Oswald  
Murdoch  
Baird  
Laing  
Referee: J Marshall
2 March 1895 Scottish League Dumbarton 2-4[27][28] Third Lanark Boghead Park
Campbell    Bell   10' 
Brown   
Referee: A McLean
9 March 1895 Scottish League Dumbarton 0-2[29][30] Celtic Boghead Park
McMahon  
Madden  
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Mr Barbour
16 March 1895 Scottish League Clyde 3-1[31][32] Dumbarton Barrowfield Park
Bowie  
Barnes  
Leslie  
Stevenson   Attendance: 1,500
30 March 1895 Scottish League Dumbarton 4-1[33][34] St Mirren Boghead Park
Campbell   3'
Stevenson  
Hartley  
Craig  
Brown   Referee: Mr McLeod

Scottish Cup edit

24 November 1894 Cup R1 Dumbarton 2–1[37][38] Galston Boghead Park
Johnstone  
Craig  
 
15 December 1894 Cup R2 King's Park 2–1[39][40] Dumbarton Forthbank Park
McInnes  
scrimmage  
Jackson  

Dumbartonshire Cup edit

27 April 1895 Semi-final Dumbarton 5–0 Vale of Leven Boghead Park
  1'
Campbell    
Craig   49'
25 May 1895 Final Dumbarton 2–1 Renton Boghead Park
Seaton  
Campbell  
 

Friendlies/Benefits edit

11 August 1894 Friendly Ayr 1–1 Dumbarton Somerset Park
  Craig  
17 November 1894 Friendly Morton 2–1 Dumbarton Cappielow Park
Drysdale  
Joyce  
 
8 December 1894 Friendly Vale of Leven 1–3 Dumbarton Millburn Park
Lindsay   McIndewar   30' 
Nash  
31 December 1894 Friendly Renton 1–3 Dumbarton Tontine Park
   
 
19 January 1895 Friendly Dumbarton 1–1 Vale of Leven Boghead Park
Thomson,W    
13 April 1895 Friendly  Arsenal 5–1 Dumbarton Plumstead
Mortimer  
  (OG)
Boyle  
Howatt  
Caldwell  
Gracie   Attendance: 6,000
13 April 1895 Friendly  Chatham 3–2 Dumbarton Chatham
Lawrence   
Robertson  
Stevenson  
Gracie  
Attendance: 3,000
15 April 1895 Friendly Orion (Aberdeen) 3–2 Dumbarton Cattofield
Leggatt  
Thom   46'
Stopani  
Hendry  
Seaton  
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: P Simpson
13 May 1895 Benefit Dunipace 1–4[41] Dumbarton Dunipace
Wright   Weir   
Seaton  
Campbell  

Player statistics edit

At the start of their second 'professional' season, Dumbarton were struck immediately by mass desertions not only across the border but to fellow league clubs who could afford to pay more for talented players. So before season 1894-95 has started, Dumbarton had lost the services of Billy Andrews to Bolton Wanderers, Lawrence Bell to Third Lanark, Bob Ferrier to Sheffield Wednesday, Alf Smith to Third Lanark, John Taylor to St Mirren and Albert Saunderson to Stoke.

So at the start of the season the first XI started out with a number of new faces, and coming into the team were Tom Keir (full back); Hugh Craig (right wing); William Forsyth and William Boyle (centre forwards) and James Gracie (left wing) all promoted from the second XI.

No. Pos Nat Player Total First Division Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   SCO John McLeod 20 0 18 0 2 0
DF   SCO Tom Keir[42] 20 0 18 0 2 0
DF   SCO Tom McMillan 10 0 10 0 0 0
MF   SCO Robert Colquhoun[43] 2 0 1 0 1 0
MF   SCO Jimmy Hartley 8 1 7 1 1 0
MF   SCO John McNicol 3 0 3 0 0 0
MF   SCO Alex Miller 20 0 18 0 2 0
MF   SCO Billy Nash[44] 18 2 16 2 2 0
MF   SCO Daniel Thomson[45] 12 0 11 0 1 0
MF   SCO William Thomson 14 2 12 2 2 0
FW   SCO William Boyle[46] 9 4 9 4 0 0
FW   SCO William Campbell[47] 20 7 18 7 2 0
FW   SCO Hugh Craig[48] 20 7 18 6 2 1
FW   SCO William Forsyth[49] 3 0 3 0 0 0
FW   SCO James Gracie[50] 10 0 10 0 0 0
FW   SCO George Jackson[51] 3 1 2 0 1 1
FW   SCO Robert Johnstone[52] 8 2 6 1 2 1
FW   SCO John McIndewar[53] 3 0 2 0 1 0
FW   SCO John Seaton 4 1 4 1 0 0
FW   SCO James Stevenson 12 2 11 2 1 0
FW   SCO Hugh Weir[54] 1 0 1 0 0 0

Source:[55]

Reserve team edit

Dumbarton lost in the first round of the Scottish Second XI Cup to Queen's Park.

References edit

  1. ^ "Rangers 3 - 0 Dumbarton, Scottish League (18/08/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Rangers 3 - 0 Dumbarton, Saturday, August 18th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Dumbarton 3 - 2 Leith Athletic, Scottish League (01/09/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Dumbarton 3 - 2 Leith Athletic, Saturday, September 1st, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Dundee 3 - 0 Dumbarton, Scottish League (08/08/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Dundee 3 - 0 Dumbarton, Saturday, September 8th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Dumbarton 3 - 4 St Bernard's, Scottish League (15/09/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Dumbarton 3 - 4 St Bernard's, Saturday, September 15th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  9. ^ "St Mirren 4 - 3 Dumbarton, Scottish League (22/09/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  10. ^ "St Mirren 4 - 3 Dumbarton, Saturday, September 22nd, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Dumbarton 1 - 4 Heart of Midlothian, Scottish League (29/09/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Dumbarton 1 - 4 Heart of Midlothian, Saturday, September 29th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 4 Dundee, Scottish League (13/10/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 4 Dundee, Saturday, October 13th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Celtic 6 - 0 Dumbarton, Scottish League (20/10/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Celtic 6 - 0 Dumbarton, Saturday, October 20th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Heart of Midlothian 3 - 1 Dumbarton, Scottish League (27/10/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Heart of Midlothian 3 - 1 Dumbarton, Saturday, October 27th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 3 Clyde, Scottish League (03/11/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 3 Clyde, Saturday, November 3rd, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Third Lanark 6 - 3 Dumbarton, Scottish League (10/11/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Third Lanark 6 - 3 Dumbarton, Saturday, November 10th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Dumbarton 1 - 0 Rangers, Scottish League (01/12/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  24. ^ "Dumbarton 1 - 0 Rangers, Saturday, December 1st, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  25. ^ "St Bernard's 5 - 0 Dumbarton, Scottish League (22/12/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  26. ^ "St Bernard's 5 - 0 Dumbarton, Saturday, December 22nd, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 4 Third Lanark, Scottish League (02/03/1895)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 4 Third Lanark, Saturday, March 2nd, 1895". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Dumbarton 0 - 2 Celtic, Scottish League (09/03/1895)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Dumbarton 0 - 2 Celtic, Saturday, March 9th, 1895". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Clyde 3 - 1 Dumbarton, Scottish League (16/03/1895)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  32. ^ "Clyde 3 - 1 Dumbarton, Saturday, March 16th, 1895". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Dumbarton 4 - 1 St Mirren, Scottish League (30/03/1895)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  34. ^ "Dumbarton 4 - 1 St Mirren, Saturday, March 30th, 1895". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Leith Athletic 1 - 1 Dumbarton, Scottish League (06/04/1895)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Leith Athletic 1 - 1 Dumbarton, Saturday, April 6th, 1895". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 1 Galston, Scottish Cup (24/11/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Dumbarton 2 - 1 Galston, Saturday, November 24th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  39. ^ "King's Park 2 - 1 Dumbarton, Scottish Cup (15/12/1894)". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  40. ^ "King's Park 2 - 1 Dumbarton, Saturday, December 15th, 1894". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  41. ^ Played for the benefit of the quarter Colliery Disaster Fund.
  42. ^ "Tom Keir - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  43. ^ "Robert Colquhoun - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  44. ^ "Billy Nash - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  45. ^ "Daniel Thomson - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  46. ^ "William Boyle - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  47. ^ "William Campbell - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  48. ^ "Hugh Craig - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  49. ^ "William Forsyth - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  50. ^ "James Gracie - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  51. ^ "George Jackson - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  52. ^ "Robert Johnstone - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  53. ^ "John McIndewar - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  54. ^ "Hugh Weir - Player Statistics". The Sons Archive. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  55. ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.