Dumbarton Football Club (nicknamed The Sons) is a semi-professional football club in Dumbarton, Scotland. Founded on 23 December 1872, they are one of the oldest football clubs in Scotland. Since December 2000, the club has played home games at The Rock next to Dumbarton Castle. A member of the SPFL, they currently compete in , the fourth tier of Scottish football.
The club has been managed by Frank McKeown since December 2025.
History They were one of the most successful of the nineteenth century, winning the Scottish Football League in the first two seasons of the competition (the first jointly with Rangers).
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 (and one of only two) 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 2026–27, the side will wear strips from the VSN brand for the first time. The home strip is mainly white with a black and gold band while the away strip is all gold with black pinstripes.
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.
In 2000, to coincide with the club moving from Boghead to The Rock, the club redesigned its badge. In May 2026 the badge was updated from yellow to "old gold" to reflect the traditional colours of the club.
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 The Rock. 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 (Dec 2000 – Sep 2011) until the receivership of Strathclyde Homes Dumbarton Football Stadium (Sep 2011 – Feb 2012) Dumbarton Football Stadium Sponsored by DL Cameron (Feb 2012 – Jul 2012) The BetButler Stadium (Jul 2012 – Sep 2014) until the liquidation of BetButler Dumbarton Football Stadium (Sep 2014 – Jun 2015) The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium (Jul 2015 – May 2017) The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium (July 2017 – May 2018) C&G Systems Stadium (May 2018 – May 2021) Dumbarton Football Stadium (May 2021 – September 2021) Moreroom.com Stadium (September 2021 – May 2023) Dumbarton Football Stadium (May 2023 – July 2024) Marbill Coaches Stadium (July 2024 – April 2026) The Rock sponsored by Marbill Coaches (April 2026 – present) 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.
In April 2026 the club announced the stadium would be renamed from Dumbarton Football Stadium to The Rock, the name that had always been used by supporters. For sponsorship reasons this would be formatted as 'The Rock sponsored by Marbill Coaches'.
Attendances SeasonLeagueAverageHighest2025–26League Two7011,0542024–25League One6061,1132023–24League Two6622,0202022–23League Two6351,0862021–22League One5391,1982019–20League One6631,3942018–19League One6371,3532017–18Championship8381,6522016–17Championship1,1301,6602015–16Championship1,0331,9782014–15Championship1,0741,8502013–14Championship9381,4692012–13First Division9271,5302011–12Second Division6601,0882010–11Second Division6408532009–10Second Division6951,2272008–09Third Division7221,3962007–08Third Division5609072006–07Third Division7091,0892005–06Second Division9461,5942004–05Second Division9001,4462003–04Second Division1,0391,861
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 buses to away matches.
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
Peter Miller – 62 apps (1875–1884 & 1885–1888) Joseph Lindsay – 46 apps (1877–1890) Michael Paton – 16 apps (1880–1886) James McAulay – 35 apps (1880–1887) Leitch Keir – 49 apps (1881–1897) Tom McMillan – 110 apps (1885–1895) John Bell – 50 apps (1888-1893) Donald Colman – 55 apps (1920–1925) and (1922–1931) as manager Joshua Wilkinson – 16 apps (1921) Johnny Haddow – 102 apps (1928–1931) & 71 apps (1933–1936) John Hosie Hugh Gallagher – 191 apps (1954–1962) Tommy Govan – 249 apps (1957–1967) Andy Jardine – 298 apps (1957–1967) Roy McCormack – 246 apps (1966–1976) Johnny Graham – 385 apps (1967–1977)
Jackie Stewart – 190 apps (1968–1973) as manager Lawrie Williams – 372 apps (1970–1980) Kenny Wilson – 74 apps (1970–1972) Alex Wright – 192 apps (1973–1977) as manager John Bourke – 111 apps (1973–1978) & 106 apps (1982–1987) Donald McNeil – 276 apps (1975–1981) Joe Coyle – 130 apps (1970–1982) & 75 apps (1983–1985) Tommy Coyle – 286 apps (1978–1987) Owen Coyle – 103 apps (1985–1988) Tom Carson – 149 apps (1979–1984), 6 apps (1997–1992) & 67 apps (2000–2002) as manager Charlie Gibson – 257 apps (1989–1996) Craig Brittain – 295 apps (1997–2009) Paddy Flannery – 175 apps (1997–2003) Stephen Grindlay – 174 apps (2001–2007) & 93 apps (2010–2015) Murdo MacLeod – 87 apps (1975–1978) and 66 apps (1993–1995) as player–manager
Teams
1882–83 Scottish Cup Winners 1890–91 Scottish League Champions (Tier 1) 1891–92 Scottish League Champions (Tier 1) 1910–11 Division Two Champions (Tier 2) 1971–72 Division Two Champions (Tier 2) 1983–84 Division One Runners Up (Tier 2) 1984–85 Premier Division Season (Tier 1) 1991–92 Division Two Champions (Tier 3) 2008–09 Third Division Champions (Tier 4)
Internationals 18 Dumbarton players were chosen to represent Scotland between 1880 and 1898. The club's international players were as follows:
Ralph Aitken Jack Bell Robert 'Sparrow' Brown Robert 'Plumber' Brown Geordie Dewar Leitch Keir Archie Lang Joseph Lindsay James McAulay William McKinnon
John McLeod Thomas McMillan Peter Miller William Robertson Duncan Stewart Jack Taylor William Thomson Hugh Wilson
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.
In 2026 defender Ali Omar was called-up by the Somalia national football team, becoming the first Sons player to represent an African nation.
Coaching staff Position NameDirector of footballDanny Lennon Manager Frank McKeownAssistant managersMark DochertyStephen Simmons Goalkeeping coach David McGurn Head of physiotherapy Rishabh Upadhyay Physiotherapy assistant Jack McEwan Sports scientist Callum Strang Head of youth operations Darren McEwan Head of youth development Craig Sutherland
Recent league history
SeasonPWDLGFGAGDPtsPosLeague2025–26361010164761 −1435*9League Two2024–2536811175166 −1520**10 (R)League One2023–243616911564412584(P)League Two2022–233618810493910622League Two2021–223697204871 −23349(R)League One2020–212274111424 −10259League One2019–2028115123544 −9386League One2018–193612101460600466League One 2017–18 36 7 9 20 27 63 −36 30 9(R) Championship 2016–17 36 9 12 15 46 56 −10 39 8 Championship 2015–16 36 10 7 19 35 66 −31 37 8 Championship 2014–15 36 9 7 20 36 79 −43 34 7 Championship *Deducted 5 points for entering administration the previous season. **Deducted 15 points for entering administration.
Managerial history Manager records for all league, league play-offs, League Cup, Scottish Cup & Challenge Cup games (i.e. not including friendlies & Stirlingshire Cup games)
Permanent managers only. Stats include permanent managers who had initial caretaker spells.
As of match played 22 September 2026: