The 1910–11 season was the 34th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League, the Scottish Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Consolation Cup.
Story of the Season August Dumbarton began the season at Boghead with a benefit match for long serving player John Brander against Abercorn on 15 August. Hill and triallist McCallum scored the goals in a 2–0 win.
Two days later a pre-season friendly was played at Boghead against county champions Dumbarton Harp. Hill, Brander returnee Greer and an own goal were enough for a comfortable 4–1 win.
On 20 August Dumbarton opened the competitive season at Millburn Park with a league game against Vale of Leven. The team lined up as follows: McCormick (goal); Muirhead and Gordon (full backs); Hynds, Crawford and Hendry (half backs) and Watson, Rowan, Sneddon, Greer and Hill (forwards). The game opened brightly with Vale opening the scoring within the first ten minutes. The Sons were quick to respond as Rowan equalised five minutes later. No further scoring took place and the game ended in a1-1 draw..
During the week that followed Dumbarton played a further two ‘trial’ matches against Shettleston on 23 August and Vale of Leven on 25 August to try out new players. The match at Shettleston finished 2–2 with Watson scoring both goals and at Millburn Park the Vale took the honours 1–0. On 27 August the first league fixture against last season's relegated side Port Glasgow Athletic was played. William Clark (ex Lennox) was tried at right half in place of Hynds who had picked up an injury against Vale of Leven. The game was a poor one from the Sons perspective as a goal in each half handed Port Glasgow a 2–0 win, although the loss of Brander to injury was a factor.
September The first round of the Qualifying Cup draw saw Dumbarton come up against Dykehead and this was played out on 3 September. Hynds returned, and Speedie came in at left back. In addition new signing Andrew Potter (ex Ayr) came in on the left wing. The game had plenty of excitement but no goals so went to a replay. This match marked Bob Gordon's 100th appearance for the club in national competitions
The replay was played a week later at Boghead. Another new face was introduced at inside left – Herbert MacPherson (ex Liverpool). Dumbarton opened strongly and Watson opened the scoring which is how things stood at half time. Things got a little rough in the second half with Muirhead and a Dykehead player being ordered from the field but no further scoring took place.
On 17 September Dumbarton played their away league fixture against early league leaders St Bernards. Yet another new signing took the field being former Rangers back Andrew Cochrane taking suspended Muirhead's place with Clark returning in place of Hynds. The Saints were first to the attack and scored early on, only for Crawford to equalise shortly thereafter. St Bernards went ahead again before half time and though the Sons played the entire second half with 10 men – losing Brander to injury – they had most of the game but were unable to score again. The match finished in a 2–1 defeat.
Dumbarton's first home league fixture was played against Vale of Leven on 24 September. Hynds returned to the half back line and Greer took the place of injured Brander. A tough match was expected and no quarter was given by either side. Speedie and a Vale player were ordered from the field for rough play in the first half and shortly thereafter the Vale right back was carried off with a broken collar bone. So the 10 men of Dumbarton resumed against the nine of the Vale, but it was not until the last minutes of the game that Hill struck for the winner and the Sons first league win of the season.
October On 1 October the second round of the Qualifying Cup was played with an away tie against Galston. Suspended Speedie was replaced by Bob Gordon, Lithgow took Hynds place in the half back line while Duncan Ritchie, who had been signed from Hibernian, was preferred to Greer in the attack. The Ayrshire side quickly took the lead but goals from Hill and then Ritchie gave the Sons the lead before half time. The home side had the better of the play in the second half and equalised before full time for a 2–2 draw.
The following Saturday the replay was played at Boghead with an unchanged side taking the field. Cochrane missed an early penalty kick and Galston took full advantage by taking the lead before half time. Watson got the equaliser for Dumbarton with 15 minutes left but no further scoring took place with the tie still undecided after the 1–1 draw.
Neutral Ibrox Park was the venue for the second replay on 15 October. Greer came in at inside left to replace MacPherson. Both teams had a number of goal chances throughout the 90 minutes but neither side could find an opening, although Galston missed a penalty. Extra time was played and again in the first 15 minutes there was no breakthrough. However Galston scored early in the second half of extra time and this was followed by another. In the closing minutes McCormick was sent off with Galston scoring a third from the resultant penalty.
A week later it was back to league business with an away tie against Albion Rovers. Muirhead returned from his suspension and Brander came back from injury. In addition ex Rangers John Dickie was tried out on the right wing. On the day Rovers outclassed the Sons with two goals in the first half and another in the second for a comfortable 3–0 win. However were it not for McCormick in goal the defeat may have been worse.
On 29 October Dumbarton played their home league fixture against Port Glasgow Athletic. Winless for the past four weeks changes were made to the squad. Wallace got his first game in goal to replace suspended McCormick, Hendry returned to the half back line while Speedie took Hill's place up front. The Sons started brightly and Rowan (under the pseudonym ‘Robertson’) scored before Port Glasgow equalised before half time. This time however Dumbarton were not to be denied and Brander scored the winner just before the final whistle. This match marked John Brander's 100th appearance for the club in national competitions.
October ended with Dumbarton holding 8th place in the league after 6 games, with Albion Rovers on top with 12 points having played 8.
November The newly formed Ayr United (Ayr and Ayr Parkhouse having amalgamated) were the visitors to Boghead on 5 November in the league. Clark was the only change to the team in place of Lithgow. The Sons started off the better and two goals from Rowan had hem comfortably ahead at the interval. Brander scored a third early in the second half but then Dumbarton slackened off. Ayr came back with two goals but Dumbarton held on for a 3–2 win.
The following week Dumbarton travelled to Arthurlie to play the away league fixture. One change was made with Crawford returning in place of Clark. The home side were first to score after 15 minutes but Ritchie got the equaliser within a minute. Just before half time Rowan pounced to score and in a scrappy second half he managed another for a 3–1 win.
On 19 November Dumbarton played their first ever match against Dundee Hibernian at Tannadice. Watson and MacPherson came into the attack in place of Dickie and Brander. The Sons pushed forward immediately and goals from Rowan and Ritchie had them two ahead by half time. Another from MacPherson wrapped up a fine 3–0 win.
The county cup competition began for Dumbarton on 26 November with a home fixture against town rivals and cup holders Dumbarton Harp. The Harp began well and scored after 20 minutes but Potter responded for the Sons before the interval, Fifteen minutes into the second half saw the Harp retake the lead and despite a number of near misses by Dumbarton the game finished 2–1 for the visitors.
The three successive victories in the league during the month had raised Dumbarton to 6th with 11 points from 9 games. Albion Rovers still led with 16 points from 12 matches.
December Dumbarton played their away league fixture against Abercorn on 3 December, The only change to the team saw Brander return in place of MacPherson. The Sons started strongly and had a number of chances before, against the run of play, Abercorn scored, a shot coming off Muirhead into his own goal. After a Rowan effort was ruled offside, Abercorn scored again and despite further pressure it was the home team that scored a third. Just before half time Speedie got the goal that rewarded the Dumbarton play. Brander notched a second after 65 minutes but all further efforts were dealt with by the home defence – resulting in a 3–2 defeat for the Sons.
League leaders Albion Rovers were next up a week later at Boghead. Ritchie switched wings to make way for Hill with Watson dropping out. The game was a fast and exciting one with the Rovers showing up better in the first half though no goals were scored at half time. The second half had just started when Rowan scored the Sons opener and this spurred on the home team, it being no surprise that Rowan scored again to wrap up a 2–0 win.
The opponents from two weeks ago, Abercorn, came to Boghead to play off the return league fixture on 17 December. MacPherson returned to the team and replaced Potter in the half back line. For a time it looked as if the Sons would have the same luck as in the previous match as in the first half they had most of the play but Abercorn scored the only goal. The second half however was a different story – with Brander levelling within five minutes of the restart. Further goals from Brander, Rowan and Hill put the result beyond doubt and a fine 4–1 win was recorded.
On Christmas Eve, Dumbarton entertained Renton for the second qualifying match in the county championship. Muirhead and Rowan were rested with Cochrane and Potter returning to the team. The game opened well for the Sons with MacPherson scoring within two minutes. Renton equalised soon thereafter but Speedie scored to retake the lead with MacPherson scoring again before half time. Another goal for Dumbarton settled the tie with the home team winning 4–1.
On the last day of 1910 Dumbarton played their home league fixture against Arthurlie. Muirhead took Cochrane's place in the defence. Hill was first to score after 20 minutes but then Ritchie had to leave the field injured. The 10 man Sons however continued to pressurise the Arthurlie defence and Brander scored a second before half time. Arthurlie scored early in the second half but the Sosn replied through goals by MacPherson and Hill again for a third successive 4–1 win.
So at the end of 1910 Dumbarton had improved to 3rd place in the league with 17 points from 13 games played. Albion Rovers still headed the table with 21 points from their 16 matches.
January The first game of 1911 on 7 January saw Dumbarton play their fifth successive home match this time in the league against Leith Athletic. New signing former internationalist Alex Menzies (ex Port Glasgow Athletic) took injured Ritchie's place. The Sons played well from the start but it was not until early in the second half that Hill opened the scoring from a penalty. Brander scored a second and Dumbarton gained another two league points in a comfortable 2–0 win.
Dumbarton opened their Consolation Cup campaign on 14 January with a first round home tie against Wishaw Thistle. Rowan returned at centre forward in an otherwise unchanged team. Again it was a confident display by the Sons but the front line unfortunately were unable to convert the numerous chances that were presented to them. Ultimately MacPherson scored but Wishaw were able to equalise quite soon afterwards. Hill missed a penalty and in the end Dumbarton had to settle for a 1–1 draw and a replay. This match marked Johnny Hill's 100th appearance for the club in national competitions