The 1917–18 season was the 41st Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League. in addition Dumbarton played in the Dumbartonshire Cup and the Dumbartonshire Charity Cup.
Scottish League
This was the fourth season of war-time football, where the playing of all national competitions, other than the Scottish League, was suspended. Membership of the League was reduced from 20 to 18, with Aberdeen, Dundee and Raith Rovers withdrawing and Clydebank being admitted. Dumbarton's 8th-place finish with 34 points (22 behind champions Rangers) was their best performance since the 1893–94 season.
Dumbartonshire Cup Dumbarton re-entered the Dumbartonshire Cup for the first time in three seasons, but lost out to Clydebank in the final, which was held over until the beginning of the 1918–19 season.
Dumbartonshire Charity Cup Dumbarton retained the Dumbartonshire Charity Cup for the second successive year by beating Renton in the final.
Charity matches During the season two charity matches were played for the benefit of the Red Cross War Fund, both being won, scoring 8 goals for the loss of 4.
Player statistics Squad
Source:
Transfers
Players in PlayerFromDate David Finnie Cambuslang R 7 Jul 1917 James McGregor Cambuslang R 7 Jul 1917 William Wilson Cambuslang R 7 Jul 1917 James Stewart Hamilton (loan) 17 Jul 1917 John McMeekin Glasgow Perthshire 18 Jul 1917 Alex Marshall Ashfield 24 Aug 1917 Alex Trotter Rangers 25 Aug 1917 Richard Bell Rangers (loan) 14 Sep 1917 John McCulloch Vale of Clyde 29 Sep 1917 John Durnin Partick Thistle 1 Nov 1917 John Brodie Celtic (loan) 1 Jan 1918 Fred Williams Bradford PA 14 Feb 1918 William Gallacher Vale of Leven (loan) 27 Feb 1918
Players out PlayerToDate James Lister Morton 31 Jul 1917 John Semple Ayr United 7 Aug 1917 Pat Travers Clydebank 14 Aug 1917 George Baird Rangers 17 Dec 1917 John McCulloch St Mirren 12 Apr 1918 Hugh Cairney Airdrie (loan) 31 Jan 1918 Alexander Thom Kilmarnock (loan)
Source:
In addition Robert Catterson, Thomas Hamilton and Joseph Tait all played their final 'first XI' games in Dumbarton colours.
References