The 1918–19 season was the 42nd Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League and the Victory Cup, marking the end of the Great War. In addition Dumbarton entered the Dumbartonshire Cup, the Dumbartonshire Charity Cup and the Clydebank Charity Cup.
Scottish League
This was the fifth (and last) season of war-time football, where the playing of all national competitions, other than the Scottish League, was suspended. Membership of the League was increased from 18 to 22, with the re-admission of Aberdeen, Dundee and Raith Rovers, together with the addition of Albion Rovers.
Dumbarton finished 15th out of 18, in the League with 22 points, well behind champions Celtic. This was their worst performance in a number of years, perhaps not unsurprising given the large turnover in playing staff. Most concerning during the season was the inability to score goals, as in 17 of the 34 league matches, Dumbarton failed to 'find the net'.
Victory Cup To mark the end of the Great War, a Victory Cup was played for - but Dumbarton were beaten in the first round by the eventual winners, St Mirren, after a 0–0 draw.
Dumbartonshire Cup The Dumbartonshire Cup returned to a 'round robin' qualifying process, but by winning only one tie, failed to qualify for the final.
Final league table
Dumbartonshire Charity Cup Dumabrton lost out in the final of the Dumbartonshire Charity Cup to Dumbarton Harp.
Clydebank Charity Cup Dumbarton lost out in the final of the inaugural Clydebank Charity Cup to hosts Clydebank.
Player statistics Squad
Source:
Transfers
Players in PlayerFromDate David Finnie Clyde 31 July 1918 James Neill Old Kilpartick 31 July 1918 Herbert Yarnell Clydebank 1 Aug 1918 Hugh Burns Renton 13 Aug 1918 Hugh Murphy Falkirk (loan) 13 Aug 1918 John McEwan Hearts 19 Aug 1918 Archie McLachlan Partick Thistle 23 Aug 1918 Joe Hendry Rangers (loan) 31 Aug 1918 Duggie Livingstone Celtic (loan) 1 Oct 1918 Val Lawrence Morton 30 Oct 1918 Roger Henderson Renton (loan) 1 Nov 1918 Robdert Carmichael Clyde 7 Nov 1918 Thomas Kelso Rangers (loan) 7 Nov 1918 Richard Bell Rangers (loan) 29 Nov 1918 James Reid Queen's Park (loan) 2 Jan 1919 Bob McDermid Rangers 10 Jan 1919 Jack Rattray Falkirk (loan) 17 Jan 1919 James Dawson Hearts 18 Jan 1918 James Young Rangers 18 Jan 1919 James Riddell Kilmarnock (loan) 23 Jan 1919 Bobby Archibald Aberdeen (loan) 24 Jan 1919 Michael Mitchell Celtic (loan) 24 Jan 1919 Ogden Rowland Blackburn Rovers 31 Jan 1919 James Cumming Manchester City 14 Feb 1919 Walter Bate Royal Worcesters (loan) 21 Feb 1919 John Eadon Tottenham Hotspur (loan) 4 Mar 1919 John McDowell Vale of Leven (loan) 7 Mar 1919 Duncan Walker Kilsyth Rangers 10 Mar 1919 Alex Bennett Rangers 11 Mar 1919 James McIntosh Hull City 14 Mar 1919 Bob Duffus Dundee (loan) 23 May 1919 Scott Duncan Rangers (loan) 30 May 1919
Players out PlayerToDate William Gallacher Renton Felix Gunn Dumbarton Harp James Stewart Hamilton Alex Trotter Renton James McGregor Kilmarnock (loan) Alexander Thom Ayr United (loan) Alexander Thom Motherwell (loan)
Source:
In addition Hugh Cairney, Joh McMeekin and Fred Williams all played their final 'first XI' games in Dumbarton colours.
References