1987–88 Dumbarton F.C. season

Season 1987–88 was the 104th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 82nd time, the Scottish Cup for the 93rd time and the Scottish League Cup for the 41st time.

Overview Following two promotion challenging seasons, Dumbarton inexplicably sank to the bottom of the First Division and were relegated to the third tier of Scottish league football. With the loss of Sir Hugh Fraser, finances at the club were tight, and with this in mind it was decided to appoint Mark Clougherty as player/manager. However results were generally poor and the board sacked Clougherty in January. In his place Bertie Auld was appointed and despite a spirited draw against Hibernian in the Cup, a winless run of 11 games would ensure the club's drop into bottom place in the league - a place they would occupy even though Dumbarton were unbeaten in their last four games.

In the Scottish Cup, another third round exit was Dumbarton's fate, although this would be after a draw against Premier Division opponents Hibernian.

In the League Cup, for the second year in a row Celtic were Dumbarton's third round opponents, and it would be the Premier Division side that would ease through to the next round.

Locally however, Dumbarton regained the Stirlingshire Cup, with a final victory over Stirling Albion.

Results & fixtures

Scottish First Division

Skol Cup

Scottish Cup

Stirlingshire Cup

Pre-season matches

League table

Player statistics Squad

Transfers

Players in PlayerFromDate Craig Cranmer Belhaven Athletic 27 Jun 1987 Benny Rooney Petershill 27 Jun 1987 Jimmy Bell Kilbowie Union 23 Jul 1987 Stevie Gow Dumbarton United 23 Jul 1987 Iain McKinley Duntocher BC 23 Jul 1987 Robert Docherty Hamilton 1 Nov 1987 Jim Creaney Stranraer (loan) 14 Nov 1987 Willie Cairns Partick Thistle 9 Jan 1988 Dougie McGuire Celtic (loan) 13 Feb 1988 Gerry Doyle Stranraer 26 Feb 1988 Joe Carson Stranraer 12 Mar 1988 Billy Blackie Forfar Athletic 9 Apr 1988 Gerry McCabe Hamilton (loan) 9 Apr 1988

Players out PlayerToDate Jackie Rafferty Partick Thistle 13 Jun 1987 Danny Docherty Queen of the South 1 Aug 1987 Tommy Coyle St Johnstone22 Aug 1987 Arthur Grant East Stirling28 Nov 1987 Joe Carson Vale of Leven Alan Kay Jimmy Bell Jim McNeil Billy Traynor

Reserve team Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League (West), winning 11 and drawing 11 of 33 games.

Trivia The League match against Clydebank on 29 August marked Owen Coyle's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 93rd Dumbarton player to reach this milestone. The League match against Forfar Athletic on 12 September marked Donald McNeil's 300th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 6th Dumbarton player to achieve this accolade. The League match against Forfar Athletic on 12 September also marked Steve McCahill's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 94th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone. The League match against Queen of the South on 26 September marked Pat McGowan's 200th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 20th Dumbarton player to break the 'double century'. The League match against East Fife on 14 November marked Alan Kay's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 95th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone. The League match against Raith Rovers on 13 February marked Gerry McCoy's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 96th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.

1987–88 Dumbarton F.C. season

Bron en licentie