1997–98 Dumbarton F.C. season

Season 1997–98 was the 114th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 92nd time, the Scottish Cup for the 103rd time, the Scottish League Cup for the 51st time, and the Scottish Challenge Cup for the eighth time.

Overview In Ian Wallace's first full season at the helm, Dumbarton's poor financial status meant that the team was almost unchanged from the one that had dropped from the Second Division the previous season. Nevertheless, initial results were promising, but this was soon to be replaced with that well known sinking feeling as the season went on. From January, Dumbarton registered just 3 league wins, and from the end of February till the end of the season propped up the rest of the league - easily Dumbarton's worst league performance in its history.

In the national cup competitions, however, the five-year wait for some progress was brought to an end. In the Scottish Cup, an uninspiring win over Highland League outfit Lossiemouth presented Dumbarton with a tie against Premier Division Motherwell in the third round. After holding their opponents to a home draw, they battled fiercely in the replay only to lose by a single goal.

In the League Cup, old rivals Queen's Park were dispatched in the first round, before Dumbarton found Premier Division Aberdeen too hot to handle.

Finally, however, in the Challenge Cup, it was the same old story - eight seasons and eight first round defeats - Falkirk would be the victors this time.

Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, the format reverted to group ties, but with only one win from three ties, Dumbarton failed to reach the final.

Results & fixtures

Scottish Third Division

Coca-Cola Cup

Scottish Challenge Cup

Tennent's Scottish Cup

Stirlingshire Cup

Pre-season/Other Matches

League table

Player statistics Squad

Transfers

Players in PlayerFromDate Adrian Mellis Vale of Leven 11 Jun 1997 Craig Brittain Ashfield 14 Jun 1997 Alex Grace Vale of Leven 25 Jul 1997 Robert Prytz Kilmarnock 30 Aug 1997 Marc Falconer Queen's Park 1 Sep 1997 Tom Currie Clydebank 18 Oct 1997 Chris Ewing Stranraer 18 Oct 1997 Hrienn Hringsson East Stirling 1 Nov 1997 Ross McCuaig Leven Valley 21 Nov 1997 Paddy Flannery Morton 27 Dec 1997 Stephen Jack Cowdenbeath 25 Feb 1998 Billy Melvin Clydebank 27 Mar 1998 Tommi Orismaa TPS 30 Mar 1998 Chris Dalrymple Yoker Athletic (trialist)

Players out PlayerToDate Gordon Parks East Stirling 4 Jun 1997 Toby King Clyde 10 Jun 1997 Robert Prytz Cowdenbeath 20 Dec 1997 Hugh Ward Clydebank 27 Mar 1998 Martin McGarvey Arthurlie Stephen Dallas Baillieston Sam McGivern Dalry Thistle Graeme McKenzie Kilbirnie Ladeside Alan Granger Petershill Peter Dennison Vale of Leven Joe Goldie Vale of Leven Jim McGall Vale of Leven Adrian Mellis Vale of Leven

Trivia The League Cup match against Queen's Park on 2 August marked Hugh Ward's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 111th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone. The League match against East Stirling on 20 December marked Martin Mooney's 200th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 27th Dumbarton player to break the 'double century'. For the third successive season Dumbarton matched the record fewest league home wins during a season - just two!

1997–98 Dumbarton F.C. season

Bron en licentie