The 2025–26 season was Dumbarton Football Club's first back in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier of Scottish football, having finished 10th in Scottish League One in 2024–25. Dumbarton will also compete in the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Story of the season
May
Preparations for the new season following relegation back to Scottish League Two started with David Wilson, Joel Mumbongo and Greig Young being released. On May 21 Canadian businessman Mario Lapointe was announced as the administrator's new preferred bidder, and it was hoped that a takeover deal could be concluded by early June. On the park, forward James Hilton left after two seasons - turning down a new deal to join League Two rivals Clyde.
June Midfielder Finlay Gray was the next player to leave, turning down a new deal to join Stenhousemuir after three seasons with the club. The same week friendlies were confirmed with St Mirren and West of Scotland Football League side Irvine Meadow. Carlo Pignatiello and Michael Ruth both left the club on June 12 to join Queen's Park. At the same time it was announced that the club would be exiting administration following the formation of a Newco. The club's first matches of the new season came in the Stirlingshire Cup - with a squad entirely made up of trialists losing 2-0 in 60 minute matches against Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion. On June 24 the club's takeover by Lapointe was officially confirmed.
This was followed by a busy period of activity as the club's squad began to take shape. Skipper Mark Durnan was the first to agree a new deal, and was joined in staying by Cameron Clark, Ryan Blair,Tony Wallace and Aron Lynas. New signings arrived in the shape of defender Morgyn Neill, returning for a second spell at the club, former East Fife defender Gordon Walker and goalkeeper Shay Kelly - who returned after a successful loan spell.
The following day was busy too, with Chris Johnston, Ally Roy and Dominic Docherty all joining the club on permanent deals. On June 27, a quadruple loan signing saw Carrick McAvoy, Thomas Falconer and Theo McCormick join from St Mirren, and Ollie Ecrepont sign from Ayr United. The same day, former East Kilbride defender Adam Livingstone also joined the club. However Michael Miller and Patrick O'Neil were joined by youngster Zak Queen in leaving the club on the same day. The first home friendly of the Mario Lapointe era ended in a 4-0 defeat to Scottish Premiership St Mirren.
July The first friendly of July ended in a 4-3 defeat to Irvine Meadow XI - Ally Roy and two trialists, Scott Honeyman and Kemo Darboe, got Dumbarton's goals. On July 4 Kalvin Orsi turned down a new deal and left the club for Alloa Athletic. The same day winger Scott Tomlinson joined on loan for the season from Ayr United. The club's final pre-season friendly on July 6 ended in a 3-3 draw with Queen of the South - with Tony Wallace, Ryan Blair and Ally Roy on target. On July 9, Scott Honeyman became the club's 13th new addition of the summer - joining from Falkirk after impressing during a spell on trial. He was followed by striker Leighton McIntosh who joined from Jordanian side Al Ahli SC. The Scottish League Cup group stage got underway with a 1-0 victory against Stirling Albion with Kyle Banner's own goal separating the sides. Midfielder Kai Kirkpatrick joined on loan from Kelty Hearts in the lead up to the match, and made his debut as a substitute. A 4-0 defeat to Dunfermline Athletic followed. On July 23, John Steele was appointed as the club's new chairman - replacing Dr Neil Mackay in the role. On the park, the Sons lost 4-0 to Heart of Midlothian, before finishing their group stage campaign with a 1-0 win against Scottish League One Hamilton Academical - Ally Roy got the winner.
August The league season got underway on August 2, with Sons winning 2-1 against Clyde at the Dumbarton Football Stadium. Liam Scullion netted an own goal with Ryan Blair scoring the second, directly from a corner. On August 5, defender Kristian Webster returned to the club on a permanent deal until January after impressing on loan the season previous. The first away league match of the season brought a third straight victory, with an own goal and Kai Kirkpatrick scoring his first for the Sons in a 2-1 win against The Spartans. The good form continued with a 4-2 success against St Mirren B in the Scottish Challenge Cup. Scott Tomlinson, Chris Johnston and Dom Docherty got their first Dumbarton goals, with Tony Wallace also on target. A 1-1 draw with Elgin City maintained the unbeaten start - with Scott Honeyman netting his first goal for the club. A week later Sons won 4-3 against Annan Athletic - in a game where they went 4-0 up after 60 minutes. Leighton McIntosh netted a double, his first goals for the club, with Ally Roy also scoring twice. Three days later another win followed, 1-0 against Hearts B in the Challenge Cup - with Scott Honeyman scoring the winner. The month ended with a first league defeat of the season, 2-1 at home to Edinburgh City. Mark Durnan got Sons' goal.
September The first match of September saw Sons return to Challenge Cup duties, with Scott Honeyman netting an injury time leveller against League 1 East Fife. A 3-2 comeback victory against Forfar Athletic followed on September 13, with Sons fighting back from two goals down to win a game for the first time since 2019. Honeyman was again on target with Leighton McIntosh scoring a brace. On September 20, Sons drew 1-1 in their first ever league meeting with reigning Lowland Football League champions East Kilbride. Scott Tomlinson got the goal. Back on Scottish Challenge Cup duties, Dumbarton fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Kelty Hearts - Scott Honeyman and Tony Wallace found the net, with Kelty's Aaron Arnott scoring an own goal. A 2-1 home defeat to Stranraer closed off the month, with James Dolan netting a stoppage time winner for the away side.
October October opened with Panos Grivas, Owen Doyle and Brett Long all leaving the club on loan deals. The first game of the month ended in a 2-2 draw with Stirling Albion at Forthbank Stadium. Scott Honeyman and Gordon Walker were on target for the Sons, with Walker's goal his first in Scottish football. A 1-0 win against Rangers B was next, with Kristian Webster getting the winner - ensuring the club would make the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup. A third consecutive home league loss however followed, with The Spartans winning 2-1 at The Rock. Leighton McIntosh got Sons' goal, his first at home for the club. Sons returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Tayport in the second round of the Scottish Cup. Morgyn Neill opened the scoring with Gordon Walker netting a second for his second goal of the month. Dumbarton were drawn to face West of Scotland Football League Auchinleck Talbot in the third round.
November The winless league run extended to five matches however with defeat against Clyde at New Douglas Park on November 1. Leighton McIntosh got Sons' goal, his sixth in 11 league matches - and the 100th of his career. A first home league victory since the opening day of the season followed against Annan Athletic with Tony Wallace netting the winner. That was followed by back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Elgin City at Borough Briggs on November 15 and Stenhousemuir on November 19. A third straight defeat followed, 4-1 at home to Forfar Athletic. November ended with a 4-0 defeat against West of Scotland Football League side Auchinleck Talbot. The following day manager Stephen Farrell was sacked after 210 games in charge. In the same game, U20s coach Daryl Smith was named as the club's substitute goalkeeper with Ollie Ecrepont suspended and Luke Smallwood injured.
December On December 5 Frank McKeown was appointed as the club's next manager, assisted by Stephen Simmons and Mark Docherty. His first match in charge ended in a 4-3 defeat to Edinburgh City - Leighton McIntosh netted a double to take him to 10 goals for the season, with Aedan Gilfedder handed his first start for the first team and Camryn Donald making his debut as a late substitute. On December 12, midfielder Thomas Falconer returned to parent club St Mirren. A run of five straight defeats was ended by a 2-0 win against league leaders East Kilbride on December 13, in McKeown's first home match in charge. Dom Docherty and Mark Durnan got the goals. The Sons were brought back down to earth four days later with a 9-0 home defeat against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Challenge Cup - a record defeat at home. Back on league business, Kai Kirkpatrick netted a stoppage time leveller in a 1-1 draw away against Stranraer on December 20. December ended with a 2-1 home defeat to Stirling Albion that left Sons ninth in the League Two table at the turn of the year.
January Another defeat opened January, with Sons losing 2-0 to league leader The Spartans with goalkeeper Brett Long making his first appearance after a year out with injury. On January 8 midfielder Carrick McEvoy had his loan deal terminated and returned to parent club St Mirren. The club's first home match of the New Year, against Clyde, fell victim to the weather. On January 10, defender Cameron Clark left the club by mutual consent after 18 months and 46 appearances. The following day Josh Todd became Frank McKeown's first signing as Sons boss - joining on an 18 month deal from Annan Athletic. Defender Kristian Webster also committed his future to the Sons for the remainder of the season. On January 22 goalkeeper Ollie Ecrepont returned to parent club Ayr United at the end of his loan deal. A busy January 24 saw defender Ali Omar, midfielder Tobi Joseph and forward Aaron Brown all join the club. On the park, the Sons drew 2-2 with Elgin City - with Josh Todd and Leighton McIntosh both on target. A day later forward Theo McCormick's loan deal was ended and he returned to St Mirren with winger Chris Johnston leaving the club three days later on January 28. On January 29 midfielder Kai Kirkpatrick made his loan deal permanent, signing an 18 month deal. The club ended January winless, with Edinburgh City 2-1 winners on January 31 - meaning the gap at the foot of the table dropped to just two points. Leighton McIntosh again got Sons' goal.
February On deadline day, defender Michael Doyle joined from League One side Cove Rangers. A day later long-serving defender Aron Lynas left the club. On February 7 midfielder Dom Docherty left for county neighbours Clydebank, whilst striker Jack Duncan joined the club from Edinburgh City. On the park, the poor form continued - with a 2-0 defeat to Forfar Athletic leaving the Sons with just one win in their last 13 games, and without an away win since September. A 1-0 loss to Annan Athletic on February 10 left Frank McKeown with just one win from his first 10 games in charge. Two days later defender Morgyn Neill joined Elgin City on loan for the remainder of the season - having not started a match since the 9-0 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in mid-December. The club's match with Stranraer on February 14 was then called off due to a frozen pitch. A fourth straight defeat came on February 21, 3-1 against East Kilbride, with Ali Omar scoring Sons' goal. A 0-0 draw with Clyde three days later secured just a second point of the new year - and only a second clean sheet in the league of the season. On February 28 goalkeeper Aidan Rice and attacking midfielder Alexander Smith joined the club on loan from Celtic and Rangers respectively. Smith made his debut the following day, setting up Mark Durnan's injury time equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Stirling Albion.
March