1996–97 Dumbarton F.C. season

Season 1996–97 was the 113th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 91st time, the Scottish Cup for the 102nd time, the Scottish League Cup for the 50th time and the Scottish Challenge Cup for the seventh time.

Dumbarton

1996–1997 season
Manager	Jim Fallon/Ian Wallace
Stadium	Boghead Park, Dumbarton
Scottish League Division 2	9th
Scottish Cup	Second Round
Scottish League Cup	Second Round
Scottish Challenge Cup	First Round
Top goalscorer	League: Hugh Ward (7) All: Hugh Ward (7)
Highest home attendance	762
Lowest home attendance	411
Average home league attendance	627
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

Overview

Despite the failures of the previous season, manager Jim Fallon retained his position and unfortunately that decision was to prove disastrous as the league campaign started off in the same poor manner as the previous one. By the end of October, Dumbarton had one win to show for 13 league matches, and had sunk to second bottom place, resulting in Fallon's resignation. Within a week Ian Wallace, one of the club's brightest stars of the 1970s, had been installed and things began to take a turn for the better. Three wins on the trot in November saw Wallace named as Second Division manager of the month, but it wasn't to last. Results began again to go downhill, but even with three games left it was within Dumbarton's own hands whether a second successive relegation would occur. A last minute defeat to Stranraer and an uninspiring loss to Queen of the South meant that they had to better any result that Stranraer could achieve on the last day. As it was, a win over Brechin City was not enough, and it would be Third Division football next season and the fourth tier of Scottish football for the first time in the club's history.

In the national cup competitions, the drought on wins extended for a fifth season. In the Scottish Cup Cowdenbeath defeated Dumbarton in the second round.

In the League Cup, Premier Division Dundee beat Dumbarton, also in the second round.

Finally, in the Challenge Cup, it was a seventh first round defeat in seven attempts – this time to Montrose.

Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup the misery was compounded with a defeat to Falkirk.

Results & fixtures

^[1]  Win   Draw   Loss

Scottish Second Division

Main article: 1996–97 Scottish Second Division

Dumbarton v Stranraer

17 August 1996 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Stranraer	Boghead Park
	Dallas 43'		McIntyre 50'	Attendance: 560

Queen of the South v Dumbarton

24 August 1996 Second Division	Queen of the South	2–1	Dumbarton	Palmerston Park
	Mallan 60' Flannigan 83'		Meechan 66'	Attendance: 1,127

Dumbarton v Brechin City

31 August 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Brechin City	Boghead Park
	McGivern 57'		Kerrigan 13'	Attendance: 560

Clyde v Dumbarton

7 September 1996 Second Division	Clyde	0–1	Dumbarton	Broadwood Stadium
			Ward 87'	Attendance: 721

Dumbarton v Livingston

14 September 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	2–4	Livingston	Boghead Park
	McKinnon 41' Ward 65'		Harvie 9' (pen.), 44' Young 30' McLeod 70'	Attendance: 762

Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton

21 September 1996 Second Division	Berwick Rangers	3–1	Dumbarton	Shielfield Park
	Grant 33' Craig 56' Robinson 81'		Ward 76'	Attendance: 326

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir

28 September 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Stenhousemuir	Boghead Park
	Meechan 67'		Henderson 85'	Attendance: 524

Dumbarton v Ayr United

5 October 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–3	Ayr United	Boghead Park
	Dallas 13'		Kinnaird 28' Henderson 37' English 55'	Attendance: 939

Hamilton v Dumbarton

12 October 1996 Second Division	Hamilton	2–0	Dumbarton	Cliftonhill Stadium
	Thomson 65' Ritchie 75'			Attendance: 533

Stranraer v Dumbarton

19 October 1996 Second Division	Stranraer	2–0	Dumbarton	Stair Park
	Docherty 5' Young 76'			Attendance: 460

Dumbarton v Queen of the South

26 October 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–2	Queen of the South	Boghead Park
	Rowe 31' (OG)		McFarlane 68' Mallan 77'	Attendance: 562

Livingston v Dumbarton

2 November 1996 Second Division	Livingston	5–0	Dumbarton	Almondvale Stadium
	Young 16' Harvey 20', 34' Duthie 53' Alleyne 80'			Attendance: 1,941

Dumbarton v Clyde

9 November 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	2–2	Clyde	Boghead Park
	Wilson 5' McKinnon 90'		Mathieson 24' Brownlie 68'	Attendance: 724

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

16 November 1996 Second Division	Stenhousemuir	0–1	Dumbarton	Ochilview
			Meechan 23'	Attendance: 564

Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers

23 November 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–0	Berwick Rangers	Boghead Park
	Ward 51'			Attendance: 601

Ayr United v Dumbarton

30 November 1996 Second Division	Ayr United	1–4	Dumbarton	Somerset Park
	English 24'		McKinnon 49' Glancy 56', 65' Ward 63'	Attendance: 1,773

Dumbarton v Hamilton

14 December 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–3	Hamilton	Boghead Park
	Wilson 55'		Fotheringham 40' Ritchie 55', 65'	Attendance: 733

Dumbarton v Stranraer

26 December 1996 Second Division	Dumbarton	2–2	Stranraer	Boghead Park
	Sharp 63' Meechan 90'		Young 15' McIntyre 86'	Attendance: 686

Brechin City v Dumbarton

28 December 1996 Second Division	Brechin City	2–1	Dumbarton	Glebe Park, Brechin
	Conway 50' Brand 54'		Granger 89' (pen.)	Attendance: 356

Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton

11 January 1997 Second Division	Berwick Rangers	0–3	Dumbarton	Shielfield Park
			Glancy 33' King 54' Ward 82'	Attendance: 346

Dumbarton v Ayr United

18 January 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Ayr United	Boghead Park
	Sharp 80'		Sharp 39' (OG)	Attendance: 801

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir

21 January 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	0–2	Stenhousemuir	Boghead Park
			Little 20' Fisher 70'	Attendance: 470

Hamilton v Dumbarton

1 February 1997 Second Division	Hamilton	4–0	Dumbarton	Cliftonhill Stadium
	Ritchie 4', 33', 43', 53'			Attendance: 505

Dumbarton v Livingston

8 February 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	2–3	Livingston	Boghead Park
	Mooney 35' McKinnon 62'		Duthie 15' Harvey 74' McLeod 77'	Attendance: 503

Queen of the South v Dumbarton

22 February 1997 Second Division	Queen of the South	4–0	Dumbarton	Palmerston Park
	Bryce 54', 74', 76', 77'			Attendance: 908

Dumbarton v Brechin City

1 March 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	1–2	Brechin City	Boghead Park
	Hringsson 16'		McKellar 11' Sorbie 65'	Attendance: 411

Clyde v Dumbarton

4 March 1997 Second Division	Clyde	2–1	Dumbarton	Broadwood Stadium
	Mathieson 33' Annand 68'		Hringsson 51'	Attendance: 480

Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers

8 March 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	2–2	Berwick Rangers	Boghead Park
	Hringsson 18' Sharp 21'		Manson 24' Reid 81'	Attendance: 446

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

15 March 1997 Second Division	Stenhousemuir	1–4	Dumbarton	Ochilview
	Harrow 70'		Wilson 21' King 48' Glancy 60' Sharp 80'	Attendance: 376

Ayr United v Dumbarton

22 March 1997 Second Division	Ayr United	1–1	Dumbarton	Somerset Park
	Horace 44'		Meechan 27'	Attendance: 1,575

Dumbarton v Hamilton

5 April 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	0–3	Hamilton	Boghead Park
			McCormick 30', 51' Ritchie 90'	Attendance: 718

Dumbarton v Clyde

12 April 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	2–0	Clyde	Boghead Park
	Wilson 54' Ward 61'			Attendance: 554

Livingston v Dumbarton

19 April 1997 Second Division	Livingston	1–2	Dumbarton	Almondvale Stadium
	McLeod 18'		Meechan 81' Sharp 83'	Attendance: 1,579

Stranraer v Dumbarton

26 April 1997 Second Division	Stranraer	1–0	Dumbarton	Stair Park
	Higgins 86'			Attendance: 739

Dumbarton v Queen of the South

3 May 1997 Second Division	Dumbarton	0–3	Queen of the South	Boghead Park
			Mallan 23', 73', 90'	Attendance: 643

Brechin City v Dumbarton

10 May 1997 Second Division	Brechin City	0–3	Dumbarton	Glebe Park, Brechin
			Glancy 11', 73' Reilly 39'	Attendance: 620

Scottish League Challenge Cup

Main article: 1996–97 Scottish Challenge Cup

Montrose v Dumbarton

10 August 1996 Challenge Cup R1	Montrose	2–0	Dumbarton	Links Park
	Smith 17' Glass 48'			Attendance: 309

Coca-Cola League Cup

Main article: 1996–97 Scottish League Cup

Dundee v Dumbarton

13 August 1996 League Cup R2	Dundee	2–1	Dumbarton	Dens Park
	Reaeside 75' Hamilton 85'		Dallas 28'	Attendance: 1,872

Tennant's Scottish Cup

Main article: 1996–97 Scottish Cup

Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton

13 January 1997 Cup R2	Cowdenbeath	1–0	Dumbarton	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
	Scott 49'			Attendance: 294

Stirlingshire Cup

Falkirk v Dumbarton

28 July 1996 First Round	Falkirk	2–1	Dumbarton	Brockville Park

Pre-season/Other Matches

Vale of Leven v Dumbarton

29 July 1996 Friendly	Vale of Leven	4-1	Dumbarton	Millburn Park
	Mellis Grace		Grainger

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
6	Stenhousemuir	36	11	11	14	49	43	+6	44
7	Brechin City	36	10	11	15	36	49	−13	41
8	Stranraer	36	9	9	18	29	51	−22	36
9	Dumbarton (R)	36	9	8	19	44	66	−22	35	Relegation to the Third Division
10	Berwick Rangers (R)	36	4	11	21	32	75	−43	23

Source: "1996-1997 Second Division - SPFL Archive". SPFL. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

Player statistics

Squad

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Second Division		League Cup		Challenge Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	SCO	Derek Barnes	12	0	11+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	GK	SCO	Peter Dennison	2	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	SCO	Ian MacFarlane	11	0	9+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	SCO	Kenny Meechan	14	0	14+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Jamie Bruce	9	0	9+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Billy Davidson	17	0	12+4	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	SCO	Stevie Gow	26	0	21+3	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Graeme McKenzie	5	0	4+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Martin Melvin	25	0	23+0	0	1+0	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	David Reid	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Joe Goldie	4	0	1+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Toby King	30	2	27+0	2	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Jim Marsland	34	0	30+1	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Gerry McCabe	4	0	4+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Martin McGarvey	15	0	7+5	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Sam McGivern	2	1	1+1	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Jim Meechan	39	6	36+0	6	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Adrian Mellis	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	John Scott	2	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
	MF	SCO	Willie Wilson	21	4	21+0	4	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Stephen Dallas	17	3	15+1	2	1+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Martin Glancy	34	6	24+8	6	0+0	0	0+1	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Alan Granger	8	1	2+4	1	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+1	0
	FW	ISL	Hrienn Hringsson	3	3	3+0	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Ross McCuaig	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Jim McGall	6	0	0+6	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Colin McKinnon	37	4	34+0	4	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Martin Mooney	25	1	18+4	1	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Gordon Parks	4	0	4+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Robert Reilly	8	1	2+6	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Lee Sharp	38	5	35+0	5	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Hugh Ward	37	7	26+9	7	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0

^[2][3]

Transfers

^[4]

Players in Player From Date Jim McGall Arsenal BC 30 Aug 1996 Billy Davidson Clydebank 29 Sep 1996 Gerry McCabe Arbroath 11 Oct 1996 Willie Wilson Ayr United 9 Nov 1996 Derek Barnes Clydebank 14 Dec 1996 Gordon Parks Clyde 9 Jan 1997 David Reid Baillieston 20 Feb 1997 Jamie Bruce East Kilbride Thistle 26 Mar 1997 Robert Reilly Queen's Park 26 Mar 1997 Graeme McKenzie Kilbirnie Ladeside 28 Mar 1997 Stephen Hamill Possil YM 31 Mar 1997 Hrienn Hringsson East Stirling (trialist) Ross McCuaig Leven Valley (trialist) Adrian Mellis Vale of Leven (trialist) John Scott Largs Thistle (trialist)

Players out Player To Date Paul Martin Albion Rovers 2 Aug 1996 Ian MacFarlane Clydebank 19 Dec 1996 Hugh Burns Larkhall Thistle Roland Fabiani Greenock Alan Foster Arthurlie Charlie Gibson Petershill

Trivia

• The League match against Brechin City on 31 August marked Jim Marsland's 200th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 25th Dumbarton player to break the 'double century'.
• The League match against Ayr United on 5 October marked Ian MacFarlane's 200th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 26th Dumbarton player to break the 'double century'.
• The League match against Livingston on 19 April marked Colin McKinnon's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 110th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
• Dumbarton became only the second team in Scottish League history to be relegated in successive seasons.
• For the second successive season Dumbarton matched the record fewest league home wins during a season - just two!

See also

• 1996–97 in Scottish football