1974–75 Dumbarton F.C. season
| 1974–1975 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Alex Wright | ||
| Stadium | Boghead Park, Dumbarton | ||
| Scottish League Division 1 | 14th | ||
| Scottish Cup | Fifth Round | ||
| Scottish League Cup | Prelims | ||
| Top goalscorer |
League: Willie Wallace (12) All: Tom McAdam (20) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 16000 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 2000 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 4235 | ||
| |||
Season 1974–75 was the 91st football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 69th time, the Scottish Cup for the 80th time and the Scottish League Cup for the 28th time.
Overview
Dumbarton's third successive season in Division 1 was more important than usual, due to the re-construction of the league format for the following season. In 1975-76 there would be 3 divisions of 10-14-14, and so a repeat of the previous season's 10th place would put them in the 'Premier' league. However inconsistent results throughout meant that this objective was never really going to be achieved and in the end Dumbarton settled for 14th place.
In the Scottish Cup, Dumbarton overcame Highland League and Division 2 opposition before coming up against Celtic and were unlucky to lose out by the odd goal in three.
In the League Cup, while an unbeaten away record was impressive, a single home win was never going to be enough to progress beyond the sectional games.
Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, Dumbarton regained the trophy last won two seasons ago by defeating Stenhousemuir in the final.
Once again at the beginning of the season, Dumbarton toured Spain and played two games - against Sitges UE and San Martin CF. Interestingly the first nearly didn't take place - as apparently the Sitges players had become aware of the 'roughness' of Scottish football teams. Nevertheless after negotiations conducted through John Cushley, the team captain (and fluent Spanish speaker) the game went ahead when Dumbarton agreed to wear trainers instead of the standard football boots. Stiges appeared in their boots, and proceeded for most of the game to 'boot' the Dumbarton players all over the pitch. Leading 3-1, with 10 minutes to go, Dumbarton scored a fourth goal. Displeased with the goal not being ruled out for offside, the Sitges players walked off - and so ended this 'friendly' match.
Results
| Win |
| Draw |
| Loss |
All results are written with Dumbarton's score first.
Scottish League
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August 1974 | Clyde | H | 2-0 | Wallace;McAdam,T | 4,000 |
| 7 September 1974 | Morton | A | 1-1 | McAdam,T | 4,000 |
| 14 September 1974 | Dunfermline Athletic | H | 1-1 | McAdam,T | 4,000 |
| 21 September 1974 | Rangers | A | 2-3 | McAdam,T;Cook | 16,000 |
| 28 September 1974 | Arbroath | A | 3-0 | Wallace(2);McAdam,T | 2,176 |
| 5 October 1974 | Celtic | H | 1-3 | Wallace | 13,000 |
| 12 October 1974 | Partick Thistle | A | 1-2 | McAdam,T | 5,000 |
| 19 October 1974 | Aberdeen | H | 2-3 | Wallace;Cook | 4,000 |
| 26 October 1974 | Dundee United | A | 3-3 | Ruddy;Wallace;McAdam,T | 4,000 |
| 2 November 1974 | Airdrie | H | 2-0 | Wallace(2) | 3,100 |
| 9 November 1974 | Hearts | A | 1-2 | Wallace | 10,000 |
| 16 November 1974 | Ayr United | H | 1-2 | Wallace | 4,000 |
| 23 November 1974 | Dundee | H | 0-0 | 4,500 | |
| 30 November 1974 | St Johnstone | A | 0-3 | 2,000 | |
| 14 December 1974 | Hibernian | A | 0-2 | 8,566 | |
| 21 December 1974 | Motherwell | H | 0-1 | 3,000 | |
| 28 December 1974 | Clyde | A | 3-1 | Bourke(2);Muir | 3,000 |
| 1 January 1975 | Morton | H | 0-0 | 3,500 | |
| 4 January 1975 | Dunfermline Athletic | A | 0-3 | 4,000 | |
| 11 January 1975 | Rangers | H | 1-5 | Muir | 16,000 |
| 8 February 1975 | Partick Thistle | H | 0-1 | 4,000 | |
| 11 February 1975 | Celtic | A | 2-2 | Bourke;McAdam,T | 15,000 |
| 19 February 1975 | Arbroath | H | 5-1 | McAdam,C(3);Graham;Wallace | 1,500 |
| 22 February 1975 | Aberdeen | A | 1-1 | Bourke | 9,000 |
| 26 February 1975 | Kilmarnock | H | 1-1 | McAdam,C | 2,000 |
| 1 March 1975 | Dundee United | H | 1-2 | Wallace | 2,500 |
| 15 March 1975 | Hearts | H | 0-1 | 4,000 | |
| 18 March 1975 | Airdrie | A | 1-1 | Wallace | 6,000 |
| 22 March 1975 | Ayr United | A | 3-1 | McAdam,T(2);Wallace,I | 4,000 |
| 29 March 1975 | Dundee | A | 1-2 | Wallace,I | 4,400 |
| 5 April 1975 | St Johnstone | H | 0-0 | 2,000 | |
| 12 April 1975 | Kilmarnock | A | 2-1 | McAdam,C;McAdam,T | 6,000 |
| 19 April 1975 | Hibernian | H | 2-3 | McAdam,C;Muir | 4,000 |
| 26 April 1975 | Motherwell | A | 1-3 | Bourke | 6,072 |
Scottish Cup
| Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 January 1975 | 3 | Clachnacuddin | H | 2-1 | McAdam,T(2) | 4,000 |
| 15 February 1975 | 4 | Hamilton | A | 1-0 | McAdam,T | 7,082 |
| 8 March 1975 | 5 | Celtic | H | 1-2 | McAdam,T | 16,000 |
Scottish League Cup
| Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 1974 | P | Clyde | H | 2-3 | McAdam,T;Wallace | 3,000 |
| 14 August 1974 | P | Arbroath | A | 3-3 | Bourke;Wallace;McAdam,C | 1,229 |
| 17 August 1974 | P | Partick Thistle | A | 2-1 | McAdam,T;Bourke | 5,000 |
| 21 August 1974 | P | Arbroath | H | 0-2 | 2,000 | |
| 24 August 1974 | P | Partick Thistle | H | 3-1 | Bourke;McAdam,T(2) | 5,000 |
| 28 August 1974 | P | Clyde | A | 1-1 | McAdam,T | 1,000 |
Stirlingshire Cup
| Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 April 1975 | SF | Alloa Athletic | A | 5-1 | McAdam,C(2);McAdam,T(2);Wallace,I | |
| 28 April 1975 | F | Stenhousemuir | H | 4-1 | Wallace,I;Graham;Bourke;McAdam,C |
Other Matches
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1975 |  Sitges UE | A | 4-1 | Bourke;Wallace;Ruddy;Brown | |
| August 1975 | San Martin CF | A | 6-1 | Wallace(2);Bourke(3);Coleman |
Player Statistics
Squad[1]
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | First Division | Scottish Cup | League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  |
Ian McGregor | 20 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| GK | |
Laurie Williams | 23 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | |
Colin McAdam | 26 | 7 | 18+1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 | |
| DF | |
Terry Mullen | 23 | 0 | 16+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | |
Don Watt | 43 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| MF | |
Alan Bennett | 9 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| MF | |
Drew Checkley | 11 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| MF | |
John Cushley | 34 | 0 | 24+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| MF | |
Johnny Graham | 37 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| MF | |
Jim Muir | 30 | 3 | 27+1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | |
Denis Ruddy | 39 | 1 | 28+2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| FW | |
John Bourke | 40 | 8 | 29+2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | |
| FW | |
Ally Brown | 13 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Peter Coleman | 33 | 8 | 19+8 | 8 | 1+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Jim Cook | 31 | 3 | 24+5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Ross Mathie | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Tom McAdam | 42 | 20 | 32+1 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | |
| FW | |
Roy McCormack | 6 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Willie Menmuir | 10 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Ian Wallace | 11 | 2 | 7+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FW | |
Willie Wallace | 35 | 14 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
Transfers
Amongst those players joining and leaving the club were the following:[2]
Players in
|
Players out
|
Reserve Team
Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League, and with 11 wins and 6 draws from 34 matches, finished 14th of 18.
In the Scottish Second XI Cup, Dumbarton lost to Hamilton in the first round.
In the Scottish Reserve League Cup, Dumbarton failed to qualifying from their section.
Factfile
* The League match against Arbroath on 19 February marked John Cushley's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 69th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
* The League match against Kilmarnock on 26 February marked Willie Wallace's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 70th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
* Due to delays in completing the reseeding of the pitch, Dumbarton's first two home League Cup games were played at Kilbowie Park - the first time in 85 years that home fixtures had been played away from Boghead.
* During the season various plans were considered to move to a new stadium, including a takeover of local rivals Clydebank, a move to Cumbernauld and the building of a new stadium in Dumbarton - all of which failed.