1976–77 Dumbarton F.C. season
1976–1977 season | |
---|---|
Manager | Alex Wright |
Stadium | Boghead Park, Dumbarton |
Scottish League Division 1 | 7th |
Scottish Cup | Third Round |
Scottish League Cup | Prelims |
Top goalscorer | League: John Bourke (19) All: John Bourke (22) |
Highest home attendance | 4000 |
Lowest home attendance | 500 |
Average home league attendance | 1450 |
Season 1976–77 was the 93rd football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 71st time, the Scottish Cup for the 82nd time and the Scottish League Cup for the 30th time.
Overview
Dumbarton played for the second successive season in Division 1, but with the Spring Cup being dispensed with, the league programme was extended by each team playing the other 3 times. Facing the unlucky ballot of two away trips to newly relegated Dundee, as well what proved to be the division's top two teams, St Mirren and Clydebank, provided an immediate disadvantage.
Once again a poor start was to scupper Dumbarton's promotion ambitions. On this occasion the transfer of future £1m player Ian Wallace to Coventry City immediately following a 3–3 home draw with Celtic in the season-opening League Cup sections proved a disruptive loss as only a single win was gained from the first 6 league games. Although this was immediately followed by a seven-game unbeaten run, and there was another unbeaten run of five games from the end of November until the end of January, thereafter results were without any level of consistency - something which almost led to manager Alex Wright resigning in February - although a mid-table 7th place was achieved in the end.
In the Scottish Cup it was once again Hearts who were to end any thoughts of a cup run for Dumbarton, losing in a third round replay by the only goal, after a 1-1 drawn game at Tynecastle Park.
In the League Cup, another tough qualifying group, which included two of the top-four Premier Division clubs, Celtic (again) and Dundee United, was to prove to be too much of a hurdle to progress to the knock-out stages. However, 2 wins and 2 draws from the 6 ties (including the 3–3 home draw with Celtic after leading 3–1 at half-time, and a 1–1 draw away to Dundee United) was a creditable achievement for a second-tier side.
Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, Dumbarton were defeated by Alloa Athletic in the first round.
Elsewhere during the pre-season a short tour of Spain was undertaken.
Results & fixtures
Win Draw Loss
Scottish First Division
4 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dundee | 2-1 | Dumbarton | Dens Park |
Hutchinson 10' Pirie 53' |
Muir 61' | Attendance: 4,619 Referee: M Delaney |
8 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Arbroath | 1-0 | Dumbarton | Gayfield Park |
Fletcher 18' | Attendance: 753 |
11 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-1 | Montrose | Boghead Park |
Bourke 72', 76' | Lowe 86' | Attendance: 1,000 |
14 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 1-3 | Airdrie | Boghead Park |
Bourke 5' | McCulloch 2' Clark 59' Whiteford 80' |
Attendance: 1,200 |
18 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | St Mirren | 2-1 | Dumbarton | Love Street (stadium) |
McDowall 11' McKinlay 71' (OG) |
Bourke 8' | Attendance: 2,500 Referee: J Gordon |
25 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 1-2 | Hamilton | Boghead Park |
Brown, A 68' | McGrogan 40' Lynch 62' |
Attendance: 1,500 Referee: R Hopkins |
29 September 1976 Scottish Division 1 | East Fife | 2-3 | Dumbarton | Bayview Park, Methil |
O'Connor 27' Young 67' |
Brown,A 2' Muir 20' Steele 62' |
Attendance: 784 |
2 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Raith Rovers | 1-1 | Dumbarton | Starks Park |
Urquhart 62' (pen) | Muir 56' | Attendance: 1,553 Referee: K Hope |
5 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 5-1 | East Fife | Boghead Park |
Muir 10', 51', 75' Steele 16' Bourke 20' |
Law 1' | Attendance: 1,000 Referee: H Alexander |
9 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 1-1 | Morton | Boghead Park |
Bourke 50' | Brown 44' | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: A McFaull |
16 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | St Johnstone | 1-2 | Dumbarton | Muirton Park |
McKay | Bourke 73', 82' | Attendance: 2,000 |
20 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-2 | Falkirk | Boghead Park |
McLean 16' Bourke 18' |
Ford 30', 70' (pen) | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: A McFaull |
23 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 3-3 | Queen of the South | Boghead Park |
McLean 11' Bourke 76' Brown,A 86' |
Dickson 69', 73' McKinlay 84' (OG) |
Attendance: 1,505 Referee: K Stewart |
30 October 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Clydebank | 2-0 | Dumbarton | Kilbowie Park |
McCallan 80' Lumsden 90' (pen) |
Attendance: 7,000 Referee: G Smith |
10 November 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 1-1 | Dundee | Boghead Park |
Harvey 79' | Hutchinson 9' | Attendance: 500 Referee: D Murdoch |
13 November 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Montrose | 2-1 | Dumbarton | Links Park |
Low 16' Street 84' |
Harvey 61' | Attendance: 1,000 |
20 November 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 0-1 | St Mirren | Boghead Park |
Torrance 76' | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: E Pringle |
27 November 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Hamilton | 0-1 | Dumbarton | Douglas Park |
Whiteford 84' | Attendance: 1,200 Referee: E Thomson |
27 December 1976 Scottish Division 1 | Queen of the South | 1-2 | Dumbarton | Palmerston Park |
Dempster | McLean MacLeod |
Attendance: 2,500 |
1 January 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 1-1 | Clydebank | Boghead Park |
Brown,A 74' | Larnach 36' | Attendance: 4,000 |
8 January 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-2 | Montrose | Boghead Park |
Whiteford 44' (pen), 88' | Brown 61' Stewart 76' |
Attendance: 2,000 Referee: M Delaney |
22 January 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 1-1 | Hamilton | Boghead Park |
Whiteford 87' | Lawson 44' | Attendance: 1,500 Referee: H Alexander |
5 February 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Raith Rovers | 3-1 | Dumbarton | Starks Park |
Harrow 15' Brown,J 51' Cooper 55' |
Brown,A 29' | Attendance: 1,613 Referee: J Gordon |
7 February 1977 Scottish Division 1 | St Mirren | 3-2 | Dumbarton | Love Street (stadium) |
Reid 19' Hyslop 24' Torrance 49' (pen) |
Graham 21' Bourke 46' |
Attendance: 7,800 Referee: I Foote |
12 February 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 0-4 | Morton | Boghead Park |
Anderson 19' McGhee 46' Morrison 47' Goldthorpe 89' |
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: I Foote |
19 February 1977 Scottish Division 1 | St Johnstone | 0-2 | Dumbarton | Muirton Park |
Bourke 80', 89' | Attendance: 1,497 Referee: A Ferguson |
23 February 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-0 | Raith Rovers | Boghead Park |
Whiteford 22' Bourke 58' |
Attendance: 800 |
26 February 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Morton | 3-0 | Dumbarton | Cappielow Park |
McGhee 49', 69' Goldthorp 90' |
Attendance: 2,000 Referee: W Anderson |
5 March 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-0 | Queen of the South | Boghead Park |
Whiteford 41' Muir 46' |
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: E Pringle |
12 March 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Clydebank | 4-2 | Dumbarton | Kilbowie Park |
McCallan 6' Houston 27', 65' Larnach 77' |
Bourke 41' Whiteford 74' |
Attendance: 4,000 Referee: D Murdoch |
19 March 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-1 | Airdrie | Boghead Park |
Bourke 71' Whiteford 73' |
McVeigh 67' | Attendance: 1,000 Referee: R Valentine |
23 March 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dundee | 4-0 | Dumbarton | Dens Park |
Pirie 19', 33', 35', 62' | Attendance: 2,401 Referee: A Ferguson |
26 March 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Airdrie | 1-2 | Dumbarton | Broomfield Park |
McVeigh 30' | Whiteford 48' Bourke 80' |
Attendance: 2,000 Referee: J Gordon |
2 April 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Falkirk | 1-3 | Dumbarton | Brockville Park |
Wilson 56' (pen) | Whiteford 12' (pen), 41' MacLeod 69' |
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: T Kellock |
6 April 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-4 | St Johnstone | Boghead Park |
Whiteford 24' (pen), 35' | O'Connor 2' Anderson 55' Brogan 77', 81' |
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: A Downie |
9 April 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 4-0 | Falkirk | Boghead Park |
MacLeod 23', 39' Whiteford Muir |
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: W Anderson |
16 April 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 2-3 | Arbroath | Boghead Park |
MacLeod 4' Bourke 66' |
Yule 56' Rylance 71' Bone 84' |
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: K Hope |
23 April 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Arbroath | 1-2 | Dumbarton | Gayfield Park |
Yule | Wells OG' MacLeod |
Attendance: 957 Referee: M Delaney |
30 April 1977 Scottish Division 1 | Dumbarton | 3-3 | East Fife | Boghead Park |
McLean 27' MacLeod 39' Bourke 85' |
Clarke 15' (pen) Gillies 69' Huskie 80' |
Attendance: 2,000 |
Scottish Cup
29 January 1977 Scottish Cup round 3 | Hearts | 1–1 | Dumbarton | Tynecastle Stadium |
Callachen 7' | Bourke 87' | Attendance: 7,969 Referee: R Valentine |
2 February 1977 Scottish Cup round 3R | Dumbarton | 0–1 | Hearts | Boghead Park |
Gibson 112' | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: R Valentine |
Scottish League Cup
14 August 1975 Section 3 | Dumbarton | 2–0 | Arbroath | Boghead Park |
Wallace 52' Sinclair 69' |
Attendance: 1,500 Referee: I Foote |
18 August 1975 Section 3 | Celtic | 3–0 | Dumbarton | Celtic Park |
Doyle 25' Dalglish 80' (pen), 88' (pen) |
Attendance: 15,000 Referee: J Downie |
21 August 1975 Section 3 | Dumbarton | 1–2 | Dundee United | Boghead Park |
Wallace 9' | Reid 69' Hegarty 84' |
Attendance: 2,500 Referee: A McGunnigle |
25 August 1975 Section 3 | Dumbarton | 3–3 | Celtic | Boghead Park |
Bourke 8', 24' Wallace 34' |
Wilson 14' McDonald 61' Doyle 84' |
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: E Thomson |
28 August 1975 Section 3 | Dundee United | 1–1 | Dumbarton | Tannadice Park |
McAdam 42' | Muir 56' | Attendance: 4,000 Referee: I Foote |
1 September 1975 Section 3 | Arbroath | 0–3 | Dumbarton | Gayfield Park |
Muir 19' Mullen 52' MacLeod 58' |
Attendance: 810 Referee: R Cuthill |
15 November 1976 1st Round | Dumbarton | 2–4 | Alloa Athletic | Boghead Park |
Steele 30' Brown,A 49' |
Muir 19' Wilson 33' Forrest 54' McCabe 78' |
Attendance: 500 Referee: A McGunnigle |
Pre-season Matches
27 July 1976 Friendly | Vale of Leven | 2–5 | Dumbarton | Millburn Park |
Wallace Mulraine MacLeod OG' |
3 August 1976 Friendly | Lloret | 1–6 | Dumbarton | Lloret de Mar |
Wallace 3' Mulr Sinclair Harvey |
4 August 1976 Friendly | Malgrat | 2–3 | Dumbarton | Malgrat de Mar |
Wallace Smith Harvey |
6 August 1976 Friendly | Gerona | v | Dumbarton | Gerona, Spain |
11 August 1976 Friendly | Dumbarton | 3-2 | Rangers | Boghead Park |
Wallace 13', 69' Muir 25' |
McDougall 39' Henderson 58' |
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Montrose | 39 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 61 | 62 | −1 | 41 |
6 | Airdrieonians | 39 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 63 | 58 | +5 | 38 |
7 | Dumbarton | 39 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 63 | 68 | −5 | 37 |
8 | Arbroath | 39 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 37 |
9 | Queen of the South | 39 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 35 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Player statistics
Squad
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | First Division | Scottish Cup | League Cup | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
GK | SCO | Ian McGregor | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
GK | SCO | Laurie Williams | 46 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
DF | SCO | Terry Mullen | 4 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 1 | |
DF | SCO | Willie Russell | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | SCO | Don Watt | 36 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Brian Brown | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Johnny Graham | 42 | 1 | 33+1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Columb McKinley | 33 | 0 | 27+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Hugh McLean | 37 | 4 | 22+8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Donald McNeil | 27 | 0 | 14+8 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Martin Mowat | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | SCO | Jim Muir | 35 | 10 | 26+1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
MF | SCO | Graeme Sinclair | 46 | 1 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
MF | SCO | Walter Smith | 35 | 0 | 26+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Raymond Blair | 13 | 0 | 11+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | John Bourke | 42 | 22 | 36 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
FW | SCO | Ally Brown | 42 | 5 | 29+6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Jim Cook | 16 | 0 | 12+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Jim Donaldson | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Drew Harvey | 12 | 2 | 4+5 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Bobby McCallum | 16 | 0 | 10+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Murdo MacLeod | 33 | 8 | 25+5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
FW | SCO | Tommy Mulraine | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Billy Steele | 20 | 2 | 16+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | SCO | Ian Wallace | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
FW | SCO | Jocky Whiteford | 21 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
International Caps
Graeme Sinclair was selected to play for Scotland Under23s in a match against England Under23s on April 27, 1977. The tie - which was part of the unofficial under23 British Home International Championship - was won by England 1–0. This was the first Dumbarton internationalist, of any sort, for over 15 years.
Transfers
Players in
|
Players out
|
Reserve team
Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League and finished 9th of 18 with 14 wins and 6 draws from 34 matches.
In the Scottish Second XI Cup, Dumbarton lost to Queen of the South in the second round, on penalties, after a 2–2 draw.
In the Scottish Reserve League Cup, Dumbarton failed to qualifying from their section.
Trivia
- Johnny Graham set two records during the season. His appearance in the League match against Montrose on 13 November was his 365th competitive match for the club - overtaking Andy Jardine's record set a decade earlier - and in what was to be his final match for Dumbarton, his appearance in the League match against East Fife on 30 April was his 385th competitive match for the club - setting a new club record - which still stands.
- The fee of £80,000 for Ian Wallace's transfer to Coventry City at the end of August set a new record.
- Despite only a 7th place in the league, John Bourke finished as the First Division's top scorer.
- At the end of the season Alex Wright gave up his managerial duties to accept a directorship and was replaced by his assistant manager Davie Wilson.
See also
References
- ^ "Scottish Division One 1976-1977 Season Summary". statto.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
- ^ Litster, John. Record of Post-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.