Scottish League Division One 10th | Scottish Cup Second Round | |
Stadium Boghead Park, Dumbarton Top goalscorer League: Bell (7)
All: Bell (7) | ||
Season 1895–96 was the 23rd Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the sixth time, and the Scottish Cup for the 23rd time.
Contents
Overview
Dumbarton continued to struggle against the bigger and richer professional clubs and finished 10th (and bottom) of the First Division with 8 points. In the subsequent 'election' process, Dumbarton failed to gain enough votes from the other clubs to maintain their place in the top league and were relegated to the Second Division, their place being taken by the Second Division champions Abercorn.
In the Scottish Cup, Dumbarton were defeated in the first round by Rangers, after a 1-1 draw.
Locally, after eight years as holders, Dumbarton lost in the final of the Dumbartonshire Cup to Renton.
During the season, 11 'other' matches were played, and results here were no better than those in the league and cups, with 3 won and 8 lost, scoring 16 goals and conceding 44.
Unfortunately the drop to the Second Division had a couple of important 'knock-on' effects. Firstly, Alex Lawrence of Dumbarton had to give up his presidency of the Scottish League as the post had to be held by a First Division club representative. In addition, with the loss of income from the 'big club' fixtutes, at the club's AGM on 29 July 1896, it was decided that Dumbarton would return to amateur status.
Results
All results are written with Dumbarton's score first.
Transfers
The demise of the club's fortunes had its effect on the ability to hold on to its best players, and amongst those leaving were Tom Keir (to Hearts), John McLeod (to Rangers) and James Stevenson (to Preston North End).
Reserve Team
Dumbarton lost in the second round of the Scottish Second XI Cup to Third Lanark.
Factfile
* The league tie against Third Lanark on 5th October marked Alex Miller's 100th competitive appearance for the club.
* During the season, 126 goals were conceded in all matches, beating the previous record set in 1888.