Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

1939–40 Dumbarton F.C. season

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Manager
  
Jimmy Smith

War Emergency Cup
  
Second Round

Scottish Western Division
  
16th

Stadium
  
Boghead Park, Dumbarton

Top goalscorer
  
League: Alex Stewart (7) All: Alex Stewart (7)

Season 1939–40 was the 63rd Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level. Due to the outbreak of WW2, the Scottish Football League and the Scottish Cup were suspended for the duration, with 'emergency' competitions arranged by the clubs themselves.

Contents

Overview

Four games into the new season, Britain was at war with Nazi Germany and all official Scottish football competition would be suspended for its duration. However, in October 1939, while the Scottish football authorities had decided that official league and cup football should be suspended, the clubs themselves wanted competitive football to continue in some form and arranged for two regional leagues of 16 teams each to be played, with Dumbarton playing in the Western Division – along with the likes of Celtic, Rangers etc. – teams they had not played since being relegated in 1922. Players registrations were effectively cancelled and wages fixed at £2 per week which meant that players were free to sign for clubs local to their war work as 'guest players'. However, as most of the First Division players were already contracted to play for their opponents it was no surprise that in this first season Dumbarton finished bottom (16th out of 16) with 18 points – 30 behind champions Rangers.

In place of the Scottish Cup, a War Emergency Cup was established, to be played for by all the teams competing in the regional leagues. Dumbarton reached the second round before losing to Airdrie.

Elsewhere, while the Dumbartonshire Cup competition had been discontinued some years earlier, during the weeks between the suspension of the Scottish League and the start of the regional leagues, Dumbarton played Vale of Leven (now a junior football side) for custody of the trophy, and the senior team duly won the day.

In addition, following the demise of the Dumbartonshire Association, Dumbarton had been accepted as members of the Stirlingshire Association, and took part for the first time in the Stirlingshire Cup. Dumbarton were knocked out at the semi final stage by Falkirk, although the competition was never completed.

Note that Jimmy Smith was appointed manager in January 1939, but gave up the position in May 1940 to join the club board.

In addition, the number of goals conceded in all games during the season was 101, the seventh time the unwanted 'century' had been broken.

Results

All results are written with Dumbarton's score first.

Other Matches

  • Note – the matches against Leith Athletic, East Fife, Dundee and Edinburgh City were all Second Division fixtures prior to the suspension of the Scottish League.
  • Appearances

    Dumbarton used 27 players for the 33 League and Emergency Cup matches, as detailed below. Johnny Soutar was the only player to feature in all of these matches. Note that an unnamed trialist played in one match.

    References

    1939–40 Dumbarton F.C. season Wikipedia