Scottish Cup Third Round | Scottish League Division 1 12th Scottish League Cup Third Round | |
Top goalscorer League: Owen Coyle (14)All: Owen Coyle (14) | ||
Season 1987–88 was the 111th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 81st time, the Scottish Cup for the 93rd time and the Scottish League Cup for the 41st time.
Contents
Overview
Following two promotion challenging seasons, Dumbarton inexplicably sank to the bottom of the First Division and were relegated to the third tier of Scottish league football. With the loss of Sir Hugh Fraser, finances at the club were tight, and with this in mind it was decided to appoint Mark Clougherty as player/manager. However results were generally poor and the board sacked Clougherty in January. In his place Bertie Auld was appointed and despite a spirited draw against Hibernian in the Cup, a winless run of 12 games would ensure the club's drop into bottom place in the league - a place they would occupy even though Dumbarton were unbeaten in their last four games.
In the Scottish Cup, another third round exit was Dumbarton's fate, although this would be after a draw against Premier Division opponents Hibernian.
In the League Cup, for the second year in a row Celtic were Dumbarton's third round opponents and it would be the Premier Division side that would ease through to the next round.
Locally, however Dumbarton regained the Stirlingshire Cup, with a final victory over Stirling Albion.
Results
All results are written with Dumbarton's score first.
Stirlingshire Cup
* - won on penalties
Reserve Team
Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League (West), winning 11 and drawing 11 of 33 games.