The 1909–10 season was the 33rd Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish Qualifying Cup. In addition Dumbarton played in the Dumbartonshire Cup.
Story of the season August On 16 August Dumbarton opened the season at Boghead with a friendly against county champions Renton. The team lined up as follows: Forrester (goal); Muirhead and Gordon (full backs); Hynds, Lipton and Kane (half backs) and Ritchie, Brander, Gibson, NcNee and Hill (forwards). Two Brander goals were enough to see the home side began the season with a win.
The opening league tie of the season was played at Boghead on 21 August against Vale of Leven. Hill came in to replace Gibson at centre forward and new signing Spence took over at inside left. The new man scored the opener, but Vale equalised. Dumbarton had the chance to win late on from a penalty and while Ritchie scored, the kick was ordered to be retaken, and he was unable to repeat the task. The game finished 1–1.
The second league fixture was against Raith Rovers a week later at Kirkcaldy. Gordon replaced Kane at left half and O’Neill stepped in at left back, while Hill went to the left wing and Gibson returned at centre forward. Both teams played attacking football, but Raith scored first after a Forrester blunder in goals. Brander equalised before half time but it was the home side who snatched both points with the winning goal in the second half.
September On 4 September Dumbarton commenced their Qualifying Cup campaign at Millburn Park against the current holders Vale of Leven. An unchanged side took to the field and began strongly with Hill scoring after 20 minutes. Ritchie scored a second in the second half, and despite the Vale replying with a goal five minutes from time the Sons held on to win 2–1.
It was back to league business a week later as Arthurlie were the visitors to Boghead. For the third week running the same team was fielded and despite having the better of the opening play it was Arthurlie who scored first. Hill however replied within five minutes, and at the interval the scores were level. Spence gave Dumbarton back the lead and then Arthurlie equalised once more. However, the Sons had the last word as Ritchie scored the winner in a 3–2 victory.
On 18 September Johnstone were the opponents at Boghead in the second round of the Qualifying Cup. Again no changes were made to the team. The teams met at the same stage of the competition last season when Dumbarton ran out 4–1 winners and this time they went one better. Hill was first to find the mark and although Johnstone equalised it was one way traffic thereafter with Hill again, Ritchie, Brander and Gibson all scoring in a 5–1 win. Johnstone's task was not helped by one of their backs being hampered by an injury throughout the second half.
During the week Dumbarton signed former internationalist Finlay Speedie (ex Bradford Park Avenue) and goalkeeper Jim McCormick (ex Arthurlie) and both featured in the league match against St Bernards on 25 September at the Gymnasium. Hynds made way for Speedie, while Gordon replaced Muirhead in the back line with Kane taking over at left half. The home side went into the lead within two minutes, but Gibson equalised and that was all the scoring at half time. The Sons continued to press for a winner in the second half but were unable to break the Saints defence and were caught by a breakaway goal and lost by 2–1.
After four games Dumbarton found themselves down in 9th place in the league with just 3 points – Cowdenbeath led with 9 points from 5 played.
October On 2 October Dykehead were Dumbarton's opponents in the third round of the Qualifying Cup at Boghead. Muirhead and Hynds returned to the team. New boy Speedie netted his first of the season followed by a second from Gibson. Although the visitors got a goal back before the interval, Brander scored Dumbarton's third just a minute into the second half, and with no further goals the Sons won 3–1.
The following week Dumbarton commenced their county cup programme with a home game against Lennox Amateurs. A couple of squad changes were made with Gordon replacing O’Neil in the back line and McNee coming back in place of Gibson at centre forward. The match was a one-sided affair with Dumbarton handing out a 8–0 thrashing. McNee scored four of the goals, Brander had a hat trick, and Spence got the other.
Dumbarton were drawn away to play Bo’ness in the fourth round of the Qualifying Cup on 16 October. An unchanged side was selected. The game was a closely contested affair with only a single goal separating the teams – Ritchie (under the pseudonym Murray) scoring just before half time. McNee was injured and retired with ten minutes of the match to go and Bo’ness missed a penalty.
On 23 October it was back to league business with a home match against Abercorn. During the week Dumbarton had signed half back Willie Lithgow (ex Glasgow Perthshire) and forward David Anderson (ex Ayr). Lithgow replaced Gordon at left back with Gordon being played at right half and Anderson took the place of the injured McNee. In another tough tussle, the goals came in a five-minute spell just after the interval with Hill opening for the Sons and Abercorn equalising – the match ending in a 1–1 draw.
Ayr were next up on 30 October in the last eight of the Qualifying Cup. A number of changes were made to the team – Hynds and Gibson returned in place of Lithgow and Spence respectively. Returnee Gibson struck the only goal which took Dumbarton through to the semi-final.
As October came to a close Dumbarton found themselves at the foot of the league table with 4 points from five matches played – but with games in hand over their nearest challengers. Raith Rovers led the way with 11 points.
November Albion Rovers were the hosts in a league fixture on 6 November. Three changes were made to the team, Lithgow in the defence, Lipton in the half back line and Spence in the attack all returned. The match turned out to be a disappointing one for Dumbarton as the Rovers left wing was in sparking form scoring a hat trick. Brander got a goal back but the game finished in a 3–1 defeat.
On 13 October Dumbarton travelled to line up against Bathgate in the semi-final of the Qualifying Cup. More changes were made by the selection committee with the return of O’Neil, Gordon and Anderson. As expected the match was a close contest but the Sons found the Bathgate defence in their best form. Bathgate scored late in the first half but despite chances at both ends this was to be the only score.
Dumbarton resumed league duty on 20 October with the return fixture against Vale of Leven at Millburn Park. Arthur Urquhart had joined the Sons from Johnstone and he was added to the team on the right wing. In the first half Speedie then Brander had Dumbarton two goals to the good, but Vale rallied and had equalised before half time. Vale continued to pressurise the Sons defence in the second half and took the lead, only for Speedie to equalise from a penalty kick. Vale lost their keeper to injury ten minutes from time but held out for a 3–3 draw.
A week later Dumbarton were at home to play Ayr in the league. Kane replacing Anderson at left half was the only team change. The visitors began brightly but rarely tested McCormick in goals. Play switched to the other end and Lipton scored for Dumbarton but Ayr came back to equalise just before half time. This was the state of affairs with 20 minutes to go but a change in the attack by Dumbarton with Hill switching to centre forward had the desired effect as first Brander and then Hill scored for a 3–1 win.
At the end of the month Dumbarton had lifted themselves off the bottom of the league table with 7 points from 8 games played – Raith maintained the lead with 16 points.
December It was another league match on 4 December as Dumbarton travelled to take on Arthurlie. Lithgow replaced Kane and Gibson took over the centre forward's position from Lipton. The home side were quickly into their stride and scored within five minutes, although Anderson then Brander had the Sons in the lead before half time. No further scoring took place, and Dumbarton took the win 2–1 and both points.
On 11 December Albion Rovers came to Boghead to fulfil their return league fixture. Lipton was the only change coming back in place of Hill. Both teams played well on a difficult surface and had chances with no scoring taking place at half time. Rovers lost a player due to injury and played the whole of the second half with 10 men, but Dumbarton failed to find a way through and the game ended in a 0–0 draw.
A week later it was a trip to Falkirk to play East Stirling in the league. O’Neil returned to the defence as did captain Hill to the attack. The game started in favour of the Sons with Gibson scoring twice to give Dumbarton an early 2–0 lead. The Shire came back to score their first goal and shortly thereafter Brander was injured and could take no further part in the game. Just before the interval East Stirling equalised. The ten-man Dumbarton side could not prevent a further shire goal and the game was lost by 3–2.
On Christmas Day Dumbarton were in Fife to play their league fixture against Cowdenbeath. The only change to the team was Lipton returning at centre half. The first goal was a strange one as a Cowdenbeath player was charged and the whistle went. Everyone stopped apart from Hill who ran on and scored easily. Despite protests the score stood. Then before the interval Brander scored. Although the Fifers came back with a goal Speedie wrapped things up from a penalty for a 3–1 win.
The final game of the year was a benefit for long-serving player Bob Gordon against Vale of Leven on 31 December. The game was won by the Vale by 1–0.
As 1909 came to an end Dumbarton had improved another place in the league to 10th with 12 points from 12 games – Raith were still top with 23 points.
January On New Year's Day Dumbarton welcomed league leaders Raith Rovers to Boghead. Gordon replaced Lipton in an otherwise unchanged team. The Sons had an easy time of it and were 4–0 up by half time – captain Hill adding another 2 to his season's total. Due to injury Raith played all of the second half with 10 men, but despite continued pressure their defence held firm, and late in the game scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot.
Two days later Dumbarton Harp were the visitors to Boghead in a county cup tie. On the day goals by Hill and Speedie were sufficient for a 2–1 win.
On 5 January Dumbarton played at Renton in a benefit match for one of the Renton players and with both sides playing under strength teams the home side came out on top 4–3.
After their New Year games, Dumbarton's next competitive match was at home on 15 January in the league against Leith Athletic. New signing Alister Gordon (ex Hearts) was introduced on the right wing. Dumbarton started the better and were a goal ahead at the interval. The pressure from the Sons continued until 15 minutes from the end when both Ritchie and Urquhart had to retire injured. Leith took full advantage and scored late on for a 1–1 draw.
A week later Dumbarton faced their toughest challenge for a number of years as Celtic were the visitors in the first round of the Scottish Cup. A team reshuffle was required to accommodate the cup-tied Urquhart with Muirhead returning. The Sons showed up well in the early stages and only a goalkeeping mistake by McCormick had the Celts a goal ahead at the interval. In the second half Dumbarton pushed forward, and new boy Alister Gordon pulled them level. But just as a draw seemed likely Celtic scored a late winner.
Dumbarton's league match against Ayr on 29 January was postponed due to bad weather.