The 1952–53 season was the 69th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at national level, entering the Scottish Football League, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup. In addition Dumbarton competed in the Stirlingshire Cup.
Scottish League
An uncharacteristic good start to the league campaign saw 5 points taken from the first 3 games, but this form was unable to be maintained and Dumbarton finished in a mid-table 10th place, 16 behind champions Stirling Albion.
Scottish Cup
In the Scottish Cup, there was a quick exit at the first hurdle with Dumbarton losing to Cowdenbeath.
Scottish League Cup
Despite an unbeaten home record in the League Cup sectional games, with two wins and a draw - three away defeats, including a 1–11 thrashing by Ayr United (matching Dumbarton's heaviest defeat recorded in the 1925–26 season) ensured that Dumbarton finished 3rd of 4, resulting in no further progress in this competition.
Stirlingshire Cup However, silverware was achieved, with a first win in the Stirlingshire Cup, where Dumbarton defeated East Stirling in the final.
Friendlies
Player statistics
Source:
Transfers
Players in PlayerFromDate Jim Maxwell Albion Rovers 23 May 1952 Jackie Malloch St Johnstone 4 Jun 1952 Don McDonald Stirling Albion 11 Sep 1952 John Gibbons Ayr United 25 Oct 1952 Jackie Swan Arbroath 11 Dec 1952 Danny Bell Cambuslang Rangers 17 Dec 1952 Tommy Bell Duntocher Hibs 9 Mar 1953
Players out PlayerToDate Peter Murphy Airdrie 16 Jul 1952 Jackie Swan Ballymena Un 16 Jan 1953 Jim Maxwell Freed 30 Apr 1953 George Paton Freed 30 Apr 1953
Source:
Reserve team Dumbarton only played one competitive 'reserve' fixture - in the Second XI Cup - but lost in the first round to St Mirren.
References