# 2024–25 Dumbarton F.C. season

The 2024–25 season is Dumbarton Football Club's first back in Scottish League One, the third tier of Scottish football, having won the Scottish League Two promotion play-offs the previous season. Dumbarton are also competing in the Scottish Cup, the Scottish League Cup, and the Challenge Cup.

## Story of the season
### May

Following promotion to Scottish League One the club's first friendly was announced on 21 May, with Sons facing Hebburn Town on 6 July. On 23 June forward Marc Kelly, midfielder Luca Vata and goalkeeper Harry Broun were released. With new deals offered to Finlay Gray, Michael Ruth, Aron Lynas and Kalvin Orsi. On 29 May, forward Michael Ruth who had scored 15 times the previous season, signed a new season long deal with the club. However midfielders Blair Malcolm and Callum Wilson both departed the club. The same day the Sons were drawn to face East Kilbride, Airdrieonians, Aberdeen and Queen of the South in the Scottish League Cup. On 31 May defender Matthew Shiels became the club's first signing of the summer, returning to the club for a third spell from Cove Rangers.

### June

Sons made a double signing on 1 June with Cameron Clark joining from Stirling Albion and Michael Miller from Broomhill. Midfielder Finlay Gray and winger Kalvin Orsi also agreed new season-long deals. On 7 June, winger Craig McGuffie became the club's fourth new addition - joining from Queen of the South. The same day, winger Ross MacLean left the club - joining Forfar Athletic for an undisclosed fee - but goalkeeper Patrick O'Neil signed a new season long deal. On 8 June defender Aron Lynas extended his stay - signing a season long deal to take him into a third campaign with the club. A third friendly of pre-season was arranged for 2 July, with Sons travelling to Ayrshire to face Glenafton Athletic. Mouhamed Niang was the club's next new addition, joining on a year long deal from Cove Rangers on 19 June. On 26 June defender Sean Crighton left the club to become the new head coach of Queen's Park's B team. Sons' first pre-season friendly ended in a 3–2 defeat to 2023–24 League One champions Falkirk - with Jinky Hilton scoring both goals.

### July

Sons' second friendly match finished in a 4–0 victory against Glenafton Athletic. Carlo Pignatiello scored a brace with Jinky Hilton and a trialist striker also on target, with all the goals coming before half-time. The pre-season campaign was rounded off with another big away win, this time 6–1 against Hebburn Town in Newcastle. Again Pignatiello and the trialist striker got on the scoresheet, with David Wilson, Finlay Gray and Michael Ruth's brace completing the scoring. On 9 July the Dumbarton Football Stadium was renamed The Marbill Coaches Stadium in a new sponsorship deal. The first competitive game of the season finished in a 1–1 draw with East Kilbride. Kalvin Orsi getting Sons' goal, with Kilby claiming the bonus point after a 4-2 penalty shootout win. The second game in the group finished in a 2–0 defeat to Queen of the South at Palmerston Park. A second defeat followed, 4–3 against Airdrieonians, in a game where Sons were 3–1 up after an hour. Finlay Gray opened the scoring, with Jinky Hilton netting a double. On 25 July Swedish striker Joel Mumbongo became the Sons' sixth new signing of the summer, joining on a season long deal having left Hamilton Academical. He made his debut on 27 July as the Sons' League Cup campaign ended with a 6–0 defeat to Aberdeen - with the Dons scoring all six goals in the second-half.

### August

The first league game of the new season ended in a 1–1 draw with newly relegated Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Highlands, with Carlo Pignatiello on target and Mouhamed Niang sent-off for two bookings. For the second season in a row Sons started with two draws, with the first home game of the campaign ending 3–3 with Alloa Athletic. Michael Ruth netted a double, with Jinky Hilton also on target. Whilst ex-Sons Kevin Cawley and Scott Taggart both scored for the Wasps. A first win of the competitive season arrived in the Scottish Challenge Cup, 4–0 against Berwick Rangers with Craig McGuffie scoring a brace. Youth graduates Panos Grivas and Jacob Shields both made their senior debuts in the match. A third straight draw in the league followed on 17 August, with Mark Durnan scoring his first goal for the club in injury time to draw with Cove Rangers. A fourth draw came the next week, as Sons struck twice in the final 17 minutes - and missed a penalty - in a 2–2 tie with Arbroath. Michael Ruth and Matthew Shiels got the goals. The month ended with another comeback 2–2 draw, with Mark Durnan netting twice in a tie with Kelty Hearts.

### September

September began with a 1–0 defeat to Peterhead in the Scottish Challenge Cup. On 11 September defender Ethan Brown joined on loan from Kilmarnock initially on a deal until January. A sixth straight draw in the league followed on 14 September, with Paul McGowan levelling in stoppage time for Annan Athletic. During the game 16-year-old goalkeeper Luke Smallwood made his debut for the club with Brett Long sent-off after 18 minutes. An appeal against the red card with successful with Long able to play the next game as Sons suffered their first defeat of the campaign, 1–0 to Montrose, in a match they dominated - with the away side's goal their only shot, on or off target, of the match. The month ended with a 2–0 defeat to Queen of the South at Palmerston Park - with skipper Mark Durnan sent off.

### October

A third straight defeat followed against Stenhousemuir on 5 October, leaving the Sons winless after the third quarter. Carlo Pignatiello got the Sons' goal, with Cameron Clark becoming the fourth Dumbarton player sent-off during the season. The Sons finally secured their first win of the campaign on 19 October, defeating Arbroath 3-1 at Gayfield Park. Thomas O'Brien put the hosts in front, but that was cancelled out by strikes from Carlo Pignatiello, Ethan Brown and Finlay Gray. Three days later the Sons moved off the foot of the table after Inverness Caledonian Thistle were deducted 15 points after entering administration, leaving them 12 points adrift of Dumbarton in League One. Sons extended that gap to 15 points with victory at home to The Caley Jags on 26 October, thanks to a double from Jinky Hilton and first of the season for Ryan Blair.

### November

The first game of November ended in a 3-0 defeat to Cove Rangers at the Dumbarton Football Stadium. Sons dominated the first-half, but couldn't find the net, with the away side taking the lead early in the second period through a Mark Durnan own goal - which was added to by strikes from Mitch Megginson and Adam Emslie. Another defeat without scoring followed, this time 2-0 against Kelty Hearts. The Sons returned to winning ways on 16 November, with a 2-1 success against Queen of the South. Michael Ruth ended a 10 game goal drought with the opener, and Tony Wallace won the game with a stoppage time penalty.
On 19 November, the club entered administration and received a 15 point deduction, placing them last in the table. Two days later, Police Scotland said that they were investigating suspected fraud at the club. A fundraiser launched by the Sons Supporters Trust raised more than £75,000 towards wages and running costs within just a few days. On 23 November the club's planned game with Alloa Athletic fell victim to the weather. The club's first game since entering administration came against the Wasps in the Scottish Cup on 29 November, with the Sons running out 3-2 winners. Mouhamed Niang got his first Dumbarton goal, with Jinky Hilton and Michael Ruth also on target.

### December

An away game with Alloa Athletic opened December, with Tony Wallace marking his 100th appearance by scoring a double in 2-2 draw - ensuring Sons put their first points on the board since entering administration. A 4-0 defeat followed against Stenhousemuir in a game the Sons finished with nine men and conceded two penalties, with both Finlay Gray and Brett Long sent-off. Gray later saw his red card downgraded to a yellow, however an appeal against the Long decision was rejected. After a 5-1 home defeat against Annan Athletic on 14 December, Sons returned to winning ways with a 2-1 away success against Montrose. Finlay Gray got both goals. A second straight win followed, this time 2-0 against Kelty Hearts at home - with Kalvin Orsi scoring both goals, his first league goals at home for Dumbarton - three-and-a-half years after signing for the club.

### January

January opened with a 2-0 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in which Brett Long picked up a serious achilies injury that ended his season. Defender Ethan Brown also returned to parent club Kilmarnock after the match. Only able to sign players under the age of 20, Sons brought in Falkirk goalkeeper Owen Hayward on loan until the end of the season. Both debuted in a 5-1 Scottish Cup defeat to Airdrieonians. A week later came a 3-1 loss to Queen of the South on league duty, with Mark Durnan scoring Sons' goal.

### February

A first league point of 2025 arrived in a 1-1 draw with Alloa Athletic on 1 February, with Jinky Hilton getting Sons' goal. Goalkeeper Milosz Sliwinski joined the club on loan from Queen's Park on 7 February with Owen Hayward ruled out for the remainder of the season and returning to Falkirk. He made his debut at 17-years-old in a 2-1 defeat to Annan Athletic a day later, with Joel Mumbongo scoring his first Dumbarton goal in his 25th match. The winless run continued against Montrose on 15 February - with Sons suffering a 3-2 defeat where Michael Ruth and Carlo Pignatiello found the net, and the month ended with another defeat - 2-1 to Cove Rangers - with Carlo Pignatiello on target. Prior to the game Sons signed goalkeeper Shay Kelly on loan from St Mirren with Patrick O'Neil ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken finger.

### March

The winless run continued into March with Corey O'Donnell netting a first-half hat-trick for Stenhousemuir in a 3-1 win for the Warriors. Carlo Pignatiello netted his third goal in as many games for Dumbarton. A terrific Michael Ruth free-kick then wasn't enough for anything against table topping Arbroath four days later. A sixth straight defeat then came against Inverness Caledonian Thistle with Alfie Bavidge scoring the winner with the final touch of the game. That run ended with Michael Ruth scoring a late leveller in a 1-1 draw away to league leaders Arbroath.

## First team transfers

* From end of 2024–25 season, to last match of season 2024–25

### In

| Player | From | League | Fee |
| Matthew Shiels | Cove Rangers | Scottish League One | Free |
| Cameron Clark | Stirling Albion | Scottish League One | Free |
| Michael Miller | Broomhill | Lowland Football League | Free |
| Craig McGuffie | Queen of the South | Scottish League One | Free |
| Mouhamed Niang | Cove Rangers | Scottish League One | Free |
| Joel Mumbongo | Hamilton Academical | Scottish Championship | Free |
| Ethan Brown | Kilmarnock | Scottish Premiership | Loan |
| Owen Hayward | Falkirk | Scottish Championship | Loan |
| Kristian Webster | Rangers | Scottish Premiership | Loan |
| Milosz Sliwinski | Queen's Park | Scottish Championship | Loan |
| Shay Kelly | St Mirren | Scottish Premiership | Loan |

### Out

| Player | To | League | Fee |
| Marc Kelly | St Cadoc's | West of Scotland Football League | Free |
| Harry Broun | Stranraer | Scottish League Two | Free |
| Luca Vata | Civil Service Strollers | Lowland Football League | Free |
| Blair Malcolm | Forfar Athletic | Scottish League Two | Free |
| Callum Wilson | Cumbernauld Colts | Lowland Football League | Free |
| Ross MacLean | Forfar Athletic | Scottish League Two | Undisclosed |
| Sean Crighton | Retired | N/A | N/A |

## Fixtures and results

Win  Draw  Loss  Upcoming fixture

### Scottish League Cup

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ABE | AIR | QOS | EKB | DUM |
| 1 | Aberdeen | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | +14 | 12 | Qualification for the second round | — | 2–1 | — | — | 6–0 |
| 2 | Airdrieonians | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 9 | Qualification for the second round | — | — | 2–0 | 8–0 | — |
| 3 | Queen of the South | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 6 | | 0–3 | — | — | — | 2–0 |
| 4 | East Kilbride | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 16 | −14 | 2 | | 0–4 | — | 1–3 | — | — |
| 5 | Dumbarton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 1 | | — | 3–4 | — | 1–1p | — |

#### Matches
### Scottish Challenge Cup
## Player statistics

    As of 20:04, 15 March 2025 (UTC)

### All competitions

| # | Position | Player | Starts | Subs | Unused subs | Goals | Red cards | Yellow cards |
| 6 | MF | Ryan Blair | 18 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | DF | Ethan Brown | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | DF | Cammy Clark | 25 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 14 | DF | Owen Doyle | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Mark Durnan | 29 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| 1 | GK | Owen Hayward | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | James Hilton | 23 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | MF | Aedan Gilfedder | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Finlay Gray | 29 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 15 | FW | Panagiotis Grivas | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | GK | Shay Kelly | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | Brett Long | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Aron Lynas | 12 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 21 | MF | Craig McGuffie | 24 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 31 | MF | Michael Miller | 24 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | FW | Joel Mumbongo | 5 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | MF | Mouhamed Niang | 33 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 16 | MF | Murray Nicol | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | GK | Paddy O'Neil | 7 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Kalvin Orsi | 23 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | DF | Carlo Pignatiello | 33 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | FW | Michael Ruth | 24 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 14 | FW | Jacob Shields | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | Milosz Sliwinski | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Luke Smallwood | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Matthew Shiels | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | MF | Tony Wallace | 10 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 18 | DF | Kristian Webster | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | David Wilson | 12 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | Greig Young | 3 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 |

### Captains

| No. | P | Name | No. games | Notes |
| 5 | DF | Mark Durnan | 28 | Club captain |
| 11 | MF | Tony Wallace | 3 | Vice-captain |
| 31 | DF | Michael Miller | 2 | Games versus East Kilbride and Stenhousemuir when Mark Durnan was unavailable and Tony Wallace was a substitute. |
| 2 | DF | Aron Lynas | 1 | Game versus Stenhousemuir on 5 October when Mark Durnan was suspended and Tony Wallace was injured. |
| 24 | DF | Cammy Clark | 2 | Game versus Kelty Hearts where Durnan was injured and Wallace on the bench. |
Last updated: As of match played 23:53, 15 March 2025 (UTC) Source: Competitive match reports. Competitive matches only Matches started as captain only Country: FIFA nationality; No.: Squad number; P: Position; Name: Player name; No. Games: Number of games started as captain.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Kelty Hearts | 29 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 36 | |
| 7 | Montrose | 29 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 33 | |
| 8 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 29 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 34 | 30 | +4 | 32 | |
| 9 | Annan Athletic | 29 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 30 | 53 | −23 | 30 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 10 | Dumbarton (Z) | 29 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 35 | 56 | −21 | 9 | Relegation to League Two |
* ↑ Inverness Caledonian Thistle were deducted 15 points for entering administration.
* ↑ Dumbarton were deducted 15 points for entering administration.