1979–80 Dumbarton F.C. season
Season 1979–80 was the 96th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 74th time, the Scottish Cup for the 85th time and the Scottish League Cup for the 33rd time. Overview. For the fifth year running, Dumbarton played league football in Division 1, and after a promising start to the campaign, there was a real feeling that promotion could be achieved, particularly with the club topping the division at Christmas. However, a run of 7 games where only one win was registered, damped spirits, and  following a 1-4 defeat to Arbroath, manager Davie Wilson was sacked. Nevertheless, with John Cushley as caretaker manager, 3 wins in the last 3 matches were sufficient to secure 4th place. In the Scottish Cup, Dumbarton lost out to fellow Division 1 opponents Ayr United. Similarly in the League Cup, Dumbarton were to fall at the first hurdle to St Johnstone. Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, Dumbarton had to give second-best to local rivals Clydebank in the semi-final in a penalty shoot out after a drawn match. Note that at the start of the season, Dumbarton embarked  on a tour of Ireland which took in 3 matches, all of which were won. Player statistics. International Cap. Graeme Sinclair was selected to play for the Scottish League team in a friendly match against the League of Ireland on 17 March 1980 played in Dublin (won by the Irish 2-1). Reserve team. Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League First Division (West). In the Scottish Second XI Cup, Dumbarton lost to Dundee United in the third round, and in the Reserve League Cup, Dumbarton lost to Ayr United, on aggregate, in the first round. 1979–80 Dumbarton F.C. season