2002–03 Dumbarton F.C. season

Dumbarton

2002-03 season
Manager	David Winnie/ Brian Fairlie
Stadium	Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton
Scottish League Division 2	6th
Scottish Cup	First Round
Scottish League Cup	First Round
Bell's Challenge Cup	Third Round
Top goalscorer	League: Paddy Flannery/ Gary McCutcheon (8) All: John Dillon (9)
Highest home attendance	1,501
Lowest home attendance	480
Average home league attendance	950

Season 2002–03 was the 119th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 97th time, the Scottish Cup for the 108th time, the Scottish League Cup for the 56th time and the Scottish Challenge Cup for the 12th time.

Overview

Season 2002-03 began with yet another new manager at the helm. Following the success of promotion the season before, Tom Carson had fallen out with the board and left the club, to be replaced by David Winnie. The league campaign, as was so often the case with Dumbarton, started well and then fell away. By March there were some concerns of a return to Division 3, resulting in David Winnie's departure as manager. Fortunately his replacement Brian Fairlie had the desired effect and a final unbeaten 7 game run ensured a creditable 6th place.

In the Scottish Cup, for the second year running, it would be a first round exit, this time to Raith Rovers.

In the League Cup, Inverness Caledonian Thistle were to prove too much to handle in the first round.

Finally, in the Scottish Challenge Cup, it was a case of 'role reversal'. In the competition which had seen just one win in ten attempts, this season would see a mini cup run before Queen of the South would bring it to an end in the third round.

Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, Dumbarton played just one group tie, losing to Falkirk on penalties after a drawn game.

Results & fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

Scottish Second Division

Main article: 2002–03 Scottish Second Division

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

3 August 2002 Scottish Second Division	Stenhousemuir	2–2	Dumbarton	Ochilview
	Booth 10', 67' (pen.)	BBC Report	Bonar 79' Flannery 90'	Attendance: 419 Referee: I Brines

Dumbarton v Brechin City

10 August 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–0	Brechin City	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Collins 19'	BBC Report		Attendance: 735 Referee: J Gilmour

Raith Rovers v Dumbarton

17 August 2002 Scottish Second Division	Raith Rovers	1–0	Dumbarton	Starks Park
	Hawley 90'	BBC Report		Attendance: 1,866 Referee: S Conroy

Dumbarton v Airdrie United

24 August 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	3–1	Airdrie United	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Brown Dillon Ronald 19' (OG)	BBC Report	Armstrong 68'	Attendance: 1,417 Referee: E Mack

Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton

31 August 2002 Scottish Second Division	Berwick Rangers	1–2	Dumbarton	Shielfield Park
	Burke 46'	BBC Report	McCutcheon 1', 15'	Attendance: 509 Referee: E Martindale

Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic

14 September 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–2	Forfar Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	McCutcheon 27'	BBC Report	Bavidge Byers 90'	Attendance: 827 Referee: I Fyfe

Stranraer v Dumbarton

21 September 2002 Scottish Second Division	Stranraer	1–0	Dumbarton	Stair Park
	Kerr 43'	BBC Report		Attendance: 563 Referee: D Smith

Dumbarton v Hamilton

28 September 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Hamilton	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Brown 28'	BBC Report	Dobbins 20'	Attendance: 1,202 Referee: I Frickleton

Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton

5 October 2002 Scottish Second Division	Cowdenbeath	3–1	Dumbarton	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
	Brown 27' Winter 74' Gordon	BBC Report	McCutcheon 42'	Attendance: 363 Referee: C Richmond

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir

26 October 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	0–0	Stenhousemuir	Dumbarton Football Stadium
		BBC Report		Attendance: 819 Referee: A Hunter

Brechin City v Dumbarton

29 October 2002 Scottish Second Division	Brechin City	1–1	Dumbarton	Glebe Park, Brechin
	Templeman 54'	BBC Report	Brown 29'	Attendance: 250 Referee: C Murray

Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers

2 November 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–2	Berwick Rangers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Lynes 43'	BBC Report	Burke 44' Wood 90'	Attendance: 768 Referee: J Gilmour

Airdrie United v Dumbarton

9 November 2002 Scottish Second Division	Airdrie United	0–1	Dumbarton	Excelsior Stadium
		BBC Report	Flannery 70' (pen.)	Attendance: 1,352 Referee: G Clyde

Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton

16 November 2002 Scottish Second Division	Forfar Athletic	2–0	Dumbarton	Station Park, Forfar
	Bavidge 53', 72'	BBC Report		Attendance: 556 Referee: W Young

Dumbarton v Stranraer

23 November 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	3–0	Stranraer	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Flannery (pen.) McCutcheon Bonar	BBC Report		Attendance: 740 Referee: B Cassidy

Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath

30 November 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Cowdenbeath	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	McCutcheon 36'	BBC Report	Brown	Attendance: 784 Referee: B McGarry

Hamilton v Dumbarton

14 December 2002 Scottish Second Division	Hamilton	1–0	Dumbarton	New Douglas Park
	Russell 2'	BBC Report		Attendance: 1,062 Referee: J Downie

Dumbarton v Raith Rovers

28 December 2002 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	0–3	Raith Rovers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
		BBC Report	Hawley 44' Smith 81', 89'	Attendance: 1,244 Referee: C Melville

Dumbarton v Airdrie United

1 January 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	2–1	Airdrie United	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Obidile 18' Dillon 43'	BBC Report	Vareille 90'	Attendance: 1,024 Referee: C Richmond

Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton

11 January 2003 Scottish Second Division	Berwick Rangers	0–1	Dumbarton	Shielfield Park
		BBC Report	Dillon 72'	Attendance: 580 Referee: C Allan

Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic

18 January 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–2	Forfar Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Dillon 8'	BBC Report	Rattray 30' Byers 90'	Attendance: 867 Referee: C Thomson

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

25 January 2003 Scottish Second Division	Stenhousemuir	2–1	Dumbarton	Ochilview
	Booth 1' McFarlane 67'	BBC Report	Dillon 53' (pen.)	Attendance: 483 Referee: S Conroy

Stranraer v Dumbarton

1 February 2003 Scottish Second Division	Stranraer	1–2	Dumbarton	Stair Park
	Moore 16'	BBC Report	McCutcheon 5' Scally 60'	Attendance: 405 Referee: I Fyfe

Dumbarton v Hamilton

8 February 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	3–1	Hamilton	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Scally 50' Collins 60' McCutcheon 88'	BBC Report	Armstrong 41'	Attendance: 1,107 Referee: A Hunter

Raith Rovers v Dumbarton

1 March 2003 Scottish Second Division	Raith Rovers	2–1	Dumbarton	Starks Park
	Dennis 15' Prest	BBC Report	Scally 70'	Attendance: 1,780 Referee: C Hardie

Airdrie United v Dumbarton

8 March 2003 Scottish Second Division	Airdrie United	2–1	Dumbarton	Excelsior Stadium
	Gow 2' Collins 16' (OG)	BBC Report	Flannery 80'	Attendance: 1,136 Referee: B McGarry

Dumbarton v Brechin City

11 March 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–3	Brechin City	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Flannery 25' (pen.)	BBC Report	Templeman 44', 60', 78'	Attendance: 480 Referee: E Martindale

Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers

15 March 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	2–2	Berwick Rangers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Brown 20' Bonar 70'	BBC Report	Bradley 71' McEwan 90' (OG)	Attendance: 915 Referee: G Clyde

Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton

18 March 2003 Scottish Second Division	Cowdenbeath	2–0	Dumbarton	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
	Mauchlan 18' (pen.) Elliott 79'	BBC Report		Attendance: 218 Referee: B Cassidy

Dumbarton v Stranraer

1 April 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Stranraer	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Donald 64'	BBC Report	Wingate 18'	Attendance: 596 Referee: J Downie

Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton

5 April 2003 Scottish Second Division	Forfar Athletic	0–1	Dumbarton	Station Park, Forfar
		BBC Report	Scally 44'	Attendance: 450 Referee: E Martindale

Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath

1 April 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	3–1	Cowdenbeath	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Flannery (pen.) Dillon 44' Obidile 88'	BBC Report	Gordon 87' (pen.)	Attendance: 1,203 Referee: C Hardie

Hamilton v Dumbarton

19 April 2003 Scottish Second Division	Hamilton	2–2	Dumbarton	New Douglas Park
	Dobbins 41' Callaghan 68'	BBC Report	Flannery 60' Brown	Attendance: 1,270 Referee: G Mitchell

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir

26 April 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	3–1	Stenhousemuir	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Flannery 9' Russell 35' Scally 89'	BBC Report	Crawford 16'	Attendance: 906 Referee: C Richmond

Brechin City v Dumbarton

3 May 2003 Scottish Second Division	Brechin City	1–1	Dumbarton	Glebe Park, Brechin
	King 32'	BBC Report	Obidile 40'	Attendance: 895 Referee: C Thomson

Dumbarton v Raith Rovers

10 May 2003 Scottish Second Division	Dumbarton	4–1	Raith Rovers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Obidile 27' Russell 30', 51' Dillon 33'	BBC Report	Blackadder 16' (pen.)	Attendance: 1,501 Referee: S Dougal

Bell's Challenge Cup

Main article: 2002–03 Scottish Challenge Cup

Dumbarton v East Fife

6 August 2002 Challenge Cup round 1	Dumbarton	1–0	East Fife	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Duffy 10'	BBC report		Attendance: 452 Referee: C Melville

Dumbarton v Ayr United

13 August 2002 Challenge Cup round 2	Dumbarton	3–0	Ayr United	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Brown 37' Dillon 50', 83'	BBC report		Attendance: 938 Referee: B Cassidy

Queen of the South v Dumbarton

20 August 2002 Challenge Cup round 3	Queen of the South	2–0	Dumbarton	Palmerston Park
	O'Neill 25' Lyle 90'	BBC report		Attendance: 1,128 Referee: J Underhill

CIS League Cup

Main article: 2002–03 Scottish League Cup

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Dumbarton

10 September 2002 League Cup round 1	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	2–0	Dumbarton	Caledonian Stadium
	Wyness 24' Ritchie 71'	BBC Report		Attendance: 667 Referee: G Mitchell

Tennent's Scottish Cup

Main article: 2002–03 Scottish Cup

Raith Rovers v Dumbarton

7 December 2002 Cup round 1	Raith Rovers	1–0	Dumbarton	Starks Park
	Blackadder 72'	BBC Report		Attendance: 1,639 Referee: C Murray

Stirlingshire Cup

Dumbarton v Falkirk

16 July 2002 Group stage	Dumbarton	1–1 (Falkirk on penalties)	Falkirk	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Brown,T

Pre-season and Other Matches

Dumbarton Academicals v Dumbarton

6 July 2002 Friendly	Dumbarton Academicals	0–1	Dumbarton	Dumbarton
			Crilly

Queen's Park v Dumbarton

10 July 2002 Friendly	Queen's Park	1–2	Dumbarton	Hampden Park
			Bonar (OG)

Dunfermline Athletic v Dumbarton

20 July 2002 Friendly	Dunfermline Athletic	2–1	Dumbarton	East End Park, Dunfermline
			Robertson (OG)

Dumbarton v Wycombe Wanderers

27 July 2002 Friendly	Dumbarton	3–2	Wycombe Wanderers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Duffy Flannery Lynes			Attendance: 442

Neilston v Dumbarton

18 October 2002 Friendly	Neilston	0–3	Dumbarton	Neilston
			Scally Lynes Crilly

Arthurlie v Dumbarton

24 October 2002 Friendly	Arthurlie	1–2	Dumbarton	Arthurlie
			Flannery Dillon

St Mirren v Dumbarton

21 December 2002 Friendly	St Mirren	3–4	Dumbarton	Love Street (stadium)
			McCutcheon Scally Dillon McKelvie

St Mirren v Dumbarton

5 March 2003 Friendly	St Mirren	1–2	Dumbarton	Love Street (stadium)
			Flannery Lynes

Albion Rovers v Dumbarton

15 April 2003 Friendly	Albion Rovers	0–3	Dumbarton	Cliftonhill Stadium
			McCutcheon Obidile trialist

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
4	Forfar Athletic	36	14	9	13	55	53	+2	51
5	Berwick Rangers	36	13	10	13	43	48	−5	49
6	Dumbarton	36	13	9	14	48	47	+1	48
7	Stenhousemuir	36	12	11	13	49	51	−2	47
8	Hamilton Academical	36	12	11	13	43	48	−5	47

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Player statistics

Squad

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Second Division		League Cup		Challenge Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	SCO	Stephen Grindlay	38	0	33+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	GK	SCO	John Wight	4	0	3+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Craig Brittain	28	0	26+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	SCO	Neil Collins	38	3	33+0	3	1+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	SCO	Michael Dickie	27	0	20+3	0	1+0	0	1+1	0	1+0	0
	DF	SCO	Neil Duffy	27	1	23+0	0	0+0	0	3+0	1	1+0	0
	DF	SCO	Kevin McCann	7	0	2+3	0	0+1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Craig McEwan	28	0	21+2	0	1+0	0	2+1	0	1+0	0
	DF	SCO	John McKeown	16	0	12+4	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Dave Stewart	25	0	16+4	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	0+1	0
	MF	SCO	Steven Bonar	39	3	26+9	3	0+0	0	3+0	0	0+1	0
	MF	SCO	Mark Crilly	17	0	12+2	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	John Dillon	40	9	34+1	7	1+0	0	3+0	2	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Barry Donald	7	1	3+4	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Craig Lynes	18	1	4+10	1	0+1	0	0+2	0	1+0	0
	MF	NGA	Emeka Obidile	14	3	9+5	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Andy Brown	33	4	19+10	4	1+0	0	3+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Tom Brown	30	2	23+4	1	0+0	0	3+0	1	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Paddy Flannery	31	8	18+9	8	0+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Gary McCutcheon	32	8	23+8	8	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Danny McKelvie	8	0	1+3	0	0+1	0	0+3	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Joe Robertson	15	0	4+9	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Iain Russell	11	4	8+3	4	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Neil Scally	29	5	23+4	5	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0

Transfers

Players in

Player	From	Date
Tom Brown	Alloa Athletic	16 Jul 2002
Neil Duffy	Ayr United	16 Jul 2002
Neil Collins	Queen's Park	27 Jul 2002
Stephen Grindlay	Newcastle United	2 Aug 2002
Craig McEwan	Ayr United	2 Aug 2002
Gary McCutcheon	Kilmarnock	23 Aug 2002
Neil Scally	Ayr United	30 Aug 2002
Barry Donald	Queen of the South	13 Jan 2003
Emeka Obidile	Cowdenbeath	24 Jan 2003
Iain Russell	Motherwell	31 Jan 2003

Players out

Player	To	Date
Robert Dunn	Stirling Albion	30 Aug 2002
Mark Crilly	Stirling Albion	28 Jan 2003
Martin O'Neill	Auchinleck Talbot
Jon Connelly	Cumnock
Stephen Jack	Pollok
Danny McKelvie	Johnstone Burgh
Joe Robertson

Trivia

• The League match against Raith Rovers on 17 August marked John Dillon's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 123rd Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.
• The League Cup match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 10 September marked Michael Dickie's and Dave Stewart's 100th appearances for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 124th and 125th Dumbarton players respectively to reach this milestone.
• The League match against Raith Rovers on 1 March marked Steven Bonar's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 126th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.

See also

• 2002–03 in Scottish football

External links

• John Wight (Dumbarton Football Club Historical Archive) Archived 1 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine
• Scottish Football Historical Archive