2018–19 Dumbarton F.C. Season

Season 2018–19 was Dumbarton's first in the third tier of Scottish football for six years, having finished ninth and lost the playoffs in 2017–18. Dumbarton also competed in the Challenge Cup, Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Story of the season

May

Two days after the Sons relegation to Scottish League One club director Callum Hosie died. The same day Tom Walsh became the first member of the squad to depart, joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a two-year deal. On 16 May the club released seven players, with David Smith, David Wilson, Kyle Prior, Grant Gallagher, Chris Johnston, Dougie Hill and Dimitris Froxylias all exiting. Meanwhile, Jamie Ewings was released as a player, but continued as the club's goalkeeper coach. Calum Gallagher, Scott Gallacher, Andy Dowie, Stuart Carswell, Kyle Hutton and Danny Handling were all offered new deals, whilst Christopher McLaughlin and Iain Russell were offered training facilities. Pre-season friendlies were then arranged against East Kilbride, Cumbernauld Colts and Queen's Park. Goalkeeper Scott Gallacher rejected a new deal to join Airdrieonians on 19 May, joining up with Grant Gallagher at the Lanarkshire side. Captain Andy Dowie was the first man to re-sign for the club, inking a one-year deal on 23 May, and he was followed by Kyle Hutton. Liam Dick left however, having made 17 appearances since signing in January 2018. Meanwhile, a fourth pre-season friendly was arranged against Heart of Midlothian on 7 July. Willie Dyer became the club's first signing of the summer on 30 May, joining on a year long deal from Brechin City.

June

June started with striker Mark Stewart having the second year of his contract cancelled. Following this Turnberry Homes signed a new two-year deal to continue as the club's shirt sponsors. Bobby Barr became the club's second signing of the summer, joining on a year long deal from Raith Rovers. Ross Forbes was announced as the club's third summer signing on 11 June – signing a season long deal nine years after a loan spell with the club. A day later the club's top scorer from the 2017–18 season, Calum Gallagher, signed a new one-year deal. The week ended with Grant Adam becoming the club's fourth signing of the summer, joining on a one-year deal from Forfar Athletic. His arrival was followed by that of striker Rory Loy, who joined after leaving Falkirk, however Danny Handling turned down a new deal with the club to join Scottish League Two side Edinburgh City. Stuart Carswell was the next player to commit himself for another season, signing a new one-year deal after 54 appearances and two goals in his 18 months at the club. The following week defenders Ross Perry and Cammy Ballantyne signed for the club on year-long deals, and they were joined by Ryan Thomson who joined after leaving Stranraer. A day after signing Thomson marked his debut with a goal, which was added to by strikes from Calum Gallagher and Iain Russell (playing as a trialist) as Dumbarton overcame Lowland League side East Kilbride in their first friendly of the season.

July

Russell made it two in as many games, as he scored a late winner in a 3–2 comeback victory against Cumbernauld Colts on 1 July, with fellow trialist Andy Little also on target. That form earned him a new year long deal, and he made his third debut as a signed player in a 2–0 friendly defeat to Heart of Midlothian. Little also joined the club, on a short-term deal, on 11 July. A busy week also saw the arrival of goalkeeper Jamie McGowan, who joined having left Greenock Morton, and forward Michael Paton who had impressed as a trialist against Heart of Midlothian. In the Scottish League Cup Sons opened their season with a 0–0 draw against Lowland League champions Spartans, winning the bonus point on penalties after Grant Adam saved two spot-kicks. They followed that result up with a 1–0 victory over Queen's Park thanks to a Calum Gallagher goal, their first victory since the restructuring of the Cup in the summer of 2016. Defeat to Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock courtesy of a Kris Boyd hat-trick followed, despite the Sons taking the lead twice. Rory Loy made his debut for the club as a second-half substitute after missing the earlier games through injury, with Craig Barr and Bobby Barr (his first goal for the club) scoring for Dumbarton. The League Cup campaign ended on a low note however, with a 6–0 defeat to St Mirren.

August

Dumbarton kicked off their league campaign with a 2–0 victory against East Fife, with Andy Dowie scoring his first goal for the club. That was followed by a 2–0 home defeat to Forfar Athletic. The club did progress to the 2nd round of the Scottish Challenge Cup scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory against Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton. That was followed by a 1–1 draw at home with Arbroath, with Ross Forbes scoring an injury-time leveler, before defeat against Brechin City, where the Sons threw away a two-goal lead with 30 minutes remaining. Bobby Barr and trialist Brad Spencer got the goals. With the squad down to bare bones Stevie Aitken dipped into the transfer market once more – signing Spencer on a permanent deal along with Dundee United defender Scott Allardice. On deadline day Jack Aitchison became the 14th signing of the summer – joining on a loan deal until January from Celtic.

September

September opened with another defeat, this time against newly promoted Stenhousemuir. Craig McPherson was appointed first-team coach a week later, but a third consecutive loss followed, this time in the Scottish Challenge Cup

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