Saturday 28th May 2022
Pictures by Jon Leino
THE weeks are flashing past until Dumbarton’s first competitive fixtures – but manager Stevie Farrell is looking ahead positively.
It is now known to be just 42 days until the new season starts with a Premier Sports Cup sectional tie at home to Stirling Albion.
That will be followed by two trips to the northeast within three days, with the challenge of a trip to Aberdeen followed by a visit to Peterhead.
A home game against Raith Rovers will complete the group – and another player is set to declare himself in for the challenge.
That player, currently on holiday, is expected to sign in the later part of this week, with a deal thought to be close for another prospective member of the squad.
Speaking to dumbartonfootballclub.com, Stevie said: “The market place is quite slow at the moment and there are a few clubs who haven’t made any signings yet.
“So the reality is that we are in a much better position with the players we signed on two-year deals, and having added another four.
“We will sign another player in the later part of this week when he returns from his holiday, and we are well down the line with another player.
“That will take us to 15 players, so we are ahead of where we were this time last year, and we are in talks with a number of other players.
“The player signing this week is a good age, has good experience and has a good range of passing and physique. He is exactly what we are looking for in a key area of the pitch.”
As well as four tough cup ties, Stevie also has to guide his players through a demanding schedule in the Premier Sports Cup.
The trips to Aberdeen and Peterhead will take in the best part of 700 miles over three days, the first on Wednesday, July 13 and the second on Saturday, July 16.
However, the manager looks forward to the challenge.
He added: “The schedule we have in the competition is tough, but we will take it on. The pitches at that stage of the season are excellent and the match at Aberdeen will be the first of a new season on their surface.
“It’s a cinch Premiership stadium, so the players will look forward to that. Jim Goodwin will build his own squad there so it is set up for a good game and a challenge for us.
“You always look to qualify from the section. Every other team in it will look to do that and we are no different.
“It will absolutely be tough to do that, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out and compete. Everything is possible and you can never say never.
“I don’t think a team from the fourth tier has ever qualified from the group stage. Being the first to do it is something to aim at.”
PLAYER SPONSORSHIP SEASON 2022/23
PLAYER sponsorship can now be taken out by our supporters and businesses for the 2022/23 season.
For £200 plus VAT, you can claim your favourite player’s home or away jersey – which will be one of the special strips for our 150th anniversary.
Your name will be displayed on our website and social media, and in our award-winning matchday programme, Sons View.
There are also the benefits of one space in hospitality at any stage during the league season, and a personal video message of thanks from your sponsored player.
To sponsor a player’s jersey, please contact us at office@dumbartonfc.co.uk with a completed version of this form.
If you have any queries, you can also contact us over the phone during office hours on 01389 762569.
Player sponsorship is a very important source of income for DFC, and we very much appreciate all of our sponsors’ input to this initiative.
BE THERE FOR 150 – SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE
OLD rivalries to renew. New memories to be made. Be there for 150.
The time has come for season tickets to go on sale – and we want our supporters to be part of a truly significant and historic milestone.
In December, Dumbarton FC will reach 150 years since we were first founded. We will become only the fifth club currently playing its football in the cinch SPFL to do so. And we want you to be there to help us celebrate it, and to assist our efforts to make it as memorable a season as possible.
We wish that relegation from cinch League One had not happened. It is something that we all take responsibility for, and are determined to put right this time around. As per the comments of our manager Stevie Farrell, it is the wish of everybody at Dumbarton FC that we will mark our 150th anniversary league season with a campaign that will go down in history for all the right reasons.
The more season ticket holders we have on board, the better the chance we have of this happening.
Not just because of the financial assistance it gives, but also because it gives us more voices acting as our 12th man on the sidelines every home matchday.
After careful discussion and planning among our board of directors in relation to setting prices for the season, we have decided to set the following prices for season tickets in the 2022/23 campaign:
Adult £200
OAP £130
Our Young Sons have made the section at the end of the Dumbarton Football Stadium stand their own, have become famous on a national scale, and are a vital part of our support now and in the future. We very much look forward to seeing them back in the new season, perhaps in even greater numbers, and as above, it is very much our aim to give them something to celebrate. To that end, we are offering a Young Sons Membership at a cost of £20 which will include various benefits, please see this application form. This will guarantee a ticket for every home league match at Dumbarton.
Season tickets for all age groups are available now, and can be booked by filling in this form. You can either print it and return it to us at the Dumbarton Football Stadium (office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am to 1.30pm) or email an electronic copy to frontdesk@dumbartonfc.co.uk
If you have any queries, you can also contact us by phone during the above office hours on 01389 762569.
We are months away from a historic milestone. It is one we are planning to mark in the best way possible off the pitch – but also on it. We will be renewing some old rivalries this season, and creating new memories for everybody involved.
We want that to include you.
Be there for 150.
PREMIER SPORTS CUP FIXTURES
DUMBARTON’S fixtures have been confirmed for the group stage of the 2022/23 Premier Sports Cup. The dates for your diary are as follows: Saturday, July 9 – Dumbarton v Stirling Albion (kick-off 3pm) * Wednesday, July 13 – Aberdeen v Dumbarton (kick-off 7.45pm) * Saturday, July 16 – Peterhead v Dumbarton (kick-off 3pm) * Tuesday, July 19 – Dumbarton v Raith Rovers (kick-off 7.45pm) * Dumbarton will be the idle team on the final match day of the group stage, Saturday, July 23.