Pictures montage: Craig Sutherland and DFC Executive Director Cameron Watson shaking hands on his appointment; We Are the People Rangers banner on Sutherland’s web page; Dumbarton FC’s French Canadian owner Mario Lapoint, who has been determined to make the Rock stadium a focal point for the West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh community; the Rock Stadium at Dumbarton Castle, home of the Sons of the Rock, and Craig Sutherland, wearing a Dumbarton FC tie and (top of page) the Billy Boys wearing Rangers scarves and carrying knives, clubs and razors plus a flag with their name on it. Top of page the Billy Boys group holding up a blood-soaked Celtic supporters’ scarf.
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Exclusive report by BILL HEANEY
- Dumbarton FC recently announced that they were delighted to announce the appointment of Craig Sutherland as their new Head of Youth Development.
- However, the football club staff, including several coaches who take both the men’s and women’s teams and boys and girls aspiring to join the club, which was purchased just a year ago by Mario Lapointe, plus their parents and volunteers, are dismayed and infuriated by bigoted images that Sutherland has posted on the internet.
- These include an artist’s impression of a menacing-looking gang of Rangers supporters wearing the Ibrox club’s scarf with their leader carrying a Celtic scarf on his outstretched arm dripping blood on to the ground.
- There is a second image of the supporter carrying a small flag with “Billy Boys” written on it.
- And a third with the same men wearing long coats and eight-piece caps, Peaky Blinders style, carrying clubs, knives and razors.
- The Dumbarton FC official website introduced Sutherland to the fans, in an article making Sutherland out to be something of a local hero.
- It said: “The local lad who lives in Renton and attended Vale of Leven Academy, Craig joins the club with a wealth of experience designing and leading player development pathways across grassroots, academy, senior and professional football.
“Most recently with Renton Craigandro, where he delivered and maintained their SFA Quality Mark status, Craig also spent time as the Academy Manager at Rossvale and Head of Youth Development at Highland League side Inverurie Loco Works.
“He has also worked as Professional Development Coach for Manchester City in the USA, and for the Citizens as a Foreign Expert Coach in China. As well as spending three years with Dundee and founded Elite Football Coaching.
“Earlier in his career, he spent time in a variety of coaching roles at Montrose, Formartine United, Hermes Juniors, Stonehaven Juniors and Cruden Bay Juniors.
“Now he arrives at The Rock sponsored by Marbill Coaches, at an exciting time for the club. With work ongoing to install an artificial playing surface at the ground, allowing pathway sides to train and play at our iconic home.”
The article quoted DFC Executive Director Cameron Watson as saying: “We had over 30 applications for this role and with our youth system being so important to the future of the club we wanted to take our time to find the right person.
“Speaking to Craig, I am confident that we have. His passion and knowledge for football shines through. He brings over 20 years of experience coaching across the world, and we are very lucky to have him.”
Sutherland himself added: “I am absolutely delighted to join my local club at this exciting time. Dumbarton Football Club should always be a pillar in the local community, and I feel that this is the right time in my coaching journey that I can help influence the next generation of players.
“My aim is to have all the best local players at Dumbarton Football Club going through all age groups, both boys and girls. Having helped develop top talent through the years, I feel that this is the time for Dumbarton’s youth to shine, ensuring that we are a club for all.”
However, the pictures on his website indicate that he holds unacceptable sectarian views.
Sutherland’s record as outlined above does not indicate that he was anything other than a very ordinary footballer and never reached any great heights in the game.
Although the worst of these disgraceful comments concentrate on links with Rangers Football Club and their supporters, he was only a trialist at Ibrox Park and never played for their first eleven.
One angry parent who contacted The Dumbarton Democrat said there was no way a person with such a poisonous mind should be involved with mentoring and coaching women and children when it is clear from his online posts that he is a bigot — “Sutherland should be shown the door and told to stay away from Dumbarton FC.”