An exhibition charting Dumbarton Football Club’s 150 year history was officially opened last week by two of the club’s most dedicated fans.
Father and son Jake and Alan Mcshannon make the six hour round trip from Campbeltown to the Rock for home matches, and have watched the Sons in action in locations as far afield as Peterhead and Shropshire.
They were given the honour of opening the fascinating exhibition, which follows the club’s journey from its formation in December 1872, through the triumphs of winning the 1883 Scottish Cup and first two Scottish League titles, to the tragic loss of title winning captain Gordon Lennon in 2009.
And Alan revealed what keeps him and his dad hooked on watching the League Two leaders.
He said: “I think it’s the love of the crowd that keeps us going. We’ve got to know a lot of people over the years.
“My father sometimes encourages me to come up after a long week at work.
“Sometimes he’ll say on the Friday ‘are we going to the game then?’ and I always go ‘ach, we may as well’.
“It was like that when we went to Livingston for the first time in 2013.
“We only decided at the last minute. And we witnessed Bryan Prunty’s amazing overhead kick.
“You never know what you’re going to see. You feel like if you miss a game then you could miss out on something special, like the Bryan Prunty goal at Livingston.
“We’ve been doing it since we moved into the new ground. I was just learning how to drive in the cities, so we thought we’d come up more often.
“Initially it was just the first game and the last game. And then we decided we’d start going to as many games as we can.
“That’s taken us up to Peterhead and down to Shropshire. We’ve done Cowdenbeath in the middle of winter. It’s just been ridiculous really.
“When (DFC150 committee member) Dave Carson pulled me aside earlier this year and asked if me and my father would like to open this event, we thought how could we refuse such an offer? I was absolutely gobsmacked. It was an honour.”
A civic reception at Dumbarton Library last week saw representatives from the club, including manager Stevie Farrell and midfielder Finlay Gray, joined by supporters, councillors, Lord Lieutenant Jill Young and MP Martin Docherty-Hughes.
And club chairman Dr Neil Mackay thanked the team of volunteers from the club, who had worked hard to bring the exhibition together.
He said: “A tremendous amount of work has gone into this, and there are a number of people I’d like to thank. Particularly West Dunbartonshire Arts and Heritage, Richard McBrearty of the Scottish Football Museum and the Dumbarton Football Club 150 committee of Jim McAllister, David Brownlee, Dave Carson and Graeme Robertson.
“It strikes me as particularly appropriate that whilst the historic town of Dumbarton celebrates its 800th year as a Royal Burgh it has at its heart one of Scotland’s oldest football clubs. It’s a club with a rich and varied history. A club that has recorded some remarkable achievements and that has produced some remarkable characters.
“Clubs like Dumbarton rely on a small core of dedicated and loyal supporters.
“To mark the commitment of two of these, Jake and Alan, we asked them to open the exhibition.
“They’ve been Dumbarton supporters for many years and have travelled the length and breadth of the country following the team home and away.
“Although they might say they are just supporting their local club, I would think there would be times where even they must wonder just how local Dumbarton is to their hometown of Campbeltown!”
Club poet Stephen Watt read a new piece – Full Circle – written to mark the 150th anniversary, while Provost Douglas McAllister paid tribute to the role the Sons have played in the local community. He said: “Over the past century-and-a-half Dumbarton Football Club has carved a long and important heritage in the story of Scottish football, commanding a place in the hearts of all who follow the Sons of the Rock.
“The history books tell us that compelling story. Dumbarton are one of Scotland’s oldest clubs, they were Scottish Cup winners in 1883 and back-to-back champions in the first two seasons of the Scottish Football League. They were unquestionably one of the most successful teams of the late 19th century.
“What the record books don’t capture is the essence of what this football club means to its fans, and the positive impact it has on our community. The shared experiences and common passion that connects family, friends and neighbours from generation to generation.
“Like the team’s fortunes on the pitch, West Dunbartonshire has enjoyed and endured its share of ups and downs. Often during the darker moments is when the town needs its team the most.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic forced football behind closed doors, this club continued to play its part in our community. It hosted the NHS mobile vaccination unit and assisted by urging fans and residents to come forward for the jag.
“That’s just one of the many examples of a club that understands the importance of its place at the heart of the community. And the positive influence it can have through its power to unite.
“Dumbarton Football Club is weaved deeply in the fabric of this town because it represents the people and our sense of civic pride.
“This exhibition revels in the rich history and tradition that has defined the Sons of the Rock for the 150 years of their existence.
“And with today’s team currently standing proudly at the top of League Two, we allow ourselves to hope that another proud achievement will be added to this legacy this season.”
For Alan meanwhile, the Sons have given him memories with his father that he will always treasure.
He added: “I try and get us a photo at every ground we go to. There’s a fair wee collection I have now.”
The exhibition runs until December 17 at Dumbarton Library - and entry is free.
