By CAMERON ROY Like many Americans, Meghan Markle seems to be bemused by the historical British tradition of issuing titles to members of the Royal Family Although she is often enthusiastic about making the most of her and Harry's Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles she is alleged to have been less keen on one of the ones bestowed to her son Archie - Lord Dumbarton When she heard the news he would automatically get the title royal author Tom Bower claims she said: 'Hell no No son of mine is going to be called Dumb' he wrote that she was told the news by Sir Thomas Woodcock when he called her to discuss Archie's titles soon after he was born in May 2019 When Harry and Meghan got married the previous year, as well as gaining their more commonly used titles for England, it was announced they would also be referred to as the Earl of Dumbarton in Scotland and the Baron Kilkeel in Northern Ireland But despite already being the Countess of Dumbarton herself Meghan was said to be upset at the news it would also be used by her son it was his birthright to take the Earl of Dumbarton title but his parents were reportedly concerned that it would lead to mockery A source told The Telegraph in 2021: 'They didn't like the idea of Archie being called the Earl of Dumbarton because it began with the word "dumb" [and] they were worried about how that might look.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want to use the Earl of Dumbarton title for their son Archie because it contained the word 'dumb' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are alleged to have not been keen on the title because they feared the young royal might be mocked places her hand next to her baby son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at the photocall to celebrate his birth at Windsor Castle Another insider told the paper: 'It wasn't just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls But the decision to unceremoniously ditch the title caused something of a political wave at the time with the Dumbarton locals coming out swinging against the move A Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament Jackie Baillie said: 'I am very proud to be the MSP for Dumbarton Dumbarton is a wonderful place and the people of Dumbarton have always prided ourselves on being open and accepting 'We welcome with open arms anyone who wishes to be associated with or call Dumbarton their home 'If the rumours about Harry and Meghan are true then I would encourage them to rethink their decision as I think there is no greater honour than being named after the town.' A number of Dumbarton natives also took to social media to slam the couple when the news broke in 2021 with some claiming the 'Earl of Wokingham' would be a better fit for the couple rejected the suggestion that Archie would be bullied for the association and insisted that sharing the town's name was something to be proud of the Dumbarton title was was not the only cause of concern the royal couple had when it came to what Archie would one day be called Shorty after his birth they said in a statement that he would not be a referred to as prince because they did not want to be bound by convention or history The Duke and Duchess of Sussex play with their son Archie during a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on August 23 An old Christmas card with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding Archie and Lilibet The Queen and Prince Philip visit newborn Archie at Windsor Castle and Harry are seen playing with Archie in their Netflix TV series Footmen present the easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace to formally announce the birth of Archie The Duke of Sussex speaking at Windsor Castle in Berkshire on May 6 after the Duchess of Sussex gave birth to Archie who weighed 7lbs 3oz they wanted him to be plain 'Mister Archie' and not bear the title of royal which was done to help preserve his privacy Harry and Meghan seemingly U-turned and began to use the titles prince and princess The Palace then updated its website's line of succession list with their official titles It is understood the titles will be used in formal settings Harry and Meghan are understood to be keen to not deny their children their birthright but to allow them the chance to decide for themselves when they are older whether to drop or keep using them The decision raised some eyebrows after Prince Harry's repeated criticism of the monarchy including his accusation that his family carried out 'total neglect' in the past and saying he suffered 'genetic pain' He has spoken about his own struggles with his title saying in 2017 that his time in the Army was the 'best escape I ever had' because 'I wasn't a prince royal commentator Emily Andrews tweeted in March 2023: 'The perennial question still remains; if being a royal is so traumatic carries so much inter-generational pain why would you want to style your kids prince and princess/keep your own royal titles….??'  Archie was always destined to automatically become a prince after the Queen died due to long-standing rules Harry and Meghan said he would not use the title prince Perhaps things will change when he is older but at the moment it looks like Archie will not be using the Lord Dumbarton title for as long as his parents are in charge But Meghan and Harry have not been the only royal couple to decide that the titles of prince and princess would not be suitable for their children made the decision early on that their children would not carry the titles to make it clear to them that they needed to make their own way in life Princess Anne also chose not give titles to her son Peter and daughter Zara it seems Harry and Meghan have opted for another option entirely and have instead been referring to their children by the names Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex rather than their real surname of Mountbatten-Windsor A source told The Times in February that the adoption of the Sussex title as a surname was done to 'unify' their family which was first created in the Peerage of Scotland in March 1675 for Lord George Douglas for services fighting in the Franco-Dutch War and was only recreated in the UK Peerage by the Queen as one of the two subsidiary titles for her Harry when he married Meghan in May 2018 The Earl of Dumbarton is a historic Scottish title which has been extinct for more than 250 years It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas who was also made Lord of Ettrick at the same time spent much of his time in the service of French king Louis XIV When James II ascended to the English and Scottish throne he was a trusted servant - even following him to exile in France after the Glorious Revolution both of Douglas' titles became extinct in January 1749 The second creation of the title was in 2018 when Prince Harry was made the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel on his wedding day to Meghan Markle The Scottish town of Dumbarton is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age  is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age It was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom making it the centre of British power in the north The town was later granted the status of Royal burgh by Scotland's Alexander II in 1222 William Wallace was shortly imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle - today a popular tourist spot The comments below have not been moderated By posting your comment you agree to our house rules Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group TWENTY-FIVE years ago tomorrow (06/05/2000) we stepped onto the pitch at Boghead Park for the very last time closing the chapter on a ground that had been our home for generations For all but the first seven years of our existence That final day brought the kind of send-off every ground deserves More than 3,000 supporters basked in glorious sunshine packing into Boghead to say goodbye — and to witness a fitting farewell second-half goals from Toby King and Joe Robertson gave Dumbarton a 2–1 victory over East Fife The result wasn’t just for us — it also helped Forfar Athletic who took advantage of East Fife’s slip to clinch promotion and a last embrace with a place we called home We would like to invite supporters and ex-players alike to share their favourite memories from their time at Boghead by replying to posts on our social media channels we mark this milestone with a tribute in verse — a powerful reflection on what Boghead meant to us all We’re proud to once again share Stephen Watt’s evocative poem and the spirit that still binds us to it — a quarter of a century on crumbling Miller Street entrance,with your skinny turnstiles causing problemsfor anyone with an unhealthy lifestyle.Here lay an alternative to the antidepressants we were protagonist championsin offering support wrapped in knittedblack and yellow vestments for neither warmthor comfort; our club’s stalwart ever-presents Dead bluebottles stuck in the small stand’s windowswhere flakes of stale pie rained above the tunnel.Smuggled quarter bottles rustled inside pockets,suckled when constables became semi-conscious,seconds before the merciful half-time whistle The unofficial changing of the ends; supportersexchanging insults but the unlikeliest of friendswhen it came to the crackling tannoy results.We revelled mostly in the Scottish Cup upsets omens,the replication of emotions on the castle’s blazons;McQuade-twists Mooney chips,Charnley explosions; whoever the opponents,so long as Dumbarton shred them into ribbons we lived through so many divisionsuntil a new Millennium bulldozed your bricks.Now I keep my lovesick colours behind fastened buttons,and a yardstick of adoration for a lifetime of following Sons.’ Become a member of our online community and get tickets to upcoming matches faster Ian Wright and Craig Morrison of Quantuma Advisory Ltd were appointed Joint Administrators of The Dumbarton Football Club Limited on 18 November 2024 The business and assets of the company are now managed by the Joint Administrators The Joint Administrators act as agents of the company Ian Wright is authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland Craig Morrison is authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Dumbarton Football Club is proud to announce the winners of our 2024/25 end-of-season awards Congratulations to all recipients for their outstanding contributions on and off the pitch this season Supporters’ Player of the Year – Mouhamed ‘Sena’ NiangPlayers’ Player of the Year – Mouhamed ‘Sena’ NiangTrust Travel Player of the Year – Carlo PignatielloTop Goalscorer – Michael RuthFan of the Year – Joanne McBrideTrust Award for Service to the Club and Trust – David CarsonWomen’s Player of the Year – Mirrin EsdaleWomen’s Players’ Player of the Year – Gracie WilliamsonWomen’s Top Goalscorer – Catriona McAllister and volunteers for their continued commitment throughout the season We look forward to seeing everyone again next season following Saturday’s match away to Stenhousemuir The 2024/25 SPFL League One campaign concludes tomorrow afternoon with Dumbarton making the short-trip to Ochilview to take on Stenhousemuir [kick-off 3:00pm] Sons fate has already been confirmed due to a 15-point deduction applied against the club earlier this season with Stevie Farrell’s side knowing they will compete in League Two next season there remains plenty to play for as they could still find themselves in fourth place come 5:00pm on Saturday evening The Warriors will need three points themselves and hope that Alloa slip up away to Kelty Hearts which would see them earn a shot at the Championship play-offs Dumbarton are one of the form teams in League One having lost just once in their last seven games their most recent result being a 3-1 win against Annan Athletic last week in the final home match of the season and boss Farrell hopes his players can sign off on a positive note after what has been a difficult season he said: “I keep saying it but I cannot speak highly enough of these players for what they have given me the supporters and everyone involved with the club throughout what has been the most difficult season they will ever go through “Not one of them has downed tools at any stage in any game We have largely competed week in week out and it’s all down to the players attitude and commitment It has been a pleasure to work with each and every one of them and I hope it’s not the last time we cross paths “Finishing at home with three points last week was pleasing because we have struggled at home all season so to give our supporters something to cheer was great “It would be nice to finish with a flourish after the run we have been on over the last couple of months and we know the surface at Ochilview will allow us to get the ball down and play the game that suits us “Hopefully we can see a good number of supporters making the journey to support the team because the players deserve the acclaim for what they have given the club this season.”  Fans making the journey can buy their tickets in advance via Fanbase: https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=84. Pay at the gate is also available.  Become a member of our online community and get tickets to upcoming matches faster! We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below. The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website, store your preferences, and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you. These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent. You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience. Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data. Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns. Dumbarton Football Club would like to wish the very best of luck to all local students and some of our own young players who are sitting their exams over the coming weeks. We know how much hard work and dedication goes into this time of year, and everyone at the club is right behind you – you’ve got this! We’re also excited to announce that our Schools Art Competition will be running throughout May! We’re inviting pupils from local schools to get creative and show us what Dumbarton FC means to them through art. Full details on how to enter, prizes, and submission deadlines can be found below. Let’s get behind our young people – whether it’s on the pitch, in the classroom or through creativity! The Joint Administrators of Dumbarton Football Club Limited can confirm that they haveagreed Heads of Terms with Gareth Phillips on a proposal that would see the Club exitAdministration solvently and with all creditors paid in full. Fans will be aware that the Administrators have been engaged in litigation againstPendragon Group Limited of which Mr. Phillips is the principal. The full terms of the proposal are subject to confidential negotiations, however as part of theproposal, the litigation with Pendragon would be concluded on the basis Pendragon wouldnot hold security over the Club’s assets. Mr. Phillips would introduce sufficient funding to stabilise the trading of the Club goingforward and the Administrators are required to be satisfied that there is security for cash flowand a business plan to provide support for the Club for the next 3 seasons.A non-refundable deposit has been received by the Administrators which will cover any shortterm trading shortfall whilst the transaction is being negotiated, until the target completiondate in early May. The Administrators will now work with Mr Phillips and his team to conclude this proposal toallow planning for next season to commence. We can confirm that yesterday Gareth Philips of Pendragon, the preferred bidder, took the decision to remove his offer after receiving further medical advice regarding an ongoing condition he has. Over the past two weeks Gareth took the time to speak to members of the club and local stakeholders as part of the due diligence process and we would like to thank him for engaging with everyone and once he knew of his worsening condition, that he let Quantuma know at the earliest possible time. He has now offered to support Qunatuma where he can with the transition to a new owner and we thank him for that. Quantuma are now actively engaging with other bidders, who we understand are football orientated, and will share further information on this bid as soon as they can. The club is still planning as normal for next season but as you will all appreciate timelines will be tighter than normal and there may be delays to the renewal of season tickets etc, this isn’t something to worry about and is just part of the process for this close season. Everyone involved with the club is focused on getting the best teams possible on the pitches next year but for now the men’s team will go to Stenhousemuir on Saturday in search for one last win and while our women’s team have a weekend off before being back the following week. Please get along to Ochilview to cheer the guys on for one final time this season and keep an eye out on socials for the women’s team fixtures over the next few weeks. There has been a dispute over land around Dumbarton's stadium A proposal to take Dumbarton out of administration and pay their creditors in full has collapsed "other credible parties" remain interested in taking over the club which has been relegated to Scottish League 2 administrators Quantuma announced a deal with Oxford-based Gareth Phillips that would wipe out the club's debt with working capital made available for next season Now they say that Phillips has withdrawn his offer due to ill-health Quantuma go on to say: "We are fortunate to be in a position where we have other credible parties who had expressed an interest in acquiring the club out of administration "We have already engaged with these parties and will provide a further update as soon as we are able to do so." Dumbarton are 16 points adrift at the foot of League 1 The Sons were placed into administration and docked 15 points by the Scottish Professional Football League in November after years of financial turmoil Quantuma said insolvency was the result of non-receipt of "significant" funds owed from the sale of land in 2021 Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects What is still to be decided as season reaches climax Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The 28-year-old was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for treatment. Police were alerted to the incident which happened on High Street near Riverside Lane between 12.50am and 1am on Sunday morning. She was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for treatment. Enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with any information to get in touch. Detective Constable Georgia Callander said: “This incident happened on a busy street and I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault and hasn’t already spoken to officers to get in touch. “I would also appeal to anyone who was in the area and who may have dash-cam or private CCTV to contact us.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 0196 of April 27, 2025. STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Quantuma Managing Directors Ian Wright and Craig Morrison the joint administrators of Dumbarton Football Club have revealed that they hope to identify a preferred bidder in the coming weeks with the aim of the club exiting administration ahead of the 2025/26 campaign Sons entered administration in November and were hit with a 15-point dedication that leaves the club adrift at the bottom of the League One table Morrison thanked the clubs loyal supporters and volunteers for the work they continue to put in behind the scenes and funds that are being raised He said: “Whilst the litigation has been running in the background we’ve also been dealing with the sales process of the club and we’ve now got over 14 parties under non-disclosure agreements where we are having detailed discussions “We hope to bring those to a head over the next 3-4 weeks with a view to identifying a preferred bidder who we will then work with towards the end of the season with a view to be in place to take the club out of administration and forward into the new season “It has been a difficult time on the pitch for the team and all the players but everybody is determined to get to the end of the season and hopefully by that point there will be better times ahead in the future “There is still a funding gap and there are initiatives in place to meet that and events being organized “The Gofundme is in place and there should be plenty of funds available to get us to the end of the season fi we can meet the funding from the events that have bene organised “In addition to all of the fans who are organizing fundraising initiatives there are a huge amount of volunteers that work at the club for absolutely nothing and put in a huge amount of effort to keep the club operating and we are extremely grateful for all of the assistance we get from everybody.” Supporters can view a full update from Wright and Morrison by visiting here: https://youtu.be/uASHQr4G1fg Donations to the Save our Sons campaign continue to be gratefully received: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-sons-1872 Supporters attending Saturday’s match against Cove Rangers should be aware of the following information match day 33Dumbarton vs Cove RangersSaturday 12th April 2025Kick-Off: 3:00pmThe Marbill Coaches Stadium Cash entry is also available at the turnstiles Ticket Prices are as follows:Adult £18Concessions £13Under 16’s £5 Please note that there will be no physical copies of teamsheets from the shop ahead of kick-off There will be copies for supporters to look at and take pictures of but otherwise supporters are invited to look at team news on our social media channels from 2:00pm FOOD AND REFRESHMENTSThe kiosks within the stadium are cash only TRAVELSupporters are encouraged to keep up to date with any relevant travel information via the links below:https://www.traffic.gov.scot/traffic-informationhttps://www.roadworksscotland.org SUPPORTERS BUSCove Rangers supporters buses are advised that supporters can alight at the stadium Buses should avoid Castlegreen Street due to low railway bridge BY TRAINSupporters arriving by train should alight at Dumbarton East via Victoria Street & Castle Road to the stadium BY CARSupporters should travel via the A82 and join the A814 (Glasgow Road) and heading towards Dumbarton Castle on Castle Road Car parking is available within the stadium grounds for a cost of £3 per car If you choose to park your vehicle outside the stadium grounds SUPPORTER BEHAVIOURSupporters are strongly reminded the use of pyrotechnics/flares/smoke bombs within sports stadia is illegal pitch-side or stand with any cans or bottles Dumbarton Football Club recognises that football is a passionate game and supporters will have their own way of expressing their support and reactions This is acceptable and welcomed as it often adds positively to the match experience behaviour which jeopardises the safety and enjoyment of others or is likely to bring disrepute to the Club is not acceptable This includes:• Anti-social behaviour• Personal Abuse on social media• Sectarian discriminatory or obscene chanting• Throwing any article within the stadium or its environs• Encroaching onto the field of play• Disability hate crime SFA/SPFL Ground Regulations Supporter Liaison Officer | E: slo@dumbartonfc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Scully Match OfficialsReferee: Graham GraingerAssistant Referee 1: Stuart StevensonAssistant Referee 2: Brent FalconerMatch StatsKey Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time Craig McGuffie (Dumbarton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal Liam Parker (Cove Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Finlay Gray (Dumbarton) wins a free kick on the right wing Dylan Lobban (Cove Rangers) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner Adam Emslie (Cove Rangers) header from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner Michael Ruth (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the attacking half Kristian Webster (Dumbarton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Adam Emslie (Cove Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing Dumbarton’s home campaign in the 2024/25 League One season comes to an end tomorrow afternoon as Annan Athletic visit the Marbill Coaches Stadium [kick-off 3:00pm] Sons will be looking to end on a high when the Galabankies come calling and carry on what has been a decent run of form in recent weeks with just one defeat in six games it remains all to play for in the battle to avoid the relegation play-offs – they trail Inverness Caledonian Thistle by just one point heading into the final two games and will be hoping they slip up against champions Arbroath whilst they earn something at the Rock Boss Stevie Farrell isn’t keen for that to happen following on from last weeks 2-2 draw at Montrose and is looking for another committed performance he said: “It’s a tough place to go and Montrose are still fighting for points but we’ve showed again that we have good players and a good dressing room “We knew were going to come under pressure when we lost Mark Durnan and they went direct but when they keep on piling it on then they’re bound to get on the end of one “There’s one thing that can never be aimed at this group and I’ve been involved in teams that have had tough seasons and you maybe can see tools get downed at one stage They are an absolute credit and a joy to work with “The performances in League One on the whole have been excellent “We’re hopeful of ending our home season on a high tomorrow afternoon but there are a number of factors that make that difficult Annan are desperate for points to try and avoid the play-offs but we will be looking to make things difficult for them.” Supporters attending the Marbill Coaches Stadium tomorrow afternoon can find our match day information guide here: MATCH DAY INFORMATION: DUMBARTON VS ANNAN ATHLETIC – Dumbarton Football Club Our women’s side completed the double over Harmony Row this season with a hard-fought 2–1 comeback victory at Sir Alex Ferguson Park earlier this afternoon Head Coach Gerry Gallacher made two changes to the team that lost to St Anthony’s last time out with Sophie Dempster and Sophie Reid coming into the starting XI in place of the unavailable Gemma Russell and Olivia Oliver Gallacher opted for a new diamond formation using full-backs Eva McInnes and Neamh MacNeil to provide width while deploying four players across the midfield with the additional presence in midfield allowing for some impressive one-touch passing a lack of quality in the final ball saw the first half pass without reward Harmony Row capitalised on a loose second ball turning quickly to fire a shot into the top corner past Kira Swallow maintaining pressure on the hosts and winning a penalty shortly before the break the Harmony Row goalkeeper produced an excellent save to deny Gemma Smith from the spot and preserve their lead heading into half-time pushing McInnes further forward onto the wing and switching to a traditional 4-4-2 formation Smith atoned for her earlier penalty miss by delivering a pinpoint cross-field pass to Catriona McAllister who controlled brilliantly and finished coolly past the onrushing keeper to level the score Momentum firmly shifted in Dumbarton’s favour and the comeback was complete when Player’s Player of the Year Gracie Williamson found herself through on goal After McAllister’s shot slipped past the goalkeeper Williamson showed great composure to round the keeper and tap into an empty net capping another outstanding midfield performance from the young star but neither was able to add to the scoreline The team managed the closing stages with maturity and professionalism navigating some questionable refereeing decisions without allowing Harmony Row to build any sustained pressure A deserved victory sees Dumbarton return to winning ways with two fixtures remaining in what has been a hugely promising debut season under the Dumbarton FC banner Speaking post-match the boss was pleased with the second half performance He said: “The defensive mistake and gifting Harmony Row an early goal upset the game plan “We tried a different shape in our midfield and that mixed with Harmony Row sitting in after their goal resulted in limited chances for us in the first half “But I felt the half time changes improved that we went 2- 1 up and it could have been more “Some stand out players for me today like Gracie “Although the team overall was not at its best they still ran out comfortable winners and that’s what counts.” Defensive rock Niamh McAleer backed up her gaffers thoughts on the second half improvement She said: “I think the first half was a bit slow I think it was just people not really knowing their positions with the new formation “The second half definitely picked up; I think it was quite a strong game in the end “Our passing was our strong point today and I’m very pleased with the victory.” The girls have a free week next weekend as the men’s team finish up their campaign away to Stenhousemuir before the ladies host Benburb at East End Park in Dumbarton for their final home match and finish up with a trip to champions Bishopton the week after the close out the campaign Today sees our women’s side head to Renfrew for a match against Harmony Row The game will take place at Sir Alex Ferguson Park when the Sons ran out 5-1 winners in their home fixture at a chilly Mountblow.The scorers that day included former captain Tiegan McParland along with new captain Eva McInnes—who netted a brace—and Catriona McAllister The team will be looking to return to winning ways and put an end to their recent run of inconsistent form That run includes their most recent outing a 2-1 defeat away to St Anthony’s at McKenna Park Manager Gerry Gallacher spoke ahead of the match demanding a strong performance from his side.He said: “We are now out of contention and into the final few fixtures but we still have a third-place finish to play for so our girls will need to be at their best—nothing less than their best will earn a win Gerry has a fuller squad to choose from this weekend Iona Russell is set to return after missing the last two matches Our opponents sit eighth in the table with 10 points from their 14 games and come into the match off the back of a 5-1 defeat to Rossvale—the latest in a run of four consecutive losses All supporters are welcome to come down and support the team Full travel details for the match:Sir Alex Ferguson Park,8 Row Avenue,Braehead,Glasgow,G51 4SY Sons fans will have a chance to meet their heroes and raise vital funds at the club’s annual awards night The Community Suite at the Marbill Coaches Stadium will host the event from 7.30pm on Saturday April 26 after what’s been one of the most challenging years in the club’s 153 year history Administration in November came with a 15 point deduction but the players have continued to give it their all in the most difficult of circumstances Sonstrust chairman David Brownlee said: “We know that this has been a difficult season for everyone associated with Dumbarton Football Club but we’re keen to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of the players this season they have continued to perform admirably on it and we felt it only right to mark their efforts by hosting a traditional end of season award night “We also hope that it will be something for fans to look forward to after such a tough campaign – and are sure that it will be a night for everyone to enjoy “This season has also been a historic one for the club as the first ever womens’ side was launched And we’re delighted to say that they will also be along on the evening to celebrate an impressive debut season with the club.” Voting for the Sonstrust Player of the Year prize takes place in the Community Suite prior to this Saturday’s game with Cove Rangers Tickets for the night are priced at £15 with all profits going towards securing the future of the club They are available via Fanbase or at the Marbill Coaches Stadium Visit https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=11278 to purchase The Save our Sons Crowdfunder also remains open at https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-sons-1872 The fundraising efforts so far have been amazing and with the Tam Cowan night a smash hit raising over £12k Our Gofundme total sits at just over £119k Considering the majority of donations have came from individuals Thank you to everyone that has contributed so far we can do this and we can save our club by working together “In our last update we suggested we would hope to be in a position to announce a preferred bidder in early April Discussions are still ongoing with several parties and we hope to formalise the position as quickly as we can we still need everybody’s support to meet the funding gap through to the end of the season Everybody’s support and patience is greatly appreciated.” Supporters attending Tuesday’s match against Arbroath should be aware of the following information match day 28Dumbarton vs ArbroathTuesday 4th March 2025Kick-Off: 7:45pmThe Marbill Coaches Stadium STADIUM ENTRYPlease arrive early to aid entry to the stadium ALL supporters should enter through turnstiles 1 and 2 Bar72 & turnstiles will open at 6:30pm Supporters are reminded that due to recent events all under-16’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult SUPPORTERS BUSArbroath supporters buses are advised that supporters can alight at the stadium Watson Match OfficialsReferee: Ryan LeeAssistant Referee 1: Sean CarrAssistant Referee 2: Jamie AndrewsMatch StatsKey Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time Aron Lynas (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the defensive half Ryan Dow (Arbroath) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner Andy Winter (Arbroath) wins a free kick on the left wing Ryan Dow (Arbroath) wins a free kick on the left wing Ryan Dow (Arbroath) wins a free kick in the attacking half Supporters attending Saturday’s match against Alloa Athletic should be aware of the following information match day 25Dumbarton vs MontroseSaturday 15th February 2025Kick-Off: 3:00pmThe Marbill Coaches Stadium Home supporters should enter through turnstiles 1 and 2 with away supporters entering through turnstiles 3 and 4 All those attending Bar72 before kick-off must first enter via turnstiles 1 and 2 Bar72 & turnstiles will open at 1.30pm Match tickets can be purchased through the Fanbase App or this link: https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=8402 SUPPORTERS BUSMontrose supporters buses are advised that supporters can alight at the stadium Dumbarton Football Club would like to issue the following update after our recent decision surrounding access to matches for under-16’s The decision was not one that the club took lightly and we are in continued correspondence with supporters groups governing bodies and police on the best way forward.  The club have engaged with the Young Sons in the past regarding the dangers of flare and pyros and a statement was released in the week leading up to the Montrose match warning of the dangers and potential impacts The group was also personally spoken to before the match they still found it appropriate to let off a pyrotechnic item during said match This resulted in two people receiving medical attention during the game with one receiving further medical attention throughout the week Supporters between the age of 8 and 12 were ejected from the match.  with the clubs current financial situation we cannot afford a fine or have to represent ourselves to the league as the club is currently being run by mostly volunteers at this time we would like to clarify that under-16’s have not been banned from attending matches at the Marbill Coaches Stadium They are still more than welcome to cheer on their team as long do so in a safe respectful and responsible manner as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult – whether that be a family member friends’ parents or member of a supporters trust Whilst the action may be seen by some to being harsh we hope that you understand why these decisions were made and we are actively working to lift the restriction in time for the new season Sonstrust Representative Cameron Watson will be in Bar 72 from 2:30pm ahead of the Stenhousemuir game to answer any questions and concerns from supporters We hope to see you all the Marbill Coaches Stadium tomorrow afternoon.  making the journey to Gayfield where league leaders Arbroath await for a League One fixture [kick-off 3:00pm] Sons come into the game on the back of three home games in seven days where they were unfortunate to walk away empty handed in defeats to Stenhousemuir are looking to continue their charge for the title as they currently sit five points clear of second placed Cove Rangers having won six of their last seven fixtures The sides met just 10-days ago in front of the BBC Alba cameras at the Marbill Coaches Stadium where an early Michael Ruth goal was cancelled out by Andy Winter and Ryan Dow.  Sons won at Gayfield earlier this season where goals from Carlo Pignatiello Ethan Brown and Finlay Gray secured a 3-1 victory in October Boss Stevie Farrell was gutted for his troops after last weeks sucker punch against Caley and believes they deserved so much more he said: “You go through periods in life when you can’t get a break and that’s happening to us in football at the moment “We were the better side and created the better chances and if anyone deserved to win the game it was us I’m so proud of the players and I told them that.  “The dressing room is together and they are right behind Franko and I They give us everything but more importantly they are giving the fans everything.  “A lot of them are just at the early stages of their footballing careers but they won’t go through anything harder than this.  “Arbroath are doing exceptionally well to find themselves in a good position at the moment but we have more than matched them on all three occasions we’ve met them this season so we know we are capable of getting a result.”  Fans making the journey to Arbroath must purchase tickets in advance by visiting https://arbroathfc.co.uk/ticketing/home-tickets/