Dunbartonshire Cup

1884-1940

See also

Main index

Club directory

At the first AGM of the Dumbartonshire FA in May 1884, the fifteen member clubs agreed to introduce an annual competition for a cup. To prevent clubs from drafting in players, it was decided to adopt the Scottish FA’s rule of players having to be registered by 1 August. As the county was home to three of the strongest clubs in the world at the time - Dumbarton, Renton and Vale of Leven - the Dumbartonshire FA Cup was ranked second only to the Scottish FA Cup in importance.

With around 16 to 19 participants each year, Renton demanded in 1888 that a Qualifying Round be introduced to reduce the number of, what they referred to as meaningless matches. When this was refused they withdrew from the competition and only returned in 1894. A ‘qualifying’ round as such was introduced from the 1891-92 edition however. Eleven clubs battled through to the Semi Final stage where they met Dumbarton and Vale of Leven who had been granted byes to this point.

At the end of the 19^th Century, the competition adopted a league format with the top two playing off in a final.

The competition continued to be played for right up to the Second World War. However the demise of Vale of Leven, Clydebank and Helensburgh in the 1920s and 1930s left Dumbarton as being the only senior club left in the county. The Dumbartonshire FA was subsequently disbanded and Dumbarton joined the Stirlingshire FA, where they have been regular winners of the Stirlingshire FA Cup.

Winners
1884-85 1885-86 1886-87 1887-88 1888-89 1889-90 1890-91 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 1896-97 1897-98 1898-99 1899-00 1900-01 1901-02 1902-03 1903-04 1904-05 1905-06 1906-07 1907-08 1908-09 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12	Dumbarton Vale of Leven Renton Vale of Leven Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Renton Vale of Leven Dumbarton Dumbarton Vale of Leven Vale of Leven Vale of Leven no competition no competition Vale of Leven Vale of Leven Vale of Leven Renton Dumbarton Dumbarton Harp Vale of Leven Dumbarton Harp	1912-13 1913-14 1914-15 1915-16 1916-17 1917-18 1918-19 1919-20 1920-21 1921-22 1922-23 1923-24 1924-25 1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 1931-32 1932-33 1933-34 1934-35 1935-36 1936-37 1937-38 1938-39 1939-40	Dumbarton Harp Renton Dumbarton Clydebank Clydebank Clydebank Clydebank Clydebank Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Clydebank Helensburgh Dumbarton Helensburgh Clydebank Clydebank Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Vale Ocoba Vale Ocoba Dumbarton Dumbarton no competition no competition Dumbarton

1884-85 First Round (1 Nov) Dalmuir Thistle v Dumbarton Union Dumbarton v Renton Dumbarton Athletic v Dunbritton Jamestown v Vale of Leven Levendale v Dumbarton Albion Dumbarton Rock v Vale of Leven Wanderers Yoker v Carlile Second Round (13 Dec) Dumbarton v Helensburgh Athletic Dumbarton Union v Yoker Vale of Leven v Vale of Leven Wanderers (20 Dec, 27 Dec, 10 Jan) Dumbarton Athletic v Dumbarton Albion *protested matches, both replays at Boghead Park (Dumbarton FC) Semi Final (17 Jan) Dumbarton v Yoker (24 Jan) Dumbarton Athletic v Vale of Leven Final (4 Apr) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven

0-8 4-0 wo-scr 1-4 scr-wo 2-6 8-0 10-1 3-7 2-1 5-2*, 1-2*, 3-0 3-1 0-1 3-0

1885-86 First Round (10 Oct) Dalmuir Thistle v Dunbritton Dumbarton v Bonhill Dumbarton Athletic v Lenzie Dumbarton Union v Levendale Helensburgh Athletic v Dumbarton Rock Kirkintilloch Athletic v Renton (17 Oct) Dumbarton Albion v Vale of Leven Yoker v Vale of Leven Wanderers Second Round ? v Dalmuir Thistle Third Round (21 Nov) Dumbarton Athletic v Jamestown (28 Nov, 5 Dec) Dumbarton Union v Vale of Leven Wanderers (28 Nov, 26 Dec) Dumbarton v Renton (28 Nov) Helensburgh Athletic v Vale of Leven *protested match Semi Final (23 Jan) Vale of Leven v Vale of Leven Wanderers (13 Feb) Dumbarton Athletic v Dumbarton Final (27 Feb, 6 Mar, both at Renton) Vale of Leven v Dumbarton

wo-scr 7-0 wo-scr wo-scr wo-scr 0-4 0-8 0-6 6-0 3-3.1-5 0-1*, 2-0 1-6 3-0 2-1 1-1, 2-1

1886-87 First Round (30 Oct) Dalmuir Thistle v Yoker Dumbarton v Dumbarton Rock Jamestown v Dumbarton Union Renton v Dumbarton Albion Second Round (20 Nov) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Vale of Leven Athletic Kirkintilloch Centra1 v Dumbarton Union Methlan Park v Dumbarton Athletic Vale of Leven v Helensburgh Vale of Leven Wanderers v Bonhill Yoker v Dumbarton (27 Nov) Renton v Vale of Leven Hibernian (4 Dec) Dumbarton Hibernian v Duntocher Third Round (11 Dec) Dumbarton v Renton Dumbarton Athletic v Vale of Leven Wanderers Dumbarton Union v Duntocher Vale of Leven v Kirkintilloch Athletic Semi Final (5 Feb, 12 Feb, 19 Feb) Dumbarton Athletic v Renton Vale of Leven v Dumbarton Union Final (2 Mar and 30 Mar, both at Boghead Park, Dumbarton, Att.: 1st game 4000) Renton v Vale of Leven

0-4 wo-scr 3-4 wo-scr 4-0 0-8 1-9 8-2 wo-scr 0-9 9-0 scr-wo 1-2 3-1 3-0 wo-scr 0-0, 0-0, 0-2 4-0 2-2, 5-0

1887-88 First Round (29 Oct) Dumbarton Athletic v Bowling Dumbarton Thistle v Vale of Leven Wanderers Kirkintilloch Central v Dumbarton Harp Second Round (19 Nov) Dumbarton v Methlan Park Dumbarton Albion v Dumbarton Athletic Kirkintilloch Athletic v Bonhill Kirkintilloch Central v Vale of Leven Wanderers Renton v Vale of Leven Hibernian Dumbarton Rock v Jamestown Vale of Leven v Dumbarton Union (19 Nov, 3 Dec) Duntocher Union v Dalmuir Thistle Third Round (10 Dec) Bonhill v Vale of Leven Wanderers Dalmuir Thistle v Vale of Leven Jamestown v Dumbarton Athletic Renton v Dumbarton Semi Final (21 Jan) Dumbarton Athletic v Renton Vale of Leven v Vale of Leven Wanderers Final (11 Feb at St James’ Park, Dumbarton) Vale of Leven v Renton

w-o-scr scr-wo 9-1 9-0 0-10 1-2 4-10 9-1 scr-wo 9-1 2-2, 4-6 2-5 0-7 2-3 1-0 0-6 2-1 2-1

1888-89 First Round (27 Oct) Dumbarton Athletic v Dumbarton Union Kirkintilloch Central v Methlan Park Second Round (17 Nov) Bowling v Vale of Leven Wanderers Dumbarton v Dumbarton Thistle Jamestown v Dalmuir Thistle Kirkintilloch Athletic v Vale of Leven Old Kilpatrick v Clydebank Vale of Leven Hibernian v Dumbarton Albion Third Round (8 Dec) Clydebank v Dumbarton Athletic Dumbarton v Vale of Leven Wanderers Jamestown v Vale of Leven Vale of Leven Hibernian v Methlan Park Semi Final (19 Jan) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven Dumbarton Athletic v Methlan Park Final (19 Feb at Boghead Park, Dumbarton) Dumbarton v Dumbarton Athletic

0-8 0-8 scr-wo wo-scr 4-2 0-5 0-3 wo-scr 1-4 5-0 0-7 1-8 3-1 2-1 6-2

1889-90 First Round (26 Oct) Clydebank v Dumbarton Thistle Duntocher Harp v Dumbarton Albion Jamestown v Dumbarton Rock Kirkintilloch Athletic v Dumbarton Methlan Park v Dalmuir Thistle Dumbarton Union v Bowling Vale of Leven v Old Kilpatrick Vale of Leven Wanderers v Kirkintilloch Central Second Round (10 Nov) Dumbarton v Jamestown Vale of Leven v Clydebank (17 Nov) Vale of Leven Wanderers v Dumbarton Union (24 Nov) Methlan Park v Duntocher Harp Semi Final (7 Dec) Dumbarton v Methlan Park Vale of Leven Wanderers v Vale of Leven Final (1 Mar at Boghead Park, Dumbarton. Att.: 5000) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven

wo-scr wo-scr 0-2 2-0 4-1 7-1 8-1 2-0 3-2 4-1 2-4 2-0

1890-91 First Round (1 Nov) Dumbarton Rock v Duntocher Harp Old Kilpatrick v Kirkintilloch Athletic Methlan Park v Clydebank Dumbarton Union v Clydebank Athletic Bowling v Dalmuir Thistle Dumbarton Albion v Dumbarton Vale of Leven v Dumbarton Thistle (1 Nov, 8 Nov) Jamestown v Vale of Leven Wanderers Second Round (22 Nov) Dumbarton Union v Vale of Leven Duntocher Harp v Dumbarton (22 Nov, 29 Nov) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Jamestown (29 Nov) Clydebank v Dalmuir Thistle *match abandoned Semi Final (13 Dec) Clydebank v Dumbarton (13 Dec, 20 Dec) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Vale of Leven Final (14 Feb at Boghead Park, Dumbarton. Att.: 4000) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven

scr-wo 3-7 0-2 3-1 1-8 scr-wo wo-scr 4-4, 12-1 3-5 2-10 3-1*, 4-0 3-0 1-4 0-0, 0-12 4-1

1891-92 First Round (31 Oct) Clydebank v Duntocher Harp Dalmuir Thistle v Bowling Old Kilpatrick v Dumbarton Union (7 Nov, 21 Nov) Clydebank Athletic v Jamestow (14 Nov) Smithston Hibernian v Kirkintilloch Athletic Second Round (21 Nov) Smithston Hibernian v Clydebank Dalmuir Thistle v Methlan Park (5 Dec, 12 Dec) Jamestown v Dumbarton Union Third Round (30 Jan, 6 Feb, 27 Feb) Dumbarton Union v Methlan Park Semi Final (27 Feb) Vale of Leven v Smithston Hibernian (12 Mar) Dumbarton v Methlan Park Final (16 Apr at Boghead Park, Dumbarton. Att.: 3000) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven

3-1 6-1 1-6 2-2 10-2 4-3 2-3 3-3, 0-2 2-2, 2-2, 2-4 2-0 9-0 2-0

1892-93 First Round (29 Oct) Levendale v Dalmuir Thistle (29 Oct, 19 Nov) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Dumbarton Union *Protested match Second Round (26 Nov, 17 Dec) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Bowling (Kirkintilloch awarded tie) (17 Dec, 21 Jan) Smithston Hibernian v Clydebank *Friendly played when referee failed to appear ** Protested matches Third Round (21 Jan) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Levendale Semi Final (28 Jan) Levendale v Smithston Hibernian (28 Jan, 4 Feb) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven Final Dumbarton v Levendale

6-2 2-0*, 2-1 1-1*, 2-1** 1-0**. 7-1 1-2 4-2 1-1, 6-2

1893-94 First Round (28 Oct, ) Kirkintilloch Athletic v Dumbarton Union Duntocher Harp v Radnor Park Second Round (18 Nov) Dalmuir Thistle v Kirkintilloch Athletic Duntocher Harp v Clydebank Semi Final (16 Dec) Duntocher Harp v Dalmuir Thistle (30 Dec) Vale of Leven v Dumbarton Final (21 Apr at Castle Grounds, Dalmuir) Dumbarton v Duntocher Harp

1-1, - 9-0 2-1 wo-scr 5-2 1-3 4-1

1894-95 First Round (20 Oct, 24 Nov) Dalmuir Thistle v Duntocher Harp *Protested match Second Round (22 Dec) Duntocher Harp v Newtown Thistle Semi Final (2 Feb) Renton v Newtown Thistle (27 Apr) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven Final (25 May at Boghead Park, Dumbarton) Dumbarton v Renton

2-4*, 2-3 2-3 7-1 5-0 2-1

1895-96 First Round (30 Nov) Newtown Thistle v Duntocher Harp Semi Final (1 Feb) Helensburgh Union v Renton (8 Feb) Dumbarton v Newtown Thistle Final (14 Mar. Att.: 4000) Renton v Dumbarton

wo-scr 0-2 5-1 3-0

1896-97 First Round (6 Feb) Vale of Leven v Helensburgh Semi Final (27 Mar) Renton v Vale of Leven (3 Apr) Newtown Thistle v Dumbarton Final (24 Apr at Tontine Park, Renton) Vale of Leven v Dumbarton

4-0 1-2 3-4 3-2

1897-98 Semi Final (5 Mar) Renton v Vale of Leven Final (26 Mar at Tontine Park, Renton. Att.: 3000) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven

0-4 3-2

1898-99 Semi Final – 2 legs (11 Feb, 25 Feb) Vale of Leven v Dumbarton (11 Feb, 11 Mar) Renton v Jamestown Final (22 Apr at Millburn Park, Alexandria. Att.: 600) Dumbarton v Renton

3-2, 0-4 3-0, 4-0 6-3

1899-1900 Known results (23 Sep) Dumbarton v Clydebank (7 Oct) Renton v Vale of Leven (28 Oct) Dumbarton v Renton (4 Nov) Clydebank v Vale of Leven (11 Nov) Clydebank v Renton (18 Nov) Vale of Leven v Renton Clydebank v Dumbarton (25 Nov) Renton v Clydebank (2 Dec) Dumbarton v Vale of Leven (9 Dec) Vale of Leven v Renton (16 Dec) Vale of Leven v Dumbarton (23 Dec) Vale of Leven v Clydebank Final (24 Mar at Boghead Park, Dumbarton) Vale of Leven v Renton

4-5 1-1 3-2 2-2 4-2 4-0 0-0 5-2 2-1 1-2 5-3

The following Dumbartonshire clubs were in existence between 1900 and 1939 and may have entered the cup during this time.

Carfin Emmet Clydebank Dumbarton Dumbarton Albion Dumbarton Harp Helensburgh Lennox Amateurs Renton 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers Vale Ocoba Vale of Leven [1] Vale of Leven [2]

1899 to 1909 1914 to 1931 1889 to date 1880 to 1902 1894 to 1925 1896 to 1928 1908 to 1910 1881 to 1921 1907 to 1909 1930 to 1937 1872 to 1928 1939 to 1940

Source: The Clydebank Historian