SONS OF THE ROCK-AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Does anyone know where Dumbarton is in Scotland? You should, it has a football team. In 1995, the new season saw Dumbarton in the First Division of the Scottish League. Murdo MacLeod, the manager, who saw his team win promotion on the final day of the previous season, was poached by Premier League club Partick Thistle, so a new regime had to begin. Dumbarton, managerless at the start of the new season, won their first two games and "the traitor", MacLeod eventually saw his new club relegated in his first season.

Jim Fallon, who had played over 600 games for Clydebank, was brought in to take over at Dumbarton and that is where the trouble began. In his first match in charge, they played Dunfermline Athletic (later division champions) and lost 0-4. Having beaten Dundee United 1-0 next, seven games later they were thumped 0-8 in the return game and things only got worse. The final season's 19 games were lost and the club won more points before Fallon arrived, managerless (6), compared to Fallon's reign (5).

Nevertheless, he was given a new contract and in the first 12 matches of the next season, there was one win and 8 losses. he went and Dumbarton then won three of their next four games. The club dropped two divisions consecutively.
Fallon's total record was: P46 W2 D5 L39.

You might wonder what the elephant (in the room) on the badge is all about? Dumbarton Castle is sited on a volcanic plug (as Edinburgh is) which resembles an elephant (apparently). The club nickname is known as the Sons, as any child born in the town is called. The club founded in 1872 is the 4th oldest Scottish club, after Queen's Park (1867), Kilmarnock (69) and Stranraer (70) and resided at Boghead Park from 1879-2000. They now play at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, overshadowed by the Rock and accommodating just over 2,000 crowd. They presently play in the Championship.