An exhibition celebrating 150 years of Dumbarton Football Club has officially opened.
The club's history is displayed across the Heritage Centre in Dumbarton Library, with memorabilia on show from over the years including silverware, jerseys and other souvenirs and collectibles.
The event was launched at Dumbarton Library on Wednesday evening (October 5) to invited guests from across the football club and local community.
Councillor Douglas McAllister, Provost of West Dunbartonshire, was in charge of proceedings and presented the club with a commemorative plaque, with further comments coming from club chairman, Neil MacKay, and a rendition of ‘Full Circle’ from club poet Stephen Watt, who squeezed the ups and downs of the club's 150-year history into three minutes.
Other invited guests included Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, Jill Young MBE, and MP for West Dunbartonshire, Martin Docherty-Hughes. On the football side, Sons manager Stevie Farrell and first-team player Finlay Gray were both in attendance.
The exhibition was officially opened by life-long Sons fans, Alan and Jake McShannon, who make the weekly trips to follow the club from their home in Campbeltown.
Club historian Jim McAllister was part of the team who helped get the idea off the ground along with programme editor Graeme Robertson and supporters Kit Carson and David Brownlee.
McAllister admits deciding what to display wasn’t an easy process and has urged the local community to come out and take in the history with other events planned for later in the season as the 150-year celebrations continue.
Extensive display
Speaking to the Reporter, he said: “I’m delighted with the way it has turned out.
“Everyone knows about league winning sides and champions, but there are other people involved at the football club who are less heralded and we wanted to mix the two of them and show one or two people that aren’t so well known – people who perhaps made their name away from the football club.
“The major event taking place is this exhibition but we will have a dinner which will be another 150th year celebration and before that we will have a night to induct people into the hall of fame.
“We would invite the people of Dumbarton and elsewhere to come and have a look. We are 150 years old, we’re a proud club and this is what we are about.”
The free to visit exhibition will remain on display until December 17.
The opening hours are: Monday 9:30am-5:00pm, Tuesday 1:00pm-8:00pm, Wednesday 9:30am-8:00pm, Thursday 9:30am-5:00pm, Friday 9:30am-5:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm. The library is closed on Sundays.
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