IN the days before the M74 extension became a reality, it was 97 long miles.
The distance between Dumfries and Dumbarton probably felt like even more to Sons fans at around 5pm on Saturday, August 13, 1994. It was the club’s first competitive fixture since the 1993/94 campaign ended in relegation, which only manifested itself because of league reconstruction.
Five teams were to suffer demotion from the First Division as a result of the change of Scottish league setup to four divisions of 10. Above Brechin City, Morton, Clyde and Stirling Albion, Dumbarton were the highest-ranked of the quintet who took the plunge. It may sound unlucky but Sons’ fate was confirmed with three games to spare at, of all places, Clydebank. A 2-0 defeat at New Kilbowie Park meant that Sons could no longer catch up with Ayr United, who ended up finishing six points ahead of them in the final standings.
The August trip to Dumfries was chapter one of a 36-game story which would see Murdo MacLeod’s men attempt to bounce back to the second tier at the first time of asking. Although away from home, it wasn’t thought to be the toughest task to start with, as Queens had been mainstays of the Second Division for some time. But the 4-1 defeat which was handed down gave only an impression that a long, hard season was in store. A Martin Mooney goal was all that was on show at Palmerston Park to offer any hope that Sons were on their way back up.
They knew before a ball was kicked how strong the competition would be. The four teams relegated with them would all share their aspirations of getting back to the First Division. Queen of the South’s four-goal haul gave a strong impression that they would be a force to be reckoned with.
Throw in Berwick Rangers, Stenhousemuir and Meadowbank Thistle. Had two teams been promoted at the end of the 1993/94 season, all three would have finished it in the throes of a titanic battle for second spot behind champions Stranraer. Instead, because of the league reconstruction, only the Stair Park men went up. Berwick, Stenny and Meadowbank all had another chance at winning promotion in 1994/95.
Add East Fife, a side who themselves had been through more than one close call at winning promotion in recent years, and you had a strong line-up. One which Dumbarton had to overcome to return to the First Division.
Little did any supporter making the dispirited journey north from Dumfries know that they had just witnessed the start of what is still referred to as ‘Forthbank season’. The same minimal amount was probably known by MacLeod and his players on their bus journey home.
No-one knew that the heavy defeat at Palmerston was the first instalment of a campaign which continues to be revered by any player, official or supporter who was around the club at the time.
It didn’t take off straight away. Another four-goal concession followed three nights later, although this time it was in more understandable circumstances, at home to Hearts in the League Cup first round. The Jambos’ goals were scored by John Robertson, John Millar and Allan Johnston (twice) – a clear sign of how formidable a task Sons faced as they went down 4-0.
However, the Second Division campaign was slow to get going. Of the first five league fixtures, only one ended in victory, and that was with the assistance of an injury time winner at home to Morton. By the time the sixth league match came around, at home to Clyde, Dumbarton had some catching up to do.
From there, they embarked on a journey that contained frustrating episode upon ground-out victory upon storming, goal-laden performance. And it all ended with an afternoon at Stirling which was straight out of any sporting drama.
Twenty years on from that defeat at Dumfries, here Dumbarton are again. Twenty years. The same length of time as the subject of Deacon Blue’s song ‘Dignity’ had been “a worker for the council”.
The league season has already started, again with a disappointing reverse away to a team in blue and white. No-one is pretending that Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Raith Rovers is the start of another promotion-winning campaign. All that most people aspire to is to stay in the Championship.
However, as Queen of the South again lie in wait, at the Rock this Saturday, it can be guaranteed that there’ll be episodes fit to match those of the 1994/95 term. A season when legends were made, or some consolidated such a position, at Dumbarton.
You can spend this season re-living every fixture of ‘Forthbank season’ in the club’s matchday programme, Sons View. And there’ll be more on The Dumbarton Terrace as the campaign progresses.
The Dumbarton Terrace 