Clydebank 3
Dumbarton 0
Friendly

  1. Home
  2. Matches
  3. Match Details

Clydebank
3 - 0
 Dumbarton

Friendly
Thursday, August 1st, 1985
New Kilbowie Park
7:30 PM Kick-off
Goalscorers
Mike Larnach  (27)
(Assist Jimmy Given)
Vinnie Moore  (69)
(Assist Mike Larnach)
Billy McGhie  (75)
(Assist Davie Shanks)
 		None.

Team Managers
Sammy Henderson
 Unknown.

Starting Eleven
1 Jim Gallacher
2 Mark Treanor
3 Jimmy Given
4 Jim Fallon
5 Stewart Auld
6 Davie Shanks
7 Gerry Ronald
8 Vinnie Moore
9 Mike Larnach
10 Mike Conroy
11 Gerry McCabe
 Unknown.

Bench
Billy McGhie
Ally Graham
Martin Hughes
Joe Dickson
John Davies
 None.

Substitutions
Ally Graham for Mike Larnach
Joe Dickson for Mark Treanor
Martin Hughes for Vinnie Moore
John Davies for Gerry Ronald
Billy McGhie for Stewart Auld (67)
 None.

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

D Hope (Referee)
J Stevenson & A Nairn (Assistants)



Match Report

This was the first time for supporters to see the Bankies in action as we embarked on our first Premier League campaign since 1977.

Unlike our last time in the top flight, the club would remain part-time with the aim of breaking even. The focus would continue to be about bringing players through the youth set up with Stewart Auld from Pollok being the only signing of note. As the season approached Gerry McCabe, Martin Hughes, Budgie McGhie, and Joe Dickson had all still not agreed new contracts and would need to sign short term deals to be able to play competitively. The best news was that Jim Fallon had agreed to play one more season for the club. He had been on the verge of hanging up his boots at that start of the previous season, but just days before the campaign had got under way, he was persuaded to continue. With the Bankies now promoted to the Premier League, Fallon clearly fancied another crack at the top flight — who could resist that challenge?

Off the pitch, there was change too. Clydebank would have a new kit from Spall, and for the first time, a shirt sponsor in Central Car Auctions. True to form, the shirts wouldn’t arrive until the opening day. Ian Steedman appealed to the town to rally behind the club, noting the significant effort to secure sponsorship, with nearly all trackside advertising already sold. Yet the wider backdrop was challenging: the 1980s had brought declining attendances across the UK amid a decade of economic hardship. Clydebank felt it acutely, with the recent closure of the Singer Sewing Machine factory and the demise of John Brown’s shipyard still fresh in memory. It would take a few more years before the clouds began to lift.

On the pitch, the opening game against Dumbarton and a follow-up challenge match against Morton were hastily arranged. Planned friendlies against Bradford City and Barnsley had been scrapped due to uncertainty surrounding the ban on English sides in Europe following the Heysel disaster. There is a curious phenomenon when clubs are promoted: sometimes they adopt the persona of the division above. The Bankies looked a cut above Dumbarton, themselves freshly relegated from the Premier League. There was a quiet confidence at Kilbowie Park, and the supporters were eager for the season to truly begin.
Modern reflection by Stuart McBay (18th September 2025)


Reports from the Time


Clydebank Post


Clydebank strolled to a 3-0 victory over Dumbarton in their first pre-season friendly at Kilbowie last Thursday.

The Bankies attacked the Sons straight from the kick-off and should have been two up in ten minutes, when both Mike Conroy and Mike Larnach tried to round the Son's 'keeper with attempts.

Clydebank were creating chances with almost every move, and a goal had to come.

In 27 minutes Larnach won a corner on the left after good work by Vinnie Moore and from the short corner Jimmy Given rocketed in a low shot which Mike Larnach stooped to head past the Son's 'keeper and put Clydebank one up.

Minutes later Larnach headed just wide and then Conroy went close after some brilliant play by Gerry McCabe.

Larnach again just headed wide from a Given free. And after a brilliant move involving Moore and Larnach, Conroy's header flashed past the post.

Clydebank started the second-half as if they really meant business. Twice Moore was foiled by tremendous saves from the keeper and Conroy and McCabe also went close.

Then after the best move of the match, stretching the whole length of the pitch involving McCabe, Moore and Conroy, Larnach's header came back off the bar.

Although he hit the rebound in it was disallowed for a foul on the 'keeper.

Midway through the second half, Clydebank's new signing Stuart Auld from Pollok was replaced by Budgie McGhie.

Two minutes later, after great recovery work on the far side by Larnach, Moore swivelled and volleyed the ball high into the net from 18 yards.

And in 75 minutes McGhie headed home from a Davie Shanks cross to put Clydebank three up.

With only a few minutes to go and the Bankies coasting, Jim Gallagher made a great save, his first of the match, from Dumbarton's McCoy.

In the second half Clydebank made five changes with McGhie, Martin, Hughes, John Davies, Ally Graham and Joe Dickson replacing Auld, Moore, Gerry Ronald, Larnach and Mark Treanor.

This really was an impressive performance by Clydebank against a team who nearly stayed in the Premier League last season and who rarely lost three goals.

Particularly impressive was Vinnie Moore and as Dumbarton closed McCabe down in the second half, Ronald and Shanks took over and played very well.

New signing Auld also played solidly at the back.

If Clydebank continue to show this kind of form they will shock some teams next season and this game has proved that their pool has strength in depth.




Squad Statistics (as at August 1st, 1985)

1985-86 All Time
League Cups All







Recent Results

League results since Clydebank's last match
None.

League Table (as at August 1st, 1985)

Pld W D L +/- Pts

No games played.