Deputy Keeper

Indeed. That strip only seen when East Fife, Alloa or Albion Rovers visited Boghead. Memories of Hugh Harra and Ronnie Curran: two of the hardest b***ards ever to don a Sons jersey. They threw away the mould when these two retired!

I believe Ian Wilson is going to raffle 'that' Dumbarton FC supporters' scarf: rarely worn, one careful owner

Accurate summation of the game. Scoreline flattered us. Unless we can get Hutton, McKee and Layne back soon, I think we are up against it. Wilson and Forbes very weak in midfield and that must have an effect on Carswell, who has been off the pace this season. Big two home games coming up!

I wouldn't have used the word 'dominated', but it was a fairly comfortable afternoon for the Sons. We played some neat passing football in the first half and deserved to be ahead. Rovers had their moments with Hendry orchestrating most of their attacks. I was expecting a difficult second half, but Raith were toothless . We offered next to nothing in attack and gave away possession far too easily. However our defence coped easily with anything thrown at them. Connor Brennan didn't have a serious save to make. Our back four all had good games; Kyle Hutton had another fine match; Stuart Carswell had arguably his best game of the season and Ruaridh Langan put in a good shift. A bad day at the office for Raith and clearly their injury list and suspensions took its toll. They will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. The fans who booed them need a reality check. Thinking back to August and the 6v0 drubbing at Falkirk, if you had said then we would be 5 points off the league leaders at Christmas, I would have advised a thorough health check. Jim Duffy and the players deserve huge credit for turning things around.

It was over the line. I had a nice view just along from the pie stall on the far side. The fact that neither Gary Irvine nor Marc McCallum had any complaints tells its own story. Yes, a draw would have been fair overall, but them's the breaks.

At least we hammered them 2v1 in the league match the following week, thanks to a flukey deflected free kick by the legendary Johnny Graham

No lack of effort but decided lack of quality by both teams today. Our defence was solid with Brennan, Neil and Hutton particularly good. Isaac tried hard, but had little or no support with Crossan and Frizzell contributing next to nothing. Stranraer had more of the ball, but their finishing efforts were poor at best. Happy enough with a point all things cosidered. Highlight of the day was catching the 5.00 train back to Glasgow with forty seconds to spare!!

Trouser trouble (allegedly)

Agreed. Gave us some grand goals and still takes a nice set-piece. Disappeared out of games far too often for my liking though and just looks too slow for this level nowadays. Time will tell.

Aaah….memories. I refereed the first game which the newly-named Edinburgh City played in the East of Scotland League on 16th August 1986 at Paties Road recreation ground in Edinburgh. A 2v1 win against Eyemouth United. To be fair, Edinburgh City have progressed a fair way since then!

Remember that one well. There with two Killie-supporting pals, so got bragging rights and safe passage out of Rugby Park. Only ground at which I was ever assaulted was leaving old Bayview after a 2v1 defeat in 1972. Crowd of around 4,000 there for an ordinary league match! Can confirm that Broomfield and Brockville were nightmare trips for visiting linesmen (sic) in the 1980's!!

My understanding is that Brabco have three months to appeal the decision, so I guess it's unlikely that we will see any statement from them in the next week. Meantime I'm sure the Trust will be looking at options for staying at the Rock and considering what the possible ways forward might entail, depending on developments over the next few months.

I'm guessing that was more exciting on the BBC live text than it was to witness. Not the worst no-score draw I've seen. Plenty of effort from both sides, but a dearth of quality. Hardly worth standing all the way from Haymarket to Lockerbie on a seriously overcrowded Transpennine service to Manchester Airport. Good summing up from S08. Much maligned both keepers (somewhat unfairly imo) with a couple of crucial saves each. For us, Liam Dick looks a sound replacement for the injured Boomer. David Smith filled in well for Sam Wardrop; Dowser and Hill solid as ever in central defence; Carswell and Barr competed well in midfield; Froxy had some nice touches in the first half, but faded a bit in the second; the SeaGal just about got pass marks, Walshie was fairly quiet and Ally Roy had a shocker. Still, happy enough with a point at Palmerston. To end the day on a high note, caught the bus back to Lockerbie with a minute to spare and even got a seat on the train home.

You're spot on OKIII. The Binos 6v0 win against Brechin moved them above Saints on goal difference, condemning the Mirren to another season in Division Two. Set up the never-to-be-repeated showdown against Berwick on that memorable Wednesday 3rd May; defeat and we stayed down, a draw would see us promoted behind Arbroath as runners-up, victory and up as champions. The rest as they say is history.

Con Murray was indeed from the 50s. Goalkeeper who played in my first ever Sons match (tempus volat hora fugit); he even kept a clean sheet. Also in the team that day were a young Andy Jardine at left back and the legendary Hughie Gallacher at centre forward.

Ian Durrant appointment wouldn't put any strain on our budget, as no doubt we'll have him fixed up on an EBT.

The latest picture looks like the last match at Boghead versus East Fife. As the late Bob Crampsey used to say, if the football at Boghead was poor, you could always lift your eyes and enjoy the panoramic view of the Kilpatrick hills!

Got to go with Moonster rather than FQ here. The manager can fairly be criticised on a number of his signings. Thinking back though on the last half dozen or so league matches (was fortunate enough to miss the Cup replay), while quality may have been lacking, there has been no lack of effort. In particular, having attended the away games in Paisley, Dumfries and at Easter Road, the players (well, possibly with one notable exception), gave it their absolute all. While I'd agree that the current Board of Directors wouldn't change the management team even if they wanted to, as that would involve investing money in the Club, I don't go along with the idea that the two Stevies' hearts are no longer in it. Sons are indeed a hard watch just now, but for me that's down to the overall quality of player we have at our disposal, rather than any lack of motivation on their part or the manager's..

May have been a 4v3 League Cup defeat at home to Arbroath in August '59. A Sons side featuring veteran ex-Hearts star Freddie Glidden and future Scotland manager John Prentice, lost to a last minute goal from Arbroath legend Dave Easson. Sadly, history repeated itself a few years later. A 4v3 home defeat to Arbroath in Dec '67. Ex-Third Lanark winger Ian Henderson scored a hat-trick for us, but the Lichties equalised late on, then the prolific Jimmy Jack hit a last minute winner

Dumbarton 4 v 0 Arbroath, 2nd November 1957! Hughie Gallacher, Les Brown, Andy Jardine, jumpers for goalposts, small boys lifted over the turnstiles, "Last train to San Fernando" blasting out of the tannoy.........them were the days!!

Understand he was offered a deal with Raith by Grant Murray, just before Murray got the heave-ho. Not sure if that is still on the table.

Christmas Day 1965 - Cowdenbeath 1 v 2 Dumbarton (Tommy Reynolds, Jim Lynas). An omen or what . Can remember the score being read out in Sports Report, broadcast at 5.00pm on the Home Service. ( For younger readers, the mid-sixties equivalent of Radio 5 Live!)

Guys, would be good to get some of the points/concerns made here posted on the "What do you think" section on the Sonstrust website. The owners may not read P&B comments, but they have to be aware, or certainly will be made aware, of comments posted on the Sonstrust site.

Website says Thursday 3rd July. Nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley , then it's a slow journey down to Innerleithen on the 62 bus from St Andrew Square. So if using public transport it's probably an overnight stay . No social club at the Vale, but a picturesque little ground and a couple of nice pubs nearby.