Dumbarton FC's pre-season schedule gathering pace

Jun 19 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

DUMBARTON’S pre-season schedule is gathering pace, with the first friendly match now less than a month away.

And Sons are set to return to the scene of their third division title triumph for Annan Athletic’s annual summer tournament.

First up is a home game against first division runners-up Partick Thistle on Tuesday, July 14, with SPL outfit St Mirren visiting two days later.

The admission prices for these two games will be £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. Collections will be taken at both fixtures for the family of Sons’ captain Gordon Lennon, who tragically died last week.

In a generous gesture, the Buddies have also agreed to donate their share of the gate receipts to the Lennon family.

Then Sons will travel to Annan’s Galabank Stadium to play two games over the weekend of July 18-19.

On the Saturday they will face first division Queen of the South in a game which has a 3.15pm kick-off.

The next day they will play either the host club or Newcastle Benfield, depending on the outcome of the two Saturday games.

If Sons lose to the Doonhamers they will kick off at noon on the Sunday in the third place play-off. If they win, the final starts at 3.15pm.

Relegated English Premier League outfit Middlesbrough are next to visit the Strathclyde Homes Stadium on Tuesday, July 22. Admission prices for this glamour fixture will again be £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

And the competitive season starts with the ALBA Challenge Cup first round tie against Morton, which is now on Sunday, July 26, at 3pm.

Dunfermline Athletic are then visitors to the Rock on Saturday, August 1, in the Co-operative Insurance Cup first round, again with a 3pm kick-off.

The second division fixtures are due to be announced today (Wednesday). For details of who Sons will meet, see www.lennoxherald.co.uk

The full list will also be published in next week’s Lennox Herald.

SONS have completed deals to bring striker Darren Gribben and midfielder Ross O’Donoghue to the Rock for next season.

Gribben was at Berwick last season, while creative midfielder O’Donoghue played for Elgin City. Both have signed one-year deals.