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The Dumbarton Football Stadium, known as the Marbill Coaches Stadium and commonly known as The Rock, is a stadium in Dumbarton, Scotland, used mostly for football matches; it is the home ground of Dumbarton Football Club and, as of 2023, Broomhill Football Club. The stadium has a capacity of 2,020,[1] and was built in 2000 after the move away from Dumbarton's former home, Boghead Park. It was built on part of the site formerly occupied by Denny's shipyard. The stadium is 5–10 minutes walk from Dumbarton East railway station[3] on the North Clyde Line. Dumbarton have the third smallest stadium in the SPFL.
 The stadium seen from Dumbarton Rock | |
  Marbill Coaches Stadium Location in West Dunbartonshire | |
| Former names |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Castle Road Dumbarton G82 1JJ |
| Coordinates | 55°56′18″N 4°33′41″W / 55.93833°N 4.56139°W |
| Owner | Dumbarton F.C. |
| Capacity | 2,020[1][2] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 2000 |
| Tenants | |
| Dumbarton Football Club (2000–) Broomhill FC (2023–) | |
History
editThe stadium has just one stand, officially opened on Saturday 2 December 2000 prior to the visit of Elgin City; a match which ended 3–0 to the Sons. It is nicknamed The Rock by fans, as it is adjacent to Dumbarton Castle. Open areas ring the three sides without stands.
The Scotland international team have also used the stadium for training purposes before playing home matches.[4] Celtic have used the stadium for UEFA Youth League home games.
In 2023, Lowland Football League side Broomhill announced a deal to move from Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld and play their matches in Dumbarton.
Aside from football the stadium also hosts many other events; wedding receptions, conferences & parties.
Names
editThe original name of the stadium, Strathclyde Homes Stadium, changed after the stadium sponsor, Strathclyde Homes, went into receivership in September 2011.[5] On 18 February 2012, the stadium was officially renamed Dumbarton Football Stadium, sponsored by DL Cameron.[6] It was renamed again, just five months later on 20 July 2012, The Bet Butler Stadium.[7] On 9 July 2015, the stadium was unveiled as the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, after fan Alex Couper and his company took over the sponsorship.[8] At the end of the 2016–17 season the name reverted to Dumbarton Football Stadium.[9] In July 2017 the club agreed a deal with local radio station Your Radio, which would see the stadium known as 'The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium' for at least the next two years.[10] That deal was cancelled in May 2018 with Your Radio facing an uncertain future,[11] with C&G Systems agreeing a three-year deal a week later.[12] In September 2021 Manchester-based housing specialists Moreroom agreed a deal with the club to be the sponsors for the 2021-22 season and the name of the stadium was changed to the Moreroom.com Stadium.[13] Following the dissolution of Moreroom in 2023, the name reverted to The Dumbarton Football Stadium.[14] In July 2024 Marbill Coaches bought the naming rights, with the ground renamed The Marbill Coaches Stadium.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "The YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium (The Rock Stadium) –". Stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ "Dumbarton Football Club -Directions and Prices". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ Dumbarton investigate new stadium, BBC Sport, 4 July 2009.
- ^ STADIUM SPONSORSHIP Archived 18 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, dumbartonfootballclub.com, 12 September 2011.
- ^ STADIUM SPONSORSHIP, dumbartonfootballclub.com, 18 February 2012.
- ^ STADIUM IS RENAMED, dumbartonfootballclub.com, 20 July 2012.
- ^ STADIUM SPONSORSHIP, dumbartonfootballclub.com, 10 July 2015.
- ^ Findlay, Alan. "SPONSORSHIP DEAL ENDS". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ Findlay, Alan. "SPONSORSHIP NEWS - YOUR RADIO ON BOARD". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT - YOUR RADIO". Dumbarton Football Club. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Barrow, Simon (5 May 2018). "C&G SYSTEMS ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSORS". Dumbarton Football Club.
- ^ "MOREROOM EXTENSIONS LTD ARE DUMBARTON'S MAIN HOME SHIRT AND STADIUM SPONSORS FOR SEASON 2021/22". Dumbarton Football Club. 17 September 2021.
- ^ Clarke, Fraser (2 March 2022). "Claims Dumbarton FC's major sponsors still to pay for stadium and shirt deals". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "MARBILL COACHES ARE NEW STADIUM SPONSOR". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.