Thursday 31st October 2019
WHEN October 31 comes around every year, people look for all things spooky.
Well, we reckon we’ve got one right here as Halloween descends upon us for 2019.
Did you know that our last two matches played on this date have been against teams managed by the same manager?
And that that boss is none other than…our present gaffer, Jim Duffy?
As strange as it sounds, the last two occasions when Halloween has fallen on a Saturday, Jim has been in the opposition dugout at what is now the C&G Systems Stadium.
The more recent of those occasions was in 2015, when Jim’s Morton team were 2-1 winners against Dumbarton.
Darren Barr scored the equaliser for Sons that day, only for the Greenock side to steal victory late in the game.
Six years earlier, in 2009, Jim was Brechin City’s manager when they were also visitors to G82 on October 31. That match ended in a goalless draw.
As for our overall record on Halloween, well, that is pretty scary. We’ve only won on October 31 once since 1914 – that occasion being in 1987 when we defeated Hamilton Accies 2-1 at Boghead Park.
We should get a chance to address that next year, as Halloween 2020 falls on a Saturday.
In the meantime, the most pressing concern is Saturday’s trip to face Airdrieonians, a game where Jim will very much be Dumbarton’s manager!
A Happy Halloween to all Sons fans, and we will see you at the Penny Cars Stadium on Saturday.