Thursday 27th August 2020
DUMBARTON have recruited a new groundskeeper, with Jim Paton the man tasked with looking after the pitch at the C&G Systems Stadium.
The 66-year-old is switching sports, having spent 45 years as a golf greenkeeper, a role he has fulfilled at courses throughout the country.
But tending to a DFC pitch will not be something completely new to Jim, as he turfed the goalmouths at Boghead Park while the late Dick Jackson was groundsman.
Jim replaces Alan Brown, who left the club with our best wishes earlier this month. Everybody at the club extends a warm welcome to him.
Jim said: “After leaving Vale of Leven Academy I spent three years at the West of Scotland Agricultural College where I qualified with an OND in Amenity Horticulture.
“I also achieved the City and Guilds Stage 3 Organisation and Management qualification.
“I started my greenkeeping career at Helensburgh Golf Club when Douglas Dalgleish was greens convener.
“In 1979 I moved to Islay as head greenkeeper at the Machrie Hotel Golf Course. Then in 1981 I moved back to the mainland to Ayrshire, where I took up the position of golf course manager at West Kilbride Golf Club.
“This was a position I held for 39 years before retiring at the end of last year.”
As well as his previous experience with Sons, Jim is also a man with strong local connections.
He added: “I look forward to being involved with Dumbarton FC again as I used to turf the goalmouths during the close season at Boghead, many moons ago when Dick Jackson was the groundsman.
“I was born in Helensburgh and when my mother and father took me home it was to a house in Wallace Street, just up the road from the ground.
“My first recollection of football was at Boghead as my mother’s family stayed in Lennox Road, not far from Boghead.
“I look forward to this position and feel sure I can add my expertise, knowledge and contact list I have built up to improve and help the club.”
Welcome to DFC Jim!
Andy Galloway