Friday 5th August 2016
WHATEVER Dumbarton achieve this season, one of the players could very well write his name into history.
Because after nearly 16 years at what is now the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, the club should score its 500th goal there.
While very little is certain about the coming campaign, Sons currently need only 13 goals at home to ensure the milestone is reached.
As it stands, they are on 487 goals in 319 games at the stadium. This works out at just over 1.5 goals per game.
If that average is maintained, and there are no more home cup ties, then the 500th goal could come during the winter, possibly against Raith Rovers in November or Falkirk in December.
The previous century milestones have been reached as follows:
100th goal – Craig McEwan v Berwick Rangers; Saturday, February 7 2004
200th goal – Tommy Coyne v East Stirlingshire; Saturday, February 24 2007
300th goal – Alan Cook v Ayr United; Saturday, November 13 2010
400th goal – Steven McDougall v Morton; Saturday, August 24 2013
Of the current squad, Garry Fleming is highest scorer at the stadium with 15. If he hits 20 this season, then assuming no other player does, he will be only the fifth player to reach that figure.
Alloa Athletic are, by a distance, the team to have conceded most at the stadium, with Sons scoring 35 goals against them in 17 matches. East Stirlingshire are next on 26, while Raith Rovers, on 24, have conceded the most out of the teams in this season’s Championship.
This season, Morton will also go clear as the most frequent visitors to the stadium. Their second visit on Saturday, April 1 will move them on to 19, two clear of anybody else. However, Sons have only scored 17 goals against them in as many matches at the stadium.
As well as Sons closing in their 500th goal beside the Rock, it is also remotely possible that the 1000th goal in total at the ground will be scored this season. Opposing teams have scored 446 goals, meaning that the running total is currently 933.
This works out at 2.9 goals per game. If this average carries on, then barring an avalanche of home cup ties, the 1000th goal will not be scored this season. However, a couple of high-scoring fixtures could see that change.
But even allowing for all this, Sons would be quite happy for only 18 goals to be scored at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium this season. All of them scored by them, and one in each match.
Join the debate @dumbartonfc and #sons24
Andy Galloway