Dalbeattie Star F.C. Explained

Clubname:Dalbeattie Star
Fullname:Dalbeattie Star Football Club
Nickname:The Star
Founded:1905, re-formed 1976
Ground:Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie
Capacity:1,320 (100 seated)
Chairman:Kenny Murray
Manager:Eddie “The Seagull” Warwick
Pattern B1:_jomapisa2rb
Leftarm1:FF0000
Body1:FF0000
Rightarm1:FF0000
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:FF0000
Pattern B2:_jomapisa2rbw
Pattern So2:_jomapremier2rbwl
Leftarm2:0044FF
Body2:0044FF
Rightarm2:0044FF
Shorts2:0044FF
Website:https://dalbeattiestarfc.com/
Pattern So1:_jomapremier2rbl

Dalbeattie Star Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway. It currently competes in the .

The club had previously played in the Lowland League. Home matches are played at Islecroft Stadium in Dalbeattie, and as an SFA member they also play in the Scottish Cup.

History

The club was founded in 1905 but folded in 1948. It was re-formed in 1976, playing in the South of Scotland League.

In 2001 Dalbeattie joined the East of Scotland League, playing in the league for eight seasons and finishing as runners-up in 2008–09, before returning to the South of Scotland League.

They reached the third round of the 2008–09 Scottish Cup, before losing to Highland League side Forres Mechanics 2–4 after extra time, following a very creditable 2–2 draw at Mosset Park.

The Star finished runners-up behind Threave Rovers in their first season back in the South of Scotland League,and the Castle Douglas side prevailed again in 2010–11. Although pushed all the way, a 0–2 home defeat by Threave in the penultimate game of the season tipped the title race in favour of the champions.

Stadium Name:Islecroft Stadium
Location:Dalbeattie, Scotland
Pushpin Map:Scotland Dumfries and Galloway
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Dumfries and Galloway
Pushpin Label Position:left
Coordinates:54.935°N -3.8174°W
Opened:1950
Surface:Grass[1]
Tenants:Dalbeattie Star
Seating Capacity:1,320 (100 seated)
Dimensions:96 x 64m

In 2011–12, Dalbettie won the South of Scotland League for the first time since 1988–89, finishing the league season unbeaten having won 21 of the 24 matches. The title was clinched with a 1–1 draw away to Threave Rovers, the defending champions. As well as the league, the Star also won four cups – the Challenge Cup, League Cup, Potts Cup and the Haig Gordon Cup, meaning the 2011–12 season was one of the best ever in the club's history.

The following season, 2012–13, Star retained the league title with a couple of games to spare, though their long unbeaten league was ended (41 games). The South of Scotland Challenge Cup and the League Cup were also retained with wins over Nithsdale Wanderers and Threave Rovers, and the Tweedie Cup was won with another victory over Threave.

In the summer of 2013 Star joined the newly formed Lowland League. In the inaugural season of the league Star finished a creditable third and though 2013–14 was not trophy laden like the previous two seasons, significant progress was made on the park with some excellent results and performances. There were big disappointments as well, none more so than a second SFA South Region Challenge Cup final defeat in a row, this time to East Kilbride (0–2) at Palmerston.[2] The following season the club finished fourth in the league but again missed out on silverware in the cups. Manager Paul McGinley announced in February that he would be stepping down at the end of the season.[3] Darren Kerr was named as the new boss for 2015–16 season. In his four years in charge, Star won the South of Scotland Challenge Cup twice (2016–17 & 2017–18)[4] and held on to their Lowland League status. At the end of season 2018–19 Kerr left the club by mutual consent[5] and was replaced by Ritchie Maxwell, who had enjoyed a highly successful nine-year spell as a player at Islecroft.[6]

In 2021–22 Star won their first five league matches and briefly sat top of the Lowland League though they would end the term 12th. The club enjoyed their best Scottish Cup run for a number of years including a first away win over a Highland League side when they beat Rothes 1–0. Midway through the season manager Ritchie Maxwell announced he would have to step down due to a change in his work circumstances and his assistant Chris Jardine took over for the remainder. He led the team to Southern Counties Challenge Cup success beating Caledonian Braves 3–2 in the final at Galabank. He too had to turn the job down due to work and Jordan Williamson was announced as the new manager for season 2022–23 after leading St. Cuthbert Wanderers to the South league title. Unfortunately things did not work out well under Williamson's leadership and he was soon replaced by Eddie Warwick. However Star's ten-year stay in the Lowland League eventually came to an end with relegation and a return to the South of Scotland League.

In season 2023–24, Star won the South of Scotland League title.

Ground

Dalbeattie Star play their home matches at Islecroft Stadium, in the northeast of the town.[7] It has a capacity of 1,320 and features a 100-seater stand. Floodlights were added in 2016.[8]

Current squad

As of 13 June 2024[9]

Coaching staff

Position Name
ManagerEddie Warwick
Assistant ManagerMark McMinn
1st Team CoachDavid Taylor
1st Team CoachMichael Devlin
1st Team CoachCammy Sinclair
Sports ScientistFarrel O’Sullivan

Season-by-season record

Lowland League

SeasonDiv.Pos.Pld.WDLPts.Scottish Cup
Dalbeattie Star
2013–14Lowland League3rd221174402nd Round, losing to Montrose
2014–15Lowland League4th261196422nd Round, losing to Linlithgow Rose
2015–16Lowland League9th2810612361st Round, losing to Fraserburgh
2016–17Lowland League5th3014511471st Round, losing to Wick Academy
2017–18Lowland League14th307815291st Round, losing to BSC Glasgow
2018–19Lowland League14th285716221st Round Replay, losing to Kelty Hearts
2019–20Lowland League15th†233218111st Round, losing to Gala Fairydean Rovers
2020–21Lowland League15th†101275Preliminary Round Two, losing to Huntly
2021–22Lowland League12th3414119433rd Round, losing to East Kilbride
2022–23Lowland League19th36153082nd Round, losing to Darvel

† Season curtailed due to coronavirus pandemic.

Honours

External links

54.935°N -3.8174°W

Notes and References

  1. https://int.soccerway.com/teams/scotland/dalbeattie-star-fc/5011/venue/ Islecroft Stadium
  2. Web site: East Kilbride lift South Challenge Cup. Park. Michael. 2014-05-24. Scottish Lowland League. en-GB. 2019-11-14.
  3. Web site: Dalbeattie Star boss Paul McGinley to quit. Gillespie. Stuart. 2015-03-06. dailyrecord. 2019-11-14.
  4. Web site: Star retain Challenge Cup. Gillespie. Stuart. 2018-06-01. dailyrecord. 2019-11-14.
  5. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT. pitchero.com. en. 2019-11-14.
  6. Web site: New boss for Dalbeattie Star. Gillespie. Stuart. 2019-05-09. dailyrecord. 2019-11-14.
  7. http://www.worldstadia.com/stadium/scotland/islecroft_stadium/15233.php Details for Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie
  8. https://nonleaguescotland.org.uk/dalbeattie.html Dalbeattie Star
  9. Web site: Dalbeattie Star Football Club Islecroft Stadium. 2024-01-06. dalbeattiestarfc.com. en.