Dalbeattie Star F.C.

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Dalbeattie Star
Dalbeattiestar.png
Full nameDalbeattie Star Football Club
Nickname(s)The Star
Founded1905, re-formed 1976
GroundIslecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie
Capacity1,320 (100 seated)
ChairmanKenny Murray
ManagerDavid Taylor
League South of Scotland League
2024–25 South of Scotland League, 3rd of 12
Website https://dalbeattiestarfc.com/

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

Contents

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.

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. [1] 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. [2] 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) [3] and held on to their Lowland League status. At the end of season 2018–19 Kerr left the club by mutual consent [4] and was replaced by Ritchie Maxwell, who had enjoyed a highly successful nine-year spell as a player at Islecroft. [5]

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

Islecroft Stadium
Islecroft Stadium.jpg
Dumfries and Galloway UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Islecroft Stadium
Location in Dumfries and Galloway
Location Dalbeattie, Scotland
Coordinates 54°56′5.96″N3°49′2.8″W / 54.9349889°N 3.817444°W / 54.9349889; -3.817444
Capacity 1,320 (100 seated)
Field size96 x 64m
SurfaceGrass [6]
Opened1950
Tenants
Dalbeattie Star

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 7 May 2025 [9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jake Gemmell
GK Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Johnny Green
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ewan Gourlay
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Luke McMurtrie
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Adam Jamieson
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Stewart Benson
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO David Taylor
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jack Palmer
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Fraser Swan
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Olly Hutchings
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Cammy Bryson
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Sam McConaghie
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Russell Williamson
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Olly Meechan
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Greg Gourlay
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Kyle Higgins
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Callum Williams
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Rhys Taylor
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Alex O'Hagan
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Dale Milligan
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ross Hunter
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Cammy Shaw
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Connor Potts
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Declan Rogerson
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Finlay Millar
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Phil Middlemiss

Coaching staff

As of 07 May 2025 [10]

PositionName
ManagerDavid Taylor
AssistantMikey Devlin
1st Team CoachStevie Walker
Goalkeeping CoachAlex Clark

Season-by-season record

Lowland League

SeasonDiv.Pos.Pld.WDLPts. Scottish Cup
Dalbeattie Star
2013–14 Lowland League 3rd22117440 2nd Round, losing to Montrose
2014–15 Lowland League 4th26119642 2nd Round, losing to Linlithgow Rose
2015–16 Lowland League 9th281061236 1st Round, losing to Fraserburgh
2016–17 Lowland League 5th301451147 1st Round, losing to Wick Academy
2017–18 Lowland League 14th30781529 1st Round, losing to BSC Glasgow
2018–19 Lowland League 14th28571622 1st Round Replay, losing to Kelty Hearts
2019–20 Lowland League 15th†23321811 1st Round, losing to Gala Fairydean Rovers
2020–21 Lowland League 15th†101275 Preliminary Round Two, losing to Huntly
2021–22 Lowland League 12th341411943 3rd Round, losing to East Kilbride
2022–23 Lowland League 19th3615308 2nd Round, losing to Darvel

† Season curtailed due to coronavirus pandemic.

South of Scotland Football League

SeasonDiv.Pos.Pld.WDLGFGAGDPts. Scottish Cup
Dalbeattie Star
2023-24 South of Scotland Football League 1st2217329222+7054 1st Round, losing to Banks O' Dee
2024-25 South of Scotland Football League 3rd2214449042+4846 Preliminary Round Two, losing to Whitehill Welfare F.C.

Honours

References

  1. Park, Michael (24 May 2014). "East Kilbride lift South Challenge Cup". Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. Gillespie, Stuart (6 March 2015). "Dalbeattie Star boss Paul McGinley to quit". dailyrecord. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  3. Gillespie, Stuart (1 June 2018). "Star retain Challenge Cup". dailyrecord. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  4. "CLUB STATEMENT". pitchero.com. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  5. Gillespie, Stuart (9 May 2019). "New boss for Dalbeattie Star". dailyrecord. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  6. Islecroft Stadium, soccerway.com. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  7. Details for Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie, worldstadia.com. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  8. Dalbeattie Star, nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  9. "Dalbeattie Star Football Club | Islecroft Stadium". dalbeattiestarfc.com. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  10. "Dalbeattie Star Football Club | Islecroft Stadium". dalbeattiestarfc.com. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

54°56′06″N3°49′03″W / 54.934989°N 3.817444°W / 54.934989; -3.817444