Dunipace F.C.

Dunipace
Full nameDunipace Football Club
Nickname(s)The Pace
Founded1888
GroundWestfield Park,
Town House Street,
Denny
ChairmanPaul Garner
ManagerDanny Smith
LeagueEast of Scotland League Premier Division
2023–24East of Scotland League First Division, 1st of 15 (promoted)
Websitehttp://www.dunipacefootballclub.com/

Dunipace Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Denny, Stirlingshire. Nicknamed the Pace, they were formed in 1888 and are based at Westfield Park. The team plays in the East of Scotland League Premier Division, having moved from the junior leagues in 2018.[1]

The club won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1905–06, defeating Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1–0 in a replay at Brockville Park, Falkirk, following a 2–2 draw in the first tie at Meadowside, Partick.[2] Dunipace were also runners-up to Inverkeithing United in the final seven years later.

The club's management team of Danny Smith (Manager), Alan Moffat (Assistant Manager) and Bruce Totten (Coach) was appointed in November 2020.[3] Both Danny & Alan previously had spells as players with the club.[4][5]

On 27 April 2018 the club announced that it had successfully applied to leave the West Region of junior football and join the East of Scotland League for season 2018–19. As part of the club's move to senior football, its name was changed to reflect this, by dropping the term "Juniors".[6] This was a part of a larger movement of junior clubs to the East of Scotland Football League.[1]

At the start of their first season in senior football, the club's Westfield Park ground was upgraded with an artificial turf surface and floodlights installed, reopening in October 2018.[7] Dunipace won their first trophy as a senior club in August 2021 after defeating Broomhill 3–1 in the delayed final of the 2019–20 South Challenge Cup and were runners-up in two cup the following season.

The club won their first league title in 25 years after securing the East of Scotland League First Division at the end of the 2023–24 season, gaining promotion to the Premier Division.[8]

Honours

Major honours

Scottish Junior Cup

  • Winners: 1905–06
  • Runners-up: 1912–13

East of Scotland League First Division

Central League Division 1

  • Runners-up: 2004–05

Central League Division 2

  • Winners (3): 1972–73, 1981–82, 1998–99
  • Runners-up: 2008–09

SFA South Region Challenge Cup

King Cup

  • Runners-up: 2022–23

East of Scotland Football League Cup

  • Runners-up: 2022–23

Other honours

  • Stirling and District Junior Cup: 1898–99, 1899–90, 1900–91, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1912–13, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35
  • Stirlingshire Junior League Winners: 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1904–05, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24
  • Stirlingshire Junior Cup: 1901–02, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1919–20, 1934–35
  • Falkirk & District Junior Cup: 1901–02, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1905–06, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1927–28, 1929–30
  • Denny and District Cottage Hospital Shield: 1901–02, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1909–10
  • Stirlingshire Charity Cup: 1920–21
  • Stirlingshire League Cup: 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1926–27
  • Scottish Junior League (Eastern) winners: 1927–28
  • Victory Cup: 1927–28, 1938–39
  • McLeod Trophy: 1972–73
  • Centenary Cup: 1987–88
  • Central Region Sectional League Cup: 1989–90
  • Bert McNab Cup: 1992–93
  • Evening Times Cup: 1998–99

References

  1. ^ a b McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Club history". robroy.org. Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  3. ^ Club, Dunipace Football (13 February 2018). "We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new management team. Gary MacMillan (manager) Graeme MacMillan (assistant manager) Barry Rodger (player coach)". @DunipaceFC. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. ^ Stoddard, Millar (9 March 2016). "Carluke Rovers seal important win over struggling Dunipace". The Lanark Website. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Management Team Gareth Alexander & Craig Cowan have left the Club. We would like to thank both Gareth and Craig". Dunipace Juniors FC. Twitter. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  6. ^ "The Future - Update". Dunipace FC. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Westfield Park's synthetic surface is formally opened in Dunipace v Falkirk friendly". falkirkherald.co.uk. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. ^ Kearney, Ben. "East of Scotland: Danny Smith's Dunipace confirmed as First Division champions". Falkirk Herald.