In June 1905 Dumbarton Football Club was reformed with applications being made to the SFA and the Scottish Combination League for admission.
Once accepted, Dumbarton joined their neighbours Renton in the Combination but Vale of Leven had been elected to the Second Division of the Scottish League, and their place was taken by Stenhousemuir.
The first game of the new season took place at Boghead on Tuesday 15 August against a strong Rangers XI in a friendly fixture and in a confident display the debut of the revived Sons of the Rock was a success, running out 3-1 victors.
Dumbarton’s first competitive game in over four years was played at Boghead in a league fixture against local rivals Renton on 19 August.
The Sons strongest XI was present for this Combination League tie and despite being goalless at the interval Dumbarton piled on the pressure in the second half to win comfortably 3-0.
Perhaps trying to take as much advantage of their new status as possible Dumbarton played two midweek friendlies on 23 and 24 August against Queen’s Park (home) and Vale of Leven (away) respectively.
In the first against old rivals Queen’s Park the team showed one change with James Stevenson (ex Notts County) coming in place of Crawford.
In the second against neighbours Vale a number of new players were given tryouts but despite this Dumbarton challenged the Second Division team strongly only losing out 2-1.
The teams showed a couple of changes with Hendry replacing Cairney at left half and trialist Hoall took Stevenson’s place at inside right.
On 16 September Dumbarton had a hard task as they were drawn against Second Division side Hamilton Academical in the second round of the Qualifying Cup.
Offers had been made by Hamilton to switch the venue but Dumbarton decided that the locals deserved to have their favourites at home.
There was a reshuffle in the Dumbarton team with Hendry returning in place of Colquhoun and a debut for McLachlan at left half.
Three new faces were introduced – Richard Oldcorn in goal and Francis McCormack on the left wing who had both impressed in the Qualifying Cup tie for Carfin despite the result, and McHarg (ex Ayr Parkhouse).
The opponents were Ayr Parkhouse and on the day Dumbarton got back into winning ways with a 4-0 victory – and that despite losing McCallum to injury 10 minutes into the second half.
The visitors adapted to the muddy conditions much quicker but a brilliant display by the Bathgate keeper kept the score at the interval at 1-1.
A full strength team turned out on 4 November at Tontine Park to play Renton in their first fixture of the Dumbartonshire Cup.
As had been the case in recent matches Dumbarton moved up a gear in the second half and put on another three goals to win by 4-1.
After a weekend ruined by winter weather, Dumbarton played their postponed league tie against Royal Albert on 13 January at Boghead.
In the friendly played in November when the referee failed to appear the Sons won 4-1, and on this occasion with a full strength team they went one goal better and took both points with a 5-1 victory.
In the league encounter in November Dumbarton had eased to a 4-0 win- and for the second week in a row they bettered their previous score by a goal by winning 5-0.
On the day the result was never in doubt, the Dumbarton men trouncing their opponents by 6-1 – new boy Bob Gordon scoring one of the goals.
A strong Dumbarton team swept aside any challenge that Beith mustered and won by 3-0, McCormack scoring all three goals.
On the final day of March Dumbarton travelled to Beith to fulfil their return league fixture, knowing that a single point would secure the Combination championship.
Having lost the home tie by the single goal to their Second Division opponents in March, the Sons were anxious to level matters.
Note: Amongst others, the return fixture between Dumbarton and Alloa Athletic was never played, presumably as the result would not have affected the outcome of the league championship.