The man who invented the dugout and the low-level reason explained

The Celtic Star

·3. Mai 2025

The man who invented the dugout and the low-level reason explained

Included amongst the photographs shared with me by Celtic trainer Will Quinn’s great-grandson Steven were a few which have taken quite a bit of time and trouble to research, but thankfully we’ve managed to come up with some answers…

You may recall that earlier in our series of articles published in The Celtic Star regarding Will Quinn’s extraordinary life and career we covered the story behind his maroon Scotland cap from 1913.

The bizarre Dublin story behind Will Quinn’s maroon cap

We managed to establish previously that this cap was earned by Will as Scotland trainer for the Home International between Ireland and Scotland at Dalymount Park, Dublin on Saturday, 15 March 1913.

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The Scotland team which won 2-1 on that St Patrick’s Weekend afternoon was as follows;

Jimmy Brownlie (Third Lanark); Donald Colman (Aberdeen) & Jock Walker (Swindon Town); Bob Mercer (Hearts), Tom Logan (Falkirk) & Peter Nellies (Hearts); Alec Bennett, James Gordon, Willie Reid (all Rangers), Jimmy Croal (Falkirk) & George Robertson (Sheffield Wednesday).

The full story of that match and its extraordinary aftermath was included in the article, but I’ve now managed to link one of Steven’s photographs to that game, as shown below.

Home International between Ireland and Scotland at Dalymount Park, Dublin on Saturday, 15 March 1913. Photo Stephen Quinn.

Scotland Trainer Will Quinn is standing second from left in this photo taken before the match at Dalymount Park, whilst I believe the individual Scotland players to be as follows.

Back row from left; Tom Logan, Bob Mercer, Jimmy Brownlie & Jock Walker; Front row from left; Alec Bennett, Jimmy Gordon, Peter Nellies, Donald Colman, Willie Reid, Jimmy Croal & George Robertson.

Some of the players are discussed in the article, including George Robertson and Jock Walker who are central characters, and former Celtic great Alec Bennett, whilst Falkirk duo Tom Logan and Jimmy Croal would be part of the Falkirk side which won the Scottish Cup for the first time a few weeks later, Logan scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win over Raith Rovers at Celtic Park. The pair would later move to Chelsea, and both featured in their 3-0 defeat by Sheffield United in the 1915 FA ’Khaki’ Cup final at Old Trafford, so named because of the number of uniformed spectators in the ground.

But the photo also led me to the discovery of another interesting story featuring a remarkable character.

The man who invented the dugout

Captain of the side and photographed sitting with the ball at his feet is Aberdeen full-back Donald Colman, who changed his surname from Cunningham to that of his grandmother as a youngster with Glasgow Perthshire, as he felt his parents might not approve of football being his career.

Donald Colman, an Aberdeen FC hall of famer. Photo Aberdeen FC

Donald was 27 before his senior career began with Motherwell in 1905, and it appeared to have ended two years later when he was handed a free transfer. But he signed for the relatively new club Aberdeen and that would be the trigger for his most successful years, Donald becoming club captain and a Scottish international whilst at Pittodrie. The team photo above captures his final appearance for Scotland, but he only actually finished his playing career at Dumbarton in 1925, by which time the Boghead player/coach was approaching 47!

Donald’s most long-lasting contribution to football

But perhaps Donald’s most long-lasting contribution to football was off the pitch…sort of.

Colman is credited with introducing the dugout to football stadia, which he did after returning to Aberdeen as a coach under another former Celt, Dons boss Paddy Travers, in 1931.

It was an idea he picked up in Norway, where backroom staff would shelter from the elements in open huts. And as Colman wanted to closely observe the footwork of his players, he combined both into a simple solution, requesting the shelter be built pitchside at a depth where his eyes would be level with the players feet.

Jock Stein in the dugout at Hampden, fifty years ago today. Celtic v Airdrie. Scottish Cup Final, 3 May 1975. Photo The Celtic Wiki.

Every day’s a school day

In a lifetime of following football, I have never understood the benefit of the dugout being at such a low level.

Well, every day’s a school day, as they say.

Donald Cameron Cunningham, aka Colman, from the 19th century football hotbed of Renton, West Dunbartonshire, is the man responsible!

Hail, Hail!

Matt Corr

Follow Matt on X/Twitter @Boola_vogue

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