Canadian musician and entrepreneur Mario Lapointe, who became the unlikely owner of Scottish lower league club Dumbarton FC a year ago, has outlined radical plans for the club's women's team. The players, currently unpaid in the third-tier Scottish Women's Football League Central-West, could soon benefit from a revenue-sharing model that allocates 50% of gate and season ticket sales directly to them.
A Serendipitous Takeover
Lapointe, better known by his stage name Vintage, explained how a songwriter from Quebec ended up owning a club with no apparent physical connection. 'When I was looking for a football club, this club kept calling me back – not literally,' he said. 'I wrote a song in 1992 about sitting on the rock, and Dumbarton's stadium is called the Rock. It felt meant to be.' The club was on the brink of liquidation, and Lapointe stepped in to save its 153-year legacy.
Revenue Sharing for Women's Team
Lapointe's model is simple: 'It's revenue sharing, attributing 50% directly from gate sales and season ticket sales to the women's team.' This ensures that women's football is not the first to face budget cuts. All women's games will be played at the Rock next season, giving the team a permanent home and boosting sponsorship opportunities. 'The players become a megaphone for the team,' he added.
Lapointe also wants to move women's matches to Friday nights to attract larger crowds. 'Sunday is family day,' he noted. 'I'd like to get more games on a Friday night.'
Long-Term Vision
Drawing from North American sports culture, Lapointe sees potential in engaging university students in Glasgow. 'If I finish one day in a position where our athletes are being paid, that's a win for me,' he said. 'There is no sport without athletes.' His focus is on creating a professional environment before aiming for the top division.
