Plenty of Nothing

Ayr Harbour

Ayr Harbour, 1954. Source.

Morton visit Ayr United. Ayr are sixth in the Championship with 7 points; Morton are eighth with 4.

Morton have lost their last four league matches. The last time they did that was December 2015 to February 2016 in the days of Jack Duffy. They also lost four in a row September/October 2015 that same season. Bear in mind that Rangers were in the division that year. Morton lost six in a row and seven in a row during the relegation year of 2013-14.

Even if Morton lose they won't finish the day in last place because the ninth and tenth teams Hamilton and Dunfermline play each other and they can't both win.

On Monday Ayr's 3 - 0 Challenge Cup win over Rangers B was thrown out. Rangers B are awarded a 3 - 0 victory and Ayr's place in the next round. Ayr had fielded two players who were actually out on loan to West of Scotland League clubs. You'll recall that Ayr were awarded a 3 - 0 win over Falkirk in the League Cup.

Ayr have a raft of former Morton players in their squad: Aidan McAdams (Morton 2020-21), Sean McGinty (2020-21), Andy Murdoch (2016-18), Cameron Salkeld (2019-21), Jack Baird (2019-20) and Markus Fjørtoft (2020-21). Morton captain Alan Lithgow played for Ayr in 2013-14.

Last year's interim manager of Greenock Morton Anton McElhone is now head of sports science at Celtic FC.

This is a Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup Round One match. Winner plays Killie for a place in the semi-finals.

The Other Championship matches:

Arbroath 0 - 0 Kilmarnock (yesterday)

Dunfermline vs Hamilton Accies

Inverness CT vs Queen of the South

Raith Rovers vs Partick Thistle (tomorrow)

The League Cup quarter-finals were held midweek:

Rangers 2 - 0 Livingston (September 22)

These two met in the quarter-finals two years ago, and Rangers won.

Dundee 0 - 2 St Johnstone (September 22)

These two had not met in the League Cup since 1983.

Dundee United 1 - 3 Hibs (September 23)

Their previous four League Cup meetings were also in the quarter-finals, and each took two wins.

Celtic 3 - 0 Raith Rovers (September 23)

Raith's two victories over Celtic in this cup came in 1959 and 1994.

When was the last time neither Rangers nor Celtic made it to the League Cup quarter-finals? 2013-14. Forfar knocked Rangers out in the First Round, and Morton beat Celtic in the Third Round. Aberdeen gained the benefit of these upsets, beating Inverness CT on penalty kicks in the final.

Other matches:

Bonnyrigg Rose vs East Kilbride

Rothes vs Clachnacuddin

Galway United 4 - 1 UCD (last night)

Vaduz 2 - 0 Winterthur (September 21)

Winterthur 0 - 0 Aarau (yesterday)

Meppen vs 1.FC Saarbrücken

Mito HollyHock vs Zweigen Kanazawa (tomorrow)

Faroes: B36 vs Streymur (tomorrow)

Pohang Steelers 1 - 2 Ulsan (September 21)

Pohang Steelers [2 - 4] Jeju

Atletico Palmaflor 0 - 0 The Strongest (September 22)

The Strongest vs Always Ready (tomorrow)

WE League: Albirex Niigata vs Elfen Saitama (tomorrow)

Albirex finished 5th in N1 last season.

Forge vs HFX Wanderers (postponed)

Between the Canadian Championship and the Concacaf League, Forge are getting into some serious fixture congestion.

HFX Wanderers vs Edmonton (today)

SWF Championship South: Clyde vs Morton (tomorrow)

FA Vase, 2QR: Sandbach United vs FC Isle of Man

North of Scotland Cup semi-final (September 22):

Brora Rangers 2 - 2 Lossiemouth (Brora win on PK.)

Scottish Junior Cup, Round Two:

The number of teams in this cup is beyond comprehension, so I'm concentrating on the ones from the West of Scotland Premier Division.

Blairgowrie vs Benburb

Cumnock Juniors vs Glenafton Athletic

Glentanar vs Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Irvine Victoria vs Pollok

Rossvale vs Cambuslang Rangers

Carluke Rovers vs Auchinleck Talbot

Culter vs Beith

Blantyre Victoria vs West Calder United

Irvine Meadow vs Arbroath Victoria

Largs Thistle vs Larkhill Thistle

Livingston United vs Cumbernauld United

1999-2000

September 25, 1999.    Morton hosted Airdrieonians at Cappielow and lost 0 - 2. Clydebank were at Livingston where they lost 2 - 1. Lee Gardner scored on a penalty kick.

Port Glasgow Athletic results for 1890-91:

1891/5/2        5th Kirkcudbrightshire RV 1 - 1 Port Glasgow    friendly

1891/4/18      Linthouse 6 - 0 Port Glasgow                       friendly

1891/4/11      Clyde 4 - 0 Port Glasgow                              friendly

1891/4/4        Wishaw Thistle 0 - 6 Port Glasgow             friendly

1891/3/28      Port Glasgow 4 - 7 Kilbirnie                          friendly

1891/3/21      Port Glasgow 2 - 2 Hurlford                          friendly

1891/2/28      Port Glasgow 1 - 3 Morton                            friendly

1891/2/21      Port Glasgow 1 - 4 Airdrieonians                  friendly

1891/2/14      St Mirren 4 - 0 Port Glasgow               Renfrewshire Cup final

1891/2/7        Port Glasgow 4 - 1 Newmilne                      friendly

1891/1/31      Partick Thistle 1 - 0 Port Glasgow                friendly

1891/1/17      Port Glasgow 5 - 1 Clippens Thistle   Renfrewshire Cup SF

1890/12/27    Port Glasgow 3 - 2 Summerton Athletic      friendly

1890/12/20    Thistle 1 - 0 Port Glasgow                             friendly

1890/12/13    Port Glasgow 4 - 0 Morton                           friendly

1890/12/6      Port Glasgow 1 - 3 Linthouse                        friendly

1890/11/22    Port Glasgow wo/scr Howwood           Renfrewshire Cup R2

1890/11/15    Port Glasgow 4 - 1 Pollokshaws                  friendly

1890/11/8      Port Glasgow 5 - 1 Rutherglen                     friendly

1890/11/1      Port Glasgow 6 - 3 Bridge of Weir      Renfrewshire Cup R1

1890/10/25    Port Glasgow 6 - 4 Arthurlie                         friendly

1890/10/18    Albion Rovers 1 - 2 Port Glasgow (at Whifflet)    friendly

1890/10/11    Morton 2 - 2 Port Glasgow                             friendly

1890/9/27      Port Glasgow 2 - 4 Dykebar                          friendly

1890/9/13      Pollokshaws 3 - 4 Port Glasgow                  friendly

1890/9/6        Port Glasgow 0 - 2 Monkcastle               Scottish Cup R1

1890/8/9        Abercorn 3 - 1 Port Glasgow (at Cappielow)    friendly

1890/8/2        Port Glasgow 1 - 0 Dykebar (at Cappielow)    friendly

Toshiko MacAdam

Toshiko MacAdam of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia makes macrame play structures that have been installed as far afield as Hokkaido and Rome. Source.

Yamada Nagamasa

Yamada Nagamasa was a Japanese privateer of the early 17th century who headed a Japanese colony in the Ayutthaya Kingdom, now Thailand. This card is from a set of educational karuta about Japanese historical figures published in 1970. Source.

HFX Wanderers versus CF Montréal

Samuel Salter, Doctor of Divinity. Source.

It's the Canadian Championship quarter-finals. HFX Wanderers play host to Club de Foot Montréal. These two clubs have never met before, not even when CF Montréal were called Impact. However, the Nova Scotia Clippers did play Montreal Supra thirty years ago in the old Canadian Soccer League.

Nova Scotia Clippers versus Montreal Supra, 1991:

1991/6/9        Nova Scotia Clippers 1 - 1 Montreal Supra

1991/7/3        Montreal Supra 3 - 2 Nova Scotia Clippers

1991/8/25      Nova Scotia Clippers 2 - 1 Montreal Supra

1991/9/4        Montreal Supra 1 - 0 Nova Scotia Clippers

CF Montréal have quite the ugly black home strip and a blah grey away strip.

Wanderers Jems Geffrard, Pierre Lamothe, Alessandro Riggi, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Samuel Salter and Stefan Karajovanovic all spent time in the Montreal Impact system.

Montréal have an Icelander, Róbert Orri Thorkelsson, who used to play for Breiðablik.

HFX Wanderers are seven games without a loss.

Marquis Downs in Saskatoon is being converted from horseracing to soccer in preparation for CPL membership. The horse people are not happy about it.

[Wanderers 1 - 3 Montreal. Cory Bent scored for Halifax.]

The other quarter-finals:

Forge 2 - 1 Valour (September 15)

Cavalry [0 - 1] Pacific (today)

Toronto FC [4 - 0] York United (today)

Concacaf League, Round of 16, first leg (yesterday):

Forge 0 - 0 Independiente

The Sherman Zwicker

Source.

Kawabata's Karuizawa House

Yasunari Kawabata's house in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture is being demolished. He bought the place from a British diplomat, and wrote some of his books there, notably The Lake. This photo shows him outside in 1959. His main residence was in Kamakura. Source.

Yokohama Grits versus Tohoku Free Blades

Source.

For a second consecutive year Asia League Ice Hockey is unable to perform as an international league due to Covid travel restrictions, so, like last year, the five Japanese clubs are playing a local tournament called the Japan Cup. The schedule is here.

Let's follow Tohoku Free Blades, who today visit Yokohama Grits.

[Grits 3 - 10 Free Blades.]

Seasons of Tohoku Free Blades:

                  G     W    a    b    c    d     L       F        A      GD   Pts   Pos

2009-10    36    13    0    4    1    0    18    132    142    -10    48    5th

2010-11    36    18    1    3    2    4      8    160    112    +48    68    3rd

2011-12    36    13    3    1    4    1    13    106    111       -5    52    6th

2012-13    42    24    1    2    0    2    13    162    117    +45    80    2nd

2013-14    42    18    2    1    2    2    17    134    110    +24    64    5th

2014-15    48    27    1    2    2    2    14    188    131    +57    91    3rd

2015-16    48    20    4    1    2    1    20    138    141       -3    73    5th

2016-17    48    26    1    1    0    3    17    185    135    +50    85    4th

2017-18    28    13    1    0    1    2    11      78      75      +3    44    3rd

2018-19    34      9    3    0    2    1    19      73    106     -33    36    8th

2019-20    36      4    2          2          28      67    148     -81    16    7th

2020-21    22      6    3          2          11      65      91     -26    26    4th, Japan Cup

a b c d = an assortment of loser points

(Sources: Hockey Archives; Wikipedia for 2019-20; flashscore.ca for 2020-21.)

The Bay of Quick

"Burning the Bottom, Bay of Quick, Greenock" by John Fleming (1792-1845). Source. The Bay of Quick was filled in to make the Esplanade in the 1860s.

Raith Rovers visit Cappielow. Raith are sixth in the division with 4 points and a 0 goal difference. Morton are eighth with 4 points and a -4 goal difference.

Morton did not score a goal on Raith last season. The last Morton player to do so was Lee Kilday on February 7th, 2017.

Raith Rovers' Reghan Tumilty played for Morton from 2018 to 2020. Raith have a Canadian on their squad: Dario Zanatta. Morton's Gozie Ugwu played for Raith last season.

Some Inverclyde councillors are keen to have Greenock declared a city as part of the Queen's platinum (70th) jubilee celebrations next year.

Ayr United fielded a couple of ineligible players in their Challenge Cup match against Rangers B.

[Morton 0 - 1 Raith Rovers.]

The other Championship matches:

Hamilton Accies (9th) [0 - 2] Ayr United (7th)

Partick Thistle (4th) [0 - 2] Kilmarnock (2nd)

Queen of the South (5th) [0 - 2] Arbroath (3rd)

Dunfermline (10th) [0 - 0] Inverness CT* (1st)

*Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup Round Two match. [Inverness advance on the yellow card rule.]

Arbroath are having one of their best years. Holding third place in the Championship makes them fifteen in all of Scottish football, not a very familiar position for the Red Lichties.

Arbroath's best seasons by league position:

1937-38    38    11    13    14    57    65      -8    35    11th, old Div. 1

1935-36    38    11    11    16    46    69    -23    33    11th, old Div. 1

1973-74    34    10      7    17    52    69    -17    27    13th, old Div. 1

1936-37    38    13      5    20    57    84    -27    31    14th, old Div.1

1972-73    34      9      8    17    39    63    -24    26    15th, old Div. 1

1975-76    26    11      4    11    41    39      +2    26    5th, new Div. 1 (15th overall)

It's the Scottish Cup, Round One:

The Highland and Lowland Leagues join in. There are 30 fixtures altogether in this round. Let's follow the preliminary round winners, plus Clachnacuddin and East Kilbride.

Blackburn United [1 - 2] Rothes

Clydebank [7 - 0] Dalkeith

Dunbar United [2 - 0] Camelon

Penicuik [1 - 3] Tranent

These are the top two clubs in the East of Scotland League.

Golspie Sutherland [0 - 3] Civil Service Strollers

Irvine Meadow XI [1 - 3] Auchinleck Talbot

An Ayrshire derby.

Inverurie Loco Works [0 - 3] Jeanfield Swifts

Banks O' Dee [1 - 0] Turriff United

An Aberdeenshire derby.

Coldstream [1 - 10] East Kilbride

Lossiemouth [0 - 3] Preston Athletic (See below.)

Tynecastle [0 - 6] Brora Rangers

Clachnacuddin [1 - 2] Dunipace

Other matches:

J2: Tochigi [0 - 0] Mito HollyHock

JFL: FC Kariya [0 - 1] Nara Club (tomorrow)

Faroes: B36 [5 - 0] IF (tomorrow)

TPS 3 - 0 Gnistan (September 15)

Klubi 4 [2 - 4] TPS (tomorrow)

[This ends the Ykkonen regular season. TPS finish second. They go into a promotion playoff once the top league finishes.]

WE League: JEF United Chiba [1 - 1] Elfen Saitama (Monday)

JEF finished 6th in Nadeshiko 1 last season.

Largs Thistle [2 - 2] Kilkintilloch Rob Roy

1.FC Saarbrücken [3 - 1] Turkgucu Munchen

The Strongest [3 - 1] Jorge Wilstermann (tomorrow)

York United [0 - 0] HFX Wanderers

Stockport Town [2 - 3] FC Isle of Man

SWF Championship Cup, Round Two (tomorrow):

Edinburgh City [7 - 0] Morton

AFC Champions League, Round of 16, East:

This round is one-legged.

Ulsan Hyundai 0 - 0 Kawasaki Frontale (September 14)   Ulsan win on PK.

Nagoya Grampus 4 - 2 Daegu FC (September 14)

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 - 1 BG Pathum United (September 15)    Jeonbuk win on PK.

Cerezo Osaka 0 - 1 Pohang Steelers (September 15)

UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 1 (September 16):

Rangers 0 - 2 Lyon

Real Betis 4 - 3 Celtic

Coupe de France, Round Three: USSA Vertou [8 - 0] AS Saint Pierraise

Union sportive de la Sainte-Anne de Vertou have their home ground in Vertou, Loire-Atlantique. They play in National 3, the fifth tier of French football.

FAI Cup quarter-final (yesterday):

UCD 2 - 3 Waterford

Preston Athletic in the Scottish Cup:

2002-03    R1    Preston Athletic 0 - 1 Hamilton Academical

2005-06    R1    Preston Athletic 2 - 6 Gretna

2006-07    R1    Preston Athletic 2 - 0 Stenhousemuir

                 R2    Brechin City 2 - 1 Preston Athletic

2007-08    R1    Golspie Sutherland 3 - 1 Preston Athletic

2008-09    R1    Preston Athletic 3 - 1 Gala Fairydean

                 R2    East Stirlingshire 4 - 2 Preston Athletic

2009-10    R1    Selkirk 3 - 0 Preston Athletic

2010-11    R1    Newton Stewart 1 - 1 Preston Athletic

                         Preston Athletic 3 - 0 Newton Stewart

                 R2    Preston Athletic 0 - 0 Annan Athletic

                         Annan Athletic 5 - 0 Preston Athletic

2011-12    R1    Wigtown & Bladnoch 2 - 0 Preston Athletic

2012-13    R1    Preston Athletic 0 - 2 Nairn County

2013-14    R1    Huntly 3 - 4 Preston Athletic

                 R2    Queen's Park 2 - 2 Preston Athletic

                         Preston Athletic 1 - 2 Queen's Park

2014-15    R1    Preston Athletic 1 - 2 Threave Rovers

2015-16    R1    Preston Athletic 2 - 3 Fort William

2016-17    R1    Nairn County 2 - 3 Preston Athletic

                 R2    Preston Athletic 0 - 3 Montrose

2017-18   PR2   Colville Park 5 - 0 Preston Athletic

2018-19   PR1   Preston Athletic 3 - 1 Glasgow University

                PR2   Preston Athletic 0 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

2019-20   PR1   Linlithgow Rose 2 - 1 Preston Athletic

2020-21   PR2   Preston Athletic 3 - 2 Hawick Royal Albert United

                 R1    Stenhousemuir 4 - 1 Preston Athletic

2021-22    PR    Preston Athletic 2 - 0 Threave Rovers

                 R1    Lossiemouth [0 - 3] Preston Athletic

1999-2000

September 14, 1999.    Clydebank returned to Inverness for a Challenge Cup Round Three match with Caley Thistle. ICT 2 - 0 Clydebank.

September 18, 1999.    Morton were away to Love Street where St Mirren beat them 3 - 2. Paddy Connolly scored both Morton goals on penalties. Clydebank hosted Ayr United at Cappielow and lost 0 - 2.

Abercorn FC results for 1890-91:

1891/5/30      St Mirren 3 - 2 Abercorn    Paisley Charity Cup R1

1891/5/12      Celtic 2 - 0 Abercorn                        SFL

1891/4/28      Third Lanark 2 - 1 Abercorn            SFL

1891/4/25      Abercorn 1 - 0 Hearts                    SFL

1891/4/18      Morton 2 - 1 Abercorn                  friendly

1891/4/11      Cambuslang 4 - 5 Abercorn           SFL

1891/3/28      Hearts 1 - 1 Abercorn                     SFL

1891/3/21      Abercorn 1 - 0 Cowlairs                SFL

1891/3/14      Rangers 2 - 0 Abercorn                  SFL

1891/3/7        Abercorn 6 - 0 Vale of Leven        SFL

1891/2/28      Cowlairs 7 - 5 Abercorn                  SFL

1891/2/14      Abercorn 5 - 1 Kilmarnock          friendly

1891/2/7        Abercorn 1 - 1 Rangers                  SFL

1891/1/24      Abercorn 5 - 1 St Mirren                SFL

1891/1/17      Dumbarton 3 - 1 Abercorn    Scottish Cup SF

1891/1/10      Abercorn 3 - 3 Linthouse              friendly

1890/12/27    Abercorn 1 - 2 Dumbarton              SFL

1890/12/20    Leith Athletic 2 - 3 Abercorn    Scottish Cup QF

1890/12/13    St Mirren 1 - 0 Abercorn    Renfrewshire Cup R2

1890/12/6      Abercorn 2 - 5 Cambuslang           SFL

1890/11/22    St Mirren 2 - 2 Abercorn (abandoned)    Renfrewshire Cup R2

1890/11/15    Partick Thistle 1 - 4 Abercorn     friendly

1890/11/8      Abercorn 8 - 0 Bathgate Rovers    Scottish Cup R4

1890/11/1      Abercorn 7 - 1 Morton        Renfrewshire Cup R1

1890/10/25    Abercorn 1 - 5 Celtic                      SFL

1890/10/18    Linthouse 3 - 4 Abercorn    Scottish Cup R3

1890/10/11    Dumbarton 5 - 1 Abercorn             SFL

1890/10/4      Abercorn 2 - 4 Third Lanark          SFL

1890/9/27      Abercorn 12 - 0 Cathcart    Scottish Cup R2

1890/9/20      St Mirren 4 - 2 Abercorn                SFL

1890/9/13      Abercorn 4 - 2 Renton             SFL (nullified)

1890/9/6        Abercorn 8 - 0 Irvine    Scottish Cup R1

1890/8/30      Vale of Leven 2 - 1 Abercorn         SFL

1890/8/9        Abercorn 3 - 1 Port Glasgow (at Cappielow)    friendly

1890/8/2        Morton 2 - 5 Abercorn               friendly

(Sources: Fitbastats for most SFL fixtures; SFHA for the Renfrewshire Cup and Paisley Charity Cup; German Wikipedia for the Scottish Cup; the Glasgow Herald for some SFL fixtures, and friendlies)

2021-22 Championship strips: (top, left to right) Arbroath, Ayr United, Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Inverness Caledonian Thistle; (bottom, left to right) Kilmarnock, Morton, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Raith Rovers. (From their Wikipedia pages.)

Clement Attlee

Source.

Gaston Lagaffe

Source.