Plenty of Nothing

Cragburn Pavilion

The Cragburn Pavilion was a social hotspot on the Gourock waterfront from the 1930s till the 1990s. Source.

Morton host Airdrieonians. Airdrie are sixth in the division with 9 points, Morton ninth with 4.

In the years since they rose from the ashes of the old club new Airdrieonians have spent six seasons in tier II and fifteen in tier III. They had a run of ten consecutive seasons in tier III, which is the second-longest streak for that league since the four-division format came in. (See below.) When they were in tier II they finished 5th, 6th, 9th, 9th, 9th and 10th.

Airdrie's David Hutton played for Morton in 2012-13, as did Charlie Telfer in 2018-19. Nobody on the Morton squad has played for Airdrie.

The last Morton player to score on Airdrie was Robbie Muirhead, May 21st, 2021, during the Championship playoffs.

Airdrie's manager Rhys McCabe also suits up as a midfielder. He scored the winning goal in Airdrie's League Cup group stage match against Dundee.

Since August 29th Airdrie have followed a pattern of win one, lose one. Today is their turn to lose one. But almost every prognosticator at Pie and Bovril has Airdrie winning today.

Yesterday Morton signed 19-year-old defender Jack Harkness on loan from Rangers to help fill a gaping hole at the back. He is a different guy from the Jack Harkness in Torchwood.

Morton's first six league matches:

2023-24        WLLLDL        =    4 points

2022-23        DWLDWL      =    8 points

2021-22        DWLLLL        =    4 points

2020-21        WLWLDL       =    7 points

2019-20        LWWLLW       =    9 points

2018-19        DWWLDD      =    9 points

The other Championship matches:

Arbroath (3rd) vs Inverness CT (10th)

Ayr United (8th) vs Raith Rovers (2nd)

Dundee United (1st) vs Queen's Park (7th)

Partick Thistle (5th) vs Dunfermline (4th)

The League Cup quarter-finals were held midweek:

Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Hearts

Ross County 1 - 2 Aberdeen

Hibs 4 - 2 St Mirren

Rangers 4 - 0 Livingston

Ross County (2015-16) is the most recent League Cup winner among these eight, followed by Aberdeen (2013-14), St Mirren (2012-13), Kilmarnock (2011-12), Rangers (2010-11), Hibs (2006-07), Livi (2003-04) and Hearts (1962-63).

Other matches:

Banks o' Dee 0 - 1 Brechin (September 27)

Keith vs Banks o' Dee

Banks o' Dee are currently seventh in the Highland League, one of six teams with only one loss.

Linlithgow Rose vs Berwick Rangers

Linlithgow Rose are currently seventh in the Lowland League, with only two losses.

East Craigie vs Brechin Victoria

East Craigie are currently mid-table in the Midlands League.

Largs Thistle vs Glenafton Athletic

Largs Thistle are currently mid-table in the West of Scotland Premier Division.

Bo'ness Athletic 5 - 1 Peebles Rovers (September 26)

Peebles Rovers vs Armadale Thistle

Peebles Rovers are currently mid-table in the East Of Scotland Second Division.

Carluke Rovers vs Glenvale

Carluke Rovers are currently mid-table in the West of Scotland Fourth Division.

Ayr United vs Morton Women (tomorrow)

Morton Women are currently mid-table in the Scottish Women's Championship.

Bury 1 - 0 FC Isle of Man (September 26)

FC Isle of Man vs Wythenshawe

FC Isle of Man are currently mid-table in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Derry City 6 - 0 UCD (yesterday)

UCD are dead last in the League of Ireland Premier Division and already relegated.

Cardiff Metropolitan University 1 - 1 Haverfordwest County (September 26)

Colwyn Bay vs Cardiff Metropolitan University

CMU are mid-table in the Cymru Premier League.

Carrick Rangers vs Glentoran

Carrick Rangers are second bottom in the NIFL Premiership.

Ventforet Kofu vs Mito HollyHock

Mito HollyHock are currently mid-table in J2.

Honda FC vs Briobecca Urayasu

Honda FC are top of the Japan Football League.

Tokyo International University vs Tokyo 23 FC (tomorrow)

Tokyo 23 FC are mid-table in the Kanto Football League.

Fujieda City Hall vs FC Gifu Second (tomorrow)

Fujieda City Hall are 6th out of 8 in the Tokai Football League.

Morioka Zebra vs Sendai University II

Morioka Zebra are 8th out of 10 in the Tohoku Football League.

Elfen Saitama vs Beleza (tomorrow)

So far in the WE League Cup group stage Elfen Saitama have a win, a draw and two losses.

HFX Wanderers vs Forge

Wanderers need one point to secure a playoff spot.

According to this Indian press story the Canadian Premier League is financed by Khalistani separatists.

Scottish Challenge Cup, Round Three (September 26):

Rangers B 4 - 1 Alloa (at Cappielow)

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, Round One (tomorrow):

Airdrie vs Flip the Mindset

Bonnyrigg Rose vs BSC Glasgow

Cumbernauld Colts vs Inverurie Loco Works

Dalbeattie Star vs Armadale Thistle

Drumchapel United vs Dunipace

Dundee Wesy vs Grampian

Edinburgh Caledonia vs Kilwinning

Edinburgh South vs Dyce

Giffnock vs Dunfermline Athletic

Linlithgow Rose vs Glenrothes Strollers

Murieston United vs Stenhousemuir

St Mirren vs Elgin

Stearton United vs Falkirk

Longest runs in tier III since 1994:

11 years    Brechin City    (2006-07 to 2016-17)

10 years    new Airdrieonians    (2013-14 to 2022-23)

  8 years    Queen of the South    (1994-95 to 2001-02)

  8 years    Alloa Athletic    (2003-04 to 2011-12)

  8 years    Stenhousemuir    (2009-10 to 2016-17)

  8 years    Stranraer    (2012-13 to 2019-20)

Historical matches:

1882/9/30      Morton 5 - 1 St Mirren (Scottish Cup R2)

1944/9/20      Morton 4 - 3 Celtic

1967/9/27      Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton

League Cup quarter-finals, second leg. Morton advance.

1967/9/30      Morton 3 - 3 Aberdeen

1995/9/30      St Mirren 1 - 4 Morton

Goals by Lilley, Hawke (twice) and Marko Rajamaki.

First Airplane Flight in Venezuela

The first airplane flight in Venezuela happened September 29th, 1912 in Caracas. The pilot was Frank Boland of the Boland Airplane and Motor Company of Rahway, New Jersey. Source.

Ottawa Valley Silo

This old silo has the white pattern typical of the Ottawa Valley. Source.

Smith Brothers

When I was a kid I thought these guys were named Trade and Mark. Source.

King George Schools, Part 2

King George School, Brandon. Source.

King George School, Hamilton. Source.

King George V Elementary School, Chippawa. Source.

King George Public School, Newmarket. Source.

King George School, Belleville. Source.

Rameau

Statue of Jean-Philippe Rameau outside the conservatory in Dijon. Source.

Fife Flyers versus Glasgow Clan

Dixon. Source.

The Elite Ice Hockey League has three championships: regular season champion, playoff champion, and Challenge Cup champion. 

What is the Challenge Cup? It's a tournament played during the regular season and includes all ten EIHL teams. The first part is a group stage with three groups, two of three teams each and one of four teams. In the three-team groups they play each other four times for a total of eight games per team. In the four-team group they play each other twice for a total of six games per team. The top eight teams go on the Challenge Cup playoffs, with the final occurring in March. Last year Belfast beat Fife in the final. See here for all of last year's results.

Today Fife host Glasgow Clan in a Challenge Cup group stage match.

Glasgow Clan were started in 2010 as Braehead Clan, after Braehead Arena in Renfrew where they play. Their head coach is former NHLer Jason Morgan. They wear purple, black and white. One of their players is 38-year-old Stephen Dixon of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has played for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Portland Pirates, Brynäs, Amur Khabarovsk, Ässät, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Yugra, Luleå, Tappara, Grizzlys Wolfsburg, and Cardiff Devils.

Fife Flyers' 2023-24 Challenge Cup group stage games:

2023/9/23      Glasgow Clan 4 - 0 Fife Flyers

2023/9/24      Fife Flyers [5 - 1] Glasgow Clan

2023/9/30      Fife Flyers vs Belfast Giants

2023/10/7      Fife Flyers vs Dundee Stars

2013/10/8      Dundee Stars vs Fife Flyers

2013/10/13    Belfast Giants vs Fife Flyers

Fandom

The crowd at East End Park for a Dunfermline versus Celtic match. Source.

Dunfermline Athletic host Greenock Morton. The Pars are sixth in the division with 8 points. Morton are eighth (ninth after last night) with 4 points.

Since 1994 Dunfermline have played eleven seasons in tier I, fifteen in tier II and four in tier III. Like Morton their most recent sojourn in tier III lasted only one year.

The Pars swept Morton in the 2009-10 season. Morton swept Dunfermline in 2014-15.

Robbie Muirhead played for the Pars in 2018-19. Nobody on the Dunfermline squad has played for Morton.

Muirhead has scored four of Morton's seven league goals. He also has the most recent Morton goal against nine SPFL clubs: Dundee United, Partick Thistle, Cove Rangers, Dundee, Motherwell, Clyde, Airdrieonians, East Fife and Annan.

The last Morton player to score on Dunfermline was Iain Wilson on March 18th, 2022. He's now with Queen of the South.

You can call Dunfermline Athletic Dumfermline and everyone will know who you mean but there actually was a club called Dunfermline FC from 1874 to 1891. They wore blue and white hoops like Morton, and their claim to fame rests on having won the first two editions of the Fife Cup, in 1882-83 and 1883-84.

[Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 1 Morton. Goal by Crawford.]

The other Championship matches:

Queen's Park (5th) 2 - 5 Ayr United (9th) (last night)

Inverness CT (10th) [0 - 1] Dundee United (2nd)

Caley Thistle manager Billy Dodds was sacked following last week's loss.

Partick Thistle (3rd) [0 - 3] Arbroath (4th)

Airdrieonians (7th) [1 - 0] Raith Rovers (1st)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup Round One match.

It's the Scottish Cup, Round One:

Cowdenbeath (LL) [2 - 1] Linlithgow Rose (LL)

Clachnacuddin (HL) [1 - 0] Inverurie Loco Works (HL)

Dalkeith Thistle (EL2) [0 - 7] Clydebank (WLP)

Formartine United (HL) [3 - 2] Threave Rovers (WL3)

Dunipace (EL1) [1 - 3] Cumnock (WLP)

Gala Fairydean Rovers (LL) [8 - 2] Strathspey Thistle (HL)

Wick Academy (HL) [1 - 3] Jeanfield Swifts (ELP)

Lossiemouth (HL) [0 - 4] Beith Juniors (WLP)

Edinburgh University (LL) [2 - 3] Dunbar United (ELP)

Caledonian Braves (LL) [1 - 2] Fraserburgh (HL)

Banks o' Dee (HL) [6 - 0] Dalbeattie Star (SL)

Bo'ness United (LL) [3 - 0] Darvel (WLP)

Turriff United (HL) [2 - 1] Sauchie Juniors (ELP)

Golspie Sutherland (NC) [1 - 1] Forres Mechanics (HL) [Forres win on PK]

Culter (NRP) [3 - 4] Deveronvale (HL)

Tayport (ML) [0 - 4] Buckie Thistle (HL)

Camelon Juniors (EL1) [1 - 2] Civil Service Strollers (LL)

Brechin City (HL) [4 - 0] Rothes (HL)

East Stirlingshire (LL) [0 -1] Huntly (HL)

Penicuik Athletic (ELP) [0 - 6] Pollok (WLP)

Musselburgh Athletic (ELP) [1 - 1] Gretna 2008 (LL) [Musselburgh win on PK]

East Kilbride (LL) [8 - 0] Whitehill Welfare (EL1)

Keith (HL) [2 - 5] Luncarty (ELP)

Broxburn Athletic (ELP) [2 - 1] Nairn County (HL)

Dundonald Bluebell (ELP) [2 - 3] Kilwinning Rangers (WL1)

Brora Rangers (HL) [5 - 1] Berwick Rangers (LL)

Tranent (LL) [4 - 1] Hutchison Vale (ELP)

St Andrews United (EL1) [1 - 0] Auchinleck Talbot (WLP)

Broomhill (LL) [3 - 1] Cumbernauld Colts (LL) (tomorrow)

University of Stirling (LL) [1 - 3] Albion Rovers (LL) (Monday)

ELP = East of Scotland League Premier Division (tier 6); EL1 = East of Scotland League First Division (7); EL2 = East of Scotland League Second Division (8); HL = Highland League (5); LL = Lowland League (5); ML = Midlands League (6); NC = North Caledonian League (6); NRP = North Region Premier League (6); SL = South of Scotland League (6); WLP = West of Scotland League Premier Division (6); WL1 = West of Scotland League Division 1 (7); WL3 = West of Scotland League Division 3 (9)

Alex Jack Cup, quarter-finals:

Bo'ness Athletic 7 - 2 Newburgh (yesterday)

Heriot-Watt University [5 - 0] Harthill Royal

Rosyth [2 - 1] Kirkcaldy & Dysart

Whitburn Juniors [0 - 2] Arniston Rangers

Other matches:

UCD 0 - 0 Shamrock Rovers (yesterday)

Despite this good result UCD are relegated with five games left to play.

Cardiff Metropolitan University 1 - 5 The New Saints (yesterday)

Larne 4 - 1 Carrick Rangers (yesterday)

Largs Thistle [3 - 1] Hurlford United

Lugar Boswell Thistle [2 - 2] Carluke Rovers

Irlam vs FC Isle of Man (September 19) (postponed)

AFC Liverpool vs FC Isle of Man [abandoned]

Blaublitz Akita [1 - 1] Montedio Yamagata

Mito HollyHock [0 - 1] Oita Trinita

Minebea Mitsumi [1 - 3] Honda FC

Sendai University [9 - 1] Morioka Zebra (tomorrow)

Wyvern [5 - 1] Fujieda City Hall

Vancouver FC [2 - 1] HFX Wanderers

[Goal by Ferrin.]

Vancouver are already out of the playoffs. 

SWF Championship & League One Cup, R2 (tomorrow):

Westdyke [6 - 2] Morton Women

2023-24 UEFA Champions League, group stage, matchday 1 (September 19):

Feyenoord 2 - 0 Celtic

2023-24 UEFA Europa League, group stage, matchday 1 (September 21):

Rangers 1 - 0 Real Betis

2023-24 UEFA Conference, group stage, matchday 1 (September 21):

Eintracht Frankfurt 2 - 1 Aberdeen

2023-24 AFC Champions League, group stage, matchday 1 (September 19-20):

Group G: Yokohama F. Marinos 2 - 4 Incheon United

Group H: Melbourne City 0 - 0 Ventforet Kofu

Group I: Johor Darul Ta'zim 0 - 1 Kawasaki Frontale

Group J: Wuhan Three Towns 2 - 2 Urawa Red Diamonds

Historical matches:

1882/9/23      Paisley Athletic 5 - 1 Morton (friendly)

1944/9/23      Motherwell 4 - 2 Morton

1967/9/23      Partick Thistle 0 - 1 Morton

1995/9/23      Morton 2 - 0 Dunfermline

Goals by Warren Hawke and Derek McInnes.

Banks o' Dee FC in the Scottish Cup:

2008/9/27      R1    Banks o' Dee 10 - 0 Fort William

2008/10/25    R2    Inverurie Loco Works 5 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2009/9/26      R1    Rothes 1 - 5 Banks o' Dee

2009/10/24    R2    Banks o' Dee 0 - 3 Montrose

2014/9/13      R1    Rothes 0 - 4 Banks o' Dee

2014/10/4      R2    Brora Rangers 5 - 0 Banks o' Dee

2015/9/26      R1    Banks o' Dee 2 - 3 Cove Rangers

2016/9/3       PR2   Banks o' Dee 4 - 0 Golspie Sutherland

2016/9/24      R1    Keith 0 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2016/10/22    R2    Banks o' Dee 2 - 2 Formartine United

2016/10/29    R2    Formartine United 7 - 2 Banks o' Dee

2017/9/2       PR2   Banks o' Dee 2 - 1 Linlithgow Rose

2017/9/23      R1    Banks o' Dee 4 - 0 Huntly

2017/10/14    R2    Banks o' Dee 2 - 0 Selkirk

2017/11/18    R3    Banks o' Dee 2 - 6 Ayr United

2018/8/11     PR1   Auchinleck Talbot 3 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2019/8/10     PR1   Banks o' Dee 5 - 0 Glasgow University

2019/8/31     PR2   Banks o' Dee 2 - 0 Golspie Sutherland

2019/9/21      R1    Forres Mechanics 1 - 4 Banks o' Dee

2019/10/18    R2    Edinburgh City 3 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2020/12/12   PR2   Banks o' Dee 6 - 1 Vale of Leithen

2020/12/26    R1    LTHV 0 - 3 Banks o' Dee

2021/1/9        R2    Fraserburgh 2 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2021/8/28      PR    Linlithgow Rose 1 - 2 Banks o' Dee

2021/9/18      R1    Banks o' Dee 1 - 0 Turriff United

2021/10/23    R2    Banks o' Dee 5 - 0 Nairn County

2021/11/27    R3    Banks o' Dee 2 - 1 East Fife

2022/1/22      R4    Banks o' Dee 0 - 3 Raith Rovers

2022/9/17      R1    Banks o' Dee 4 - 0 Turriff United (voided)

Fifth Beatles: Paul Cole

Paul Cole can be seen watching the Beatles cross the street on the cover of Abbey Road. Source.

Shin Heike Monogatari (1955)

Shin Heike Monogatari, starring Raizo Ichikawa, opened on this date in 1955. Source.