Ross County visit Cappielow today for the last time in who can say. The Staggies gained promotion on April 10th and barring a total collapse by Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the five weeks of the split season the two former Highland League clubs will be playing derbies in the SPL next year. Considering that both clubs only entered the SFL in 1993-94 it's a remarkable success story.
Take a moment to consider the Highland history of Greenock. Greenock once had a large Gaelic-speaking contingent. A Gaelic chapel was built in 1791 and the first Highlanders' Academy building went up in 1835.
On a musical note. Did the Beatles ever play Greenock? No. Did they ever play Dingwall? Yes!
If Morton win today, and Raith and Ayr both lose, Morton will be free of the drop zone and can finish the season no worse than seventh. But if Morton lose, and Raith, Ayr and Queen of the South all win, Morton could still finish tenth.
I know I go on and on about relegation and promotion, but as a North American the whole process is fascinating to me. Our sports league are all built of franchises that have bought their way into the league and might be moved from city to city or go bankrupt but never be demoted to a minor league. If Scottish football were organized like a North American league there would be far fewer clubs, and certainly very few senior clubs. The pro league would consist of the, say, twelve clubs with the largest stadiums. Those are: Celtic, Queen's Park (who of course would have to go professional), Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs, Kilmarnock, Hearts, Edinburgh City (who occupy Meadowbank Stadium), Dundee United, Motherwell, Dunfermline and Morton. Include Murrayfield, the rugby stadium, and Cappielow slips out of the top twelve.
The Greenock Telegraph has been taken over by the Bank of Scotland.
For a second there I thought Morton had gained promotion, but it was Reading.
Cowdenbeath can clinch the Second Division with a win today.
Altrincham travel to Eastwood Town in Nottinghamshire to play the Badgers.
[Okay! Morton 1 - 1 Ross County. Goal by Smyth. Raith win but Ayr and QoS lose. Morton cannot finish tenth, and the only way for them to finish ninth is to lose both remaining matches while Ayr win both and make up a ten goal deficit. Cowdenbeath win the Second Division and are promoted. Altrincham win 6 - 1! The Robins aren't bobbins!]
Mito HollyHock host Thespa Kusatsu tomorrow. Thespa is a neologism meaning, hold on, The Spa. [Mito win 1 - 0.]
Tomorrow Pohang Steelers host Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. [Pohang win 1 - 0.]
UCD host Sligo Rovers on Monday.
Largs Thistle play the second leg of their Junior Cup semifinal today at Barrfields Stadium in Largs.
Barrfields. Maybe UEFA should set minimum standards for the use of the word 'stadium'. Source. [Shotts win on penalty shotts.] [UEFA stadium categories.]
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