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It's the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup (currently styled the Ramsdens Cup after its chief sponsor, a pawnbroker). This is the tournament that gives the thirty SFL clubs a shot at a piece of silverware that the Premier League can't touch. The competition was started in 1990 and has been won most often by Falkirk (four times), as recently as April 1st.
Last year the playoff format was changed to admit two Highland League clubs. The first and second place HFL finishers from 2010-11 joined the first round of the 2011-12 cup, increasing the number of participants to a readily divisible 32, and integrating the Highland League a little bit better into the Scottish football pyramid. That process has continued this year. The top two Highland clubs of 2011-12 (Forres Mechanics and Cove Rangers) now receive a bye into the second round of the Scottish Cup, and the next two SFA licensed clubs enter the first round of the Challenge Cup. That would be fourth place Inverurie Loco Works and eighth place Wick Academy. Nairn County, you should've filled out the paperwork. As the first round of the Challenge Cup is divided into two geographically based groups, there was no chance of Morton drawing either Inverurie or Wick Academy in this round.
Instead Morton draw Albion Rovers, who finished ninth last season in the Second Division. Better yet, it's a home game for Morton, who are nearly always drawn away in these competitions.
Morton beat the Wee Rovers 1 - 0 three weeks ago in a friendly in Coatbridge. The two clubs last met in league play in 2002-03, that one year the Ton made it down to the Third Division. In fact, ever since the creation of the Third Division in 1994 Rovers have been members of it every year except for this year and last, and three seasons they were bottom club.
Who do the other First Division clubs face? Falkirk host Stirling Albion, Cowdenbeath host Alloa, Dumbarton host Queen of the South, Hamilton entertain Airdrie. Dunfermline visit Forfar, Raith visit Wick Academy way way in the North, Livingston visit Annan Athletic, and Partick visit Clyde. All of the First Division clubs can be expected to advance, though Dumbarton should watch out for Queen of the South. Inverurie Locos visit Montrose, and could upset them.
Of course the big story this weekend is that Glasgow Rangers play Brechin tomorrow. Maybe. If the newco can secure an SFA license in time. BBC Alba are broadcasting the game. Assuming it happens. [Rangers 2, Brechin 1, after extra time.]
Oh yeah, and Celtic host Inter Milan.
St Johnstone lost 3 - 1 on aggregate to Eskişehirspor in the Europa League this week. So, of the five Scottish clubs in European competition, they're first in and first out. Generally, in spite of local rivalries, Scottish fans are quite supportive of other Scottish clubs in Europe, because any win improves the coefficient.
Japan's men's team shocked Spain 1 - 0 in Olympic football on Thursday. Japan's women beat Canada 2 - 1 on Wednesday. Looks like I'm on the Japan bandwagon.
But wait, Canada won the gold medal for soccer at the 1904 Saint Louis Olympics! Wow. I never knew that.
[Morton win 2 - 0! Goals by Wallace and O'Brien. Attendance 1269. Livingston, Dumbarton, Dunfermline and Hamilton are out. Inverurie and Wick are out. Celtic 1 Internazionale 1.]
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