Greenock suffered an acute housing shortage throughout its 19th- and 20th-century shipbuilding days, and the German airforce didn't help by blowing a lot of it up. One of the houses in the foreground was my father's granny's.
If you look at Scottish Football League records you'll notice that both the league and the Scottish Cup were cancelled as soon as World War Two began and didn't start up again until 1946. The 1939-40 season lasted only four weeks. And you could incorrectly conclude that there was no soccer during the war. But most of the SFL clubs quickly organized themselves into Southern and Northern Leagues and carried on. See the stats here. The SFL returned for the 1946-47 season, but its membership the first year back was essentially the same as the previous year's Southern League, which explains how Morton entered the war in Division Two, and emerged from it in Division One. There was also a Southern League Cup to play for (Morton were runners-up in 1941-42) which served as a prototype for the Scottish League Cup that began in 1946-47.
Stenhousemuir visit Cappielow. Morton are third in the three-way fight for the League One title. Stenny are in their own two-way fight with Ayr United to avoid ninth place. Both sides urgently need a win today. In fact Morton should just go ahead and win every game from here on. Morton have taken two of the three games against Stenhousemuir so far this season; Stenny won the other.
Forfar host Airdrieonians. Those two have a win, a draw and a loss each against one another this season. Stranraer visit Dunfermline. Stranraer have dominated the Pars with two wins and a draw. Forfar and Stranraer are both on four-game winning streaks.
Stranraer, Forfar and Morton are all shooting for first place and automatic promotion. But, failing that, is third place any worse than second? No, not really. Second and third play each other in a two-legged playoff semifinal. Fourth place faces Championship team #9 (which will be either Cowdenbeath or Alloa).
It'll be a damned shame if Morton don't win promotion, because St Mirren are certainly going to be in the Championship next season. They are currently ten points adrift of eleventh place.
Brora Rangers' chief backer Ben Mackay pledges to support them even if they win.
On Wednesday Montedio Yamagata played Nagoya Grampus to a 3 - 3 score in Nabisco League Cup group stage action.
It was matchday #4 in the AFC Champions League group stage this week. Japanese results:
Shandong Luneng Taishan 4 - 4 Kashiwa Reysol
Buriram United 1 - 2 Gamba Osaka
Urawa Red Diamonds 1 - 1 Beijing Guoan
Kashima Antlers 2 - 1 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
At this point (four of six games in) Reysol are the only Japanese club poised to advance.
Yesterday In Ireland, UCD visited Cabinteely and won 0 - 2.
Yesterday in Turkey, Karşıyaka visited crosstown rivals Bucaspor and won 0 - 2.
[Morton win 3 - 2, in a fantastic come-from-behind win! Goals by MacDonald, McManus and S. McCluskey, all in the second half. Stranraer lose, but Forfar win and take over first place. Morton are third, three points out of first. Morton have made the playoffs. Stirling are relegated. Montrose are officially Team #42.]
Tomorrow Montedio visit Sagan Tosu in league play. [Sagan win 1 - 0.]
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