Plenty of Nothing

Robt. Stewart, Greenock Morton

Source.

Morton host Ayr United. After two matches Ayr are fourth with 4 points, Morton fifth with 3. These two met three times last season; Ayr took two wins and Morton one.

Morton have allowed the fewest goals (1) in the Championship.

McPake is back from his suspension.

Ayr's Andy Murdoch played for Morton from 2016 to 2018, Michael Miller from 2014 to 2016, and captain Jack Baird last season. Luke McCowan was born in Greenock.

Morton's Craig McGuffin started out with Ayr.

Morton have played 19 matches on Halloween, earning 8 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses.

Other Championship matches:

Hearts vs Alloa (postponed due Hearts' Scottish Cup match)

Dundee [1 - 1] Raith Rovers

Dundee and Dundee United are playing home games simultaneously today, for the first time since 1979. The schedule-maker must have been sure there would be few or no supporters going to the matches when he made up the Championship schedule in July.

Dunfermline [3 - 2] Queen of the South

The Pars are in good position to take over first place today. [And they do.]

Inverness CT [3 - 1] Arbroath

[Morton win 3 - 2. Goals by Oliver, Blues and Strapp.]

2019-20 Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park:

Hearts [2 - 1] Hibs

Hibs have never beaten Hearts in a neutral site match.

Celtic [2 - 0] Aberdeen (tomorrow)

Four possible finals can come out of this foursome. When did they last happen?

2018-19    Celtic vs Hearts

2012-13    Celtic vs Hibs

1985-86    Aberdeen vs Hearts

1946-47    Aberdeen vs Hibs

Other matches:

Kilmarnock [0 - 1] Rangers (tomorrow)

J2: V-Varen Nagasaki [4 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

J3: Blaublitz Akita [2 - 1] Vanraure Hachinohe

JFL: Iwaki FC [1 - 1] Honda FC (tomorrow)

Iwaki FC played a practice match Monday: Iwaki 3 - 0 Sakushin Gakuin University

Faroes: Víkingur [1 - 3] B36 (tomorrow)

Allsvenskan: Helsingborgs [0 - 1] Malmö (Monday)

TPS [1 - 0] SKJ

Ireland: Galway 2 - 2 UCD (October 27)

This ends the League of Ireland First Division schedule. Drogheda United win the division and are promoted. UCD finish third and advance to the Division One playoff semi-finals, where they will meet 4th-place Longford Town. 2nd-place Bray will meet 5th-place Galway United, who replace Cabinteely after a hearing threw out a forfeiture by Wexford, thereby knocking Cabinteely back by two points and into 6th. Got it? The two semi-final winners will meet in the playoff final, and the winner of that will meet the 9th-place Premiership club, yet to be decided, for a place in the 2021 Premiership.

UCD [2 - 3] Longford Town

Bray Wanderers [0 - 1] Galway United

K League: Pohang [3 - 1] Sangju Sangmu (tomorrow)

[That ends the 2020 K League. Our guys Pohang Steelers finish third and will go to the 2021 AFC Champions League. Sangju Sangmu and Busan IPark are relegated.]

Luxembourg: Progrès Niederkorn vs Mondorf (postponed)

3.Liga: KFC Uerding. [1 - 0] 1.FC Saarbrücken

Swiss Challenge League: Xamax vs Wintherthur (postponed -- coronavirus)

On top of that Swiss games have been restricted to 50 fans.

SWF Championship South: Morton vs St Mirren (postponed -- coronavirus)

WoSFL: Rutherglen Glencairn vs Largs Thistle (postponed -- weather)

Lowland League: University of Stirling 1 - 1 Bonnyrigg Rose (October 28)

[2019-20 Highland League Cup final: Rothes 2 - 1 Buckie Thistle]

Bonnyrigg Rose [1 - 1] Cumbernauld Colts

[Former Bonnyrigg Rose player Sean Connery has died at age 90.]

Club the Strongest beat National Potosi 1 - 0 in a practice match Thursday.

[The Icelandic football season has been declared finished. Valur are the winners, and FH, Breiðablik and Stjarnan will join them in European competition. Fjölnir and Grótti are relegated and Keflavík and Leiknir R. are promoted. Our guys IBV finish sixth.]

2020-21 UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 2:

Group B: Arsenal 3 - 0 Dundalk (October 29)

Group D: Rangers 1 - 0 Lech Poznań (October 29)

Group H: Lille 2 - 2 Celtic (October 29)

2020 Copa Sudamerica, Round Two, first leg:

Audax Italiano (Chile) 2 - 1 Bolivar (October 27)

Developments:

Rumours out of Germany say that several Bundesliga clubs are interested in putting a Canadian Premier League team in BC's Lower Mainland.

The format for the 2020-21 Scottish Cup is out. Despite earlier reports there will be a full 106 clubs involved. To prevent fixture congestion there will be no replays after a draw, just extra time and penalty kicks. Postponed matches must take place the following midweek.

The Scottish government has come out with a new five-tier lockdown system (0 being best and 4 worst). The Central Belt is presently at Level 3, the Northeast and Borders at Level 2, and the Highlands and Islands at Level 1. Clubs like Ross County and Inverness CT are hoping this means they can start admitting fans to games.

Peterhead FC have laid off 29 staffers. Dundee United are handing out wage cuts.

Scotland will have five teams in UEFA competition in 2021-22, including two in the Champions League.

Morton's start-of-the-decade seasons ranked:

1900-01        20      9      3      8    40    40       0    21    4th, Div 1

1920-11        42    15    14    13    66    58     +8    44    9th, Div 1

1970-71        34    13      8    13    44    44       0    34    8th, Div 1

1940-41        30      9    11    10    67    62     +5    29    10th, Southern

1910-11        34      9    11    14    49    51      -2    29    13th, Div 1

1950-51        30    10      4    16    47    59    -12    24    12th, Div A

1980-81        36    10      8    18    36    58    -22    28    8th, Premier

1930-31        38    11      7    20    58    83    -25    29    16th, Div 1

1990-91        39    11    13    15    48    55      -7    35    9th, Div 1

2010-11        36    11    10    15    39    43      -4    43    7th, 1st Div

2000-01        36      9      8    19    34    61    -27    35    9th, 1st Div

1960-61        36      5    11    20    56    93    -37    21    19th, Div 2

Historical matches:

Oct 27, 1914. Morton played Queen's Park in the quarter-finals of the Navy and Army War Fund Shield and won 3 - 0.

Oct 31, 1914. Morton travelled to Paisley and defeated St Mirren 2 - 4.

Oct 28, 1992. Challenge Cup, Quarter-finals. Morton visited Kilmarnock and beat them 1 - 2. Alex Mathie and Derek Lilley scored.

Oct 31, 1992. Morton visited Cowdenbeath and won 1 - 3. Alex Mathie scored twice, plus one from Derek Lilley.

JFL 1999: Mito HollyHock 2 - 0 Yokohama FC

SFL Division Three results, November 1, 1924:

Solway Star 3 - 2 Galston

Lochgelly United 3 - Brechin City 1

Beith 1 - 1 Dykehead

Vale of Leven 6 - 0 Clackmannan

Queen of the South 1 - 1 Mid Annandale

1924-25 Scottish Qualifying Cup, Round Four, second replay:

Clackmannan 2 - 3 Peebles Rovers (at Cowdenbeath) (Oct 29, 1924)

Leith Athletic scr/wo Montrose

Source.

1924-25 Scottish Qualifying Cup, Round Five:

Clachnacuddin 2 - 1 Peebles Rovers

Inverness Caledonian 2 - 1 Montrose

Newton Stewart 2 - 2 Helensburgh

Nithsdale Wanderers 0 - 0 Royal Albert

Source: Glasgow Herald, November 3, 1924, p. 15.

Ticino Rockets

Bunch of bums. Source.

Ajoie visit Biasca in Ticino to play the Ticino Rockets.

Ticino Rockets serve as the farm team for the National League's two Ticino clubs, Lugano and Ambrì-Piotta. See here for a club history.

Ticino's head coach is Éric Landry, who played for the Flames and the Habs and has coached the Gatineau Olympiques.

[Ticino 2 - 6 Ajoie.]

Candle Holders

Source.

100th Emperor's Cup, Round Three

NIFS. Source.

Match No. 33: Fuji University (Tohoku University I) [1 - 2] ReinMeer Aomori (JFL)

Match No. 34: University of Tsukuba (Kanto University I) [3 - 2] Tokyo Musashino City (JFL)

Match No. 35: Niigata University of Health and Welfare (Hokushinetsu University I) [0 - 2] Fukui United FC (Hokushinetsu I)

Match No. 36: Honda FC (JFL) [1 - 0] Maruyasu Okazaki (JFL)

Match No. 37: Arterivo Wakayama (Kansai I) [3 - 2] Tiamo Hirakata (Kansai I)

Match No. 38: Fukuyama City (Hiroshima I) [2 - 0] Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima (Chugoku I)

Match No. 39: Kōchi United SC (JFL) [2 - 1] FC Tokushima (Shikoku) (November 11)

Match No. 40: NIFS Kanoya (Kyushu) [1 - 2] Verspah Oita (JFL)

NIFS have never got past Round Three.

National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya in the Emperor's Cup:

2020/9/23      R2    Fukuoka University 1 - 4 NIFS Kanoya

2020/9/16      R1    NIFS Kanoya 1 - 0 Okinawa SV

2019/8/14      R3    NIFS Kanoya 1 - 2 Oita Trinita

2019/7/3        R2    Nagoya Grampus 0 - 3 NIFS Kanoya

2019/5/26      R1    SRC Hiroshima 1 - 2 NIFS Kanoya

2013/9/1        R1    NIFS Kanoya 0 - 1 Kōchi University

2010/9/5        R2    Kawasaki Frontale 4 - 0 NIFS Kanoya

2010/9/3        R1    YSCC Yokohama 0 - 3 NIFS Kanoya

2009/10/31    R3    Júbilo Iwata 3 - 1 NIFS Kanoya

2009/10/11    R2    Tokushima Vortis 1 - 3 NIFS Kanoya

2009/9/21      R1    NIFS Kanoya 2 - 0 Hamada FC Cosmos

2007/10/7      R1    Montedio Yamagata 3 - 0 NIFS Kanoya

2006/9/23      R2    NIFS Kanoya 0 - 3 Biwako Seikei Sport College

2006/9/17      R1    Teihens FC 0 - 5 NIFS Kanoya

2005/9/17      R1    SC Tottori 1 - 0 NIFS Kanoya

2004/9/26      R2    Momoyama Gakuin University 2 - 0 NIFS Kanoya

2000/?/?        R1    NIFS Kanoya 1 - 4 Jatco TT

1999/?/?        R2    Albirex Niigata 1 - 0 NIFS Kanoya

1999/?/?        R1    NIFS Kanoya 1 - 0 Konan University

1993/?/?        R1    NIFS Kanoya 1 - 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Monbetsu Crab Claw

This giant crab claw us a roadside attraction at Monbetsu, Hokkaido. Source.

Kloten

Anders Eldebrink played for Kloten in the glory days of the Nineties.

It's the Swiss Cup, Round of 16. Our guys Ajoie visit Kloten. These two met up in the second round of the 2015-16 cup, and Kloten won 4 - 3.

Kloten have won this cup once. (See below.) They are five-time National League champions (1966-67, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96). At present they play in the second-tier Swiss League, having suffered relegation in 2018. Their colours are blue, red and white. From 2000 till 2016 they were known as Kloten Flyers.

Kloten is a town in Zurich Canton with a population of about 20,000. The club's rink, Swiss Arena, holds 7,800 spectators.

Per Hånberg is head coach of EHC Kloten.

Kloten/Ajoie is the only game in this round to feature two Swiss League teams.

Lugano's game against Oberthurgau in the previous round has not yet been played as Lugano are under quarantine.

Final score: Kloten 1 - 3 Ajoie.

EHC Kloten in the Swiss Cup:

59-60    R3    Kloten 2 - 6 Ambrì-Piotta

60-61    R1    Kloten 8 - 4 Veltheim

             R2    Kloten 1 - 12 ZSC

61-62    R2    Thun 2 - 6 Kloten

             R3    Kloten L - W Fleurier

62-63    R2    Rapperswil-Jona 6 - 8 Kloten

             R3    Sion 4 - 9 Kloten

             R4    Kloten 5 - 0 Fleurier

             QF    Kloten 5 - 9 Neuchâtel Sports Young Sprinters

63-64    R3    Kloten 8 - 4 Basel

             QF    Kloten 4 - 3 Neuchâtel Sports Young Sprinters

             SF    ZSC 10 - 6 Kloten

64-65    R4    Lugano 5 - 0 Kloten

65-66    R4    Kloten 2 - 4 ZSC

71-72    R2    Kloten 9 - 6 Uzwil

                      Uzwil 10 - 5 Kloten

14-15    R1    Dübendorf 1 - 6 Kloten

             R2    Bienne 1 - 2 Kloten

             QF    Ambrì-Piotta 2 - 4 Kloten

             SF    Genève-Servette 1 - 2 Kloten

               F    Berne 3 - 1 Kloten

15-16    R1    Thurgau 1 - 5 Kloten

             R2    Ajoie 3 - 4 Kloten

             QF    Bienne 2 - 3 Kloten

             SF    Lausanne 4 - 3 Kloten

16-17    R1    Frauenfeld 1 - 4 Kloten

             R2    Bienne 3 - 4 Kloten

             QF    Langenthal 2 - 3 Kloten

             SF    Kloten 3 - 2 Lausanne

               F    Kloten 5 - 2 Genève-Servette

17-18    R1    Thurgau 2 - 6 Kloten

             R2    Kloten 2 - 4 Zug

18-19    R1    Rheintal 0 - 13 Kloten

             R2    Kloten 4 - 3 Bienne

             QF    Kloten 3 - 4 Zug

19-20    R1    Kloten 0 - 3 Rapperswil-Jona

20-21    R1    Thurgau 1 - 3 Kloten

Source: French Wikipedia. Usually German Wikipedia is best for European hockey, but for Switzerland it's French.

Bitten by a Macaque

King Alexander of Greece died on this date in 1920 after having been bitten by a macaque. Source.

J. Jackson, Port Glasgow

Source.

Dundee host Morton.* Morton enter today's action in fifth place, and Dundee are tenth. Dundee are the popular choice to finish second in the Championship this year, but to get ahead of Morton today they must win by 3 goals. In 2019-20 Morton and Dundee met three times, for a win, a loss and a draw.

Jim McAlister played for Dundee from 2012 to 2015, and Josh McPake played for them last year. Morton are without McPake, who drew a red card last weekend.

Dundee's Paul McGowan played for Morton in 2006-07; Declan McDaid in 2012-13. Nicholas Hamilton is on loan to Dundee from York9 of the Canadian Premier League.

Last weekend every home team in the Championship won, despite there being no home crowds.

Other Championship matches:

Alloa [1 - 4] Dunfermline*

Arbroath 0 - 1 Hearts* (last night)

This is their first league meeting in forty years. (See below.)

Inverness CT [1 - 1] Ayr United*

Queen of the South [2 - 5] Raith Rovers

(*Championship League Cup match.)

[Dundee win 1 - 0.]

Which 2020-21 Championship clubs have Morton beaten 7 - 1 ?

1946/3/23      Morton 7 - 1 Queen of the South

1949/9/3        Morton 7 - 1 Alloa

Which 2020-21 Championship clubs have beaten Morton 7 - 1 ?

1987/12/16    Morton 1 - 7 Dundee

Before last week, when did Hearts last play a league match against the other 2020-21 Championship clubs?

2019/3/9        Dundee

2017/2/18      Inverness CT

2015/4/18      Raith Rovers

2015/4/8        Alloa

2015/3/28      Queen of the South

2012/4/7        Dunfermline

1988/3/6        Morton

1983/2/12      Ayr United

1980/3/29      Arbroath

Other matches:

Kilmarnock [0 - 1] Hibs

Killie are under investigation by the league for alleged violation of Covid protocols.

The whole St Mirren squad is under quarantine and their match against Hamilton Accies is off.

J2: Mito HollyHock 1 - 1 Montedio Yamagata (October 21)

Renofu Yamaguchi [1 - 4] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

This season Mito HollyHock are using the slogan, "Let's Go To the Next Stage With Us!!" which is practically a Yogi Berra-ism.

JFL: Tokyo Musashino City [2 - 1] Iwaki FC (tomorrow)

K League: Daegu [3 - 2] Pohang (tomorrow)

Faroes: Skála [1 - 2] B36 (tomorrow)

The Icelandic soccer authorities are trying to figure out what to do about the end of the season. Games have  been cancelled since October 7 and won't start again until November 3rd at the earliest. In normal years the season is over by the end of September.

Allsvenskan: Malmö [3 - 1] IFK Göteborg (tomorrow)

Inter Turku 3 - 0 TPS (October 22)

TPS vs SJK (tomorrow) (Halloween)

In Luxembourg three Progrès Niederkorn players have tested positive, and as a result these two matches are postponed:

Progrès Niederkorn vs Hesperange (October 21) (postponed)

Victoria Rosport vs Progrès Niederkorn (tomorrow) (postponed)

Swiss Challenge League: Thun 0 - 1 Winterthur (October 20)

Winterthur vs Chiasso (postponed -- Covid)

3.Liga: TSV 1860  1 - 2  1.FC Saarbrücken (October 21)

1.FC Saarbrücken  1 - 2  SC Verl (tomorrow)

SWF Championship South: Renfrew vs Morton (postponed)

WoSFL: Largs Thistle [0 - 1] Clydebank

The Highland Football League still hasn't started, and won't until at least November 28th. So the Lowland League is operating while the Highland League is not, but the SWF Championship North is operating while the Championship South is not.

2020-21 South Region Challenge Cup, Round One:

As there are 142 clubs in this cup, I'm only going to follow West of Scotland Premier Division teams, plus our Lowland League guys Bonnyrigg Rose. Clubs that have dropped out of this year's WoSFL have also dropped out of this cup, causing walkovers.

Pollok scr/wo Tranent

Thornton Hibs vs Rutherglen Glencairn [postponed -- weather]

Carluke Rovers wo/scr Kilbirnie Ladeside

Sauchie vs Kilwinning Rangers [postponed -- weather]

Bonnyrigg Rose [2 - 0] Newtongrange Star

2020-21 UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 1:

Group B: Dundalk 1 - 2 Molde (October 22)

Group D: Standard Liège 0 - 2 Rangers (October 22)

Group H: Celtic 1 - 3 AC Milan (October 22)

2020 Copa Libertadores, group stage, matchday 6:

Group B: Bolívar 2 - 3 Guaraní (October 21)

Group C: Colo-Colo 0 - 1 Jorge Wilstermann (October 20)

Wilstermann advance to the Round of 16, while Bolívar drop into the Copa Sudamericana.

Concacaf League, preliminary round (October 22):

Municipal Limeño (El Salvador) 1 - 2 Forge FC

This is Municipal's first ever Concacaf tournament, which counterintuitively makes Forge the senior club.

Historical matches:

Oct 24, 1914. Morton hosted Partick Thistle and played to a 2 - 2 draw.

Oct 20, 1992. Challenge Cup, Round Two. Morton travelled to Brechin and won 1 - 2. Alex Mathie and Jim Tolmie scored for the Ton.

Oct 24, 1992. Morton hosted Ayr United and won 2 - 1. Stuart Rafferty and Derek Lilley scored.

How did Morton fare against each opponent in the three-division era of 1975-76 to 1993-94?

                             G   W   D      L     F      A     GD   Pts

Partick Thistle      41  17  11    13    65    56     +9    45

Kilmarnock           41  17  11    13    60    53     +7    45

Airdrieonians       39   16    7    16    50    56     -6     39

Clydebank           27   10  12     5    47    41     +6     32

Dumbarton          30   12    7    11    44    42     +2    31

Clyde                   25   12    6     7    38    30     +8     30

St Mirren              41    9  10    22    44    76    -32    28

Brechin                17   11    4      2   34    20    +14    26

Livingston            20  10    6      4    32    17    +15    26

Ayr United            27  10    6    11    37    34     +3    26

Montrose             19    8    9      2    35    19    +16    25

Falkirk                 28     9    6    13    35    50    -15    24

Forfar                   20    7    9     4     33    27     +6    23

Dundee                33    7    9    17    39    56    -17    23

QoS                     15  10    2      3    29    15    +14    22

Hibs                     24    5   11     8     31   30      +1    21

Aberdeen             28    9    3    16    24    53    -29    21

East Fife              15    7    6      2    28    15    +13    20

Hamilton              32    4   12    16    29    53    -24    20

Alloa                    12    9    1      2    27    12    +15    19

Stirling Albion      15    7    4     4     28    20     +8     18

Hearts                 19    6    6      7    24     25      -1    18

St Johnstone       12    6    4      2    20    12      +8    16

Dundee United    28    6    4    18    21    66     -45    16

Raith Rovers        23    5    5    13    28    34      -6    15

Dunfermline         21    3    7    11    15     32    -17    13

Rangers               28    2    8    18    16    65    -49    12

Arbroath                8    4     2     2    14    10     +4     10

Celtic                    28    3    3    22    19    66    -47     9

Cowdenbeath        4    4    0      0      8      3     +5      8

Motherwell           12    2    3      7    17    20      -3      7

Albion Rovers        3    1    2      0      4     1      +3      4

SFL Division Three results, October 25, 1924:

Mid Annandale 2 - 3 Vale of Leven

Peebles Rovers 1 - 1 Lochgelly United

Queen of the South 0 - 0 Beith

Dykehead 1 - 1 Solway Star

Brechin City 4 - 2 Dumbarton Harp

Galston 1 - 1 Leith Athletic

Clackmannan 2 - 0 Royal Albert

Montrose 0 - 2 Nithsdale Wanderers

Source: Glasgow Herald, October 27, 1924, p. 8. Google News has this number tacked on to the end of the October 25 number.

1924-25 Scottish Qualifying Cup, Fourth Round replays (Oct 22, 1924)

Peebles Rovers 1 - 1 Clachmannan

Montrose 1 - 1 Leith Athletic

Source.

Hexenbrunnen

Some public fountains in Germany are accompanied by the statue of a witch. If the concept was to discourage children from playing around wells it's not working in this case. Source.

Dragon Locksmith Sign

Signage for Béla Hikman, locksmith, 1931. Source.