Plenty of Nothing

Otsu-e

Source. Otsu-e were folk art paintings done on popular themes, and were prevalent from the 17th to the 19th century. This set of ten themes looks like the precursor of those limited edition postcards that come with manga tankobon on release day. You can follow that tangent here.

Joueur de Bignou

Source.

Names of Earth

Aarde    (Dutch)

Alard    (Arabic)    الارض

Chikyu    (Japanese)    地球

Dìqiú    (Chinese)    地球

Earth    (English)

Erde    (German)

Erd-flanet    (Hebrew)    ערד-פלאנעט

Ge    (Greek)    Γη

Honua    (Hawaiian)

Jigu    (Korean)    지구

Jorden    (Swedish)

Maa    (Finnish)

Nuna    (Inuktitut)    ᓄᓇ

Prthvee    (Hindi)    पृथ्वी

Talamh    (Gaelic)

Terra    (Italian and Portuguese)

Terre    (French)

Tierra    (Spanish)

Yird    (Scots)

Zemlya    (Russian)    Земля́

Greenock Morton Results 1890 to 1895

John Atkinson Grimshaw, Greenock Dockside by Night (1892). Source.

Greenock Morton 1894-95:

1895/5/11      Morton 5 - 0 Linthouse                  friendly

1895/5/4        Clyde 3 - 5 Morton                        friendly

1895/4/27      Morton 4 - 1 Port Glasgow          Renfrewshire League

1895/4/20      Morton 6 - 0 Cowlairs                     SFL2

1895/4/13      Port Glasgow 4 - 1 Morton          Renfrewshire League

1895/4/8        Dundee Wanderers 0 - 1 Morton    SFL2

1895/4/6        Morton 3 - 1 Airdrieonians              SFL2

1895/3/30      Morton Strollers 1 - 1 Queen's Park Strollers        colts

1895/3/23      Abercorn 5 - 3 Morton                    SFL2

1895/3/16      Morton 3 - 5 Motherwell                 SFL2

1895/3/9        Motherwell 6 - 4 Morton                 SFL2

1895/3/2        Morton 2 - 0 St Mirren                Renfrewshire League

1895/2/23      Cowlairs 2 - 4 Morton                     SFL2

1895/2/2        Morton 4 - 3 Port Glasgow             SFL2

1894/1/19      Morton 6 - 1 Ayr                             friendly

1894/12/22    Renton 2 - 0 Morton                       SFL2

1894/12/15    Morton 7 - 3 Dundee Wanderers    SFL2

1894/12/1      Morton 2 - 1 Wishaw Thistle          friendly

1894/11/24    Morton 4 - 2 Partick Thistle             SFL2

1894/11/17    Morton 2 - 1 Dumbarton                 friendly

1894/11/10    Dundee 4 - 0 Morton                    2nd XI Cup R4

1894/11/10    Port Glasgow 9 - 1 Morton              SFL2

1894/11/3      Morton 1 - 0 Kilmarnock Athletic    friendly

1894/10/27    Morton vs Ayr Parkhouse               friendly

1894/10/20    Morton 4 - 0 Royal Albert            2nd XI Cup R3

1894/10/20    Hibs 6 - 3 Morton                            SFL2

1894/10/13    Morton 1 - 7 Hibs                            SFL2

1894/10/6      Morton 2 - 3 Port Glasgow         Renfrewshire Cup R1

1894/x/x        Morton vs Galston                        2nd XI Cup R2

1894/9/29      Partick Thistle 4 - 4 Morton            SFL2

1894/9/22      Dykehead 4 - 2 Morton               Scottish Cup PR2

1894/9/15      Morton 5 - 1 Abercorn                    SFL2

1894/9/8        bye                                                2nd XI Cup R1

1894/9/8        Airdrieonians 6 - 1 Morton              SFL2

1894/9/1        Morton 9 - 0 Saltcoats Victoria    Scottish Cup PR1

1894/8/25      Morton 5 - 1 Renton                       SFL2

1894/8/18      Johnstone 2 - 2 Morton                  friendly

1894/8/11      Hibs 9 - 0 Morton                            friendly

The Renfrewshire League was formed in November 1894 and played in March, April, May and August of 1895, so the final game will be listed under 1895-96. The three member clubs were Morton, Port Glasgow Athletic and St Mirren.

(Sources: fitbastats for SFL Division 2; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; SFHA for the Renfrewshire Cup, 2nd XI Cup and Renfrewshire League; the Glasgow Herald for friendlies.)

Greenock Morton 1893-94

1894/6/2        Morton 8 - 0 Battlefield        G&D Charity Cup final

1894/5/26      Motherwell 4 - 1 Morton          SFL2

1894/5/19      Morton 4 - 3 Black Watch    G&D Charity Cup SF

1894/5/5        Port Glasgow 10 - 1 Morton    SFL2

1894/4/28      bye                         Greenock and District Charity Cup R1

1894/4/28      Northern 2 - 7 Morton              SFL2

1894/4/21      Morton 1 - 1 Thistle                 SFL2

1894/4/14      Cowlairs 7 - 3 Morton              SFL2

1894/4/7        Morton 1 - 3 Clyde                  SFL2

1894/3/31      Morton 3 - 3 Albion Rovers     friendly

1894/3/24      Morton 0 - 2 Abercorn             SFL2

1894/3/10      Motherwell 4 - 1 Morton          friendly

1894/3/3        Morton 2 - 2 Dumbarton          friendly

1894/2/17      Morton 7 - 1 Northern              SFL2

1894/2/10      Morton 0 - 2 Clyde                  friendly

1894/2/3        Abercorn 2 - 1 Morton             SFL2

1894/1/13      Leith Athletic 6 - 1 Morton       friendly

1893/12/16    Morton 1 - 1 Johnstone           friendly

1893/12/9      Morton 6 - 3 Ayr Parkhouse    friendly

1893/12/2      Morton 0 - 1 Hibs                    SFL2

1893/11/25    Morton 2 - 4 Annbank             friendly

1893/11/18    St Mirren 5 - 1 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup R3

1893/11/11    Kilbirnie 3 - 2 Morton              2nd XI Cup R4

1893/11/11    Morton 2 - 3 Motherwell          SFL2

1893/11/4      Morton 5 - 0 Wishaw Thistle   friendly

1893/10/28    Morton 1 - 1 Northern             friendly

1893/10/28    bye                                         Renfrewshire Cup R2

1893/10/21    bye                                         2nd XI Cup R3

1893/10/21    Clyde 5 - 0 Morton                  SFL2

1893/10/14    Partick Thistle 5 - 2 Morton    SFL2

1893/10/7      Morton 8 - 1 Bridge of Weir    Renfrewshire Cup R1

1893/x/x        Morton vs Annbank                2nd XI Cup R2

1893/9/30      Morton 4 - 2 Cowlairs             SFL2

1893/9/23      Thornliebank 0 - 5 Morton      friendly

1893/9/16      Morton 1 - 0 Port Glasgow     SFL2

1893/9/9        Johnstone 1 - 10 Morton        2nd XI Cup R1

1893/9/9        Thistle 2 - 1 Morton                SFL2

1893/9/2        Kilmarnock 5 - 3 Morton         Scottish Cup PR1

1893/8/26      Hibs 9 - 2 Morton                    SFL2

1893/8/19      Morton 2 - 3 Partick Thistle     SFL2

(Sources: fitbastats for SFL Division 2; The beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, 2nd XI Cup and the Greenock and District Charity Cup; Glasgow Herald for friendlies.)

Greenock Morton 1892-93:

1893/5/27      Morton 4 - 7 Partick Thistle    Greenock Charity Cup final

1893/5/6        Port Glasgow 4 - 0 Morton          friendly

1893/5/3        Morton 5 - 2 Johnstone          Greenock Charity Cup R1

1893/4/22      Hibs 2 - 3 Morton                        friendly

1893/4/15      Abercorn 5 - 3 Morton                  friendly

1893/4/1        Morton 2 - 2 Port Glasgow           friendly

1893/3/11      Johnstone 3 - 2 Morton                friendly

1893/3/4        Morton 2 - 4 Rangers                   friendly

1893/2/25      Morton 3 - 0 St Mirren           Renfrewshire Cup final

1893/2/18      Morton 1 - 0 Cambuslang           friendly

1893/1/21      Port Glasgow 4 - 2 Morton           friendly

1893/1/14      Morton 4 - 3 Saltcoats Victoria    friendly

1892/12/24    Morton 7 - 3 Dykebar                  friendly

1892/12/17    Dykebar 3 - 6 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup SF

1892/11/19    Morton 6 - 0 Renton                    friendly

1892/10/29    Morton 5 - 2 Arthurlie            Renfrewshire Cup R2

1892/10/22    Morton 5 - 1 Port Glasgow          friendly

1892/10/8      Morton 2 - 0 Kilbarchan        Renfrewshire Cup R1

1892/9/24      Ayr Parkhouse 2 - 0 Morton    Scottish Cup PR2

1892/9/10      Johnstone 3 - 2 Morton            2nd XI Cup R1

1892/9/3        Morton 7 - 1 1st Argyll RV     Scottish Cup PR1

1892/8/27      Renton 4 - 2 Morton                    friendly

1892/8/6        St Bernard's 5 - 0 Morton            friendly

Morton played no league football in 1892-93 and did not participate in the Scottish Cup, yet at the end of that season they were elected to the SFL. They won the Renfrewshire Cup, but that does not seem a huge accomplishment on a national scale until you consider that St Mirren, whom they beat 3 - 0, went on to finish third in the SFL. If this Renfrewshire Cup final was indeed what commended Morton to the league, then it stands out as one of Morton's most important wins.

(Sources: Glasgow Herald for the friendlies; SFHA for the Renfrewshire Cup, 2nd XI Cup and Greenock and District Charity Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup.)

Greenock Morton results for 1891-92:

Morton were a member of the Scottish Football Alliance in 1891-92. They also played in the preliminary rounds of the Scottish Cup, as well as the Renfrewshire Cup and the Greenock and District Charity Cup. And there were friendlies, some of them against other members of the Scottish Alliance. I have followed the Scottish Football Historical Archive as to which games are genuine Scottish Alliance matches, and have treated the others as friendlies.

There were three senior leagues operating in Scotland in 1891-92: the SFL, the Scottish Alliance, and the Scottish Federation. Twelve of today's SPFL clubs were in these leagues: Dumbarton, Celtic, Hearts, Rangers, Clyde and St Mirren in the SFL; Kilmarnock, Morton and Partick Thistle in the Alliance; and Albion Rovers, Falkirk and Motherwell in the Federation.

1892/5/28      Morton 4 - 1 Dumbarton         Greenock Charity Cup final

1892/5/24      Thistle 1 - 3 Morton                 Scottish Alliance

1892/5/21      Morton 3 - 1 Port Glasgow             friendly

1892/5/7        Morton 4 - 2 Kilmarnock Athletic    friendly

1892/5/5        Morton 1 - 0 Partick Thistle    Greenock Charity Cup R1

1892/4/30      Morton 3 - 1 E. Stirlingshire    Scottish Alliance

1892/4/27      Morton 2 - 1 Argyllshire                friendly                source?

1892/4/23      Morton 3 - 3 Kilmarnock          Scottish Alliance

1892/4/16      E. Stirlingshire 5 - 2 Morton     Scottish Alliance

1892/4/9        Morton 3 - 2 King's Park          Scottish Alliance

1892/4/2        St Bernard's 1 - 1 Morton         Scottish Alliance

1892/3/26      Morton 3 - 1 Ayr FC                Scottish Alliance

1892/3/19      King's Park 3 - 5 Morton         Scottish Alliance

1892/3/12      Airdrieonians 6 - 3 Morton        Scottish Alliance

1892/3/5        Morton 5 - 4 St Mirren                   friendly

1892/2/27      Morton 5 - 3 Linthouse            Scottish Alliance

1892/2/13      Ayr FC 5 - 3 Morton                  Scottish Alliance

1892/2/6        Kilmarnock 8 - 1 Morton           Scottish Alliance

1892/1/30      Morton 3 - 1 Partick Thistle      Scottish Alliance

1892/1/23      Abercorn 2 - 1 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup SF

1892/1/9        Abercorn 3 - 2 Morton                   friendly

1892/12/26    Dykebar 2 - 5 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup R3

1892/12/19    Dykebar 1 - 3 Morton (abandoned)    Renfrewshire Cup R3

1891/12/12    Dykebar 7 - 1 Morton (abandoned)    Renfrewshire Cup R3

1891/12/5      Morton 5 - 2 Thistle                Scottish Alliance

1891/11/28    Morton vs King's Park (postponed)    Scottish Alliance

1891/11/21    Morton 4 - 3 Dykebar                    friendly?

1891/11/14    Northern 6 - 0 Morton              Scottish Alliance

1891/11/7      Morton 1 - 2 Port Glasgow       Scottish Alliance

1891/10/31    Thistle 6 - 4 Morton                        friendly?

1891/10/24    Morton 4 - 1 Airdrieonians      Scottish Alliance

1891/10/17    Monkcastle 4 - 2 Morton          Scottish Cup PR2

1891/10/10    Morton 3 - 1 St Bernard's       Scottish Alliance

1891/10/3      Linthouse 6 - 0 Morton            Scottish Alliance

1891/9/26      Morton 3 - 1 Airdrieonians              friendly?

1891/9/19      Port Glasgow 5 - 5 Morton      Scottish Alliance

1891/9/12      Abercorn 5 - 1 Morton                2nd XI Cup R1

1891/9/12      Morton 7 - 1 Kilbirnie              Scottish Cup PR1

1891/9/5        Kilbirnie 2 - 2 Morton               Scottish Cup PR1

1891/8/29      Morton 4 - 3 Northern             Scottish Alliance

1891/8/22      Partick Thistle 1 - 2 Morton    Scottish Alliance

1891/8/15      Morton 1 - 2 Abercorn                    friendly

(Sources: SFHA for the Scottish Alliance, Renfrewshire Cup, the January 9 friendly, the 2nd XI Cup and Greenock and District Charity Cup; Glasgow Herald for Scottish Cup Qualifying and the other friendlies.)

Greenock Morton in 1890-91:

1891/6/6        Dumbarton 5 - 1 Morton        Greenock Charity Cup final

1891/4/18*     Morton 3 - 1 Arthurlie            Greenock Charity Cup SF

1891/4/18*     Morton 2 - 1 Abercorn                    friendly

1891/4/11      Morton 3 - 1 Partick Thistle            friendly

1891/4/4        Cowlairs 4 - 5 Morton                    friendly

1891/3/28      Morton 2 - 0 Rutherglen                friendly

1891/3/21      Morton 1 - 4 Northern                     friendly

1891/3/7        Kilmarnock Athletic 4 - 2 Morton    friendly

1891/2/28      Port Glasgow 1 - 3 Morton            friendly

1891/2/21      Partick Thistle 2 - 3 Morton           friendly

1891/2/7        Morton 1 - 1 Thistle                        friendly

1891/1/31      Ayr FC 2 - 2 Morton                       friendly

1891/1/24      Morton 1 - 1 Clyde                         friendly

1891/1/17      Northern 3 - 1 Morton                    friendly

1891/1/10      Morton 5 - 4 Whitefield                  friendly

1890/12/27    Morton 1 - 1 Glasgow Wanderers    friendly

1890/12/20    Morton 1 - 2 Linthouse                  friendly

1890/12/13    Morton 0 - 1 Cowlairs                    friendly

1890/12/6      Celtic 4 - 3 Morton                    2nd XI Cup R5

1890/11/29    Hearts 5 - 1 Morton                Scottish Cup R5

1890/11/22    Morton 1 - 3 Dykebar                     friendly

1890/11/15    bye                                            2nd XI Cup R4

1890/11/8      Morton 6 - 4 Dumfries Wanderers    Scottish Cup R4

1890/11/1      Abercorn 7 - 1 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup R1

1890/10/25    Morton 7 - 3 Kilbirnie                2nd XI Cup R3

1890/10/25    Thistle 5 - 2 Morton                        friendly

1890/10/18    Morton 10 - 0 Inveraray         Scottish Cup R3

1890/10/11    Morton 2 - 2 Port Glasgow             friendly

1890/10/4      Morton 4 - 3 Port Glasgow Athletic    2nd XI Cup R2

1890/10/4      Linthouse 4 - 1 Morton                   friendly

1890/9/27      Morton 3 - 2 Neilston             Scottish Cup R2

1890/9/20      Morton 6 - 2 Dykebar                     friendly

1890/9/13      Morton 3 - 1 Abercorn                2nd XI Cup R1

1890/9/13      Clyde 2 - 3 Morton                        friendly

1890/9/6        Morton 7 - 2 Ayr Athletic        Scottish Cup R1

1890/8/30      Arthurlie 6 - 3 Morton                     friendly

1890/8/2        Morton 2 - 5 Abercorn                    friendly

*Which squad is the second eleven?

(Sources: German Wikipedia for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, Greenock and District Charity Cup, and 2nd XI Cup; the Glasgow Herald for friendlies.)

Kincaid's

Women build tubing condensers at Kincaid's Arthur Street shop during World War One. Source.

Morton host Hamilton Academical. Morton are sixth with 40 points, Hamilton seventh with 39. In three previous meetings each side has earned a win, a draw and a loss. Morton's league record in 2022 is 7W 5D 2L, Hamilton's 4W 7D 3L. If Morton win by 2 goals, and Raith lose by 2, Morton will take over fifth place.

Hamilton's top scorer is Andy Ryan with 11 goals in league play. Gozie Ugwu has 8.

After last weekend's games Morton cannot finish in tenth place. Depending on today's results Morton, Hamilton and Raith Rovers can have booked a place in next season's Championship by the final whistle. And Cove Rangers can win League One, which would earn them promotion to the 2022-23 Championship.

When was the last time Morton and Hamilton met in the top division? January 15th, 1966. Morton won 3 - 0 at Cappielow.

Yesterday was the hundredth anniversary of Morton's first and to date only Scottish Cup final win, 'a poor game' in the opinion of the Glasgow Herald.

[Morton 0 - 1 Hamilton.]

The other Championship matches:

Inverness CT (3rd) 2 - 1 Kilmarnock (1st) (last night)

Arbroath (2nd) [5 - 1] Queen of the South (10th)

Partick Thistle (4th) [0 - 1] Raith Rovers (5th)

If Dunfermline beat Ayr they will be equal at 35 points and then anything can happen because the final two matches for each of them are against the same two teams, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South.

Dunfermline Athletic (9th) [2 - 1] Ayr United (8th)

It's the Scottish Cup semi-finals:

Hearts [2 - 1] Hibs

Celtic [1 - 2] Rangers (tomorrow)

When was the last time Rangers, Celtic, Hibs and Hearts made up the four semi-finalists? Well I'll tell you: it has never happened before.

Four finals can come out of this weekend's semis. When did each last occur?

2020    Celtic/Hearts

2016    Hibs/Rangers

2013    Celtic/Hibs

1998    Hearts/Rangers

It's also the Scottish Junior Cup semi-finals:

Auchinleck Talbot [2 - 1] Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Petershill [1 - 2] Yoker Athletic

Cowdenbeath watch:

Cowdenbeath [0 - 0] Edinburgh City

Stirling Albion [0 - 2] Elgin City

[Cowdenbeath are Team 42.]

The Highland League championship will be decided today. Coming into today's games Fraserburgh lead Buckie Thistle by 3 points. To win the league Buckie must beat Clach by 2 goals while Fraserburgh lose to Forres Mechanics. But in their first meeting, back in November, Fraserburgh beat Forres 7 - 0.

Fraserburgh [5 - 0] Forres Mechanics

Clachnacuddin [1 - 3] Buckie Thistle

[Fraserburgh win the Highland League.]

Tier VI watch: Coming into today's play four teams can win the West of Scotland League: Auchinleck Talbot, Pollok, Darvel and Clydebank. Four teams can win the East of Scotland League: Tranent, Penicuik, Linlithgow Rose and Jeanfield Swifts. Either St Cuthbert Wanderers or Threave Rovers will win the South of Scotland League.

Other matches:

UCD 0 - 2 Drogheda United (yesterday)

Waseda University [2 - 3] Takushoku University

WOSFL Cup, Round 2:

St Roch's [2 - 2] Largs Thistle    [St Roch's win on PK.]

NWCFL Division 1 playoff final: FC Isle of Man [4 - 2] New Mills

[FC Isle of Man are promoted.]

East Kilbride [0 - 1] Bonnyrigg Rose

Winterthur (1st) [4 - 2] Vaduz (3rd)

Kaiserslautern [3 - 1] 1.FC Saarbrücken (tomorrow)

Mito HollyHock [1 - 1] Tokushima Vortis (tomorrow)

SWF Championship South: Morton 4 - 1 Ayr United (April 13)

Morton vs Renfrew (tomorrow) (postponed due to Covid)

WE League: Elfen Saitama [1 - 0] Tokyo Verdy Beleza (tomorrow)    [Upset!]

75th Aomori Prefecture Soccer Championship, Round Three (tomorrow):

Match No. 6: Hachinohe Gakuin University [2 - 3] Blancdieu Hirosaki

Canadian Premier League:

Atlético Ottawa [1 - 0] HFX Wanderers

Which players have been with HFX Wanderers from the start? Akeem Garcia and Andre Rampersad, both part of the Trinidadian quartet recruited by Stephen Hart in 2019, and goalie Christian Oxner. Peter Schalle also counts if you ignore the fact that he took the end of 2019 off to finish his university degree.

The CPL's new Vancouver-area club will have their home field in Langley BC, which is not to be confused with Langford BC where Pacific FC play.

Concacaf Champions League semi-finals, second leg:

Cruz Azul 0 - 0 UNAM (April 12)

NYCFC 1 - 1 Seattle Sounders (April 13)

UNAM and Seattle advance.

Europa League quarter-finals, second leg (April 14):

Rangers 3 - 1 Braga

Rangers advance.

1999-2000

April 15, 2000.    Morton lost to Ayr United 1 - 2 at Cappielow. Stephen Whalen was the Morton goalscorer, ending a team four-game scoring drought. Clydebank were in Dunfermline where they were thumped 6 - 0.

Clubs that played to four draws in one league season:

(League matches only: no friendlies, cup games, League Cup group stage matches or playoffs.)

2018-19    new Airdrieonians / Dumbarton    League One

2011-12    Dunfermline / Inverness CT          Premier League

2008-09    Queen's Park / Stranraer             Second Division

2007-08    Dundee United / Hibs                   Premier League

2006-07    Hamilton / Queen of the South     First Division

2005-06    Brechin / Queen of the South       First Division

2004-05    Clyde / St Mirren (four 0 - 0 draws)    First Division

2003-04    Montrose / Queen's Park             Third Division

1999-00    Arbroath / Hamilton                      Second Division

1998-99    Aberdeen / Motherwell                 Premier League

1997-98    Dundee United / Dunfermline       Premier Division

1996-97    Aberdeen / Motherwell                 Premier Division

1996-97    Arbroath / Forfar                           Third Division

1995-96    Clyde / Stranraer                          Second Division

1994-95    old Airdrieonians / Dunfermline    First Division

1994-95    Berwick / Stenhousemuir             Second Division

1993-94    Aberdeen / Motherwell                 Premier Division

1991-92    Hibs / Motherwell                         Premier Division

1991-92    Montrose / Morton                        Division 1

1988-89    Dundee United / Hearts (four 0 - 0 draws)    Premier Division

1987-88    Hibs / St Mirren                            Premier Division

2021-22 Plenty of Nothing Championship Consolation Cup:

2021/12/11    R1    Dunfermline 3 - 3 Queen of the South (QoS advance on the corner kicks rule.)

2021/12/26    R1    Ayr United 2 - 0 Raith Rovers

2022/1/14      R1    Partick Thistle 1 - 1 Kilmarnock (Kilmarnock advance on the yellow card rule.)

2022/2/19      R1    Hamilton Academical 1 - 0 Morton

2022/3/11      SF    Ayr United 1 - 3 Kilmarnock

2022/3/26      SF    Hamilton 1 - 0 Queen of the South

Now that Hamilton have missed the playoffs there is no possibility of another Killie/Accies match. Therefore the 2021-22 Consolation Cup ends with no winner.

A Poor Game

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL

MORTON'S FIRST VICTORY

A Poor Game

    Morton defeated Rangers on Saturday by 1 goal to 0 in the forty-fourth final tie of the Scottish Cup competition, played at Hampden Park, the first-named club thereby gaining possession of the Cup for the first time in their career. The superiority of Rangers throughout the season in the League competition pointed to their success at Hampden Park, and it was known that the Ibrox club were particularly anxious to secure the Scottish Cup in this their jubilee year. The success of the Glasgow club was generally expected, and when Morton took the field without their noted centre-forward, French, popular opinion in that respect was strengthened. Rangers' ultimate failure was accordingly a genuine surprise, and the manner in which it was brought about added to an already prevalent conviction that a sort of fatality attaches to the Ibrox club's quest of the National Cup, which they have not won for 19 years. A strong wind was a disturbing factor on Saturday, but neither that nor a somewhat slippery turf was responsible for one of the poorest and least creditable displays of football ever seen in a Scottish Cup final. The opening play favoured Rangers, though they faced the wind, and they ought to have gone ahead after five minutes, when their outside left shot hard against the goalpost -- the first of a series of lucky escapes that Morton profited by during the game. Morton got the first goal, however, twelve minutes after play had started, a somewhat easily earned point, which, as events proved, settled the destination of the Cup for the season.

Rangers' Defence at Fault

    Rangers' defence were grievously at fault in the downfall of their goal, the backs both making for the ball in hesitating manner, and M'Candless finally and foolishly attempting to pass back to his goalkeeper, who in a scrambling sort of way succeeded in grasping the ball, but was penalized for over-carrying. The free kick from 27 yards out was admirably taken by Gourlay, Morton's right half-back, whose fast and unerring shot got into the net close under the crossbar. A period of vigorous play followed, and Morton's goal was the more frequently in danger, and the only disturbing factor to Rangers' wellwishers was the obvious want of understanding between the backs, who were repeatedly at a loss how to meet the rushing tactics of their opponents. Archibald and Morton on the extreme wings were outstanding for Rangers, but the destructive methods of Morton's defenders when the ball reached the goal area negatived all the scheming of the Ibrox attack. At the end of half an hour Cunningham, Rangers' captain, left the field with a fractured jaw, and did not return, Rangers playing to the end with ten men. Play, never attractive, naturally deteriorated, and the game was little better than a scramble till the interval. For a short period after the resumption matters took a turn for the better, and Morton showed more method in attack than they had done previously. Their inside forwards were clever and enterprising, and twice Robb, the Rangers goalkeeper, only saved his charge by rushing out and tackling opposing forwards. Rangers gradually wore down their opponents, however, and initiated a long period of pressure that yielded only barren corners and numerous free kicks. Three times Morton's goal escaped marvelously. Edwards, after saving with fine skill shots at close range from Archibald and Morton, failed to reach a ball from Meiklejohn that passed over his head, but M'Intyre got into the vacant goal to head clear. Again Cairns and Henderson got past the Morton goalkeeper, but were hustled aside in the goalmouth by frantic defenders, and then followed a point blank shot from Rangers' outside left -- Morton -- that accidentally rebounded from a defender standing on the goal line.

Morton's Stars

    Occasional rushes by the Morton centre and extreme wingers kept matters exciting, but the almost constant interruptions of play for infringements, and on account of accidents to players, were discreditable. Rangers worked with desperation to save the game, and were extraordinarily unlucky in failing to do so. As a display of football the game will rank as one of the poorest on record, also as one of the roughest. The loss of their captain was undoubtedly a tremendous handicap to Rangers, and in all probability cost them the Cup. Their four forwards played with admirable courage and with praiseworthy restraint under trying circumstances, and it was only in the closing ten minutes that they gave way to desperation and descended to methods that were neither profitable nor dignified. Edwards, the Morton goalkeeper, had most credit in his side's victory, as, notwithstanding the occasions referred to, when his charge survived by mere chance, the custodian saved brilliantly at times. Gourlay came next in order of merit for the winners, as, apart from his cleverly taken goal, his ripe experience and judgment were of inestimable value to colleagues inclined to lose their heads. Morton's victory was largely attributable to the daring and strenuous work of their defence, whose unconventional methods of tackling, however, did not commend itself to the majority of the spectators, and necessitated the interference of the referee to an extent that spoiled the game.

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GREENOCK MORTON, 1; RANGERS, 0

    At Hampden Park, Glasgow. Estimated attendance, 75,000. Drawings at gate (inclusive of tax), £3400. Teams:--

    Rangers -- Robb; Manderson and M'Candless; Meiklejohn, Dixon, and Muirhead; Archibald and Cunningham; Henderson; Cairns and Morton.

    Morton -- Edwards; M'Intyre and R. Brown; Gourlay, Wright and M'Gregor; M'Nab and M'Kay; Buchanan; A. Brown and M'Minn.

    Referee -- T. Dougray (Bellshill).

    Greenock on winning the toss for choice of ends elected to book the assistance of a strong blustering wind. Despite this advantage the Renfrewshire team had to fall back in the first half-minute when Archibald, Henderson, and Morton broke through. The Rangers' centre forward cleverly side-slipped to A. L. Morton, who played a fast shot on to the upright, low down. Greenock then made ground on the right, and, from a corner kick, Robb was brought out to save, after which play travelled rapidly to the other end. Wright held off Cairns, but Cunningham followed up to attempt a surprise shot, which Edwards saved during a brisk melee. Play deviated in interesting fashion, and both goals were assailed in turn. The shooting, however, was never first class, probably owing to the keenness of the tackling. The Morton half backs were a strong destructive force, and Gourlay kept A. L. Morton from indulging in any of his noted crosses. When twelve minutes had gone a free kick to the Cappielow team was taken by Gourlay a foot outside the eighteen yards line. Rangers' defence was lined up in front of the goal, but the right half-back succeeded in scoring with a fast angular drive which rose and landed the ball high up at the corner of the net behind Robb, who never attempted to hold the shot, such was its velocity. Following this, Cunningham of Rangers was injured in a tackle, and the Ibrox side were deprived of their skipper's assistance for the rest of the game. Handicapped thus in their attack, Rangers never evolved a successful front attack, and, although the quartette got close in on Edwards on several occasions, the absence of a studied shot was evident.

    In the second half, and with the wind now against them, Greenock's inside forwards kept playing up to Rangers' defence, and once M'Kay came close to adding another goal when he flicked the ball on to the post from a pass by M'Nab. A raceaway by Archibald and a long speedy drive by the Rangers' right winger forced Edwards to dive at the ball, which was just held on the line. The goalkeeper was slightly injured in the following charge from Cairns, and Rangers were turned from the free kick awarded. From now until the end Rangers forced a succession of corners, but, continuing to anticipate most of the crosses in Edwards' direction, M'Intyre and R. Brown prevented the Ibrox attack from securing a steadily aimed shot.

Glasgow Herald, April 17, 1922, page 4.

Benin Bronze

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Mokujiki

Mokujiki (1718-1810) fulfilled a vow to carve 1000 Buddhas, travelling rural Japan and leaving distinctive smiling Buddhas wherever he went. In the early twentieth century his work was rediscovered by Soetsu Yanagi, founder of The Japan Folk Crafts Museum where some of Mokujiki's smiling Buddhas can be seen today.

Voiture à Impériale

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Roger Dean Postage Stamps

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