Plenty of Nothing

Kawabata Nobel Prize Postage Stamp

Source.

Monastery of Sant'Urbano ai Pantani (1834)

Monastery of Sant'Urbano ai Pantani by Achille Pinelli (1809-1841). Source.

Sayoko Yamaguchi

Source.

Diaspora

Serbian White Eagles, 1973. Source.

Canada

We've been following HFX Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League since that league began in 2019. This year we're also following teams from the semi-professional circuits League1 Ontario, the Première ligue de soccer du Québec and the new League1 BC, which together make up the third tier of Canadian soccer. There is no second-tier league right now.

Then there are the three Canadian clubs in Major League Soccer, which are demonstrably bigger and better than anything in the Canadian Premier League, but are counted as part of the top US tier. And Toronto and Vancouver have B squads playing in the US tier III.

Maybe at some time in the future all Canadian clubs will play in the same league structure, but don't hold your breath. In the meantime we do have the Canadian Championship, which brings most of these teams together in an annual knock-out tournament.

But there's one more league to take into account: the Canadian Soccer League. It's professional, non-FIFA, largely made up of foreign players, and pretty much confined to Etobicoke. The league regards itself as the continuation of the old National Soccer League, which existed for decades but never got close to covering the whole country. In 1992 the NSL became the CNSL, and then in 1998 the CPSL, and in 2006 the CSL. There had been a national professional Canadian Soccer League from 1987 to 1992 but it was long gone at that point.

In 2014 there was a rupture between the Canadian Soccer League and the governing Canadian Soccer Association, followed by an RCMP investigation into match fixing.

This season the CSL has six teams, with almost all games being played at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke and the rest at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan.

Canadian soccer has a long history of diaspora teams. Many NSL clubs had names like Toronto Scottish, Toronto Ukraina and Toronto Croatia. The Canadian Soccer League maintains this tradition, with teams recruiting in an ethnic community and its home country. This is not a thing unique to Canada: there's an FC Korea in Japan's Kanto League and a CD Palestino in Chile.

The Canadian Soccer League season starts tomorrow. Let's follow Serbian White Eagles, the league's oldest club.

Serbian White Eagles [2 - 2] FC Continentals

Serbian White Eagles were founded in 1968. They've had two eras of professionalism: the 1970s in the NSL and the years since 2006. In 1975 they represented Canada in a Concacaf Champions Cup match against CF Monterrey, during which a brawl occurred. Almost all the players on this year's squad are either Serbian or Serbian-Canadian.

FC Continentals is the new name for FC Vorkuta, which was nearly entirely made up of Ukrainian players last year.

Also in Canada:

League1 Ontario: Burlington SC [4 - 1] North Mississauga (tomorrow)

This is Burlington SC's first year in League1.

PLSQ: Royal-Sélect de Beauport [3 - 0] Celtix du Haut-Richelieu (tomorrow)

Celtix dress like Celtic.

After only one year CF Montréal are ditching their new logo and walking most of the way back to the Montreal Impact one.

Scotland:

The draw for the 2022-23 Scottish League Cup group stage was held on May 25th. The 37 SPFL clubs that are not in European competition will participate in this stage, plus Fraserburgh, Buckie Thistle and Bonnyrigg Rose. The groups are not regionalized this year. Morton will play in Group D along with Hibs, Falkirk, Clyde and Bonnyrigg Rose starting July 9th.

Morton have signed midfielder Carlo Pignatiello who has previously suited up for Livingston, BSC Glasgow, Stranraer, Arbroath and Dumbarton. Also signed is defender Darragh O'Connor, formerly of Wexford, Leicester City, Motherwell and Queen of the South. Cameron Blues has committed to the club until 2024.

Scottish Women's Cup (tomorrow):

Celtic [3 - 2] Glasgow City

Lowland League playoffs:

St Cuthbert Wanderers 1 - 3 Darvel (May 25)

Darvel [0 - 2] Tranent Juniors (today)

[Tranent are promoted to the Lowland League.]

Ireland:

Shelbourne 2 - 0 UCD (May 23)

UCD 1 - 1 Sligo (yesterday)

UEFA Europa Conference final (May 25):

Roma 1 - 0 Feyenoord

UEFA Champions League final (today):

Liverpool [0 - 1] Real Madrid

Japan:

Mito HollyHock 0 - 3 Albirex Niigata (May 25)

JEF United [2 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

Ryutsu Keizai University [0 - 0] Waseda University (tomorrow)

Tohoku: Bogolle.D.Tsugaru [3 - 1] Morioka Zebra (tomorrow)

Tohoku clubs in the JFL:

1992    none

1993    none

1994    NEC Yamagata

1995    NEC Yamagata, Fukushima FC, Brummell Sendai

1996    Montedio Yamagata (n), Fukushima FC, Brummell Sendai

1997    Montedio Yamagata, Fukushima FC (d), Brummell Sendai

1998    Montedio Yamagata, Brummell Sendai, Sony Sendai

1999    Sony Sendai

2000    Sony Sendai

2001    Sony Sendai

2002    Sony Sendai

2003    Sony Sendai

2004    Sony Sendai

2005    Sony Sendai

2006    Sony Sendai

2007    Sony Sendai, TDK

2008    Sony Sendai, TDK

2009    Sony Sendai, TDK

2010    Sony Sendai, Blaublitz Akita (n)

2011    Sony Sendai, Blaublitz Akita

2012    Sony Sendai, Blaublitz Akita

2013    Sony Sendai, Blaublitz Akita (p), Fukushima United (p)

(And in 2013 Grulla Morioka jumped straight from the Tohoku League to J3.)

2014    Sony Sendai, Vanraure Hachinohe

2015    Sony Sendai, Vanraure Hachinohe

2016    Sony Sendai, Vanraure Hachinohe, ReinMeer Aomori

2017    Sony Sendai, Vanraure Hachinohe, ReinMeer Aomori

2018    Sony Sendai, Vanraure Hachinohe (p), ReinMeer Aomori, Cobaltore Onagawa (r)

2019    Sony Sendai, ReinMeer Aomori

2020    Sony Sendai, ReinMeer Aomori, Iwaki FC

2021    Sony Sendai, ReinMeer Aomori, Iwaki FC (p)

2022    Sony Sendai, ReinMeer Aomori

d = dissolved; n = new name; p = promoted; r = relegated.

Zetsubou Sensei by Rumiko Takahashi

This is one of a series of end cards drawn by eminent mangaka for the Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei anime. Rumiko Takahashi drew Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996.  Source.

The Mortonhall Scabbard

The bronze Mortonhall Scabbard, made about 100 AD, and discovered at Mortonhall, Edinburgh, is a fine example of Roman-era Celtic art. Source.

View from Wilhelmshöhe Castle towards Cassel through the Archway

Aussicht vom Schloss Wilhelmshöhe gegen Cassel durch den Torbogen (1810) by Johann Heinrich B. Bleuler. Source.

2022 Canadian Championship QF

Toronto's Jacob Shaffelburg is from Port Williams, Kings County. In 2018 he played for Black Rock, but a different Black Rock from the one near Harbourville. Source.

It's the 2022 Canadian Championship. HFX Wanderers host Toronto FC.

This is the first ever meeting between these two clubs. Toronto FC have played two CPL teams before, beating York United and Pacific FC in last year's Canadian Championship. The only MLS club that HFX Wanderers have ever played is CF Montréal, who beat them last year. The winner of this game will meet the winner of Match 9 in the semi-finals.

Toronto are seven-time winners of the Canadian Championship, and champions of MLS in 2017. But they're currently just 13th in the MLS East. HFX Wanderers are 7th in the CPL.

The quarter-final matches:

Match 6: Cavalry [1 - 1] Vancouver Whitecaps (tomorrow) [Vancouver win on PK.]

Cavalry beat the Whitecaps in third round in 2019.

Match 7: Pacific [2 - 2] York United [York win on PK.]

See below.

Match 8: HFX Wanderers [1 - 2] Toronto FC

See above. [Wanderers' goal by Salter.]

Match 9: CF Montréal [3 - 0] Forge FC (tomorrow)

Montréal beat Forge on PK in last year's semi-finals.

Pacific versus York United, all-time:

2019/5/18      Pacific 2 - 2 York9

2019/6/15      York9 1 - 0 Pacific

2019/7/17      York9 2 - 2 Pacific

2019/8/17      York9 0 - 2 Pacific

2019/9/11      Pacific 0 - 2 York9

2020/8/18      Pacific 1 - 1 York9

2021/7/1        York United 2 - 2 Pacific

2021/7/10      Pacific 3 - 0 York United

2021/10/30    Pacific 1 - 2 York United

2022/3/18      Pacific 2 - 1 York United (friendly)

2022/5/20      Pacific 0 - 0 York United

After I took my eye off them FC Isle of Man won the NWCFL First Division Challenge Cup. Here's how:

2022/4/18      R3    Sandbach United 1 - 2 FC Isle of Man

2022/5/2        QF    AFC Darwen 1 - 4 FC Isle of Man

2022/5/7        SF    FC Isle of Man 2 - 1 Holker Old Boys

2022/5/21      F      FC Isle of Man 1 - 0 Cammell Laird 1907

Takaki Yamamoto

Takaki Yamamoto builds lyrical dioramas evocative of the Showa era. Source.

102nd Emperor's Cup, Round One

JFA House, on Football Avenue, in Bunkyo City, Tokyo. Google Street View.

It's the first round of the 102nd Emperor's Cup. This year's format reverts to the one in place before Covid arrived; however, because of the FIFA World Cup in November, the Emperor's Cup final has been moved forward to October 16th, the earliest it has been since 1968.

Once again Honda FC get into Round One as the top amateur club in the country.

Match No. 1:    Sapporo University (Hokkaido Univ 1) 1 - 0 Yamanashi Gakuin University Pegasus (Yamanashi 1)

Match No. 2:    Vertfee Yaita (Kanto 2) 7 - 0 Nagai Club (Tohoku 2 South)

Match No. 3:    Matsumoto Yamaga (J3) 3 - 2 Hokuriku University (Hokushinetsu Univ 1)

Match No. 4:    FC Imabari (J3) 1 - 4 Okinawa SV (Kyushu)    Upset

Match No. 5:    Tonan Maebishi (Kanto 2) [0 - 1] Fuji University (Tohoku Univ 1)

Match No. 6:    Kagoshima United (J3) [3 - 1] Giravanz Kitakyushu (J3)

Match No. 7:    Vanraure Hachinohe (J3) [0 - 1] Niigata University of Health and Welfare (Hokushinetsu Univ 1)    Upset

Match No. 8:    FC Gifu (J3) 3 - 2 Chukyo University (Tokai Univ 1)

Match No. 9:    MD Nagasaki (Nagasaki 1) [1 - 2] Kagura Shimane (JFL)

Match No. 10:  Fukui United (Hokushinetsu) [0 - 1] Doshisha University (Kansai Univ 1)

Match No. 11:  Arterivo Wakayama (Kansai 1) 2 - 4 Kansai University (Kansai Univ 1)

Match No. 12:  Nara Club (JFL) [0 - 1] Honda FC (JFL)

Match No. 13:  Suzuka Point Getters (JFL) [3 - 0] Cento Cuore Harima (Kansai 1)

Match No. 14:  Takamatsu University (Shikoku Univ 1) [0 - 3] Shunan Public University (Chugoku Univ 1)

Match No. 15:  Brew Kashima (Kyushu) [0 - 2] Kochi United (JFL)

Match No. 16:  Gainare Tottori (J3) [0 - 4] Verspah Oita (JFL)    Upset

Match No. 17:  Toin University of Yokohama (Kanto Univ 1) [1 - 0] Rissho University (Kanto Univ 1)

Match No. 18:  MIO Biwako Shiga (JFL) [1 - 2] International Pacific University (Chugoku Univ 1)    Upset

Match No. 19:  Kataller Toyama (J3) [1 - 0] Fujieda MYFC (J3)

Match No. 20:  Tsukuba University (Kanto Univ 1) [2 - 2] Briobecca Urayasu (Kanto 1) [Tsukuba won on PK]

Match No. 21:  Fukuyama City FC (Chugoku) [3 - 2] FC Tokushima (Shikoku)

Match No. 22:  Fukushima United (J3) 7 - 1 North Asia University (Tohoku Univ 1)

Match No. 23:  Honda Lock (JFL) 3 - 0 FCK MarryGold (Kumamoto 1)

Match No. 24:  Sony Sendai (JFL) 3 - 1 Tokyo International University FC (Kanto 2)

Matches 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 22, 23 and 24 were played yesterday.