Plenty of Nothing

Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden the cosmetics magnate was born on this date in 1881 in Woodbridge, Ontario. Source.

Alistair Johnston

Celtic right-back Alaistair Johnston has won the Scottish treble. Earlier, he played five seasons for Vaughan Azzurri. Source.

Morton visit Inverness CT. Morton are fifth with 18 points, Inverness eighth with 17. Four points separate fifth place and tenth. These two teams met two and a half weeks ago and Morton won 2 - 1. Morton have not lost since November 18th. ICT have not won since December 9th.

[Inverness CT 0 - 0 Morton.]

The other Championship matches:

Dundee United (2nd) 3 - 0 Partick Thistle (3rd) (yesterday)

Queen's Park (10th) [1 - 2] Airdrieonians (7th)

Raith Rovers (1st) [2 - 2] Arbroath (9th)

Ayr United (6th) [2 - 2] Dunfermline (4th)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup round two match. [Ayr advance on the yellow card rule.]

Other matches:

Bo'ness United 0 - 0 Linlithgow Rose (December 26)

East Stirlingshire 2 - 3 Cowdenbeath (December 26)

Chadderton vs FC Isle of Man (December 26) (postponed)

Cardiff Metropolitan University 0 - 3 Penybont (December 26)

Carrick Rangers 1 - 2 Larne (December 26)

Crusaders 2 - 0 Carrick Rangers

Mohammedan 1 - 1 Sheikh Russel (yesterday)

Brechin vs Banks o' Dee [postponed]

Linlithgow Rose vs Bo'ness United [postponed]

Cowdenbeath vs East Stirlingshire [postponed]

Clydebank vs Largs Thistle [postponed]

Peebles Rovers vs Ormiston Primrose [postponed]

Newmains United vs Carluke Rovers [postponed]

FC Isle of Man [3 - 1] Burscough

Barry Town United [0 - 0] Cardiff Metropolitan University

Elfen Saitama [1 - 0] Nagano Parceiro

Some Morton firsts:

1877/9/29      Barrhead Rangers 7 - 0 Morton    First Scottish Cup match.

1879/9/27      Morton 7 - 4 Netherlee    First Scottish Cup match won.

1879/10/18    Morton 2 - 3 Arthurlie    First Renfrewshire Cup match.

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

1893/8/19      Morton 2 - 3 Partick Thistle    First Scottish League match.

1893/9/16      Morton 1 - 0 Port Glasgow Athletic    First Scottish League match won.

1900/8/18      Morton 2 - 3 Celtic    First match in Division One.

1900/9/1        Morton 1 - 0 St Mirren    First win in Division One.

1922/4/15      Morton 1 - 0 Rangers    First Scottish Cup final won.

Historical matches:

1944/12/30    Partick Thistle 3 - 2 Morton

1967/12/30    Hearts 3 - 0 Morton

At the halfway mark of the 1967-68 season Morton were ninth out of eighteen.

Frog House, Klukwan, 1895

Source.

Swedish Solar System

A map superimposing the solar system on the geography of Sweden. Source.

The Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women

A figure from the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Source.

2023 Spengler Cup

Davos versus Ambri-Piotta. Source.

It's the 2023 Spengler Cup. This year's teams are: host HC Davos, last year's winner Ambrì-Piotta, Frölunda, KalPa, Pardubice, and Team Canada. Team Canada have won it 16 times, Davos 15, KalPa and Ambrì-Piotta once each (both recently), and Frölunda and Pardubice never.

Team Canada's head coach is Bruce Boudreau. He has previously coached the Capitals, Ducks, Wild and Canucks, and was NHL coach of the year in 2007-08. Almost every player on the Canadian team has a regular job in the Swiss league, but there are three from the AHL and one each from US college hockey, the Swedish league, and Hockey Canada's program.

Pardubice is currently top of the Czech Extraliga. Ambrì-Piotta stands seventh in the Swiss league; Davos ninth. KalPa has fourth place in the Liiga, and Frölunda is fifth in the SHL.

Ambrì-Piotta, Pardubice and KalPa make up Group Torriani. Canada, Davos and Frölunda make up Group Cattini. Torriani and Cattini are famous Swiss hockeyists.

The games:

12/26    Game 1: Ambrì-Piotta [2 - 3] Pardubice

12/26    Game 2: Frölunda [0 - 4] Team Canada

12/27    Game 3: [KalPa 3 - 5 Ambrì-Piotta]

12/27    Game 4: [Davos 4 - 1 Frölunda]

12/28    Game 5: [Pardubice 2 - 1 KalPa]

12/28    Game 6: [Team Canada 3 - 4 Davos]

12/29    Game 7: [Ambrì-Piotta 0 - 5 Frölunda]

12/29    Game 8: [Team Canada 6 - 3 KalPa]

12/30    Game 9: [Davos 4 - 3 Frölunda]

12/30    Game 10: [Pardubice 4 - 3 Team Canada]

12/31    Final: [Davos 5 - 3 Pardubice]

Plenty of Nothing coverage of Spengler Cups past:

2022 when Ambri-Piotta won.

2021 was not played.

2020 was not played.

2019 when Team Canada won.

2018 when KalPa won.

2017 when Team Canada won.

2016 when Team Canada won.

2015 when Team Canada won.

2014 when Genève-Servette won.

2013 when Genève-Servette won.

2012 when Team Canada won.

2011 when Davos won.

2010 when SKA won.

Evangeline Booth

Evangeline Booth, General of the Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939, was born on Christmas Day in 1865. Source.

Rasputin

Publicity photo for Rasputin and the Empress (1932), released December 23, 1932, starring John Barrymore as Rasputin and Ethel Barrymore as Alexandra. It was a shame how he carried on. Source.

Maidie and Murray

Maidie Dickson (1922 - 2010) and Chic Murray (1919 - 1985) were a popular comedy act in the 1950s. You may remember Chic Murray as the piano-playing headmaster in Gregory's Girl (1981). Source.

Morton visit Airdrieonians. Morton are sixth in the Championship with 17 points and a -7 goal difference. Airdrie are seventh, also with 17 points but with a -8 goal difference. Sixth place is much better than tenth, where Morton had been since the end of September, but to put things in perspective Morton are currently 23 points out of first place and 3 points out of tenth.

Airdrie beat Morton in their league match of September 30th, and then knocked the Ton out of the Challenge Cup on November 18th. Morton have yet to score on Airdrie this season.

Morton sure are streaky. Currently they have won four in a row, league and cup. Prior to that they lost four in a row.

[Airdrieonians 0 - 0 Morton.]

The other Championship matches:

Queen's Park (10th) 0 - 0 Dundee United (2nd) (yesterday)

Raith Rovers (1st) 4 - 4 Ayr United (6th) (yesterday)

Arbroath (9th) [1 - 1] Dunfermline (4th)

Partick Thistle (3rd) [1 - 1] Inverness CT (8th)

[Five draw scores this weekend.]

Other matches:

Newry City 0 - 1 Carrick Rangers (yesterday)

Banks o' Dee vs Rothes [postponed]

Linlithgow Rose [1 - 0] Broomhill

The Lowland League has voted to continue hosting Premiership B teams.

Albion Rovers [0 - 1] Cowdenbeath

FC Isle of Man [0 - 2] Colne

Elfen Saitama [0 - 1] JEF United Chiba

Welsh League Cup QF (Decemer 19)

Cardiff Metropolitan University 1 - 0 Pontypridd United

The Bangladesh Premier League begins:

Sheikh Russel [2 - 1] Sheikh Jamal

HFX Wanderers have released Cristian Campagna, Doneil Henry, Ryan James, Jake Ruby, Armaan Wilson, Théo Collomb and Fumpa Mwandwe.

FIFA Club World Cup SF:

Fluminense 2 - 0 Al Ahly (December 18)

Urawa Red Diamonds 0 - 3 Manchester City (December 19)

Final (yesterday):

Manchester City 4 - 0 Fluminense

Manchester City are champions of the world.

Historical matches:

1882/12/23    Morton 2 - 1 Thornliebank (protested)

This was the second Renfrewshire Cup Round 2 replay to be protested by Thornliebank.

1944/12/23    Morton 1 - 3 Motherwell

1967/12/23    Morton 0 - 4 Celtic

Which clubs have never won a divisional title in the Scottish League?

Joined                                     Last title

2023        The Spartans          2022-23 Lowland League

2022        Bonnyrigg Rose      2021-22 Lowland League

2016        Edinburgh City        2015-16 Lowland League

2008        Annan Athletic        2006-07 East of Scotland League

2000        Elgin City                1997-98 Highland League

1921        Stenhousemuir       1901-02 Central Combination

When did Morton last play each pyramid-relegated club?

2018/7/28      Morton 5 - 0 Albion Rovers    LCup GS

2018/3/24      Morton 2 - 0 Brechin City    Championship

2017/7/15      Berwick Rangers 0 - 1 Morton    LCup GS

2014/3/25      Cowdenbeath 3 - 0 Morton    Championship

2012/8/5        East Stirlingshire 1 - 5 Morton    LCup R1

St. Andrew's Churches, Nova Scotia

St. Andrew's Church, Sydney. Source.

St. Andrew's Church, Boisdale, Cape Breton. Source.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Truro. Source.

St. Andrew's Church, Sheet Harbour. Source.

 

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Lunenburg. Source.