Plenty of Nothing

Frans Masereel

Belgian artist Frans Masereel was born on this date in 1889. You may know him from his textless woodcut novel Passionate Journey. Here's a self-portrait he made when he was 78. Source.

Och, You're Kiddin' On

East Stirlingshire vs Motherwell colts in 2018. Source.

It's the 2024-25 Scottish Challenge Cup, Round One. In this round we have five Highland League clubs, six Lowland League sides, and eleven Premiership colt teams.

The five Highland League participants are Buckie Thistle, Brechin City, Fraserburgh, Banks o’ Dee, and Formartine United who finished first, second, third, fourth and fifth in the Highland League last season.

The six Lowland League clubs are East Kilbride, Bo’ness United, Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath, Berwick Rangers, and East Stirlingshire, who finished first, third, ninth, tenth, thirteenth and fourteenth. The four former SPFL clubs have been awarded places ahead of Cumbernauld Colts, Tranent, Civil Service Strollers and Linlithgow Rose, all of whom finished higher in the 2023-24 Lowland League standings. You'll recall that Cowdenbeath were also given a spot in last year's League Cup, despite having finished fifteenth. Involvement by invitation is a courtesy when extended to clubs outside Scotland, but if applied to clubs in the Scottish FA it offends against sporting integrity.

For the third year Ross County B are not in it.

2010-11 was the last time the Challenge Cup was contested by Scottish League teams alone. That year 28 SFL teams met in Round One, while two others received byes. In 2011-12 two Highland League clubs were added to bring the total up to 32 teams. In 2013-14 it was 30 SFL clubs plus one Highland League club plus the winner of a preliminary round between an East of Scotland club and a South of Scotland club. The next year it was 30 plus one Highland League club plus one from the new Lowland League. In 2016-17 the format was expanded to include more Highland and Lowland teams, twelve Premiership colt teams and two each from Wales and Northern Ireland. The highwater mark came in 2018-19 with 58 squads, including two each from Wales, Northern Ireland, England and the Republic of Ireland. The non-Scottish clubs were the best thing about this cup, giving Scottish clubs that never got into UEFA competition but were still better than any club from Andorra or San Marino a chance to compete against international opponents.

The matches:

Fraserburgh [1 - 1] Hearts B [Fraserburgh win on PK]

Banks o' Dee [1 - 0] Aberdeen B

Dundee B [2 - 0] Formartine United

Buckie Thistle [1 - 3] Dundee United B

Berwick Rangers [2 - 3] St Mirren B

Motherwell B [0 - 0] East Stirlingshire [East Stirlingshire win on PK]

East Kilbride [3 - 0] Celtic B

Hibs B [3 - 3] Albion Rovers [Albion Rovers win on PK]

Cowdenbeath [4 - 2] Kilmarnock B

Rangers B [3 - 1] Bo'ness United

St Johnstone B [2 - 1] Brechin (tomorrow)

Elsewhere:

Cumnock Juniors [1 - 3] Largs Thistle (tomorrow)

Irlam [1 - 3] FC Isle of Man

East Kilbride Thistle [1 - 0] Carluke Rovers (tomorrow)

The North Region League Cup starts today. Let's follow Culter FC, who have won this cup the past two years. They're in Group 5 along with Banchory St Ternan, Longside and Westdyke.

Banchory St Ternan [1 - 3] Culter

UEFA Champions League 2QR, second leg:

The New Saints [1 - 2] Ferencváros

Sparta Prague [4 - 2] Shamrock Rovers

[The New Saints and Shamrock Rovers drop down to the Europa League.]

2024 Summer Olympics:

Group A:

July 31    Colombia [0 - 1] Canada

Canada has earned a 6-point deduction for that drone caper.

Group C:

July 31    Japan [3 - 1] Nigeria

Jasper Fire Map

Source.

Sir Charles Ogle

The ferry Sir Charles Ogle ran between Halifax and Dartmouth from 1830 till 1894. Source.

The Whisky Fire of 1903

Ardgowan Distillery was bombed during the Greenock Blitz and the gutters ran with burning whisky. But not for the first time! In 1903 a fire at the same distillery released a flaming torrent that ignited the flour in a bakery, killing seven onlookers. Source.

It's the final matchday of the League Cup group stage. Morton host Alloa Athletic. Alloa are top of Group F with 8 points. Morton are fourth with 3 and cannot progress to Round Two. Morton are the only Championship side to be eliminated before Matchday Five.

Group F has supplied two upsets: East Fife beat Morton 3 - 0, and Alloa beat St Johnston 3 - 2. 

Up till now Morton have always managed to accumulate at least 6 points in the group stage (see below), but it may be tough to do this time. They've only scored 1 goal so far, whereas Alloa have 6.

These two played a friendly on July 2nd and Morton won 1 - 0. The last time they met up in League Cup action was 2011 when Morton knocked the Wasps out of the 1st round by a 3 - 0 score. Alloa have never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in this cup.

The last Morton player to score against Alloa in a competitive match was Markus Fjørtoft, April 24th, 2021.

Morton have signed 33-year-old striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (JET for short), formerly of Arsenal, Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers, Cardiff City, Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, Milton Keynes Dons, Gillingham, PTT Rayong, Livingston, Aberdeen, Jamshedpur and Kidderminster Harriers.

Jack Bearne has been released.

The Cappielow pitch has been awarded four out of five stars by the SFA.

[Morton win 2 - 1 on goals by Moffat and Garrity.]

The other match:

St Johnstone [5 - 1] East Fife

Brechin have already finished.

Final Group F standings:

St Johnstone    4    3    0    0    1    11      5    +6    9

Alloa                 4    2    1    0    1      7      5    +2    8

East Fife           4    2    0    1    1      8      5    +3    7

Morton              4    2    0    0    2      3      6     -3    6

Brechin             4    0    0    0    4      2    10     -8    0

Morton's modern group stage results, best to worst:

2016-17    4    3    1    0    0      5    0    +5    11    1st, group H     advanced

2023-24    4    3    0    0    1    11    4    +7      9    2nd, group D    advanced

2019-20    4    2    1    0    1    14    8    +6      8    2nd, group E    advanced

2017-18    4    2    1    0    1      8    6    +2      8    2nd, group F

2022-23    4    2    0    1    1      6    3    +3      7    2nd, group D

2018-19    4    2    0    0    2      9    5    +4      6    3rd, group E

2021-22    4    1    1    1    1      3    5     -2      6    3rd, group G

2020-21    4    1    0    3    0      4    3    +1      6    4th, group G

[2024-25   4    2    0    0    2      3    6     -3      6    4th, group F]

Other matches:

Alliance United 2 - 2 Scrosoppi (July 24)

Culter 4 - 0 Bridge of Don Thistle (yesterday)

The Highland League begins. Let's follow Nairn County.

Buckie Thistle vs Nairn County (postponed)

East Kilbride [7 - 1] Civil Service Strollers

Largs Thistle [0 - 0] Johnstone Burgh

Carluke Rovers [0 - 1] Saltcoats Victoria

FC Isle of Man [2 - 2] Chadderton

HFX Wanderers U21 [1 - 2] Middlesbrough U21 (in Charlottetown)

Scarborough SC [3 - 0] Serbian White Eagles

Longford Town [1 - 2] UCD

Vancouver Whitecaps [1 - 4] Wrexham (friendly)

Chelsea [1 - 4] Celtic (friendly)

Vaughan Azzurri [2 - 2] Scrosoppi (tomorrow)

UEFA Europa League, 2QR, first leg (July 25):

Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Cercle Brugge (Belgium)

This is Kilmarnock's eleventh trip to Europe.

Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 0 - 1 Elfsborg

UEFA Conference League, 2QR, first leg (mostly July 25):

Valur (Iceland) 0 - 0 St Mirren

Four UEFA Conference League matches were played in Reykjavik on Thursday. Take that, Glasgow.

St Mirren made it to Europe four times in the Eighties. They beat Elfsborg, Slavia Prague and Tromsø, and lost to Saint-Étienne, Feyenoord, Hammarby and Mechelen.  

St Patrick's Athletic 3 - 1 Vaduz (Liechtenstein)

Legia Warsaw 6 - 0 Caernarfon Town

Cliftonville 1 - 2 Auda (Latvia) (July 24)

Zurich 3 - 0 Shelbourne

2024 Summer Olympics:

Let's follow the Canadian and Japanese women's teams.

Group A:

July 25    Canada 2 - 1 New Zealand

The games are just starting and Canada has already been caught cheating. And it looks like Canada was cheating in 2021 and at the Copa America too.

July 28    France [1 - 2] Canada

Group C:

July 25    Spain 2 - 1 Japan

July 28    Brazil [1 - 2] Japan

Arthurlie FC 1922-23:

1923/10/1      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Morton    RCup SF

1923/3/17      Nithsdale Wanderers 3 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

1923/2/17      Beith 3 - 3 Arthurlie    WCup R1 leg two

1923/2/10      Beith 2 - 0 Arthurlie    WCup R1 leg one

1923/2/3        Arthurlie 3 - 1 Royal Albert    WL

1923/1/27      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Nithsdale Wanderers    WL

1923/1/20      Beith 3 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

1923/1/6        Solway Star 1 - 2 Arthurlie    WL

1922/12/30    Arthurlie 4 - 1 Beith    WL

1922/12/23    Arthurlie 4 - 0 Solway Star    WL

1922/12/16    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Hurlford    WL

1922/12/9      Peebles Rovers 3 - 1 Arthurlie    WL

1922/12/2      Galston 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

1922/11/25    Arthurlie 3 - 3 Queen of the South    WL

1922/11/11    Arthurlie 4 - 1 Galston    WL

1922/11/4      Royal Albert 1 - 1 Arthurlie    WL

1922/10/28    Arthurlie 3 - 1 Helensburgh    WL

1922/10/21    Dykehead 0 - 1 Arthurlie    WL

1922/10/14    Arthurlie 3 - 2 St Mirren 'A'    RVCup F

1922/9/30      Arthurlie 6 - 1 Queen's Park Victoria XI    WL

1922/9/23      Helensburgh 3 - 2 Arthurlie    WL

1922/9/16      Arthurlie 0 - 2 Beith    QCup R2

1922/9/9        Queen of the South 2 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

1922/9/2        Arthurlie 6 - 1 Paisley GSFP    QCup R1

1922/8/26      Arthurlie 5 - 1 Peebles Rovers    WL

1922/8/19      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Dykehead    WL

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Western League and Western Cup, and the Renfrewshire Cup and Renfrewshire Victoria Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup; Glasgow Herald for 1922/12/9.)

Based on Glasgow Herald, August 21, 1922 p. 13, I have moved Arthurlie 1 - 1 Dykehead from 1922/8/29 to 1922/8/19.

League matches against Hurlford and Queen's Park Victoria XI are missing.

Two Banks and a Tavern

Source. Left to right: 205 Yonge Street, Bank of Toronto (1905); the Colonial Tavern (1890s as a hotel; 1947 as a jazz bar); 197 Yonge Street, Canadian Bank of Commerce (1905). The Colonial Tavern has a longer Wikipedia article than either of the two neo-classical structures. See also.

Louis Blériot

Louis Blériot made the first cross-Channel airplane flight on this date in 1909. Source.

Saint John Street Railwaymen's Strike

On this date 110 years ago the employees of the Saint John New Brunswick Street Railway got fed up and started flipping trolleys. Source.

Dunterlie Park

Arthurlie's home ground Dunterlie Park in Barrhead. Source.

It's Matchday Four of the League Cup group stage, Morton's turn to take a spa day.

Can Morton still win the group? No. The highest point total Morton can reach is 6. If St Johnstone (who have 6 now) lose both remaining games, Alloa and East Fife will benefit and finish higher than 6.

Can Morton finish second? Yes, if Alloa and East Fife earn no further points Morton will finish second.

So, can Morton squeak into Round Two as one of the best three second-place finishers?  Five second-place clubs already have 6 points, and three of those have goal differences of +8, +7 and +7. Morton are -4. The chances are minuscule.

Could Morton finish bottom? Yes, if Alloa beat them and Brechin beat East Fife.

So far in this group stage 33 teams are outscoring Morton.

Today's matches are:

Alloa [3 - 2] St Johnstone

These two met in last year's group stage and St Johnstone won by four goals.

East Fife [4 - 0] Brechin

Brechin have beaten East Fife only twice out of ten tries in League Cup history, once in 1982 under the old group stage format, and once in 2008 during the knockout format days.

Group F standings after today's games:

Alloa                 3    2    1    0    0    6      3    +3    8

East Fife           3    2    0    1    0    7      0    +7    7

St Johnstone    3    2    0    0    1    6      4    +2    6

Morton              3    1    0    0    2    1      5     -4    3

Brechin             4    0    0    0    4    2    10     -8    0

Other matches:

Celtic [4 - 3] Manchester City (friendly)

Keflavík [0 - 1] Þór/KA (tomorrow)

HFX Wanderers U21 [0 - 3] Middlesbrough U21 (tomorrow)

UEFA Champions League, 2QR, first leg:

Ferencváros [5 - 0] The New Saints

Shamrock Rovers [0 - 2] Sparta Prague

First appearance for Morton, current squad:

2019/7/27        Cameron Blues (on at 67')

2019/9/7          Jack Baird (starter)

2021/7/13        Michael Garrity (starter)

2021/7/13        Alex King (starter)

2022/2/5          Iain Wilson (on at 64')

2022/7/16        Grant Gillespie (starter)

2023/7/15        Ryan Mullen (starter)

2023/7/15        Kirk Broadfoot (starter)

2023/7/15        Jack Bearne (on at 77')

2023/9/9          Cameron Keay (on at 86')

2023/11/25      Logan O'Boy (on at 76')

2024/7/13        Cammy Ballantyne (starter)

2024/7/13        Zak Delaney (starter)

2024/7/13        Morgan Boyes (starter)

2024/7/13        Owen Moffat (starter)

2024/7/13        Jordan Davies (starter)

2024/7/13        Lamar Reynolds (starter)

2024/7/13        Aaron Lyall (starter)

Arthurlie FC 1921-22:

1922/4/15      Hurlford 0 - 4 Arthurlie    WL

1922/4/10      Morton 4 - 3 Arthurlie    RCup SF

1922/4/8        Arthurlie 2 - 0 Beith    WL

1922/3/25      Arthurlie 10 - 0 Leith Athletic    WL

1922/3/18      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Dumbarton Harp    WCup

1922/3/11      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Dykehead    WCup

1922/3/4        Dykehead 3 - 1 Arthurlie    WCup

1922/2/18      Arthurlie 5 - 1 Paisley Academical    RCup R2

1922/2/11      Leith Athletic 3 - 1 Arthurlie    WL

1922/2/4        Arthurlie 4 - 1 Stevenston United    WL

1922/1/28      Hearts 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SCup R1

1922/1/14      Queen's Park Victoria XI 2 - 3 Arthurlie    WL

1922/1/7        Royal Albert 2 - 2 Arthurlie    WL

1921/12/24    Stevenston United 0 - 1 Arthurlie

1921/12/17    Arthurlie 1 - 1 Dykehead    WL

1921/12/10    Arthurlie 4 - 0 Queen of the South    WL

1921/12/3      Dumbarton Harp 1 - 3 Arthurlie    WL

1921/11/26    Arthurlie 3 - 1 Royal Albert    WL

1921/11/19    Montrose 2 - 0 Arthurlie    QCup SF

1921/11/12    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Royal Albert    QCup R5 replay

1921/11/5      Royal Albert 0 - 0 Arthurlie    QCup R5

1921/10/29    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Solway Star    QCup R4 2nd replay

1921/10/22    Solway Star 0 - 0 Arthurlie    QCup R4 replay

1921/10/15    Arthurlie 0 - 0 Solway Star    QCup R4

1921/10/8      Queen of the South 1 - 2 Arthurlie    WL

1921/10/1      Arthurlie 4 - 3 Galston    WL

1921/10/1      bye    QCup R3

1921/9/24      Dykehead 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

1921/9/17      Hurlford 0 - 3 Arthurlie    QCup R2

1921/9/10      Arthurlie 7 - 1 Queen's Park Victoria XI    WL

1921/9/3        Arthurlie 2 - 1 Hurlford    WL

1921/9/3        Renton scr/wo Arthurlie    QCup R1

1921/8/27      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Dumbarton Harp    WL

1921/8/20      Galston 1 - 2 Arthurlie    WL

Arthurlie's away fixture against Beith is missing. 

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Western League and Western Cup, and the Renfrewshire Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Cup)

Jeanne Hachette

On this date in 1472 Jeanne Laisné, also known as Jeanne Hachette, joined in the defence of the city of Beauvais against the army of Charles of Burgundy, repelling a besieger with her eponymous ax. She's the central figure of Beauvais' annual festival. Here she is on a cigarette card.