Plenty of Nothing

The Renfrew Bridge

A segment of the new Renfrew bridge is towed past Gourock. Source.

Falkirk visit Cappielow for the first time since 2019. The Bairns are currently second in the Championship with 9 points, while Morton are sixth with 3 points.

For a long while after the McKinnon Affair Falkirk were the most hated club in Greenock, but five years of separation have allowed the mantle of most obnoxious opponent to pass to Partick Thistle.

Falkirk went undefeated in League One last season and won that division by 24 points. They have not been defeated in a league match since April 18th, 2023, a run of 41 matches, which is the third-longest streak in Scottish League history. In the past calendar year they have posted only three losses, all of them cup games:

2024/1/20      Bonnyrigg Rose 2 - 1 Falkirk    ScCup R4

2024/2/3        Falkirk 0 - 1 The New Saints    ChCup SF

2024/7/16      Ayr United 1 - 0 Falkirk    LCup GS

They are the only Championship side left in the current League Cup.

Morton have played Falkirk only once since the Bairns' relegation. That was in the 2022-23 League Cup group stage; after a scoreless draw Falkirk won in the shootout. The last Morton player to score against Falkirk was Charlie Telfer, April 20th, 2019.

Morton have begun the league season with the three consecutive draws. The last time they did that was 2016-17. The time before that was 1975-76 and the time before that was 1960-61. They have never started a season with four draws in a row.

Falkirk's Ross MacIver played for Morton in 2020-21, as did Aiden Nesbitt in 2016-17 and from 2019 to 2021, and Gary Oliver from 2016 to 2019 and 2020 to 2022. Calvin Miller played for Morton in 2023. No one on the Morton squad has played for Falkirk.

Yesterday Morton signed 37-year old winger Niall McGinn, formerly of Dungannon Swifts, Derry City, Celtic, Brentford, Aberdeen, Gwangju, Dundee and Glentoran.

[Morton 2 - 3 Falkirk. Morton goals by Boyes and Baird.]

The other Championship matches:

Dunfermline (10th) [1 - 1] Ayr United (1st)

Hamilton (5th) [2 - 2] Airdrieonians (8th)

Partick Thistle (9th) [3 - 0] Queen's Park (4th)

Raith Rovers (7th) [0 - 1] Livingston (3rd)

Other matches:

Fylkir 2 - 2 Þór/KA (August 25)

Stockport Town 2 - 1 FC Isle of Man (August 26)

Nairn County 1 - 5 Brora Rangers (August 27)

Scrosoppi 1 - 0 Alliance United (August 28)

Kerry 0 - 1 UCD (yesterday)

Forres Mechanics [1 - 1] Nairn County

Banks o' Dee JFC vs Culter (postponed)

Civil Service Strollers [1 - 1] Broomhill

Largs Thistle [2 - 0] Shotts Bon Accord

Video: Dazza Visits a Chippy in Largs

Colne [1 - 1] FC Isle of Man

Mito HollyHock [3 - 1] Ehime FC

Scrosoppi [2 - 0] ProStars

Þór/KA 1 - 0 FH

ReinMeer Aomori [4 - 1] Yokohama Musashino (tomorrow)

Orca Kamogawa [1 - 1] Sfida Setagaya (tomorrow)

SWF Championship and League One Cup, R1 (tomorrow):

Glasgow Women [5 - 1] Morton Women

WE League Cup, group stage:

Elfen Saitama [1 - 3] JEF United Chiba

Canadian Championship semi-finals, second leg (August 27):

Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Pacific

Whitecaps advance.

Toronto FC 1 - 0 Forge

2 - 2 on aggregate. Toronto wins on the away goal rule, which you hardly ever hear of anymore.

A drone was observed over a Forge practice prior to the first leg of this tie, two weeks before the Summer Olympic drone scandal broke. Story.

UEFA Champions League, playoff round, second leg (August 27):

Sparta Prague 2 - 0 Malmö

Malmö drop down to the Europa League.

UEFA Europa League, playoff round, second leg (August 29):

Hearts 0 - 1 Viktoria Plzeň

Elfsborg 0 - 1 Molde

1 - 1 on aggregate. Elfsborg win on PK.

Shamrock Rovers 0 - 2 PAOK

Elfsborg advance. Hearts and Shamrock Rovers drop down to the Conference League.

UEFA Conference League, playoff round, second leg (mostly August 29):

Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Copenhagen

The New Saints 0 - 0 Panevėžys (Lithuania)

Başakşehir (Türkiye) 2 - 0 St Patrick's Athletic (August 28)

Larne 3 - 1 Lincoln Red Imps

Larne and The New Saints advance. Kilmarnock and St Patrick's are out.

Scottish Junior Cup, Round One:

Cruden vs Neilston [No, it's on September 21 and the winner will get a bye to Round 3.]

That's it. That's the only fixture in this round.

Scottish Cup, Preliminary Round 2:

Tynecastle (EP) 4 - 0 Glasgow University (W3) (yesterday)

Bo'ness Athletic (E1) 2 - 0 Kilwinning Rangers (W1) (yesterday)

Glenafton Athletic (WP) [2 - 4] Threave Rovers (W3)    Upset

Coldstream (E2) [0 - 6] Camelon Juniors (E1)

Bonnyton Thistle (W2) [0 - 1] Dunbar United (EP)

Jeanfield Swifts (EP) [3 - 0] Newton Stewart (SL)

Lochee United (ML) [4 - 0] Hawick Royal Albert (E3)

Golspie Sutherland (NCL) [0 - 2] Carluke Rovers (W4)    Upset

Pollok (WP) [1 - 3] Darvel (WP)

Coupar Hearts (KoF) [4 - 0] Wigtown & Bladnoch (SL)    Upset

Preston Athletic (E1) [2 - 3] Irvine Meadow (W1)

Tayport (ML) [1 - 3] Dundee North End (ML)

Culter (NP) [1 - 2] Sauchie Juniors (EP)

Dundonald Bluebell (EP) [3 - 1] Edinburgh University (EP)

Fort William (NCL) [0 - 8] Hill of Beath Hawthorn (EP)

Benburb (WP) [0 - 3] Vale of Leithen (E2)    Upset

Burntisland Shipyard (E2) [2 - 1] Dunipace (EP)    Upset

Haddington Athletic (EP) [1 - 4] Auchinleck Talbot (WP)

Creetown (SL) [1 - 3] Cumnock Juniors (WP)

Penicuik Athletic (EP) [0 - 1] Musselburgh Athletic (EP)

Girvan (W3) [9 - 0] St Cuthbert Wanderers (SL)    Upset

Dalkeith Thistle (E2) [1 - 0] Blackburn United (E1)    Upset

Dalbeattie Star (SL) [1 - 2] Whitehill Welfare (E1)    Upset

Rutherglen Glencairn (W1) [2 - 0] Hutchison Vale (EP)    Upset

Easthouses Lily (E2) [0 - 4] Newtongrange Star (E1)

Clydebank (WP) [7 - 0] St Andrews United (EP)

Key: tier 6 = WP EP SL NCL ML NP;  tier 7 = W1 E1; tier 8 = W2 E2; tier 9 = W3 E3; tier 10 = W4; KoF is outside the pyramid

Historical matches:

1901/8/31      Hearts 3 - 1 Morton

1940/8/31      Morton 1 - 1 Falkirk

2002/8/31      East Stirlingshire 1 - 1 Morton

Goal by Alex Williams.

Arthurlie FC 1925-26:

1926/9/14      St Mirren 3 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup F leg two

1926/8/31      St Mirren 3 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup F leg one

1926/8/25      Morton 2 - 3 Arthurlie    RCup R2

1926/4/24      Stenhousemuir 2 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/4/17      Arthurlie 1 - 0 King's Park    SFL2

1926/4/13      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Paisley GSFP    RCup R1

1926/4/10      Bo'ness 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/4/3        Arthurlie 3 - 1 Arbroath    SFL2

1926/3/27      Clyde 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/3/20      Broxburn United 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/3/13      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Alloa Athletic    SFL2

1926/3/6        Ayr United 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/27      Albion Rovers 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/20      East Fife 7 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/17      East Stirlingshire 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/13      Arthurlie 6 - 6 Nithsdale Wanderers    SFL2

1926/2/9        Clyde 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SCup R2 replay

1926/2/6        Arthurlie 2 - 2 Clyde    SCup R2

1926/1/30      Arthurlie 2 - 0 Queen of the South    SFL2

1926/1/23      Arthurlie 5 - 4 Armadale    SCup R1

1926/1/16      St Bernard's 5 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/1/9        Arthurlie 2 - 6 Dunfermline Athletic    SFL2

1926/1/4        Bathgate 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/1/2        Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dumbarton    SFL2

1926/1/1        Third Lanark 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/12/26    Arthurlie 7 - 4 Armadale    SFL2

1925/12/19    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Clyde    SFL2

1925/12/12    Nithsdale Wanderers 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/12/5      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Ayr United    SFL2

1925/11/28    Arthurlie 5 - 0 East Fife    SFL2

1925/11/21    Arbroath 4 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/11/14    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Bo'ness    SFL2

1925/11/7      Arthurlie 2 - 3 St Bernard's    SFL2

1925/10/31    King's Park 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/10/24    Arthurlie 1 - 2 Stenhousemuir    SFL2

1925/10/17    Arthurlie 2 - 1 Bathgate    SFL2

1925/10/10    Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/10/3      Arthurlie 4 - 1 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1925/9/26      Queen of the South 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/9/19      Arthurlie 4 - 0 Broxburn United    SFL2

1925/9/12      Dumbarton 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/9/5        Arthurlie 4 - 2 Albion Rovers    SFL2

1925/8/29      Alloa Athletic 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/8/22      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Third Lanark    SFL2

1925/8/15      Armadale 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two and the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup)

Anthony Fokker

Anthony Fokker made the first airplane flight in the Netherlands on August 31st, 1911. Source.

The Massacre of Tranent

This statue depicts Jackie Crookstone, who led one of a series of riots against the conscription of local men under the Scottish Militia Act. She and perhaps ten other rioters were shot dead by government troops on this date in 1797. Source.  

The Porcupine of Louis XII

Source.

Goyu

This stretch of pine-sheltered street is a surviving piece of the Tokaido Road that connected Kyoto to Edo back when people got places by walking. Source.

Prillar Guri

This statue commemorates the legendary Prillar Guri who alerted the people of Otta of the approach of several hundred Scottish mercenaries on their way to join Swedish forces in the war against Norway in 1612. The locals ambushed the Scots in a narrow valley and wiped them out. Source. 

Icelandic Dragon

Source.

Morton Livingston Schamberg

Telephone (1916) by Morton Livingston Schamberg (1881-1918). Source.

Morton visit Livingston. Livi are third in the division with 4 points, Morton sixth with 2 points. Morton started the league with two scoreless draws. On average Morton play about two scoreless draws per season, so they're well ahead on that statistic.

Livi's Jamie Brandon appeared for Morton for a few months in early 2022. Robbie Muirhead wore Morton hoops from 2019 to 2024. Morton's Morgan Boyes was with Livingston from 2022 to 2024. Cameron Blues was a Livi Lion in 2018-19 though he spent the whole time on loan. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas suited up for Livingston in 2020-21.

The last Morton player to score against Livi was Ricki Lamie, April 7th, 2018.

Livi's manager David Martindale has been in the role since November 2020, placing him third on the SPFL seniority list.

Livingston began life in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, the factory team for Ferranti Engineering in Edinburgh. They started out in the Edinburgh and District Welfare Association, but moved to the East of Scotland League in 1953. They entered the SFL when the league restructured to three divisions in 1974 and changed their name to Meadowbank Thistle after their stadium. In 1995 they relocated to all-seater Almondvale Stadium in the new town of Livingston, earning the epithet "wee plastic franchise" from fans of clubs with more traditional and derelict grounds. In 2024 they are coming off a six-year stint in the Premiership.

Livi won the League Cup in 2003-04 and the Challenge Cup in 2014-15. Morton have not won either cup.

[Livingston 1 - 1 Morton. Morton goal by Moffat.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians (5th) [0 - 2] Queen's Park (7th)

Falkirk (2nd) [2 - 1] Partick Thistle (8th)

Hamilton Academical (9th) [1 - 0] Dunfermline Athletic (10th)

Dunfermline's German owners have put the club up for sale.

Ayr United (1st) [2 - 0] Raith Rovers (4th)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup Round Two match.

Other matches:

Bo'ness United 3 - 2 Civil Service Strollers (August 20)

UCD 2 - 0 Finn Harps (yesterday)

Civil Service Strollers [1 - 1] Celtic B

Turriff United [0 - 2] Nairn County

Benburb [3 - 3] Largs Thistle

West Park United [1 - 3] Carluke Rovers

Charnock Richard [2 - 1] FC Isle of Man

HFX Wanderers [1 - 1] Atletico Ottawa

[Goal by Nimick, and Samuel Salter scored for Ottawa.]

Simcoe County Rovers [0 - 2] Scrosoppi

Mito HollyHock [2 - 1] Thespa Gunma (tomorrow)

Inverness CT [8 - 2] Morton Women (tomorrow)

Toronto Falcons [1 - 1] Serbian White Eagles (tomorrow)

UEFA Champions League, playoff round, first leg (August 21):

Malmö 0 - 2 Sparta Prague

UEFA Europa League, playoff round, first leg (August 22):

Viktoria Plzeň 1 - 0 Hearts

Molde 0 - 1 Elfsborg

PAOK 4 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

UEFA Conference League, playoff round, first leg (August 22):

Copenhagen 2 - 0 Kilmarnock

Panevėžys (Lithuania) 0 - 3 The New Saints

St Patrick's Athletic 0 - 0 Başakşehir (Türkiye)

Lincoln Red Imps 2 - 1 Larne

North of Scotland Cup, Round One (mostly August 21):

Brora Rangers 3 - 2 Ross County (August 20)

Nairn County 4 - 1 Inverness CT (August 20)

Clachnacuddin 3 - 2 Strathspey Thistle

Forres Mechanics 8 - 0 Rothes

Fort William scr-wo Lossiemouth

Golspie Sutherland 0 - 2 Inverness Athletic

Halkirk United 0 - 0 St Duthus (Halkirk win on PK)

Invergordon 0 - 4 Wick Academy

North Region League Cup, QF:

Culter [4 - 2] Fraserburgh United

Southern clubs in the Lowland League, year by year:

2013-14    Threave Rovers, Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Gala Fairydean Rovers

2014-15    Threave Rovers, Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Gala Fairydean Rovers

2015-16    Threave Rovers, Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Gala Fairydean Rovers

2016-17    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Hawick Royal Albert

2017-18    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Hawick Royal Albert, Edusport Academy

2018-19    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Edusport Academy

2019-20    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers

2020-21    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers

2021-22    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Vale of Leithen, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers

2022-23    Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers

2023-24    Gretna 2008, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers

2024-25    Gretna 2008, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers

Historical matches:

1901/8/24      Morton 1 - 2 Celtic

1940/8/24      Hibs 2 - 1 Morton

2002/8/24      Morton 3 - 0 Queen's Park

Goals by Alex Williams (2) and Lee Duncan.

Arthurlie FC 1924-25:

1925/4/18      East Fife 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/4/11      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Arbroath    SFL2

1925/4/4        Forfar Athletic 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/3/28      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Clyde    SFL2

1925/3/21      Bathgate 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/3/14      Arthurlie 2 - 2 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1925/3/7        Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/2/28      Clydebank 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/2/21      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Bo'ness    SFL2

1925/2/18      Arthurlie 1 - 2 King's Park    SFL2

1925/2/14      Albion Rovers 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/2/7        Motherwell 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SCup R2

1925/1/31      Broxburn United 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/1/24      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Cowdenbeath    SCup R1

1925/1/17      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dundee United    SFL2

1925/1/13      Johnstone 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/1/10      Armadale 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/1/5        Arthurlie 2 - 1 Dumbarton    SFL2

1925/1/3        Arthurlie 0 - 0 Alloa Athletic    SFL2

1924/12/27    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Stenhousemuir    SFL2

1924/12/20    Bo'ness 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/12/13    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Forfar Athletic    SFL2

1924/12/6      Arbroath 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/11/29    King's Park 2 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/11/22    Arthurlie 3 - 1 East Fife    SFL2

1924/11/15    St Bernard's 0 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/11/8      Arthurlie 4 - 5 Johnstone    SFL2

1924/11/1      Clyde 5 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/10/25    Arthurlie 2 - 0 Bathgate    SFL2

1924/10/18    Dundee United 4 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/10/11    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Broxburn United    SFL2

1924/10/4      East Stirlingshire 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/9/27      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Albion Rovers    SFL2

1924/9/22      Arthurlie 5 - 2 St Bernard's    SFL2

1924/9/20      Dumbarton 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/9/13      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Armadale    SFL2

1924/9/x        St Mirren 2 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup R2

1924/9/6        Alloa Athletic 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/9/2        St Mirren 3 - 2 Arthurlie    RVCup R2

1924/8/30      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    SFL2

1924/8/23      Stenhousemuir 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1924/8/16      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Clydebank    SFL2

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two and the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup)

Alwington House

Alwington House, near Kingston Pen, was the home of the Governors General of the Province of Canada during Kingston's brief spell as capital from 1841 to 1844. Sydenham, Bagot and Metcalfe all lived there, and Bagot died there. This photo is dated 1920 when it was a private residence. The building burned down in 1958 and was replaced by a new house built by Robertson Davies' brother Arthur. Source.

104th Emperor's Cup, Round Four

Consadole and JEF United in 2013. Source.

It's Round Four of the 104th Emperor's Cup, the Round of 16.

The Emperor's Cup uses a two draw system, creating one bracket for Rounds One through Three, and a second one for the remainder of the tournament. The draw for the second half of the tournament was made July 12th.

There are ten J1 clubs remaining, and six from J2.

Match No. 73: V-Varen Nagasaki (J2) [2 - 3] Yokohama F. Marinos (J1)

These two last met in the 2019 League Cup group stage. V-Varen advanced, Marinos did not.

Match No. 74: Sagan Tosu (J1) [0 - 2] Renofa Yamaguchi (J2)    Upset

Match No. 75: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (J1) [2 - 0] Ehime FC (J2)

These two met in the 2011 Emperor's Cup and Ehime won.

Match No. 76: Gamba Osaka (J1) [3 - 2] Shonan Bellmare (J1)

Gamba and Shonan have been together in J1 since 2018. They played on June 1st and Gamba won 2 - 1.

Match No. 77: Ventforet Kofu (J2) [1 - 2] Kashima Antlers (J1)

Ventforet knocked Kashima out of last year's Emperor's Cup.

Match No. 78: Kashiwa Reysol (J1) [0 - 1] Vissel Kobe (J1)

These two have been together in J1 since 2020. Kashiwa won 1 - 0 on March 2nd in league play.

Match No. 79: Kyoto Sanga (J1) [2 - 0] Oita Trinita (J2)

Sanga and Trinita last met on October 7th, 2018 in J2 league play. Trinita won 2 - 1.

Match No. 80: JEF United Chiba (J2) [1 - 0] Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (J1)    Upset

JEF and Consadole last met on January 25th, 2017 when they played to a scoreless draw in the 2017 New Year Cup.