Plenty of Nothing

The Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin

Source.

Endurance

Shackleton's ship Endurance has been located, and it's in pretty good shape. Source.

Submarine Greenock

The Soviet sub Lennitz 15 arrived in Greenock for a refit on February 15, 1943. They would not get the welcome mat this week. Source.

Morton host Arbroath. Arbroath are top of the division with 46 points. Morton are sixth seventh with 30. So far Arbroath have a win and a draw against Morton. Morton have yet to register a win against Arbroath, Kilmarnock or Raith Rovers this season.

Arbroath have the best offence in the Championship with 38 goals scored, and the best defence with only 18 goals allowed. Morton are 30 and 35. Arbroath's Michael McKenna has 11 goals. Nicky Low, who is regarded as the clubs best forward, has been injured most of the season. Last weekend Arbroath played Queen of the South to a 0 - 0 draw. Derek Gaston has 12 clean sheets so far this season. Jack Hamilton has 7.

When was the last time these two clubs met in the top division? December 12, 1974. Morton won 3 - 2.

Morton, with 30 points from 26 games played, have surpassed last season's point total of 29 points in 27 games.

[Morton 0 - 0 Arbroath.]

Arbroath's last ten winning seasons:

2018-19        36    20    10      6    63    38    +25    70    1st, League One

2017-18        36    17      8    11    70    51    +19    59    4th, League One

2016-17        36    18    12      6    63    36    +27    66    1st, League Two

2014-15        36    16      8    12    65    46    +19    56    3rd, League Two

2012-13        36    15      7    14    47    57     -10    52    5th, Second Division

2011-12        36    17    12      7    76    51    +25    63    2nd, Second Division

2010-11        36    20      6    10    80    61    +19    66    1st, Third Division

2007-08        36    14    10    12    54    47      +7    52    4th, Third Division

2006-07        36    22      4    10    61    33    +28    70    2nd, Third Division

The other Championship matches:

Hamilton Academical (7th) 1 - 1 Inverness CT (3rd) (last night)

Ayr United (8th) [0 - 1] Queen of the South (10th)

Dunfermline (9th) [0 - 0] Killie (2nd)

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

Other matches:

UCD 0 - 0 Finn Harps (yesterday)

Schaffhausen 3 - 2 Winterthur (yesterday)

Beerschot 2 - 3 Charleroi (yesterday)

East Kilbride [5 - 2] Gala Fairydean Rovers

Fort William [1 - 2] Clachnacuddin

FC Isle of Man [4 - 3] Wythenshawe Amateurs West Didsbury & Chorlton

Largs Thistle [1 - 2] Troon

Winterthur [2 - 0] Yverdon (tomorrow)

Mito HollyHock [2 - 3] Vegalta Sendai (tomorrow)

Turkgucu Munchen [1 - 5] 1.FC Saarbrücken (Monday)

Emperor's Cup Qualifying (tomorrow): Waseda University [0 - 1] Tokyo 23

The Tokyo Cup, Metro Tokyo's qualifying tournament for the Emperor's Cup, involves eight teams: Tokyo United, Tokyo 23 and Nankatsu SC from the Kanto League Division One; Aries Tokyo, and Hitachi Building Systems from Kanto Division 2; FC N. and Tokyo United FC +Plus from the Tokyo League Division 1; and Waseda University from the JUFA Kanto League.

Two kanji to learn if you're following Japanese university soccer are: 男 (man); 女 (woman). I'm convinced that 男 led Kobo Abe to write the novel Box Man, which is about a guy who goes around wearing a cardboard box on his head.

Experience the 16 JFL stadia along with some sick beats.

SWF Championship South: Livingston [4 - 2] Morton (tomorrow)

2021-22 Europa League knock-out round play-off, second leg (February 24):

Rangers 2 - 2 Borussia Dortmund

Rangers advance.

2021-22 Europa Conference League knock-out round play-off, second leg (February 24):

Bodø/Glimt 2 - 0 Celtic

Celtic are out.

The 2021-22 UEFA Champions League final has been moved from St Petersburg to Paris.

2022 Concacaf Champions League, Round of 16, second leg:

CF Montreal 3 - 1 Santos Laguna (February 23)

Montreal advance.

Cruz Azul 3 - 1 Forge FC (February 24)

Forge are out. Report.

Canadian vs Mexican clubs in Concacaf play:

1975/7/5        CChCup R1    Monterrey 2 - 0 Serbian White Eagles

1975/7/13      CChCup R1    Serbian White Eagles 1 - 1 Monterrey

2008/9/24      CChL GS        Montreal Impact 0 - 0 Atlante

2008/10/28    CChL GS        Atlante 2 - 1 Montreal Impact

2009/2/25      CChL QF        Montreal Impact 2 - 0 Santos Laguna

2009/3/5        CChL QF        Santos Laguna 5 - 2 Montreal Impact

2010/8/17      CChL GS        Toronto FC 2 - 1 Cruz Azul

2010/9/21      CChL GS        Cruz Azul 0 - 0 Toronto FC

2011/9/14      CChL GS        UNAM 4 - 0 Toronto FC

2011/9/27      CChL GS        Toronto FC 1 - 1 UNAM

2012/3/28      CChL SF        Toronto FC 1 - 1 Santos Laguna

2012/4/4        CChL SF        Santos Laguna 6 - 2 Toronto FC

2012/8/28      CChL GS        Toronto FC 1 - 3 Santos Laguna

2012/10/24    CChL GS        Santos Laguna 1 - 0 Toronto FC

2015/2/24      CChL QF        Pachuca 2 - 2 Montreal Impact

2015/3/3        CChL QF        Montreal Impact 1 - 1 Pachuca

2015/4/22      CChL final      América 1 - 1 Montreal Impact

2015/4/29      CChL final      Montreal Impact 2 - 4 América

2017/3/14      CChL SF        UANL 2 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps

2017/4/5        CChL SF        Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 2 UANL

2018/3/7        CChL QF        Toronto FC 2 - 1 UANL

2018/3/13      CChL QF        UANL 3 - 2 Toronto FC

2018/4/3        CChL SF        Toronto FC 3 - 1 América

2018/4/10      CChL SF        América 1 - 1 Toronto FC

2018/4/17      CChL final      Toronto FC 1 - 2 Guadalajara

2018/4/25      CChL final      Guadalajara 1 - 2 Toronto FC

2021/4/7        CChL 16         León 1 - 1 Toronto FC

2021/4/14      CChL 16         Toronto FC 2 - 1 León

2021/4/27      CChL QF        Toronto FC 1 - 3 Cruz Azul

2021/5/4        CChL QF        Cruz Azul 1 - 0 Toronto FC

2022/2/15      CChL 16         Santos Laguna 1 - 0 CF Montreal

2022/2/16      CChL 16         Forge FC 0 - 1 Cruz Azul

HFX Wanderers training camp begins Monday. In addition to players already under contract the camp will include trialists Chris Campoli, Colin Gander, Luke Green, Lewis Dye, Orlendis Benitez, Ryley Wishart, Reshon Philip and Samir Mahiddine.

1999-2000

February 26, 2000.    Housemates Morton and Clydebank met at Cappielow, Morton played as the home team and prevailed 1 - 0 on a goal by John Anderson.

Greenock Morton results for 1883-84:

1884/4/26      Renton? 4 - 0 Morton?    [murky and ambiguous scan]

1884/4/19      Port Glasgow 5 - 2 Morton

1884/4/12      Partick Thistle 4 - 1 Morton

1884/3/15      Johnstone 6 - 5? Morton

1884/3/8        St Mirren 3 - 2 Morton

1884/2/9        Morton 5 - 4 Third Lanark?

1884/2/2        Vale of Leven 0 - 1 Morton

1884/1/19      2nd Morton 2 - 1 2nd Cowlairs

1884/1/19      Cowlairs 2 - 2 Morton

1884/1/12      Morton 7 - 3 Southern

1883/12/15    Morton 2 - 1 Port Glasgow

1883/12/8      Cartvale 8 - 3 Morton        Renfrewshire Cup R2 replay

1883/12/1      Morton 2 - 2 Cartvale        Renfrewshire Cup R2

1883/11/24    Morton 1 - 3 Renton

1883/11/17    2nd Morton 6 - 1 2nd Clyde

1883/11/17    Clyde 1 - 3 Morton

1883/11/3      Morton 0 - 4 Kilmarnock Athletic    Scottish Cup R3

1883/10/27    Morton 2 - 0 Johnstone

1883/10/20    Morton 1 - 2 Kilmarnock Athletic (protested)    Scottish Cup R3

1883/10/13    Partick Thistle 2nd XI 0 - 2 Morton 2nd XI

1883/10/13    Morton 5 - 2 Partick Thistle

1883/10/6      Woodland (Paisley) 1 - 4 Morton    Renfrewshire Cup R1

1883/9/29      Sir John Maxwell 1 - 5 Morton    2nd XI Cup

1883/9/29      Morton 5 - 1 Rangers' Swifts

1883/9/29      bye                                    Scottish Cup R2

1883/9/22      Morton 7 - 5 Pollokshields Athletic

1883/9/8        Morton 1 - 0 Renfrew        Scottish Cup R1

1883/9/1        Morton 10 - 2 Airdrieonians

Morton's path through the 2nd XI Cup is not clear, with SFHA and the Glasgow Herald offering different accounts.

The names Morton and Renton can be almost indistinguishable in a blurry newspaper scan.

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

Morton 1889-90

"Drying sails, Greenock," by Charles J. Lauder. Source.

Morton host Dunfermline Athletic. Dunfermline are ninth with 15 points, Morton tenth with 14. The Pars have scored 18 goals this season, the Ton 17. Both teams have allowed 31 goals. But Morton have a win and a draw against Dunfermline.

This game is crucial to both sides because the season could end at any moment, meaning the tenth-place club would be relegated while the ninth-place club stays safe, if 2019-20 is a precedent.

This is the Pars' sixth consecutive year in the Championship after coming up from League One, and Morton's seventh.

Nikolay Todorov, who scored 9 goals for ICT last season, has 2 for the Pars so far in 2021-22.

Read an interview with Peter Weatherson about his days with the club.

[Morton win 5 - 0. Goals by Oliver, Blues, Reilly and Muirhead, plus an own goal.]

The other Championship matches:

Ayr United (7th) [1 - 0] Arbroath (1st)

Both previous matches ended in a draw.

Ayr have hired Lee Bullen as manager. He was caretaker manager at Sheffield Wednesday on three occasions.

Hamilton (6th) [2 - 2] Partick (5th)

Partick won both previous games.

ICT (2nd) [1 - 1] Raith (3rd)

Raith have scored one goal since November.

QoS (8th) [0 - 2] Kilmarnock (4th)

KIllie have hired Derek McInnes as their new manager. He played for Morton from 1988 to 1995, and managed Aberdeen from 2013 to 2021.

Queen of the South have played four consecutive games in which one team or both scored three goals.

Other matches:

East Kilbride vs University of Stirling [postponed]

Clachnacuddin vs Lossiemouth [postponed]

FC Isle of Man [2 - 0] West Didsbury & Chorlton Wythenshawe Amateurs

Largs Thistle [1 - 0] Cumbernauld United

Eight of the ten Highland League fixtures scheduled for January 3rd were postponed due to Covid.

Alex Marshall, Jake Ruby, Eriks Santos, Pierre Lamothe, Marcello Polisi, Cory Bent and Samuel Salter will all be back with HFX Wanderers in 2022.

43rd Empress's Cup, semi-finals (January 5):

Match No. 45: Urawa Reds Ladies (WE) 1 - 0 Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies (N1)

Match No. 46: JEF United Ladies (WE) 1 - 0 Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina (Kanto)

None of these teams has won the Empress's Cup before, though Urawa Reds and JEF United have been finalists in recent years. Currently Urawa Reds are third and JEF United fourth in the WE League. Cerezo Osaka Sakai are third in N1. Menina are the Cinderella side of the tournament, having progressed farther than their parent club Beleza.

The final takes place at the end of February.

Sort the Championship clubs by number of scoreless draws so far this season:

5        Morton    (3 league matches + 2 cup ties decided on PK)

5        Raith Rovers    (2 league matches + 3 cup ties decided on PK)

4        Dunfermline    (4 league matches)

4        Partick Thistle    (4 league matches)

4        Inverness CT    (3 league matches + 1 cup tie decided on PK)

3        Arbroath    (3 league matches)

2        Queen of the South    (2 league matches)

2        Ayr United    (1 league match + 1 cup tie decided on PK)

1        Hamilton    (1 league match)

1        Kilmarnock    (1 league match)

Morton's last ten winning seasons:

2017-18    36    13    11    12    47    40      +7    50    7th, Championship

2016-17    36    13    13    10    44    41      +3    52    4th, Championship

2014-15    36    22      3    11    65    40    +25    69    1st, League One

2012-13    36    20      7      9    73    47    +26    67    2nd, First Division

2006-07    36    24      5      7    76    32    +44    77    1st, Second Division

2005-06    36    21      7      8    58    33    +25    70    2nd, Second Division

2004-05    36    18      8    10    60    37    +23    62    3rd, Second Division

2003-04    36    16    11      9    66    58      +8    59    4th, Second Division

2002-03    36    21      9      6    67    33    +34    72    1st, Third Division

1995-96    36    20      7      9    57    39    +18    67    3rd, First Division

Dunfermline Athletic's last ten winning seasons:

2020-21    27    10      9      8    38    34      +4    39    4th, Championship

2017-18    36    16    11      9    60    35    +25    59    4th, Championship

2015-16    36    24      7      5    83    30    +53    79    1st, League One

2013-14    36    19      6    11    68    54    +14    63    2nd, League One

2010-11    36    20    10      6    66    31    +35    70    1st, First Division

2009-10    36    17      7    12    54    44    +10    58    3rd, First Division

2008-09    36    14      9    13    51    43      +8    51    3rd, First Division

2007-08    36    13    12    11    36    41       -5    51    5th, First Division

2003-04    38    14    11    13    45    52       -7    53    4th, Premier League

1999-00    36    20    11      5    66    33    +33    71    2nd, First Division

('winning season' defined as more wins than losses)

1999-2000

January 8, 2000.    Morton traveled to Inverness and were trounced 6 - 2. Harry Curran and Craig MacPherson were the Morton scorers. Clydebank were at Falkirk where they fell 4 - 0.

Greenock Morton results for 1889-90:

1890/5/31      Dumbarton 9 - 0 Morton             Greenock Charity Cup final

1890/5/14      Morton 10 - 0 Carlton                 Greenock Charity Cup SF

1890/4/26      2nd Port Glasgow 1 - 0 2nd Morton

1890/4/26      Wishaw Thistle 6 - 5 Morton           

1890/4/19      St Mirren 2 - 4 Morton                    

1890/4/12      Morton Strollers 0 - 2 2nd Clyde

1890/4/12      Clyde 5 - 4 Morton                          

1890/4/5        Morton 1 - 2 Port Glasgow              

1890/3/29      Morton 6 - 1 Vale of Leven Wanderers    Greenock Charity Cup R1

1890/3/22      Partick Thistle 1? - 0 Morton        

1890/3/15      Morton 5 - 4 Dykebar                     

1890/3/8        Morton 6 - 2 Abercorn                    

1890/3/1        Morton 6 - 1 1st Renfrew RV (at Volunteer Park, Greenock)

1890/2/16      Morton 1 - 3 St Mirren                Renfrewshire Cup SF replay

1890/2/15      Morton 9 - 0 Dalry                          

1890/2/9        St Mirren 3 - 3 Morton                Renfrewshire Cup SF

1890/2/8        Morton 3 - 2 Ayr FC                       

1890/2/1        Morton 6 - 4 Northern                    

1890/1/25      Greenock Abstainers 0 - 4 Morton Strollers

1890/1/25      Morton 2 - 2 Albion Rovers             

1890/1/18      Ayr FC 2 - 1 Morton

1890/1/11      Morton 4 - 0 Clyde                         

1889/12/28    Morton Strollers 1 - 1 2nd Abercorn

1889/12/28    Abercorn 6 - 2 Morton                     

1889/12/21    Morton 4 - 0 Pollokshaws              

1889/12/14    Dykebar 5 - 6 Morton                     

1889/12/8      Lochwinnoch 2 - 4 Morton         Renfrewshire Cup R3

1889/12/7      Morton 3 - 1 Northern                    

1889/11/30    Morton Strollers 1 - 2 Kilmacolm

1889/11/30    Uddingston 2 - 1 Morton                

1889/11/23    Partick Thistle Swifts 8? - 1 Morton Strollers

1889/11/16    Morton 1 - 2 Kilmarnock                 

1889/11/9      Morton Strollers 2 - 0 Rangers Swifts

1889/11/9      Rangers 3 - 3 Morton                     

1889/10/27    Cartvale 0 - 3 Morton                 Renfrewshire Cup R1

1889/10/19    Morton 1 - 4 Ayr FC                    Scottish Cup R3

1889/10/12    Port Glasgow 3 - 3 Morton             

1889/10/5      Morton 3 - 2 Dykebar                    

1889/9/28      Morton Strollers 4 - 0 2nd Port Glasgow

1889/9/28      1st Renfrew RV 2 - 10 Morton    Scottish Cup R2

1889/9/21      Morton Strollers 1 - 2 2nd Abercorn

1889/9/21      Renton 3 - 2 Morton                       

1889/9/14      Lochwinnoch 4 - 3 Morton Strollers

1889/9/14      Morton 3 - 2 Rangers                    

1889/9/7        Morton 8 - 0 Carlton                    Scottish Cup R1

1889/8/31      Morton 0 - 5 Thistle                        

1889/8/24      Morton Strollers 6? - 0 Lochwinnoch

1889/8/24      Queen of the South Wanderers 1 - 10 Greenock "Morton"

I don't know why the typesetter decided to put Morton in scare quotes.

1889/8/17      Morton 4 - 3 Renton                      

1889/8/10      Morton 3 - 1 Port Glasgow       Morton Sports

1889/8/3        Morton 3 - 2 Dykebar                Morton Sports

This season the Glasgow Herald used the term 'ordinary match' to describe non-cup games. Though there was no Scottish league yet, you can see clubs behaving with the discipline associated with league membership, seeking out opponents at the same level, scheduling fixture and reverse fixture, and refraining from disputes.

(Sources: Wikipedia for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup and Greenock and District Charity Cup; the Glasgow Herald for ordinary matches.)

PS Waverley in Comfort and Joy (1984)

PS Waverley makes a cameo appearance in Bill Forsyth's Comfort and Joy (1984). The paddle steamer can be seen tied up at the Springfield Quay in Glasgow. See here for an article on the Comfort and Joy locations.

The Sherman Zwicker

Source.

Eurydice

Eurydice was constructed at Robert Steele and Co. in Greenock in 1874, and sailed the world, as attested by the quantity of photos of her housed in Australian archives. A Norwegian company bought the ship in 1896 and changed her name to Maren. She was broken up in 1914. Source. Also.

Morton visit Methil for their Scottish Cup third round tie against East Fife. The last time these two clubs met was in round four of the 2018-19 Scottish Cup, and East Fife won. Winner today advances to the final 16.

Eight League One clubs have made it to this round, but only six Championship sides. The missing four have league matches today, so no one has nothing to do.

East Fife have had a busy week. They played league matches on Saturday (a draw), Tuesday (a loss) and Thursday (a win).

If East Fife finish fourth in League One and Morton finish ninth in the Championship they'll meet again in the playoffs.

[East Fife 1 - 2 Morton. Morton goals by McGinty and Muirhead.]

Developments:

The Lowland League admits that their season is over and have declared Kelty Hearts champion based on points per game. The Highland League won't restart either, and have designated Brora Rangers as their pyramid playoff representative. Brora only played three league matches, but did knock Heart of Midlothian out of the Scottish Cup.

Kelty Hearts in the Lowland League:

2020-21    13    12    0    1    40      4    +36    36    2.77    1st

2019-20    25    22    2    1    95    17    +78    68    2.72    1st

2018-19    28    16    6    6    61    32    +29    54               3rd

The South of Scotland League has declared its 2020-21 season null and void. The East of Scotland League will decide what to do next week. If they choose a league champion based on points per game then the title ought to go to second-place Jeanfield Swifts who have 23 points in 9 games (2.56 ppg) rather than first-place Tranent Juniors who have 28 in 12 (2.33 ppg).

The East Region clubs of the SJFA have endorsed the formation of a Midlands League to occupy tier six of the Scottish pyramid below the Highland League.

Queen's Park will play the rest of this season's home fixtures at Falkirk Stadium.

Edinburgh City will move into the newly refurbished Meadowbank Stadium next season. They have been sharing Ainslie Park with the Spartans.

Other Scottish Cup matches:

Ross County 1 - 3 Inverness CT (yesterday)

ICT also won both previous iterations of this Scottish Cup Highland derby.

Brora Rangers [1 - 3] Stranraer

These two met in 2017 and Brora won.

Dundee United [2 - 1] Partick Thistle

Partick have six wins, all of them 1960 or before. United have three wins, all of them 1980 or after.

Stenhousemuir [0 - 4] Kilmarnock

These two have been drawn together twice before, and Killie won both times.

Forfar Athletic [2 - 2] Edinburgh City [Forfar win on PK.]

They met in 2016 and City won.

Livingston [2 - 1] Raith Rovers

These two met last year and Livi won.

Celtic [3 - 0] Falkirk

Falkirk have won the last two times.

Dumbarton [0 - 1] Aberdeen

Dumbarton have not had a win against Aberdeen since 1920.

Hamilton Academical [0 - 3] St Mirren

Accies are ahead four wins to three.

Dundee [0 - 1] St Johnstone

St Johnstone have only ever knocked out Dundee once.

Ayr United [0 - 1] Clyde

Clyde are ahead four wins to two.

Formartine [0 - 5] Motherwell

If Formartine can beat Motherwell it will upset Brora's Hearts upset.

Fraserburgh [2 - 4] Montrose

Fraserburgh won the last time these two met in the Scottish Cup.

Rangers [4 - 0] Cove Rangers (tomorrow)

First meeting ever.

Queen of the South [1 - 3] Hibs (Monday)

These two have only met once before, and Hibs won.

Championship matches:

Raith Rovers 5 - 1 Dunfermline (March 30)

Teams that Raith have shown five fingers this season: QoS, Morton, Alloa and now the Pars.

Dunfermline [0 - 0] Heart of Midlothian

Hearts are winless in three. Dunfermline have lost four in a row.

Arbroath [2 - 1] Alloa

This is a huge game for both sides, and for eighth-place Morton too. A win for Alloa would bring tenth place within four points of Morton's position. A win for Arbroath could drop Morton into ninth place, depending on the score.

Ayr United vs Dundee (postponed)

Queen of the South vs Raith Rovers (postponed)

Morton vs Inverness CT (postponed)

Other matches:

Peterhead 0 - 2 Clyde (March 30)

East Fife 1 - 0 Clyde (April 1)

J2: Tokyo Verdy [2 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

JFL: FC Kariya [0 - 1] Maruyasu Okazaki (tomorrow)

Cobh Ramblers [0 - 4] UCD

Luxembourg: Progrès Niederkorn 2 - 0 Racing (March 31)

Union Titus vs Progrès Niederkorn (Monday)

3.Liga: SV Wehen Wiesbaden  2 - 2  1.FC Saarbrücken

Swiss Challenge League: Winterthur 0 - 1 Chiasso

Pohang Steelers 0 - 0 Daegu (yesterday)

Bolivia: Independiente Petrolero [2 - 2] The Strongest (tomorrow)

The start of the Ykkönen has been put off till May 5th.

Other postponed matches:

SWF Championship South: Airdrie vs Morton

The South Challenge Cup Round Five would have been this weekend.

Aomori prefectural championship, round two (tomorrow):

Match No. 5: Dogizaka [0 - 3] Hachinohe Gakuin University

Match No. 6: Blancdieu Hirosaki [1 - 5] Aomori University

涙涙涙

Which current SPFL clubs have never had to think about making the split?

Alloa, Arbroath, Ayr United, Morton, Queen of the South, Raith Rovers.

Which other lower league clubs have Rangers played since they came up from the Championship? And who scored on them?

2020/11/29    Falkirk 0 - 4 Rangers                LCup R2

2020/1/17      Rangers 2 - 0 Stranraer           SCup R4

2019/8/18      East Fife 0 - 3 Rangers            LCup R2

2019/1/30      Cowdenbeath 1 - 3 Rangers    SCup R4    David Cox

2018/9/26      Rangers 4 - 0 Ayr United          LCup QF

2018/3/4        Rangers 4 - 1 Falkirk                SCup QF    Aaron Muirhead

2018/2/11      Ayr United 1 - 6 Rangers          SCup R5    Alan Forrest

2018/1/31      Fraserburgh 0 - 3 Rangers       SCup R4

2017/8/9        Rangers 6 - 0 Dunfermline       LCup R2

2017/2/12      Rangers 2 - 1 Morton               SCup R5    Michael Tidser

2016/9/20      Rangers 5 - 0 QoS                   LCup QF

2016/8/9        Rangers 5 - 0 Peterhead          LCup R2

2016/7/25      Rangers 3 - 0 Stranraer           LCup GS

2016/7/22      E. Stirlingshire 0 - 3 Rangers    LCup GS

2016/7/19      Rangers 2 - 0 Annan                LCup GS

Ten most recent Scottish Cup matches between Fife clubs:

2019/1/19      Raith Rovers 3 - 0 Dunfermline

2005/1/18      Dunfermline 3 - 1 East Fife

2005/1/8        East Fife 0 - 0 Dunfermline

1990/2/27      Dunfermline 2 - 1 Cowdenbeath

1985/12/7      Dunfermline 2 - 0 Raith Rovers

1983/1/29      East Fife 1 - 0 Raith Rovers

1972/2/5        Raith Rovers 2 - 0 Dunfermline

1970/1/24      East Fife 1 - 0 Raith Rovers

1969/1/25      Raith Rovers 0 - 2 Dunfermline

1963/3/11      Cowdenbeath 2 - 3 Dunfermline

Historical matches:

April 3, 1915. Morton visited Partick Thistle and beat them 1 - 5.

April 3, 1993. Morton were home to Ayr United and won 1 - 0 on a goal by Douglas Johnstone.

SFL Division Three results, April 4, 1925:

Brechin City 0 - 1 Lochgelly United

Clackmannan 0 - 1 Nithsdale Wanderers

Dykehead 0 - 1 Queen of the South

Helensburgh 3 - 2 Leith Athletic

Mid Annandale 0 - 2 Solway Star

Royal Albert 2 - 1 Montrose

Source: Glasgow Herald, April 6, p. 5.

Seasons of Lochgelly United:

1896-97      1      1    0      0      2      1      +1      2      6th, CL

1897-98      7      1    1      5      9    24     -15      2      6th, CL

1902-03    24    12    8      4    52    30    +22    32     2nd, NL

1903-04    22      6    6    10    51    54       -3    18     9th, NL

1904-05    22      8    2    12    46    46        0    18    11th, NL

1905-06    21      5    5    11    25    49     -24    15    11th, NL

1906-07    26    14    5      7    52    33    +19    33     3rd, NL

1907-08    23    13    3      7    59    43    +16    29     2nd, NL

1908-09    18      8    3      7    29    26      +3    19      6th, NL

1909-10    15      6    2      7    28    38     -10    14    10th, CL

1910-11    22      6    5    11    38    49      -11    17      9th, CL

1911-12    18      5    3    10    19    36     -17    13     12th, CL

1912-13      2      1    0      1      5      6       -1      2      7th, NL

1913-14    25      6    7    12    32    50     -18    19    14th, CL

1914-15    26      9    3    14    43    60     -17    21    10th, SFL2

1915-16    21      7    4    10    24    36     -12    18     9th, EL

1916-17    13      2    0    11    10    35     -25      4    10th, EL

1919-20    18      6    4      8    23    32       -9    16      7th, EL

1920-21    34    11    6    17    39    71     -32    26    15th, CL

1921-22    38    11    9    18    46    54       -8    31    18th, SFL2

1922-23    38    16    5    17    41    64     -23    37    11th, SFL2

1923-24    38      4    4    30    21    86     -65    12    20th, SFL2

1924-25    30    15    4    11    59    41    +18    34      5th, SFL3

1925-26    29      9    9    11    58    63       -5    27      9th, SFL3

1926-27    24      8    3    13    40    75     -35    19    11th, SAN

The 1913-14 and 1920-21 seasons (in bold) were pretty miserable for Lochgelly United and pose the question, "Why was this bad team twice elected to the SFL?"

CL = Central League

NL = Northern League

SFL2 = Scottish Football League, Division Two

CL = Central League

SFL3 = Scottish Football League, Division Three

SAN = Scottish Alliance, North Section

(Extracted from SFHA tables.)

Lochgelly United versus Lochee United in the Northern League:

1903/1/1        Lochee United 2 - 2 Lochgelly United

1903/4/11      Lochgelly United 1 - 0 Lochee United

1903/9/12      Lochee United 1 - 1 Lochgelly United

1904/1/2        Lochgelly United 7 - 0 Lochee United

1904/11/26    Lochgelly United 3 - 1 Lochee United

1905/3/18      Lochee United 2 - 1 Lochgelly United

1906/1/13      Lochee United 0 - 3 Lochgelly United

1906/4/7        Lochgelly United 2 - 0 Lochee United

1906/12/8      Lochee United 0 - 0 Lochgelly United

1907/3/30      Lochgelly United 1 - 0 Lochee United

1907/9/28      Lochgelly United 3 - 1 Lochee United*

1907/12/28    Lochee United 3 - 2 Lochgelly United*

*or the reverse

(Source: SFHA.)

Tarai-Bune

In Sado you can take a ride in a tub-shaped one-oared fishing boat called a tarai-bune. Source.

Scottish Championship 2020-21

Building a Liner at Greenock, by Muirhead Bone. Source.

The 2020-21 Scottish Championship season begins today, seven months and ten days after the last one stopped. The member clubs are Alloa, Arbroath, Ayr United, Dunfermline, Dundee, Hearts, Inverness CT, Morton, Queen of the South and Raith Rovers. It's an assortment never seen before, mainly due to Hearts, who have only played in tier II once before in the four-division age.

The only other time Hearts played in the Championship was 2014-15, when Morton were in League One. Of this year's clubs only Queen of the South, Raith Rovers and Alloa were around to play Hearts that year. Hearts swept them all.

There's a severe scarcity of derbies in this year's Championship. Morton are without St Mirren, Ayr are without Kilmarnock, Dundee are without Dundee United, Inverness are without Ross County, Hearts have no Hibs, Alloa have no Stirling Albion, and Arbroath are without any other Forfarshire team. Only Dunfermline and Raith can indulge their local Fife rivalry. Queen of the South haven't had a local derby since Gretna went bust. Everyone will simply have to hate on Heart of Midlothian.

This will be Morton's first 27-game season, as 2019-20 was their first 28-game season. The most points a team can accumulate in 27 games is 81. And that's assuming all games get played. The 2020-21 schedule could very easily become Swiss cheese, with the final standings based on points per game.

Today's home-opener is Morton versus Alloa.

These clubs met three times last season. Morton took two wins and there was a 4 - 4 draw. Morton and Alloa had never played each other to a 4 - 4 result before. So don't say that new things don't happen.

Wasps who have played for Morton: Alan Trouten (2003-04), Andy Graham (2011-2012), Scott Taggart (2012-14), and Robert Thomson (2017-19). None of the Morton squad have played for Alloa.

Morton have seven players whose surname begins with Mc or Mac.

Morton's starting lineup is: [McAdams, Fjortoft, McLean, McGinty, Muirhead, Jacobs, McAlister, Salkeld, McPake, Nesbitt, Orsi.]

Compare last year: Ramsbottom, Tumilty, Van Schaik, Brian McLean, Grant, Jacobs, McAlister, Muirhead, Nesbitt, Cadden, Sutton.

Read The Two Point One's guide to the 2020-21 Scottish Championship.

The other Championship matches:

Hearts 6 - 2 Dundee* (last night)

Dundee were instrumental in preventing the league reconstruction that would have kept Hearts in the Premiership, so karma.

Ayr United [2 - 1] Queen of the South

These two have met 95 times before, with 39 wins each, plus 17 draws. QoS are without their coaching staff, who have gone into isolation.

Dunfermline [3 - 1] Inverness CT*

ICT won all three matches last season.

Raith Rovers [3 - 0] Arbroath

Their last meeting was in League One a year and a half ago.

[Morton win 1 - 0. Goal by Salkeld.]

When did the current Championship clubs most recently join the division, and did they come from above or below?

2020    Hearts (above)

2020    Raith Rovers (below)

2019    Dundee (above)

2019    Arbroath (below)

2018    Ayr United (below)

2018    Alloa (below)

2017    Inverness CT (above)

2016    Dunfermline (below)

2015    Morton (below)

2013    QoS (below)

In which divisions have the 2020-21 Championship clubs played since 1994?

Hearts               AAAAAA    AAAAAAAAAA    AAAABAAAAA    B

Dundee             BBBBAA    AAAAABBBBB    BBABAAAAAB    B

Inverness CT    DDDCCB    BBBBAAAAAB   AAAAAAABBB    B

Dunfermline      BBAAAB    AAAAAAABBB    BABCCCBBBB    B

Raith Rovers    BAABBB    BBCBBCCCCB    BBBBBBBCCC    B

Morton             CBBBBB    BCDCCCCBBB    BBBBCBBBBB    B

QoS                 CCCCCC    CCBBBBBBBB    BBCBBBBBBB    B

Ayr Utd            BCCBBB    BBBBCCCCCB    CBCCCCBCBB    B

Alloa                DDDDCC   BCBCCCCCCC    CDCBBBCCBB    B

Arbroath          DDDDCC    CBBCCDDDCC   DCCCDDDCCB   B

(A = tier I; B = tier II; etc.)

Which clubs have spent at least a dozen years in tier II since 1994, including 2020-21?

19            Morton

18            Falkirk

18            Queen of the South

17            Raith Rovers

14            St Mirren

14            Dundee

14            Ayr United

13            Partick Thistle

13            Dunfermline

12            Ross County

Sort the Championship clubs by points earned so far in the 2020-21 League Cup:

                        G    GD    Pts

Dunfermline     3      6      9

Hearts              3      4      9

Dundee            2      5      6

Ayr United        3      3      6

Arbroath           3      3      6

Alloa                 3      2      6

Morton              2      1      4

QoS                  3      0      4

Raith Rovers     2     -1      3

Inverness CT    2     -1      2 

Plenty of Nothing's objectives for Morton:

1)    Make the promotion playoffs, if they happen.

2)    Get at least a point off Hearts.

3)    Finish higher than Ayr United.

4)    Finish higher than Queen of the South.

5)    Have a positive goal difference.

6)    Get to a quarter-final.

7)    Beat St Mirren.

Prediction:

This season every story in the Scotsman about the Championship will be about Hearts.

Kilmarnock:

Livingston host Kilmarnock. These two have played 50 competitive matches up till now: Killie have 27 wins, Livi 14, with 9 draws. They played twice last season and each took a win.

Kilmarnock's best result against Livi in league play:

1991/4/10      Meadowbank Thistle 1 - 8 Kilmarnock

And worst:

2001/10/20    Kilmarnock 1 - 5 Livingston

[Livi 1 - 3 Killie.]

League One:

Cove Rangers begin their first League One season with a visit from East Fife whom they have never played before. Cove have also never played three other 2020-21 League One sides: Clyde, Dumbarton and Forfar. [Cove win 3 - 1.]

Other matches:

J2: Matsumoto Yamaga 2 - 2 Mito HollyHock (Oct 14)

Mito HollyHock [1 - 3] Albirex Niigata (tomorrow)

JFL: Iwaki FC [1 - 2] Sony Sendai (tomorrow)

Both teams have 13 points after 8 games, and both have a 0 gd.

K League: Pohang [4 - 0] Ulsan (tomorrow)

Faroes: B36 [2 - 0] TB

Allsvenskan: Djurgården [3 - 2] Malmö (Monday)

FC Haka 2 - 1 TPS (yesterday)

TPS [4 - 1] RoPS (Monday)

Ireland: UCD 5 - 1 Cabinteely (yesterday)

Iceland: ÍBV vs Fram (postponed)

3.Liga: 1.FC Saarbrücken [2 - 1] Unterhaching (tomorrow)

Swiss Challenge League: Winterthur 2 - 2 Schaffhausen (yesterday)

Luxembourg Cup, Second Round: Kehlen [0 - 2] Progres Niederkorn (tomorrow)

Lowland League: Bonnyrigg Rose [3 - 0] Gretna 2008

WoSFL: Largs Thistle vs Clydebank (postponed)

The 2020-21 SWF Championship South was to begin tomorrow but has been postponed due to second-wave Covid. Morton vs Stenhousemuir (postponed).

Other developments:

Club The Strongest have closed their facilities for the weekend because of the Bolivian election. Between them Covid and political upheaval have knocked big holes in the Bolivian football schedule, which normally has almost no close season.

Tuesday's League Cup match between Stranraer and Albion Rovers ended in a 14 - 15 shootout.

Morton Women so far:

             G     W    D     L       F      A       GD    Pts    Pos

2017    20    18    2      0    122      8    +114    56      1st, SWFL 2 West

2018    22      2    0    20      18    79      -61       6    11th, SWFL 1 South

2019    14    14    0      0    105      4    +101    42      1st, SWFL 2 W/SW

2020      3      2    0      1        9      4       +5       6      3rd, SWF Champ. South

Historical matches:

Oct 17, 1914. Morton travelled to Motherwell and played to a 1 - 1 draw.

Oct 17, 1992. Morton hosted Meadowbank Thistle and won 4 - 1. Johnstone, Mathie and Mahood scored, plus one own goal.

JFL 1999: Denso 3 - 2 Mito HollyHock

SFL Division Three results, October 18, 1924:

Vale of Leven 3 - 1 Royal Albert

Solway Star 2 - 1 Helensburgh

Galston 2 - 1 Queen of the South

Beith 1 - 3 Lochgelly United

Dumbarton Harp 3 - 1 Mid Annandale

1924-25 Scottish Qualifying Cup, Fourth Round:

Nithsdale Wanderers 1 - 0 Dykehead

Clackmannan 1 - 1 Peebles Rovers

Leith Athletic 3 - 3 Montrose

Source: Glasgow Herald, October 20, 1924, p. 14.

And finally, the 2020-21 Championship League Cup:

Last season I fabricated the Championship League Cup, a knockout cup tournament based on actual results from SPFL Championship league matches. You can read the rules here. Because of coronavirus, the final between Arbroath and Partick Thistle was not played. This season those two teams are not in the same division or Betfred Cup group, so an autumn final is unfortunately out of the question. Therefore the final result for the first Championship League Cup is:

2019-20        no winner

This season the Championship is only 27 games long, or three round robins, which means there can only be three cup rounds to this cup, not four like last year. This requires Round One to be a group stage. Round Two will be the semi-final, with the top two finishers from each group, and Round Three will be the final.

The pecking order will be based on the 2019-20 Championship table. There will be two groups. Group A will consist of the teams in positions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of the 2019-20 table, and Group B will be made up of teams 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Hearts will take the place of Dundee United, and Raith Rovers will take the place of Partick Thistle. So, the groups are:

Group A: Hearts, Dundee, Arbroath, Morton, QoS.

Group B: ICT, Ayr United, Dunfermline, Alloa, Raith Rovers.

Every team will play every other team in its group once, and the results will be made up into a table for each group. There will be no need for special tie-breaking rules in this round, as draws are allowed. If two teams are tied in the standings at the end of this round, the usual SPFL Championship tiebreakers will apply. All these games take place from October and December. Like last year, if a match gets postponed until later than the next round match it sets up, and there isn't another match between those two clubs in the meantime, then the tournament must be abandoned on the grounds of absurdity. There are 20 games to play in the group stage, half of them in December, so weather- or Covid-related postponement could easily scuttle it.

Round Two will consist of two matches: A1 vs B2, B1 vs A2. Last season's tiebreaker rules will be applied if needed.

The final will occur some time between March and May.

Each Championship League Cup hatch will be marked with an asterisk. There are two today. (See above.)

Ólavsøka

Saint Olaf's Day is tomorrow, but the people of Tórshavn like to get things started the day before with a boat race. Source.