Plenty of Nothing

Droopys Buick

2017 Greyhound of the Year Droopys Buick holds the 480 metre record at Shawfield. Source.

The Scottish League Cup group stage continues. Morton visit Clyde. The game is at Hamilton's New Douglas Park where Clyde now groundshare. Clyde had to remove themselves from their Cumbernauld digs after the local council declined to renew their lease earlier this year.

Clyde are looking for a park nearer Glasgow. Their old place Shawfield still exists and was Scotland's only greyhound track until Covid closed it down. 

Clyde's stadia:

1877 - 1898    Barrowfield Park

1898 - 1986    Shawfield

1986 - 1991    Firhill (groundshare)

1991 - 1994    Douglas Park (groundshare)

1994 - 2022    Broadwood

2022 -             New Douglas Park (groundshare)

The earliest match I know of between Morton and Clyde was:

1883/11/17    Clyde 1 - 3 Morton

Morton have played Clyde only twice in the past decade, both times in the League Cup group stage. The Ton prevailed 1 - 0 in 2016 and 2 - 1 in 2021.

John McCormack managed Morton from 2002 to 2004 and Clyde from 2009 to 2010. Jim Duffy managed Clyde from 2011 to 2014 and Morton from 2014 to 2018.

Clyde are currently under manager Danny Lennon who has been in the post since November 2017.

Former Morton men Peter Grant and Brian McLean play for Clyde.

Group D:

Clyde [2 - 0] Morton (today)

Bonnyrigg Rose [1 - 4] Hibs (tomorrow)

This is not the first game between Bonnyrigg Rose and Hibs. They met in Round Four of the 2016-17 Scottish Cup, and Hibs won 8 - 1.

Falkirk are off.

[Group D standings after these games:

Hibs            3    2    0    0    1    9    2    +7    6

Falkirk         2    1    1    0    0    1    0    +1    5

Bonnyrigg    2    1    0    0    1    3    5    -2    3

Clyde           3    1    0    0    2    3    7    -4    3

Morton         2    0    0    1    1    0    2    -2    1    ]

Other matches:

Forres Mechanics [5 - 0] Golspie Sutherland Lossiemouth United (friendly)

Neilston [0 - 0] Largs Thistle (friendly)   [Neilston won on PK. This was part of the Hugh Blair Trophy.]

Sligo Rovers [0 - 2] UCD (tomorrow)

Visit the UCD Bowl.

FC Isle of Man [1 - 5] Althincham (friendly)

FC Isle of Man are preparing for life in the NW Counties Football League Premier Division (English tier X). Altrincham FC play in the National League (tier V), and are Frank Sidebottom's favourite team.

FC Isle of Man [0 - 4] Shifnal Town FC (friendly)

Two games in one day.

Winterthur [1 - 1] Basel

PEC Zwolle 0 - 2 SC Heerenveen (friendly) (yesterday)

Japan:

The last Ventforet Kofu [1 - 1] Mito HollyHock

Tohoku: Saruta Kogyo [2 - 8] Bogolle.D.Tsugaru (tomorrow)

Canada:

Cavalry 3 - 0 HFX Wanderers (July 14)

Wanderers have signed forward Lifumpa Mwandwe from Newtown AFC in Wales. He just appeared in Newtown’s Europa Conference League first qualifying round tie against HB.

HFX Wanderers' Eriks Santos played for FC Mariupol in 2017.

League1 Ontario: North Mississauga [1 - 4] Electric City FC

The Electric City is Peterborough, which installed electric streetlights in 1884. This is the first season League1 season for Electric City FC. Luke Green (HFX Wanderers 2020) plays for Electric City.

PLSQ: Royal-Sélect de Beauport [4 - 1] CF Montréal U23 (tomorrow)

L1BC: Victoria Highlanders [2 - 2] Unity FC

Altitude FC [3 - 0] Victoria Highlanders (tomorrow)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts play at Acadia University's Raymond Field, which has been expanded from 3,000 to 10,000 seats. [Argos 30 - 24 Roughriders.]

CSL: Serbian White Eagles [2 - 0] York Region Shooters

UEFA Europa Conference 1QR, second leg (July 14):

Larne 0 - 1 St Joseph's

Cliftonville 0 - 3 DAC Dunajska Streda

Sligo Rovers 0 - 1 Bala Town

Newtown 2 - 1 HB

Crusaders 3 - 1 Bruno's Magpies

Riga 2 - 0 Derry City

Our guys Sligo, Newtown and Crusaders advance.

Irish clubs versus Northern Irish clubs in Europe:

1970/9/16      EC  R1      Glentoran 1 - 3 Waterford United

1970/9/30      EC  R1      Waterford United 1 - 0 Glentoran

1979/8/29      EC  PR      Dundalk 1 - 1 Linfield

1979/9/5        EC  PR      Linfield 0 - 2 Dundalk

1984/9/19      EC  R1      Linfield 0 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

1984/10/3      EC  R1      Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Linfield (Linfield advanced on away goals.)

2005/7/13      CL 1QR    Glentoran 1 - 2 Shelbourne

2005/7/20      CL 1QR    Shelbourne 4 - 1 Glentoran

2016/6/30      EL 1QR    Linfield 0 - 1 Cork City

2016/7/7        EL 1QR    Cork City 1 - 1 Linfield

CL = Champions League

EC = European Cup

EL = Europa League

St Bernard's

Plinlimmon the St. Bernard. Source.

Morton host Inverness Caledonian Thistle. This is the second game between these two in four days, and the third in fifteen. On Tuesday Morton knocked Caley out of the Scottish Cup. Nevertheless, ICT are first in the division with 31 points and Morton are eighth with 13.

Caley Thistle manager Billy Dodds gives Cappielow's visitors' dressing room a zero stars review.

Today's match between Dunfermline and Queen of the South has the potential to drop Morton into tenth place, if those two draw and Morton lose.

[Morton 1 - 6 Inverness CT. Morton goal by Ugwu. Morton are bottom of the division.]

The other Championship matches:

Ayr United (7th) 1 - 1 Hamilton (6th) (last night)

Dunfermline (9th) [3 - 3] Queen of the South (10th)*

[Queen of the South advance on the corner kicks rule.]*

Partick Thistle (4th) [0 - 2] Arbroath (5th)

Raith Rovers (2nd) [1 - 0] Kilmarnock (3rd)

*A Plenty of Nothing Championship Consolation Cup Round One match. (See below.)

Other matches:

Wil [3 - 5] Winterthur

East Kilbride [2 - 1] Rangers B

Huntly vs Clachnacuddin [postponed]

1.FC Saarbrücken [1 - 0] Freiburg II

Santa Cruz [1 - 0] The Strongest (tomorrow)

Rocester [2 - 2] FC Isle of Man

West of Scotland Cup Round One:

Yoker [1 - 2] Largs Thistle

Europa League group stage, matchday 6 (December 9):

Lyon 1 - 1 Rangers

Rangers finish second in their group and advance to the knock-out round playoff in February.

Celtic 3 - 2 Real Betis

Celtic finish third and proceed to the Europa Conference League knock-out round playoff.

43rd Empress's Cup, Round Three:

Match No. 28: Iga FC Kunoichi Mie [7 - 0] Fukuoka J. Anclas

Match No. 29: Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies [4 - 0] Fujieda Junshin High School

Match No. 30: Shizuoka SSU Asregina [0 - 1] Orca Kamogawa

Match No. 31: Sfida Setagaya [2 - 1] Ange Violet Hiroshima (tomorrow)

Match No. 32: Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina [2 - 1] AS Harima Albion

It's the 70th All Japan University Soccer Championship. Let's follow dear old Waseda University as they join in at Round Two:

Match No. 14: Biwako Seikei Sport College [2 - 2] Waseda University [Biwako win on PK]

1999-2000

December 7, 1999.    Morton visited Airdrie and lost 1 - 0.

December 11, 1999.    Morton were at home to Dunfermline and lost 0 - 3. Clydebanks match against Raith in Kirkcaldy was postponed.

St Bernard's results for 1892-93:

1893/5/27      Hearts 3 - 3 St Bernard's           Rosebery Charity Cup final

1893/5/13      St Bernard's 4 - 2 Broxburn (at Tynecastle)    Rosebery Charity Cup R1

1893/5/6        Northern 3 - 0 St Bernard's                Scottish Alliance

1893/4/29      St Bernard's 2 - 3 Leith Athletic                friendly

1893/4/22      St Bernard's 3 - 2 Vale of Leven      Scottish Alliance

1893/4/15      Airdrieonians 5 - 3 St Bernard's         Scottish Alliance

1893/4/8        St Bernard's 5 - 0 Northern              Scottish Alliance

1893/4/1        St Bernard's 0 - 0 Kilmarnock            Scottish Alliance

1893/3/25      Thistle 5 - 0 St Bernard's                   Scottish Alliance

1893/3/18      St Bernard's 7 - 0 Partick Thistle      Scottish Alliance

1893/3/4        Northern 6 - 4 St Bernard's                      friendly

1893/2/25      Hearts 3 - 1 St Bernard's               East of Scotland Shield final

1893/2/18      Raith Rovers 1 - 3 St Bernard's    East of Scotland Shield SF

1893/2/4        Celtic 5 - 0 St Bernard's                     Scottish Cup SF

1893/1/28     St Bernard's 3 - 2 Rangers                Scottish Cup R3

1893/1/21     St Bernard's 5 - 4 Leith Athletic     East of Scotland Shield R5

1893/1/14      St Bernard's 2 - 0 Leith Athletic              friendly

1892/12/31    St Bernard's 4 - 0 Ayr FC                       friendly

1892/12/24    St Bernard's 5 - 2 Royal Albert         Scottish Cup R2 replay

1892/12/17    Royal Albert 1 - 1 St Bernard's          Scottish Cup R2

1892/12/3      St Mirren 2 - 3 St Bernard's                    friendly

1892/11/26    St Bernard's 5 - 1 Queen of the South Wanderers    Scottish Cup R1

1892/11/12    Cambuslang 1 - 3 St Bernard's       Scottish Alliance

1892/10/29    St Bernard's 3 - 0 Albion Rovers            friendly

1892/10/22    Vale of Leven 1 - 3 St Bernard's     Scottish Alliance

1892/10/15    St Bernard's 7 - 3 Thistle                Scottish Alliance

1892/10/8      King's Park 3 - 5 St Bernard's                friendly

1892/10/1      Linthouse 3 - 1 St Bernard's             Scottish Alliance

1892/9/24      Kilmarnock 1 - 3 St Bernard's         Scottish Alliance

1892/9/17      St Bernard's 4 - 2 Airdrieonians      Scottish Alliance

1892/9/10      St Bernard's 2 - 3 Cowlairs               Scottish Alliance

1892/9/3        St Bernard's 7 - 0 Cambuslang       Scottish Alliance

1892/8/27      Partick Thistle 3 - 4 St Bernard's     Scottish Alliance

1892/8/20      St Bernard's 5 - 1 Linthouse            Scottish Alliance

1892/8/13      Cowlairs 7 - 3 St Bernard's               Scottish Alliance

1892/8/6        St Bernard's 5 - 0 Morton                      friendly

(Sources: The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; SFHA for the Scottish Alliance, the East of Scotland Shield and the Rosebery Charity Cup; the Glasgow Herald for friendlies)

Plenty of Nothing Championship Consolation Cup

The final of the 2021-22 Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup between Arbroath and Inverness CT is due to be played January 2nd, much sooner than expected. So let's start a new tournament made up of the eight clubs that didn't make the final: the Championship Consolation Cup. It will use the same seeding and rules as the Championship League Cup. The Round One matches are:

2021/12/11    R1    Dunfermline vs Queen of the South

2021/12/26    R1    Ayr United vs Raith Rovers

2022/1/15      R1    Partick Thistle vs Kilmarnock

2022/2/19      R1    Hamilton Academical vs Morton

The Round Two matches will begin as soon as a game comes up, even if all the Round One matches aren't finished.

Patrick Stewart as Launce

And his dog Crab. Source.

Talbot Hound

The talbot was a medieval breed of hunting dog that hasn't existed for the past two centuries, having been crossbred into various modern dogs, including the beagle. The Scottish football club Auchinleck Talbot is named after a local worthy Richard Wogan Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot de Malahide, who donated the land for their pitch and who had a talbot hound in his coat of arms. Source.

Hound Door

Source.

Argos the Dog by Victor Ambrus

Yasunari Kawaiibata

Source. See also.

Toby

Akita Puppies -- So Cute!

The Akita dog breed started out in Akita Prefecture. Source.

Blaublitz Akita [1 - 1] Cerezo Osaka U23.

The 2016-17 UEFA Champions League began this week with the first qualifying round. This is where the tiny countries of Europe convert their political autonomy into holiday junkets.

B36 Tórshavn appear by virtue of their 2015 Faroe Islands Premier League title. The Faroe Islands have four clubs in UEFA leagues this season. That is pretty good for a population of 49,000. The people of Greenock number 44,000. Since 1992 B36 have played 36 UEFA matches and have travelled to Luxembourg, Norway, Greece, Israel, Turkey, Denmark, Georgia, Latvia, Iceland, Malta, Lithuania, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Let's follow the other Faroese clubs as well. And let's follow Bala Town, The New Saints, Linfield and Crusaders, the Welsh and Northern Ireland clubs that have been invited to this year's Scottish Challenge Cup.

Champions League:

Valletta 1 - 0 B36

The New Saints 2 - 1 Tre Penne

Europa League:

Hearts 2 - 1 Infonet Tallinn

Aberdeen 3 - 1 Fola Esch

Ventspils 2 - 0 Víkingur Gøta

Levadia Tallinn 1 - 1 HB

NSÍ Runavík 0 - 2 Shakhtyor Soligorsk

Linfield 0 - 1 Cork City

AIK 2 - 0 Bala Town

Celtic and Crusaders start in the next round.

Suppose Aberdeen go on to win the 2016-17 Europa Cup. How many games would that take them? 23. How many opponents would they face? 12.

Suppose they also win the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup this year. How many games will they have played in 2016-17 altogether? As a European club they receive a bye through the early stages of both cups. Therefore the Scottish League Cup would take 4 games, and the Scottish Cup 5 to 8 games, depending on replays. The Premiership schedule is 38 games long. So, if Aberdeen win the Europa League, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup (playing all available replays), they will have played 73 matches.

How many matches did Aberdeen play in 1982-83, the year they won the Cup Winners' Cup? 60, plus 4 friendlies.

Euro 2016 today: France [5 - 2] Iceland

CAF Champions League Group B:

Mamelodi Sundowns 2 - 1 Enyimba

Zamalek vs ES Sétif is cancelled.

Sétif have been turfed out of the competition due to their fans' unruly behaviour during their June 18th match against Mamelodi. The group will continue with three clubs and the top two clubs will advance.

Falkirk FC are touring the Irish Republic. On the 29th they visited Bray Wanderers and lost 1 - 0. Yesterday they beat Shelbourne 0 - 3.

On the 28th Morton played Airdrieonians to a 1 - 1 draw in Port Glasgow. Thomas Orr scored for Morton.

Toronto FC won the Canadian Championship Wednesday. Now, if we only had a Canadian Championship for hockey.

Yesterday it was Limerick 4 - 3 UCD.

Hare and Hound

At the Royal Ontario Museum.