Plenty of Nothing

Cardwell Bay

Cardwell Bay is the only part of the Greenock foreshore that hasn't been filled in, and where you can still dig for mussels. Source.

Morton host Dunfermline Athletic. Morton are eighth with 16 points, Dunfermline 9th with 15. Their first meeting October 19th ended in a scoreless draw.

Currently both sides are scoring fewer than one goal per match. Morton have been held scoreless 9 times in league play this season. (See below.)

Morton have not had a come-from-behind win in league play so far / the Pars have not lost a game in which they scored first.

Morton's last loss in league play was November 2nd. Only Livingston have gone longer without one.

[Dougie Imrie has been in the job three years today.]

[Morton win 2 - 0 on goals by Boyes and Blues.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians 0 - 3 Livingston (December 17)

Queen's Park (5th) 1 - 2 Raith Rovers (7th) (last night)

Airdrieonians (10th) [0 - 2] Partick Thistle (4th)

Falkirk (1st) [1 - 0] Hamilton (6th)

Livingston (2nd) [0 - 1] Ayr United (3rd)

Other matches:

Nairn County [1 - 4] Banks o' Dee

Largs Thistle [0 - 1] Troon

Lower Breck [3 - 0] FC Isle of Man

South Challenge Cup, R4:

Hill of Beath Hawthorn (EP) [4 - 0] Greenock (W3)

South Challenge Cup, R5:

Arthurlie (W1) vs Clydebank (WP) [postponed]

Auchinleck Talbot (WP) [4 - 0] Larkhall Thistle (W2)

Cumnock (WP) [3 - 0] St Andrews United (EP)

Glasgow United (W3) vs Kirkintilloch Rob Roy (W1) [postponed]

Musselburgh Athletic (EP) [4 - 1] Vale of Clyde (W1)

Pollok (WP) [1 - 3] East Kilbride (LL)

Civil Service Strollers (LL) [3 - 0] Shotts Bon Accord (WP)

Gretna 2008 (LL) vs Hill of Beath Hawthorn (EP) or Greenock (W3) (postponed)

West of Scotland League Cup, R3:

Hurlford United (WP) vs Johnstone Burgh (WP) [postponed]

Maybole Juniors (W1) [5 - 1] Yoker Athletic (W2)

UEFA Conference League league stage matchday six (December 19):

Hearts 2 - 2 Petroclub Hîncești

Chelsea 5 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Larne 1 - 0 Gent

Celje 3 - 2 The New Saints

Shamrock Rovers advance. Hearts, TNS and Larne are out.

46th Empress's Cup, QF (tomorrow):

Match No. 41: Viamaterras Miyazaki (N1) [0 - 1] Tokyo Beleza (WE)

Match No. 42: Albirex Niigata Ladies (WE) [2 - 1] MyNavi Sendai Ladies (WE)

Match No. 43: Nojima Stella Sagamihara (WE) [0 - 1] Urawa Reds Ladies (WE)

Match No. 44: Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina (WE) [0 - 1] INAC Kobe Leonessa (WE)

Intercontinental Cup final (December 18):

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Pachuca

HFX Wanderers have extended the contracts of Aiden Rushenas, Wesley Timoteo, Andre Rampersad, Massimo Ferrin and Ryan Telfer. Rampersad is the only guy left from Season One.

Historical matches:

1901/12/21    Port Glasgow Athletic 2 - 2 Morton    G&WoSL

1940/12/21    Morton 1 - 0 Motherwell

Morton held scoreless in league play:

2024-25      9 times so far

2023-24    11 times

2022-23      4 times

2021-22    14 times

2020-21    12 times in 27 games

2019-20      4 times in 28 games

2018-19    11 times

2017-18      9 times

2016-17      6 times

2015-16    15 times

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)

Granny Kempock

Granny Kempock is a standing stone located up the Kempock Steps on Castle Brae in Gourock. Source.

Morton host Raith Rovers. Morton are fifth with 44 points and will not appear in either the promotion or relegation playoffs. Raith are second with 65 points.

Raith have had the better of this season's competition against Morton, with two wins and a draw. The last Morton player to score on Raith was Iain Wilson, on October 31st. Aidan Connolly has two goals against Morton this season.

[Morton 0 - 0 Raith Rovers.]

[Dunfermline Athletic and Ayr United join Falkirk and Morton in next season's Championship.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians (4th) 0 - 0 Dundee United (1st) (last night)*

Dundee United win the division and will play in the Premiership next season.

*This was a Plenty of Nothing Consolation Cup Round One match. [Airdrie advance on the corner kick rule.]

Arbroath (10th) [0 - 5] Queen's Park (9th)

Dunfermline (6th) [1 - 1] Inverness CT (8th)**

**This is a Plenty of Nothing Consolation Cup semi-final. [ICT advance on the yellow card rule.]

Partick Thistle (3rd) [0 - 0] Ayr United (7th)***

***This is the Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup final. [Partick win on the yellow card rule.]

Pyramid playoff, first leg:

East Kilbride vs Buckie Thistle

[The Scottish FA has expelled Buckie Thistle from the pyramid playoff, citing the club's lack of a Bronze License. East Kilbride advance directly to the final against Team 42.]

The Highland League leads the Lowland League 3 to 1 in head-to-head competition this year:

2023/9/23      Gala Fairydean Rovers (LL) 8 - 2 Strathspey Thistle (HL)    ScCup R1

2023/9/23      Caledonian Braves (LL) 1 - 2 Fraserburgh (HL)    ScCup R1

2023/9/23      East Stirlingshire (LL) 0 -1 Huntly (HL)    ScCup R1

2023/9/23      Brora Rangers (HL) 5 - 1 Berwick Rangers (LL)    ScCup R1

Other matches:

Treaty United 0 - 2 UCD (yesterday)

Sheikh Russel 0 - 1 Abahani Dhaka (yesterday)

HFX Wanderers [1 - 3] Atletico Ottawa [HFX goal by Riley Ferrazzo.]

Sigma [0 - 2] Scrosoppi (yesterday) [Goal for Skublak.]

League1 Ontario begins. The league has been sorted into two divisions, with our guys Scrosoppi FC in the top division.

Ex-HFX Wanderer Tomas Skublak, League1 Ontario's top scorer in 2023, is back at Scrosoppi. He's a real estate agent now so it's unlikely you'll see him back again in the minimum wage CanPL.

Glenavon [1 - 2] Carrick Rangers

Arbroath Victoria 1 - 1 East Craigie (April 24)

East Craigie [2 - 2] Bridge of Don Thistle

Easthouses Lily [1 - 2] Peebles Rovers

FH [0 - 4] Þór/KA

Mito HollyHock [2 - 3] Fujieda MYFC

Maruyasu Okazaki [1 - 1] ReinMeer Aomori

Sfida Setagaya [2 - 2] Orca Kamogawa (tomorrow)

Aberdeenshire Cup final (April 23):

Inverurie Loco Works 0 - 0 Buckie Thistle (Inverurie win on PK)

Swiss Cup, semi-finals:

Sion [0 - 2] Lugano

Winterthur [0 - 1] Servette (tomorrow)

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup semi-finals:

Rangers [2 - 0] Celtic

Spartans [0 - 3] Hearts (tomorrow)

AFC Champions League SF, second leg (April 24):

Yokohama F Marinos 3 - 2 Ulsan HD

(3 - 3 on aggregate. Yokohama advance on PK.)

2024 Canadian Championship preliminary round:

Cavalry 1 - 0 Vancouver FC (April 23)

Toronto FC 5 - 0 Simcoe County Rovers (April 24)

Times that CanPL teams beat MLS teams in the Canadian Championship:

2019/7/24      Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 2 Cavalry FC

2021/8/26      Pacific FC 4 - 3 Vancouver Whitecaps

Times that League1 teams beat CanPL teams in the Canadian Championship:

2019/5/22      HFX Wanderers 0 - 1 Vaughan Azzurri

2023/4/19      TSS Rovers 3 - 1 Valour FC

2023-24 SPFL League X:

Cowdenbeath         6    3    1    2      8      8     0    10        (10th)

Berwick Rangers    6    3    0    3      9      8   +1      9        (13th)

East Stirlingshire    6    3    0    3    11    12    -1      9        (14th)

Albion Rovers         6    2    1    3      7      7     0      7          (9th)

Historical matches:

1883/4/28      Vale of Leven 4 - 0 Morton

1968/4/24      Dundee 0 - 3 Morton

1996/4/27      Dumbarton 0 - 1 Morton

Goal by John Anderson.

Arthurlie FC 1907-08:

1908/4/11      East Stirlingshire 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1908/4/8        Arthurlie 0 - 2 Johnstone    RCup SF 3rd replay

1908/4/6        Arthurlie 1 - 1 Johnstone    RCup SF 2nd replay

1908/3/23      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Johnstone    RCup SF replay

1908/3/21      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Cowdenbeath    SFL2

1908/3/14      Arthurlie 2 - 1 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1908/3/7        St Bernard's 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1908/2/29      Dumbarton Harp 1 - 0 Arthurlie    ConCup R4 replay

1908/2/22      Dumbarton Harp vs Arthurlie (abandoned)    ConCup R4

1908/2/15      Arthurlie 1 - 3 Ayr FC    SFL2

1908/2/8        Albion Rovers 5 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1908/2/8        bye    ConCup R3

1908/2/1        Leith Athletic 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1908/1/25      Arthurlie 4 - 1 Hurlford    ConCup R2 replay

1908/1/18      Hurlford 2 - 2 Arthurlie    ConCup R2

1908/1/11      Arthurlie 5 - 0 Girvan Athletic    ConCup R1

1908/1/4        East Stirlingshire vs Arthurlie (postponed)    SFL2

1908/1/2        Johnstone 1 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup SF

1907/12/28    Ayr Parkhouse 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/12/14    Arthurlie 3 - 1 Raith Rovers    SFL2

1907/12/7      Vale of Leven 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/11/30    Arthurlie 0 - 1 Abercorn    SFL2

1907/11/23    Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/11/16    Arthurlie vs East Stirlingshire (abandoned)    SFL2

1907/11/9      Abercorn 3 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/11/2      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Leith Athletic    SFL2

1907/10/26    Arthurlie 0 - 0 Dumbarton    SFL2

1907/10/19    Ayr FC 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/10/12    Arthurlie 2 - 1 Vale of Leven    SFL2

1907/10/5      Cowdenbeath 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/9/28      Arthurlie 1 - 4 St Bernard's    SFL2

1907/9/21      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Johnstone    QCup R2

1907/9/7        Arthurlie 5 - 1 Paisley Academicals    QCup R1

1907/8/31      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Ayr Parkhouse    SFL2

1907/8/24      Dumbarton 6 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/8/20      Thornliebank wo-scr Arthurlie    RCup R2

1907/8/19      bye    RCup R1

1907/8/17      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Albion Rovers    SFL2

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Consolation Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup; the Glasgow Herald for 1907/11/16 and 1908/1/4.)

Gourock Ropework

The Gourock Ropework in, er, Port Glasgow.

Morton host Ayr United. Morton are sixth with 19 points and a -7 goal difference. Ayr are seventh with 19 points and a -8 goal difference. Morton have won both previous matches against Ayr, who are the only club the Ton could sweep this season.

Morton are six games without a loss, league and cup, and have not surrendered a goal in three matches. Earlier in the season Morton were giving up two goals per game, but now it's down to 1.4 per game.

They're 4 points out of fourth place and 5 points out of tenth.

Ayr are three games without a loss, but have surrendered six goals in that span.

[Morton win 3 - 0 on a hat-trick by Robbie Muirhead.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians (5th) [2 - 0] Inverness CT (8th)

Arbroath (9th) [0 - 3] Dundee United (2nd)

Dunfermline Athletic (4th) [1 - 2] Raith Rovers (1st)

Partick Thistle (3rd) [3 - 2] Queen's Park (10th)

Today's matches are at 3:00 pm UK time because it's a bank holiday in Scotland.

There's an interesting discussion going on at Pie and Bovril about reduced squad sizes in the Championship.

Dunfermline Athletic versus Raith Rovers in their local cups:

1891/5/23      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 2 Raith Rovers (abandoned)    FChCup F

1891/6/6        Raith Rovers 5 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FChCup F

1900/4/14      Dumfermline Athletic 6 - 3 Raith Rovers    WCup SF

1901/4/6        Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 2 Raith Rovers    WCup SF

1902/1/4        Dunfermline Athletic vs Raith Rovers (abandoned)    WCup R1

1903/2/14      Raith Rovers 0 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup R1, leg 1

1903/2/28      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 0 Raith Rovers    FCup R1, leg 2

1904/4/2        Raith Rovers 2 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FL

1905/1/4        Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers    FL

1905/2/25      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FL

1905/5/15      Raith Rovers 5 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    WCup F

1905/11/4      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 2 Raith Rovers    FCup SF

1905/11/11    Raith Rovers 2 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF replay

1906/5/10      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    WL

1908/8/26      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 0 Raith Rovers    WL

1908/10/5      Raith Rovers 4 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    WL

1909/1/30      Raith Rovers 0 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

1909/2/6        Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 3 Raith Rovers    FCup SF replay

1909/8/25      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 0 Raith Rovers    WL playoff

1910/4/27      Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 0 Raith Rovers    WL

1911/1/28      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 2 Raith Rovers    WL

1911/3/4        Raith Rovers 'A' 0 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F

1911/3/25      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers 'A'    FCup F replay

1911/10/7      Dunfermline Athletic wo/scr Raith Rovers    FCup R1

1918/4/6        Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup F

1918/4/13      Raith Rovers 2 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    WCup SF

1918/4/20      Raith Rovers 0 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F replay

1920/2/28      Raith Rovers 'A' 1 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

1921/4/12      Raith Rovers 1 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    WCup SF

1921/5/4        Raith Rovers 3 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F

1922/9/6        Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup R1

1923/8/29      Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 2 Raith Rovers    WCup R1

1924/4/2        Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup R1

1926/4/12      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers (DA win on corners)    WCup SF

1926/8/25      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 3 Raith Rovers    FCup R1

1926/9/22      Raith Rovers 3 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup R1 replay

1927/4/20      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers (DA win on corners)    FCup R1 replay

1928/4/28      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 0 Raith Rovers    WCup F

1929/3/27      Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup R1

1929/8/28      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

1930/4/23      Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 1 Raith Rovers    WCup SF

1930/10/6      Raith Rovers 6 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    WCup R1

1933/4/26      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 1 Raith Rovers    WCup F

1934/10/1      Raith Rovers 4 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic    WCup R1

1935/9/4        Raith Rovers 5 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

1936/9/16      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 0 Raith Rovers    FCup SF

1937/8/25      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 3 Raith Rovers    WCup SF

1939/4/26      Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F

1939/8/16      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers (DA win coin toss)    FCup F replay

1939/8/23      Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    WCup F

1939/10/14    Raith Rovers 2 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

1948/3/24      Dunfermline Athletic 0 -  1 Raith Rovers    FCup R1

1950/10/2      Raith Rovers 6 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic (protested)    FCup R1

1955/5/14      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers (trophy shared)    FCup F

1957/9/30      Raith Rovers 4 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F

1958/5/7        Raith Rovers 2 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F, leg 1

1958/5/10      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup F, leg 2

1960/5/11      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup F, leg 1

1960/5/14      Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic (trophy shared)    FCup F, leg 2

1961/5/10      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F, leg 1

1961/5/13      Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 0 Raith Rovers    FCup F, leg 2

1965/10/11    Raith Rovers 1 - 5 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F, leg 1

1965/10/18    Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 3 Raith Rovers    FCup F, leg 2

1966/10/12    Raith Rovers 1 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F, leg 1

1966/10/19    Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 5 Raith Rovers (trophy shared)   FCup F, leg 2

1971/4/26      Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup SF

1973/3/7        Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup F, leg 1

1973/3/14      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F, leg 2

1975/9/30      Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic (RR win on PK)    FCup SF

1979/10/2      Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic (DA advance)    FCup SF

1980/11/17    Raith Rovers 2 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F, leg 1

1981/4/29      Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 0 Raith Rovers    FCup F, leg 2

1983/8/13      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup F

1987/8/1        Raith Rovers 2 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic (RR win on PK)    FCup SF

1991/3/26      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 2 Raith Rovers    FCup SF

1992/7/26      Raith Rovers vs Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F

1995/8/15      Raith Rovers 1 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup F

1996/8/29      Dunfermline Athletic 5 - 0 Raith Rovers    FCup F

1997/9/23      Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 3 Raith Rovers    FCup R1

1998/10/29    Raith Rovers 2 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic (RR win on PK)    FCup R1

2001/5/2        Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 0 Raith Rovers    FCup F

2002/4/29      Raith Rovers 2 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

2003/4/6        Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup F

2004/5/13      Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic (RR win on PK)    FCup F

2011/8/30      Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 1 Raith Rovers    FCup SF

2016/8/31      Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic (RR win on PK)    FCup SF

2019/4/30      Raith Rovers 1 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic    FCup SF

FChCup = Fifeshire Charity Cup; FCup = Fife Cup, Fifeshire Cup, Fife and District Cup; FL = Fife League; WCup = Wemyss Cup; WL = Wemyss League

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive)

Gourock Train Station

Gourock Train Station before the Seventies. Source.

It's the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Morton host Airdrieonians. Morton have to be glad to get back to cup play, where they have earned 5 of their 7 wins, but their opponent today is a league rival. (See the history of that below.) Morton are coming off three 2 - 1 losses in a row in the division.

Airdrie came to Cappielow September 30th and won 0 - 1.

Airdrieonians got to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals by beating the University of Stirling 3 - 2 and Rangers B 4 - 2. Morton beat Elgin City 2 - 1 and Kelty Hearts 4 - 1. These two clubs have met only once before in this cup, in Round Two of the 2003-04 edition: Airdrie won it 1 - 2 at Cappielow.

The winner of this game will meet the winner of Hamilton versus Raith in the semi-finals. If Morton are to play The New Saints it will have to be in the final.

Morton have hired Dale Pryde-MacDonald as general manager. He has held administrative positions at Brora Rangers, Ross County and Morecambe FC in Lancashire.

Malky MacKay has departed Ross County, moving Dougie Imrie up to ninth on the SPFL manager seniority list. Imrie is still a month away from his second anniversary at Morton. Ian McCall is the new manager at Clyde. He briefly played for Morton in the year 2000. And Andy Graham is the new Alloa boss. He played for Morton in 2011-12.

[Morton 0 - 0 Airdrieonians. Airdrie win on PK. Gillespie, Oakley, Blues, Crawford and Wilson scored in the shoot-out and McGrattan missed.]

The other Challenge Cup matches:

Falkirk 4 - 2 Dundee United (yesterday)

You really just want them both to lose.

Hamilton Accies 1 - 4 Raith Rovers (yesterday)

This is a rematch of last year's final.

The New Saints [4 - 1] Arbroath

With this match Morton become the only 2023-24 Championship club never to have played a non-SFA team in the Challenge Cup.

SPFL Championship:

Dunfermline [1 - 1] Inverness CT

2023-24 South Challenge Cup, R4:

Beith [2 - 3] Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Broxburn [3 - 0] Auchinleck Talbot

Caledonian Braves [2 - 0] Cumbernauld United

Cowdenbeath [6 - 0] Lanark United

Dunbar United vs Cumbernauld Colts [postponed]

Heriot Watt University [1 - 3] Rutherglen Glencairn

Kennoway Star Hearts vs St Andrews United [postponed]

Kilwinning Rangers [3 - 0] Albion Rovers

Largs Thistle [1 - 2] Ashfield

Lugar Boswell Thistle [0 - 5] Tranent

Musselburgh Athletic [0 - 2] Johnstone Burgh

Pollok [2 - 0] Linlithgow Rose

Pollok's website has an archive of results going back to the year 2000.

Shotts Bon Accord [2 - 1] Glenafton Athletic

St Cadoc's [2 - 5] East Kilbride

Threave Rovers vs Leith Athletic [postponed]

Troon [3 - 2] Thornton Hibs

Other matches:

Banks o' Dee [2 - 1] Formartine United

Dundee St James vs East Craigie [postponed]

Auchinleck Talbot 1 - 0 Largs Thistle (November 15)

Largs Thistle vs Cumnock Juniors (postponed)

East Kilbride Thistle [2 - 2] Carluke Rovers

Carrick Rangers [0 - 3] Cliftonville (tomorrow)

Colne vs FC Isle of Man [postponed]

Inverness CT [9 - 0] Morton Women (tomorrow)

It's the 45th Empress's Cup, Round One:

Match #1: Okayama Yunogo Belle (N2) [7 - 0] Sapporo University Vista (Hokkaido) (tomorrow)

Match #2: Viamaterras Miyazaki (N2) [4 - 0] Diavorosso Hiroshima (N2)

Match #3: Veertien Mie Ladies (N2) [0 - 4] Nihon University (Kanto University 1) (tomorrow)

Match #4: Waseda University (Kanto University 1) [2 - 1] Kibi International University Charme Okayama Takahashi (N2)

It's the 110th Grey Cup tomorrow. Incredibly, this is the first time that teams from Montreal and Winnipeg have met in the final. Also, Winnipeg becomes the only team to have played every* other CFL city in the Grey Cup. (*If you forget about the Americans.)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers [24 - 28] Montreal Alouettes

Random:

Renfrew FC's website is a treasure trove of stats.

Historical matches:

1944/11/18    Albion Rovers 4 - 3 Morton

1967/11/18    Morton 3 - 1 Clyde

1995/11/18    Morton 0 - 3 St Mirren

Morton versus divisional rivals in the Challenge Cup:

2022/12/10    Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Morton (RR won on PK)

2022/9/22      Morton 1 - 1 Ayr United (Morton won on PK)

2021/12/1      Queen of the South 2 - 1 Morton

2019/9/7        Inverness CT 3 - 1 Morton

2017/8/15      Morton 0 - 2 Livingston

2015/7/25      Morton 2 - 3 Dumbarton

2011/9/4        Hamilton Academical 2 - 1 Morton

2010/8/10      Ross County 3 - 1 Morton

2009/8/18      Ross County 2 - 1 Morton

2008/10/12    Ross County 4 - 1 Morton

2008/9/7        Queen of the South 0 - 2 Morton

2007/10/2      Morton 1 - 3 St Johnstone

2007/8/14      Morton 1 - 0 Livingston

2006/8/29      Morton 3 - 2 Cowdenbeath

2005/9/14      Stirling Albion 1 - 2 Morton

2005/7/30      Morton 3 - 2 Gretna

2004/7/31      Forfar 3 - 1 Morton

2003/8/12      Morton 1 - 2 Airdrieonians

2003/8/2        Morton 4 - 3 Arbroath

2002/8/5        Morton 3 - 2 Stirling Albion

2000/8/15      Raith Rovers 0 - 4 Morton

1999/8/10      Dunfermline 2 - 2 Morton (Morton won on PK)

1996/9/10      Morton 2 - 1 Partick Thistle

1994/10/4      Dundee 2 - 1 Morton

1994/9/27      Morton 4 - 3 St Johnstone

1993/10/19    Morton 2 - 4 St Mirren

1992/12/13    Hamilton Academical 3 - 2 Morton

1992/10/28    Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton

1991/10/22    Morton 2 - 3 Raith Rovers

1991/10/15    Morton 2 - 1 Kilmarnock

Cragburn Pavilion

The Cragburn Pavilion was a social hotspot on the Gourock waterfront from the 1930s till the 1990s. Source.

Morton host Airdrieonians. Airdrie are sixth in the division with 9 points, Morton ninth with 4.

In the years since they rose from the ashes of the old club new Airdrieonians have spent six seasons in tier II and fifteen in tier III. They had a run of ten consecutive seasons in tier III, which is the second-longest streak for that league since the four-division format came in. (See below.) When they were in tier II they finished 5th, 6th, 9th, 9th, 9th and 10th.

Airdrie's David Hutton played for Morton in 2012-13, as did Charlie Telfer in 2018-19. Nobody on the Morton squad has played for Airdrie.

The last Morton player to score on Airdrie was Robbie Muirhead, May 21st, 2021, during the Championship playoffs.

Airdrie's manager Rhys McCabe also suits up as a midfielder. He scored the winning goal in Airdrie's League Cup group stage match against Dundee.

Since August 29th Airdrie have followed a pattern of win one, lose one. Today is their turn to lose one. But almost every prognosticator at Pie and Bovril has Airdrie winning today.

Yesterday Morton signed 19-year-old defender Jack Harkness on loan from Rangers to help fill a gaping hole at the back. He is a different guy from the Jack Harkness in Torchwood.

[Morton 0 - 1 Airdrieonians.]

Morton's first six league matches:

2023-24        WLLLDL        =    4 points

2022-23        DWLDWL      =    8 points

2021-22        DWLLLL        =    4 points

2020-21        WLWLDL       =    7 points

2019-20        LWWLLW       =    9 points

2018-19        DWWLDD      =    9 points

The other Championship matches:

Arbroath (3rd) [2 - 3] Inverness CT (10th)

Ayr United (8th) [1 - 2] Raith Rovers (2nd)

Dundee United (1st) [4 - 1] Queen's Park (7th)

Partick Thistle (5th) [3 - 0] Dunfermline (4th)

The League Cup quarter-finals were held midweek:

Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Hearts

Ross County 1 - 2 Aberdeen

Hibs 4 - 2 St Mirren

Rangers 4 - 0 Livingston

Ross County (2015-16) is the most recent League Cup winner among these eight, followed by Aberdeen (2013-14), St Mirren (2012-13), Kilmarnock (2011-12), Rangers (2010-11), Hibs (2006-07), Livi (2003-04) and Hearts (1962-63).

Other matches:

Banks o' Dee 0 - 1 Brechin (September 27)

Keith vs Banks o' Dee [postponed -- Keith are in the Highland League Cup]

Banks o' Dee are currently seventh in the Highland League, one of six teams with only one loss.

Linlithgow Rose [1 - 1] Berwick Rangers

Linlithgow Rose are currently seventh in the Lowland League, with only two losses.

East Craigie [1 - 1] Brechin Victoria

East Craigie are currently mid-table in the Midlands League.

Largs Thistle [2 - 2] Glenafton Athletic

Largs Thistle are currently mid-table in the West of Scotland Premier Division.

Bo'ness Athletic 5 - 1 Peebles Rovers (September 26)

Peebles Rovers [1 - 2] Armadale Thistle

Peebles Rovers are currently mid-table in the East Of Scotland Second Division.

Carluke Rovers [0 - 2] Glenvale

Carluke Rovers are currently mid-table in the West of Scotland Fourth Division.

Ayr United [2 - 1] Morton Women (tomorrow)

Morton Women are currently mid-table in the Scottish Women's Championship.

Bury 1 - 0 FC Isle of Man (September 26)

FC Isle of Man [1 - 0] Wythenshawe

FC Isle of Man are currently mid-table in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Derry City 6 - 0 UCD (yesterday)

UCD are dead last in the League of Ireland Premier Division and already relegated.

Cardiff Metropolitan University 1 - 1 Haverfordwest County (September 26)

Colwyn Bay [2 - 2] Cardiff Metropolitan University

CMU are mid-table in the Cymru Premier League.

Carrick Rangers [2 - 1] Glentoran

Carrick Rangers are second bottom in the NIFL Premiership.

Ventforet Kofu [2 - 1] Mito HollyHock

Mito HollyHock are currently mid-table in J2.

Honda FC [1 - 2] Briobecca Urayasu

Honda FC are top of the Japan Football League.

Tokyo International University [3 - 1] Tokyo 23 FC (tomorrow)

Tokyo 23 FC are mid-table in the Kanto Football League.

Fujieda City Hall [2 - 0] FC Gifu Second (tomorrow)

Fujieda City Hall are 6th out of 8 in the Tokai Football League.

Morioka Zebra [0 - 6] Sendai University II

Morioka Zebra are 8th out of 10 in the Tohoku Football League.

Elfen Saitama [5 - 2] Beleza (tomorrow)

So far in the WE League Cup group stage Elfen Saitama have a win, a draw and two losses.

HFX Wanderers [2 - 1] Forge

[Goals by Ferrin and Nimick.]

Wanderers need[ed] one point to secure a playoff spot.

According to this Indian press story the Canadian Premier League is financed by Khalistani separatists.

Scottish Challenge Cup, Round Three (September 26):

Rangers B 4 - 1 Alloa (at Cappielow)

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, Round One (tomorrow):

Airdrie vs Flip the Mindset [postponed] [awarded to Airdrie]

Bonnyrigg Rose [3 - 0] BSC Glasgow

Cumbernauld Colts [0 - 7] Inverurie Loco Works

Dalbeattie Star [0 - 16] Armadale Thistle

Drumchapel United [3 - 2] Dunipace

Dundee West [3 - 5] Grampian

Edinburgh Caledonia [4 - 0] Kilwinning

Edinburgh South [0 - 3] Dyce

Forfar Farmington [1 - 3] Queen of the South

Giffnock [3 - 2] Dunfermline Athletic

Linlithgow Rose [0 - 2] Glenrothes Strollers

Murieston United [1 - 11] Stenhousemuir

St Mirren [4 - 2] Elgin

Stewarton United [0 - 9] Falkirk

Longest runs in tier III since 1994:

11 years    Brechin City    (2006-07 to 2016-17)

10 years    new Airdrieonians    (2013-14 to 2022-23)

  8 years    Queen of the South    (1994-95 to 2001-02)

  8 years    Alloa Athletic    (2003-04 to 2011-12)

  8 years    Stenhousemuir    (2009-10 to 2016-17)

  8 years    Stranraer    (2012-13 to 2019-20)

Historical matches:

1882/9/30      Morton 5 - 1 St Mirren (Scottish Cup R2)

1944/9/20      Morton 4 - 3 Celtic

1967/9/27      Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton

League Cup quarter-finals, second leg. Morton advance.

1967/9/30      Morton 3 - 3 Aberdeen

1995/9/30      St Mirren 1 - 4 Morton

Goals by Lilley, Hawke (twice) and Marko Rajamaki.

Gourock Saltwater Pool

Blur used Martin Parr's photo of the Gourock Saltwater Pool for the cover of their latest release. Source.

It's the Scottish Challenge Cup, Round Three, featuring the ten winners from Round Two, the rest of League One, the Championship, plus Bala Town and The New Saints from Wales, and Cliftonville and Coleraine from Northern Ireland.

The New Saints finished top of the Cymru Premier last season. Bala were fifth. Cliftonville and Coleridge were fourth and sixth in the NIFL Premiership.

This is second time in this cup for Cliftonville, Coleraine and Bala Town, and the sixth time for The New Saints. The New Saints have been in the Challenge Cup more often than Aberdeen, Celtic and Motherwell (zero times each); Hearts, Tranent and Turriff (once each); Broomhill (twice); Fraserburgh, Hibs and University of Stirling (three times each); Bonnyrigg, Buckie, Kelty, Kilmarnock and Rangers (four times each); Brora Rangers (five times); and as just as often as Dundee United, East Kilbride and Formartine United.

Morton have not played an opponent from outside the SFA since 1980. (Answer: Notts County, Anglo-Scottish Cup.) Read about that time Ayr United played Wrexham.

Only two colts teams remain: Hibs B and Rangers B.

Morton host Elgin City. These two have only ever met six times before, and Elgin have never won. Morton and Elgin last played each other on August 1st, 2015 in Round One of the League Cup and Morton won that 5 - 0. John Scullion scored the fifth goal.

Nobody on the Morton squad has played for Elgin. Nobody on Elgin has played for Morton, except for Barry Smith, who was appointed Elgin manager just this week. He appeared for Morton in 2008. Since then he has managed Dundee, Alloa, Aldershot Town, East Fife, Raith Rovers, Brechin and Pittsburgh City United, and he has been assistant manager at Forfar, Dumbarton and most recently York United of the Canadian Premier League. Maybe Elgin can enjoy a new manager bounce today.

Morton have lost four games in a row. Elgin have not won in three.

Morton made £235,000 in gate receipts off the Rangers game. Source.

[Morton win 2 - 1. Goals by Muirhead and McGrattan.]

The other Challenge Cup matches:

Ayr United 0 - 1 Falkirk (September 5)

Hibs B 0 - 3 The New Saints (yesterday)

Dumbarton [1 - 3] Kelty Hearts

University of Stirling [2 - 3] Airdrieonians

Dundee United [3 - 0] Dunfermline

Arbroath [4 - 2] Inverness CT

Apart from Morton, Arbroath are the only club in the 2023-24 Championship who have not played a cross-border club in this cup. 

Partick Thistle [2 - 3] Queen of the South

Coleraine [1 - 3] Hamilton Accies

Raith Rovers [3 - 0] Cliftonville

Bala Town [0 - 3] Queen's Park

Edinburgh City [1 - 4] East Kilbride (See below.)

Annan Athletic [0 - 2] Peterhead

Cove Rangers [0 - 2] Montrose

East Fife [2 - 1] Albion Rovers

Rangers B vs Alloa (September 26)

As usual, Rangers make their own schedule.

Other matches:

Pacific [1 - 1] HFX Wanderers (yesterday)

[HFX goal by Armaan Wilson. Wanderers are in fourth place.]

Former Wanderer Iida Kodai has joined Sheikh Russel FC of the Bangladesh Premier League. That league starts in December.

Linlithgow Rose [2 - 2] East Kilbride (September 5)

Inverurie Loco Works vs Banks o' Dee [postponed]

East Craigie [0 - 1] Broughty Athletic

Largs Thistle [1 - 1] St Cadoc's

Ormiston Primrose [0  - 1] Peebles Rovers

Carluke Rovers [0 - 5] Thorn Athletic

Edinburgh City [2 - 2] Morton Women (tomorrow)

UCD 0 - 5 Derry City (September 6)

Pilkington 3 - 1 FC Isle of Man (September 6)

FC Isle of Man [0 - 2] Prestwich Heys

Cardiff Metropolitan University 2 - 0 Pontypridd (yesterday)

Carrick Rangers [0 - 1] Ballymena

Mito HollyHock [3 - 0] Zweigen Kanazawa

Honda FC [3 - 4] Suzuka Point Getters

Tokyo 23 FC [3 - 1] Joyful Honda Tsukuba

FC Kariya [2 - 0] Fujieda City Hall

Morioka Zebra [0 - 11] Blancdieu Hirosaki

INAC [1 - 0] Elfen Saitama (tomorrow)

East of Scotland Centenary Cup final (tomorrow):

Linlithgow Rose [2 - 3] Whitburn

2023-24 UEFA Women's Champions League, 1QR SF (September 6):

Glasgow City 2 - 0 Shelbourne

Brøndby 0 - 1 Celtic

1QR final (September 9):

Glasgow City [3 - 0] Gintra

Celtic [2 - 2] Vålerenga [Vålerenga win on PK]

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, preliminary round (tomorrow):

Armadale Thistle [6 - 0] Arbroath Women

Buchan Ladies [2 - 6] Inverurie Loco Works

Buckie Ladies [0 - 4] Dunfermline Athletic

Cumbernauld Colts [4 - 3] Harmony Row

Dunipace Ladies [8 - 2] Annan Athletic Women

Dyce Women Football Club [4 - 0] Huntly

Edinburgh South [21 - 0] Brora Rangers

Flip the Mindset Women [7 - 3] Nairn St. Ninians

Glenrothes Strollers [5 - 2] Ardrossan Winton Rovers

Grampian Ladies [4 - 2] Alloa Athletic

Kilwinning [4 - 1] Stonehaven Ladies

Linlithgow Rose [8 - 1] Central Girls

Murieston United [4 - 2] Bishopton

Orkney Women [0 - 6] Drumchapel United

Stewarton United [5 - 4] McDermid Ladies

West Park United [0 - 4] Elgin City

Historical matches:

1882/9/9        Morton 2 - 1 Johnstone Rovers (Scottish Cup R1)

1944/9/9        St Mirren 2 - 2 Morton

1967/9/9        Kilmarnock 3 - 1 Morton

Morton start their Division One league season with a loss.

1995/9/9        Morton 2 - 2 Dundee

Two goals for Lilley.

Music.

Blur, "Far Away Island".

The New Saints in the Scottish Challenge Cup:

2016/10/8      R4    Forfar 1 - 3 The New Saints

2016/11/13    QF    Livingston 0 - 3 The New Saints

2017/2/19      SF    St Mirren 4 - 1 The New Saints

2017/9/3        R2    The New Saints 1 - 1 Livingston (TNS won on PK)

2017/10/7      R3    The New Saints 4 - 0 Elgin

2017/11/12    QF    The New Saints 0 - 0 Queen of the South (TNS won on PK)

2018/2/17      SF    The New Saints 1 - 2 Dumbarton

2018/9/8        R2    The New Saints 2 - 2 Queen's Park (QP won on PK)

2019/9/7        R3    Stenhousemuir 1 - 1 The New Saints (Stenny won on PK)

2022/9/23      R3    The New Saints 0 - 3 Dundee

Edinburgh City versus East Kilbride, the record:

2013/11/2      East Kilbride 1 - 3 Edinburgh City      LL

2014/2/15      Edinburgh City 0 - 1 East Kilbride    LL

2014/10/18    Edinburgh City 3 - 2 East Kilbride      LL

2015/2/28      East Kilbride 0 - 1 Edinburgh City      LL

2015/9/26      East Kilbride 1 - 2 Edinburgh City      LL

2016/3/12      Edinburgh City 1 -  1 East Kilbride     LL

2018/9/8        East Kilbride 2 - 3 Edinburgh City      CHCup R2

2019/7/6        Edinburgh City 5 - 2 East Kilbride      2017-18 EoS Cup final

2019/7/23      Edinburgh City 0 - 1 East Kilbride    LCup GS

Copper Mine, Gourock

Gourock had a copper mine in the 19th century. Source.

Morton host Partick Thistle. Partick are fifth with 4 points, Morton seventh with 3.

Since 1994 Morton and Partick have spent 14 years in the same division, 13 in tier II and one in tier III. The tier III year was 2005-06, when Morton had the edge with 2 wins and a draw and finished in second overall in the division. Partick finished fourth but earned promotion via the newfangled playoffs, leaping over Morton into tier II.

Last season Partick took 2 wins to Morton's 1, and there was a scoreless draw.

Robbie Muirhead played for Partick in 2015-16, Jai Quitongo in 2018, and Robbie Crawford in 2022. No one on Partick Thistle has played for Morton, except manager Kris Doolan who made one appearance in 2020. 

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

[Morton 1 - 4 Partick Thistle. Goal by Robbie Muirhead. Morton were in tenth place for a few minutes there.]

The other Championship matches:

Arbroath (8th) [2 - 1] Ayr United (9th)

Dundee United (2nd) [2 - 0] Airdrieonians (4th)

Inverness CT (10th) [1 - 1] Dunfermline (6th)

Raith Rovers (3rd) [3 - 2] Queen's Park (1st)

Scottish Cup, Preliminary Round Two:

Beith [5 - 1] Bonnyton Thistle

Broxburn Athletic [3 - 0] Lochee United

Camelon [0 - 0] Newtongrange Star [Camelon win on PK]

Carluke Rovers [2 - 3] Dalbeattie Star

Creetown [1 - 3] Whitehill Welfare

Culter [3 - 2] Blackburn United

Cumnock [1 - 0] Girvan

Dunbar United [4 - 2] Vale of Leithen

Easthouses Lily [1 - 3] Threave Rovers

Fort William [1 - 10] Clydebank

Glenafton Athletic [0 - 3] Darvel

Hawick Royal Albert [1 - 2] Golspie Sutherland

Hill of Beath Hawthorn [0 - 1] Tayport

Irvine Meadow [1 - 2] Dunipace

Jeanfield Swifts [3 - 0] Cupar Hearts

Kilwinning Rangers [4 - 0] Glasgow University

Musselburgh Athletic [6 - 0] Coldstream

Newton Stewart [1 - 4] Luncarty

Penicuik Athletic [4 - 2] Rutherglen Glencairn

Pollok [2 - 2] Benburb [Pollok win on PK]

Preston Athletic [0 - 0] Dundonald Bluebell [Dundonald win on PK]

St Andrews United [1 - 0] Haddington Athletic

St Cuthbert Wanderers [0 - 5] Dalkeith Thistle

Sauchie [4 - 0] Burntisland Shipyard

Tynecastle [0 - 1] Hutchison Vale

Wigtown & Bladnoch [0 - 12] Auchinleck Talbot

Scottish Junior Cup, R1 (selected matches):

Blairgowrie [0 - 3] Troon

Gartcairn [2 - 2] Kirkintilloch Rob Roy [Gartcairn win on PK]

Hurlford [3 - 2] Sunnybank

Islavale [2 - 2] Greenock Juniors [Greenock win on PK]

Johnstone Burgh [3 - 0] East Craigie

Kilbirnie Ladeside [1 - 1] Ashfield [Ashfield win on PK]

Kilsyth Rangers [0 - 4] Arthurlie

Largs Thistle [5 - 0] Lugar Boswell Thistle

Petershill [7 - 0] Cambuslang Rangers

Yoker [0 - 3] Broughty Athletic

Alex Jack Cup, round 2:

Whitburn Juniors [3 - 2] Peebles Rovers

Other matches:

Penybont 0 - 0 Cardiff Metropolitan University (August 29)

Newtown 2 - 1 Cardiff Metropolitan University (yesterday)

Hearts B 2 - 2 Linlithgow Rose (yesterday)

Drogheda 3 - 0 UCD (yesterday)

Carrick Rangers 2 - 1 Dungannon (yesterday)

Banks o' Dee [1 - 1] Lossiemouth

Berwick Rangers [0 - 2] Cowdenbeath

FC Isle of Man vs Charnock Richard

[Wythenshawe Town 0 - 0 FC Isle of Man]

Tokyo Musashino United [0 - 1] Honda FC

Elfen Saitama [2 - 0] Ardija Omiya Ventus

Morton Women [8 - 0] Hutchison Vale (tomorrow)

Renofa Yamaguchi [1 - 2] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

Nankatsu SC [2 - 2] Tokyo 23 FC (tomorrow)

Fujieda City Hall [1 - 6] Wyvern (tomorrow)

HFX Wanderers [1 - 2] York United (Monday)

[Goal by Perruzza.]

The CanPL season is three-quarters done and HFX Wanderers have more points than they earned all last season.

HFX Wanderers versus the opposition, 2023, after 21 games:

vs Valour           3    2    1    0      5      0    +5      7

vs Forge            3    1    2    0      4      3    +1      5

vs Vancouver    3    1    1    1      5      3    +2      4

vs Cavalry         3    1    1    1      5      4    +1      4

vs Pacific           3    1    1    1      4      4      0      4

vs York United   3    1    1    1      4      5     -1      4

vs Ottawa          3    1    1    1      2      3     -1      4

total                 21    8    8    5    29    22    +7    32

League1 Ontario playoff final:

Scrosoppi [2 - 4] Simcoe County Rovers

2023-24 UEFA Champions League, play-off round, second leg (August 30):

PSV Eindhoven 5 - 1 Rangers

Rangers drop down to the Europa League.

2023-24 UEFA Europa League, play-off round, second leg (August 31):

Aberdeen 1 - 3 Häcken

Aberdeen drop down to the Europa Conference League.

023-24 UEFA Europa Conference League, play-off round, second leg (August 31):

Aston Villa 3 - 0 Hibs

PAOK 4 - 0 Hearts

Hibs and Hearts are out.

Video: Threave Rovers' Five Year Plan

Historical matches:

1882/9/2        Kilbarchan 5 - 1 Morton (friendly)

1944/9/2        Morton 4 - 2 Falkirk

1967/8/30      Raith Rovers 2 - 3 Morton

1967/9/2        Dumbarton 1 - 3 Morton

This ends the League Cup group stage. Morton win Group 7 with six wins in six games. Add the last two matches of 1966-67 and they have won eight in a row.

1995/9/2        St Johnstone 0 - 2 Morton

Two goals for Derek Lilley.

Castle Levan

Castle Levan is a fortified house overlooking Levan Burn on the west side of Gourock. Source.

Raith Rovers visit Cappielow. Morton are sixth with 48 points, Raith seventh with 42. These two have an even record so far, with a win, a draw and a loss each, but Raith knocked Morton out of the Challenge Cup. Raith are out of the playoffs; Morton still have an outside chance.

Morton have not lost since April 1st; Raith have not won since April 1st.

Raith's top scorer is Aidan Connolly with 12 goals. Robbie Muirhead has 9.

Morton enter this match with 12 draws. (See below.) And they have only 9 losses. If they can avoid another one they will equal their total for 1995-96 and 2012-13.

Michael Tidser is to be the next Kelty Hearts manager.

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

The other Championship matches:

Hamilton 1 - 2 Inverness CT (April 18)

Ayr (5th) 0 - 0 Queen's Park (2nd) (last night)

Arbroath (8th) [0 - 1] Cove Rangers (10th)

Hamilton Academical (9th) [2 - 2] Partick Thistle (4th)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (3rd) [1 - 1] Dundee (1st)

Highland League:

Buckie Thistle [0 - 2] Brechin City

This is for the Highland League title. First-place Buckie Thistle have 87 points, second-place Brechin City 86. The winner of this match will go on to meet The Spartans in the pyramid playoffs. Brechin are trying to become the first club to return to the SPFL after having been relegated out via the playoffs.

Other matches:

[Stirling Albion win League Two.]

Gala Fairydean Rovers [4 - 1] Open Goal Broomhill

The name Open Goal Broomhill becomes plain old Broomhill once this season ends. This is Gala's final league fixture of 2022-23, but they have the Lowland League Cup next weekend.

Largs Thistle [4 - 1] Hurlford United

[South Challenge Cup SF (April 18):

Caledonian Braves 2 - 3 The Spartans]

FC Isle of Man [3 - 1] Wythenshawe Town

Sligo Rovers [3 - 1] UCD

Winterthur [1 -  2] Grasshoppers

Almere City FC 1 - 1 PEC Zwolle (yesterday)

Veres Rivne [1 - 1] Minaj

Nojima Stella [0 - 1] Elfen Saitama

Dryburgh [0 - 0] Morton Women (tomorrow)

Oita Trinita [0 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

NPL2 Vic: Preston Lions 2 - 1 Northcote City (yesterday)

Forge [1 - 1] HFX Wanderers

[Halifax goal by Ferrin.]

Scrosoppi [0 - 2] Vaughan Azzurri

Each CPL club is allowed to partner with a lower league club and send players down to gain increased playing time. York United is affiliated with Alliance United and Forge with Sigma, both of League1 Ontario. HFX Wanderers have their own reserve team that will play a series of exhibition games this summer.

76th Aomori Prefecture Football Championship (April 23):

Match No. 9: ReinMeer Aomori [2 - 3] Blancdieu Hirosaki

73rd Iwate Prefecture Football Championship:

FC Ganju Iwate [1 - 0] Nippon Steel Kamaishi

28th Mie Prefecture Football Championship, semifinals (April 23):

Veertien Mie [7 - 0] Yokkaichi University

FC Ise-Shima [1 - 2] Suzuka Point Getters

Most draws in a season, Morton:

17    1993-94 (44-game season)

16    1989-90 (39-game season)

14    2001-02 (36-game season)

14    1920-21 (42-game season)

Historical matches:

April 17, 1967    Brechin 0 - 4 Morton

April 19, 1967    Morton 13 - 1 Rootes (Linwood)

This was the first round of the Renfrewshire Cup. The final round took place late in 1967.

April 22, 1967    Morton 0 - 0 Arbroath

April 19, 1978    St Johnstone 0 - 1 Morton

Goal by Russell.

April 22, 1978    Stirling Albion 1 - 2 Morton

Goals by Billy Thomas and Goldthorp.

Gourock Castle

Gourock Castle stood on Bath Street from 1840 to 1896 and played no part whatsoever in Scottish history. Source.

Inverness CT visit Cappielow. Morton are fifth in the Championship with 43 points. ICT are sixth with 39.

So far this season Morton have 2 wins and a draw against ICT and have outscored them 7 goals to 2. Muirhead and Gillespie each have 2 goals against the Caledonian Thistle. In previous years ICT have never failed to beat Morton at least once.

ICT have scored 40 goals to Morton's 41 and have allowed 41 to Morton's 35. ICT's top scorer is Billy Mckay with 12 goals. He has one goal against Morton.

2022-23 is shaping up to be ICT's poorest season since 2001-02. That year they finished 6th in the First Division with 48 points. But they beat Partick Thistle last weekend, a big win for them and Morton both.

They're skint.

[Morton 1 - 2 ICT. Morton goal by Gillespie. Morton cannot finish in tenth place.]

The other Championship matches:

Arbroath (8th) 2 - 0 Ayr United (3rd) (last night)

Dundee (2nd) [7 - 0] Hamilton Accies (10th)

Raith Rovers (7th) [2 - 0] Queen's Park (1st)

Cove Rangers (9th) [0 - 5] Partick Thistle (4th)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Championship Consolation Cup quarter-final.

Other matches:

St Patrick's 3 - 0 UCD (yesterday)

PEC Zwolle 2 - 0 Jong FC Utrecht (yesterday)

Forres Mechanics [2 - 3] Buckie Thistle

Hearts B [3 - 0] Gala Fairydean Rovers

Morton Women [1 - 4] Renfrew (tomorrow)

Largs Thistle [0 - 2] Darvel

Lower Breck [0 - 2] FC Isle of Man

Basel [2 - 0] Winterthur

Minaj [1 - 2] Inhulets'

Tokyo 23 FC [1 - 0] Toho Titanium

Elfen Saitama [0 - 1] Vegalta Sendai

Montedio Yamagata [0 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

Briobecca Urayasu [1 - 1] Honda FC (tomorrow)

NPL2 Vic: Langwarrin SC [1 - 2] Preston Lions

[Preston Lions have applied to join the proposed national second division or Championship which is due to begin play in 2024.]

Vancouver Whitecaps [5 - 0] CF Montreal

HFX Wanderers vs University of South Florida (in Florida) (March 27)

South Challenge Cup quarter-finals:

Caledonian Braves [2 - 1] Auchinleck Talbot

Kilwinning Rangers [1 - 4] Gartcairn

Sauchie Juniors [1 - 4] Drumchapel United

The Spartans [4 - 2] University of Stirling

I'm going to follow Fujieda City Hall SC this season. They compete in the same league as FC Kariya, the Tokai Adult Soccer League. They've already played a bunch of training matches:

March 5th: Wyvern 3 - 2 Fujieda City Hall

March 11th: Fujieda City Hall 1 - 0 Shizuoka University

March 19th: Tohoka University 3 - 2 Fujieda City Hall

March 26th: Fujieda City Hall 10 - 2 Nihon Fukushi University

The 2023 Shizuoka Prefecture Football Championship [preliminary tournament] has been going on since February, but I've only just found the bracket. It started out with 25 teams, and is now down to the final four:

Fujieda City Hall [1 - 5] Tohoka University (April 2)

Gakunan F Mosuperio [0 - 1] Shizuoka Sangyo University (April 2)

76th Aomori Prefecture Football Championship:

Match No. 1: Oirase FC 0 - 9 Bogolle D. Tsugaru (March 26)

Match No. 2: Shichinohe SC [3 - 7] Hachinohe Gakuin University (April 2)

Match No. 3: Japan Marine Self-Defence Force [5 - 2] Aomori Chuo Gakuin University (April 2)

Match No. 4: Blancdieu Hirosaki [14 - 0] Air Self-Defence Force Misawa (April 2)

Match No. 5: Bogolle D. Tsugaru [2 - 5] Aomori University (April 2)

Historical matches:

April 1, 1967    East Fife 0 - 1 Morton

Galston FC in the Qualifying Cup and Scottish Cup, 1920s:

1920/9/4       QC1     Maybole scr/wo Galston

1920/9/18     QC2     Galston 7 - 4 Girvan Athletic

1920/10/2     QC3     bye

1920/10/16   QC4     bye

1920/10/30   QC5     Galston 0 - 0 Johnstone

1920/11/6     QC5     Johnstone 3 - 0 Galston

1921/1/22     SC1     Bo'ness 1 - 0 Galston

1921/9/2       QC1     Galston 0 - 0 Stevenston United

1921/9/10     QC1     Stevenston United 0 - 0 Galston

1921/9/17     QC1     Galston 0 - 4 Stevenston United

1922/9/2       QC1     Galston wo/scr Girvan Athletic

1922/9/16     QC2     Galston 3 - 0 Hamilton Garrison

1922/9/30     QC3     Dalbeattie Star 1 - 2 Galston

1922/10/14   QC4     bye

1922/10/28   QC5     Mid-Annandale 0 - 0 Galston

1922/11/4     QC5     Galston 0 - 4 Mid-Annandale

1923/1/13     SC1     Galston 1 - 0 Stenhousemuir

1923/1/27     SC2     Peterhead 1 - 0 Galston

1923/9/1       QC1     Hurlford scr/wo Galston

1923/9/15     QC2     bye

1923/9/29     QC3     Beith 4 - 4 Galston

1923/10/6     QC3     Galston vs Beith not played?

1924/1/19     SC1     Galston 6 - 2 Gala Fairydean

1924/2/9       SC2     Hearts 6 - 0 Galston

1924/9/6       QC1     Moorpark 0 - 2 Galston

1924/9/27     QC2     Galston 4 - 0 Glasgow University

1924/10/4     QC3     Dykehead 3 - 1 Galston

1925/1/24     SC1     Motherwell 6 - 3 Galston

1925/9/5       QC1     Galston 4 - 0 Paisley Grammar School FP

1925/9/19     QC2     Galston 1 - 1 Moorpark

1925/9/26     QC2     Moorpark 4 - 2 Galston

1926/9/4       QC1     Galston 6 - 1 Moorpark

1926/9/18     QC2     Helensburgh 3 - 0 Galston

1927/9/3       QC1     Galston 0 - 4 Royal Albert

1928/9/1       QC1     Galston 7 - 0 Paisley Grammar School FP

1928/9/15     QC2     Dykehead vs Galston not played?

1928/9/29     QC3     Galston wo/scr Nithsdale Wanderers

1928/10/13   QC4     bye

1928/10/27   QC5     Glasgow University 2 - 1 Galston

1929/1/19     SC1     Albion Rovers 7 - 1 Galston

1929/9/7       QC1     Galston 4 - 1 Moorpark

1929/9/21     QC2     bye

1929/10/5     QC2     Galston 2 - 3 Dalbeattie Star

1930/1/18     SC1     Arbroath 6 - 1 Galston

QC = Qualifying Cup; SC = Scottish Cup

(Source: The Beautiful Dribbling Game)