Plenty of Nothing

James Reid MP

James Reid was Greenock MP from 1900 to 1906, and part owner of the Fleming Reid Mill on Drumfrochar Road. Source.

Morton host Hamilton Academical. Morton are mid-table, thanks to last weekend's scoreless draw against Partick Thistle (see below). Hamilton are joint bottom.

The Hamiliton squad includes three former Morton players: Lee Kilday (Morton 2014-19), Reghan Tumilty (2018-2020) and Sean McGinty (2020-21). Ali Crawford and Grant Gillespie both played for Hamilton from 2009 to 2018, and backup goalkeeper Gary Woods was an Accie from 2016 to 2019.

Hamilton players staged a walkout last week over unpaid wages.

The last Morton player to score against the Accies was Alexander King, April 11th, 2023.

Kirk Broadfoot turned 40 on Thursday.

[Morton 0 - 0 Hamilton. When have Morton ever started the league with two scoreless draws before? Never.]

The other Championship matches:

Ayr United 5 - 0 Airdrieonians (yesterday)

Queen's Park 1 - 1 Livingston (yesterday)

Dunfermline Athletic [0 - 2] Falkirk

Raith Rovers [1 - 0] Partick Thistle

Raith Rovers have sacked their manager. They finished with 8 points in the League Cup group stage and lost their opening league match, neither of which really seem like sacking offences.

Scottish Cup, Preliminary Round 1:

Bo'ness Athletic (EoS2) 3 - 1 Beith Juniors (WoSP) (yesterday)

Culter (North Premier) [4 - 0] Invergordon (North Caledonian) (see below)

Other matches:

HFX Wanderers 3 - 2 Vancouver FC (August 5)

Goals by Coimbra, Rampersad and Nimick.

Civil Service Strollers 1 - 2 Berwick Rangers (August 6)

Culter 5 - 0 Westdyke (August 6)

This concludes the North Region League Cup group stage.

Clachnacuddin [0 - 2] Nairn County (August 7)

Bray Wanderers 0 - 1 UCD (yesterday)

Banks o' Dee [4 - 0] Nairn County

Culter vs Sunnybank (postponed)

Caledonian Braves [3 - 0] Civil Service Strollers

Campbeltown Pupils [2 - 4] Carluke Rovers

FC Isle of Man [0 - 1] Longridge Town

Cavalry [3 - 2] HFX Wanderers

[Wanderers goals by Coimbra and Nimick.]

Christian Volesky has departed HFX Wanderers.

Breidablik [4 - 2] Þór/KA

Mito HollyHock [0 - 1] Vegalta Sendai

Serbian White Eagles [3 - 1] Hamilton City 1 FC

Glasgow Women [3 - 2] Morton Women (tomorrow)

Woodbridge Strikers [1 - 2] Scrosoppi (tomorrow)

UEFA Champions League, 3QR, first leg (August 6):

Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 1 Rangers

Concacaf Leagues Cup, Round of 32 (August 7):

Vancouver Whitecaps 0 - 2 UNAM

UEFA Europa League, 3QR, first leg (August 8)

Petrocub Hîncești (Moldova) 1 - 0 The New Saints

Celje (Slovenia) 1 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

Rijeka (Croatia) 1 - 1 Elfsborg

UEFA Conference League, 3QR, first leg (August 8)

Kilmarnock 2 - 2 Tromsø (Norway)

This is Killie's second time against the Norwegians. They played Viking Stavanger in the first round of the 2001-02 UEFA Cup and lost 1 - 3 on aggregate.

St Mirren 1 - 1 Brann (Norway)

St Mirren played Tromsø in the first round of the 1987-88 Cup Winner's Cup and beat them 1 - 0 on aggregate.

Ballkani (Kosovo) 0 - 1 Larne

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - 0 Sabah (Azerbaijan)

Sort the 2023-24 Championship clubs by points earned in the League Cup group stage:

  9        Queen's Park (+11 gd)

  9        Airdrieonians (+10)

  9        Falkirk (+9)

  9        Ayr United (+4)

  9        Livingston (+4)

  8        Partick Thistle (+6)

  8        Raith Rovers (+3)

  6        Morton (-3)

  5        Hamilton Academical (+2)

  3        Dunfermline Athletic (-1)

    bold = advanced to Round Two

Times that Morton opened the league season with a scoreless draw:

2024/8/3        Partick Thistle 0 - 0 Morton

2017/8/5        Dumbarton 0 - 0 Morton

2011/8/6        Ross County 0 - 0 Morton

2010/8/7        Morton 0 - 0 Stirling Albion

1982/9/4        Morton 0 - 0 Kilmarnock

1976/9/4        Montrose 0 - 0 Morton

1975/8/30      Morton 0 - 0 Partick Thistle

1948/8/14      Celtic 0 - 0 Morton

1921/8/17      Morton 0 - 0 Motherwell

Culter FC in the Scottish Cup:

2007/9/29      R1    Culter 7 - 0 Hawick Royal Albert

2007/10/27    R2    Culter 2 - 1 Vale of Leithen

2007/11/24    R3    Culter 1 - 3 Huntly

2011/9/24      R1    Culter 4 - 0 Burntisland Shipyard

2011/10/22    R2    Culter 0 - 2 Spartans (but Spartans were expelled)

2011/11/19    R3    Culter 1 - 1 Partick Thistle

2011/11/26    R3    Partick Thistle 4 - 0 Culter

2013/9/14      R1    Lossiemouth 0 - 0 Culter

2013/9/21      R1    Culter 3 - 1 Lossiemouth

2013/10/5      R2    Newton Stewart 0 - 6 Culter

2013/11/2      R3    Culter 1 - 1 Berwick Rangers

2013/11/9      R3    Berwick Rangers 3 - 1 Culter

2014/9/13      R1    Culter 4 - 2 Strathspey Thistle

2014/10/4      R2    Bo'ness United 7 - 1 Culter

2023/9/2      PR2    Culter 3 - 2 Blackburn United

2023/9/23      R1    Culter 3 - 4 Deveronvale

2024/8/10    PR1    Culter [4 - 0] Invergordon

Morton Women 2023-24 results:

2023/8/20      Morton 1 - 4 Inverness CT

2023/8/27      Westdyke 6 - 3 Morton

2023/9/3        Morton 8 - 0 Hutchison Vale

2023/9/10      Edinburgh City 2 - 2 Morton (expunged)

2023/9/24      Westdyke 6 - 2 Morton    League Cup R2

2023/10/1      Ayr United 2 - 1 Morton

2023/10/8      Morton 0 - 6 Rossvale

2023/10/15    Dryburgh 5 - 1 Morton

2023/10/29    Morton 0 - 5 Renfrew

2023/11/5      Westdyke 5 - 3    Scottish Cup R2

2023/11/12    East Fife 5 - 1 Morton

2023/11/19    Inverness CT 9 - 0 Morton

2024/1/28      Hutchison Vale 1 - 2 Morton

2024/2/11      Morton vs Edinburgh City (cancelled)

2024/2/18      Morton 1 - 5 Ayr United

2024/2/25      Rossvale 5 - 1 Morton

2024/3/10      Morton 0 - 0 Dryburgh

2024/3/17      Renfrew 2 - 1 Morton

2024/3/24      Morton 0 - 6 East Fife

2024/3/31      Morton 0 - 5 Westdyke

2024/4/14      Westdyke 3 - 0 Morton (awarded)   relegation round

2024/4/28      Morton 4 - 2 Renfrew    relegation round

2024/5/3        Dryburgh 3 - 0 Morton    relegation round

2024/5/12      Morton 3 - 0 Hutchison Vale    relegation round

Historical matches:

1901/8/7        Third Lanark 3 - 1 Morton

Glasgow Exhibition Cup, Round One.

1940/8/10      Third Lanark 2 - 2 Morton

The Southern League begins.

2002/8/5        Morton 3 - 2 Stirling Albion

This was Round One of the Challenge Cup. Morton goals by Alex Williams (2) and Warren Hawke.

2002/8/10      Morton 5 - 1 Stirling Albion

Goals by Alex Williams (2), Warren Hawke, Jani Uotinen and Paul Gaughan.

The Whisky Fire of 1903

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jack Bearne has been released.

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

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

The other match:

St Johnstone [5 - 1] East Fife

Brechin have already finished.

Final Group F standings:

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

Alloa                 4    2    1    0    1      7      5    +2    8

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

Morton              4    2    0    0    2      3      6     -3    6

Brechin             4    0    0    0    4      2    10     -8    0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other matches:

Alliance United 2 - 2 Scrosoppi (July 24)

Culter 4 - 0 Bridge of Don Thistle (yesterday)

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

Buckie Thistle vs Nairn County (postponed)

East Kilbride [7 - 1] Civil Service Strollers

Largs Thistle [0 - 0] Johnstone Burgh

Carluke Rovers [0 - 1] Saltcoats Victoria

FC Isle of Man [2 - 2] Chadderton

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

Scarborough SC [3 - 0] Serbian White Eagles

Longford Town [1 - 2] UCD

Vancouver Whitecaps [1 - 4] Wrexham (friendly)

Chelsea [1 - 4] Celtic (friendly)

Vaughan Azzurri [2 - 2] Scrosoppi (tomorrow)

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

Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Cercle Brugge (Belgium)

This is Kilmarnock's eleventh trip to Europe.

Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 0 - 1 Elfsborg

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

Valur (Iceland) 0 - 0 St Mirren

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

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

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

Legia Warsaw 6 - 0 Caernarfon Town

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

Zurich 3 - 0 Shelbourne

2024 Summer Olympics:

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

Group A:

July 25    Canada 2 - 1 New Zealand

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

July 28    France [1 - 2] Canada

Group C:

July 25    Spain 2 - 1 Japan

July 28    Brazil [1 - 2] Japan

Arthurlie FC 1922-23:

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

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

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

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

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

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

1923/1/20      Beith 3 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

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

1922/12/30    Arthurlie 4 - 1 Beith    WL

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

1922/12/16    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Hurlford    WL

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

1922/12/2      Galston 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WL

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

1922/11/11    Arthurlie 4 - 1 Galston    WL

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

1922/10/28    Arthurlie 3 - 1 Helensburgh    WL

1922/10/21    Dykehead 0 - 1 Arthurlie    WL

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

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

1922/9/23      Helensburgh 3 - 2 Arthurlie    WL

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

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

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

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

1922/8/19      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Dykehead    WL

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

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

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

Albert Harbour

Albert Harbour, Greenock, 1904. Source.

Morton host Brechin City.

Of the five clubs relegated out of the SPFL via the pyramid playoffs Brechin is the only one to have made a serious effort to get back up. In their three Highland League seasons they have finished third, first and second. If they keep up that level of play they will eventually get their hedge back into the SPFL. As for Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath, Berwick and East Stirlingshire, the question is which one will be in the East of Scotland League first.

Morton last played Brechin in the 2017-18 Championship, the year that Brechin earned one win in league play. The last Morton player to score on the Hedgemen was John Baird.

Several of the Brechin players have SPFL experience, but none played for Morton. Cameron Blues played for Brechin in 2018-19. Brechin's manager Patrick Cregg made one appearance for Morton in 2010.

It's hard to see Morton advancing to Round Two after Saturday's loss to East Fife, especially as seven second place clubs already have 3 points. But it's not mathematically impossible yet.

[Morton win 1 - 0 on a goal by Cammy Ballantyne.]

Also:

Alloa [0 - 0] East Fife [Alloa win on PK]

St Johnstone are off.

Group F standings after today's matches:

East Fife           2    1    0    1    0    3    0    +3    4

St Johnstone    1    1    0    0    0    2    1    +1    3

Morton              2    1    0    0    1    1    3     -2    3

Alloa                 1    0    1    0    0    0    0      0    2

Brechin             2    0    0    0    2    1    3     -2    0

Other matches:

Carluke Rovers 0 - 1 Lanark United (Clydesdale Cup SF) (July 15)

HFX Wanderers U21 [1 - 1] Ipswich Town U21 (at CBU) (tomorrow) [Wanderers win on PK.]

UEFA Champions League, 1QR, second leg:

Shamrock Rovers [2 - 1] Vikingur (Iceland)

FK Dečić (Montenegro) [1 - 1] The New Saints

Larne [0 - 4] FC RFS (Latvia) (tomorrow)

[Shamrock Rovers and The New Saints advance. Larne drop into the Conference League.]

The 2024-25 Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup:

This is the sixth year for this made-up cup which uses actual Championship results to fabricate a knock-out competition. The teams are seeded based on last year's Premiership, Championship and League One standings:

Livingston (12th in the Premiership)

Raith Rovers (2nd in the Championship)

Partick Thistle (3rd)

Airdrieonians (4th)

Morton (5th)

Dunfermline (6th)

Ayr United (7th)

Queen's Park (8th)

Falkirk (1st in League One)

Hamilton Accies (2nd in League One)

Top seed plays bottom seed, second seed plays second bottom seed, etc. Round One involves only the bottom four teams. Each known fixture is played as soon as it comes up, even if the previous round is not finished. Reverse fixtures are acceptable. All actual league games, cup matches and playoffs are eligible, but our tournament's tie-breakers take precedence. Those are, in order: 1) fewer red cards; 2) fewer yellow cards; 3) more corner kicks; 4) visitor.

Matches:

R1    Falkirk vs Queen's Park (August 2)

R1    Hamilton Accies vs Ayr United (August 3)

R2    Partick Thistle vs Dunfermline (September 21)

R2    Morton vs Airdrieonians (September 21)

R2    Livingston vs R1x

R2    Raith Rovers vs R1y

SF

SF

F

Once the finalists are known, the other eight teams embark on the Consolation Cup which has three rounds.

Pitch Invasion

In March a flock of sheep occupied the diddiest soccer ground in Greenock, off Jupiter Terrace in Braeside. No way this place has a bronze license. Source.

Morton host Annan Athletic in a friendly match of association football. These two last met two years ago in a friendly at Annan's ground Galabank, but the match was abandoned due to a broken leg bone. They last met in a competitive match five years ago in the League Cup group stage, and Morton won 5 - 0.

Morton have signed Zak Delaney, formerly of West Bromwich Albion, Bath City, Inverness CT and Arbroath.

Annan have signed 36-year-old Paul McGowan, who scored 11 goals for Morton in 2006-07.

Inverclyde went Labour in Thursday's general election, along with nearly the entire Central Belt. But you can still see some SNP territory from Greenock if you look across to Helensburgh.

[Morton 1 - 0 Annan. Goal by Jordan Davies.]

Also:

Þór/KA 0 - 1 FH (July 3)

UCD 1 - 2 Athlone Town (July 4)

Ayr United 1 - 1 Celtic (friendly)  (yesterday)

FC Isle of Man 3 - 1 Brackley Town (friendly) (yesterday)

Dunfermline Athletic [0 - 1] St Mirren (friendly)

Fujieda MYFC [1 - 3] Mito HollyHock

Our guys Mito HollyHock are in real danger of dropping into J3.

York United [2 - 1] HFX Wanderers

[Giorgio Probo scored for Halifax.]

Patrice Gheisar is Manager of the Month for June.

Lochee United [3 - 1] Nairn County (friendly)

Largs Thistle [2 - 1] Broomhill (friendly)

Carluke Rovers [1 - 0] Armadale Thistle (friendly)

Burlington [0 - 2] Scrosoppi (tomorrow)

Þróttur [2 - 4] Þór/KA (tomorrow)

ReinMeer Aomori [1 - 0] Tiamo Hirakata (tomorrow)

Arthurlie FC 1917-18:

1918/4/27      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Johnstone    RVCup F

1918/4/13      Arthurlie 6 - 1 Vale of Leven    WCup

1918/4/6        Arthurlie 1 - 2 Johnstone    RVCup

1918/3/30      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Johnstone    RVCup

1918/3/23      Abercorn 1 - 3 Arthurlie    WCup

1918/3/16      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Johnstone    WCup

1918/3/9        Johnstone 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WCup

1918/3/2        Albion Rovers 3 - 1 Arthurlie    WCup

1918/2/23      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dumbarton Harp    WCup

1918/2/16      Renton vs Arthurlie (abandoned)    WCup

1918/2/9        Arthurlie 1 - 2 Johnstone    RCup R1

1918/2/2        Renton 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WCup

1918/1/26      Arthurlie 4 - 0 Stevenston United    WCup

1917/12/31    Abercorn 1 - 4 Arthurlie    RVCup

1917/12/29    Arthurlie 1 - 1 Renton    WCup

1917/12/22    Vale of Leven 0 - 3 Arthurlie    WCup

1917/12/15    Stevenston United 1 - 2 Arthurlie    WCup

1917/12/8      Arthurlie 2 - 0 Abercorn    WCup

1917/12/1      Renton 2 - 0 Arthurlie    WoSL

1917/11/24    Arthurlie 7 - 1 Dumbarton Harp    WoSL

1917/11/17    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Vale of Leven    WoSL

1917/11/10    Arthurlie 2 - 0 Albion Rovers    WCup

1917/11/3      Abercorn 0 - 1 Arthurlie    WoSL

1917/10/27    Arthurlie 3 - 1 Stevenston United    WoSL

1917/10/20    Stevenston United 2 - 3 Arthurlie    WoSL

1917/10/13    Arthurlie 3 - 1 Johnstone    WoSL

1917/10/6      Albion Rovers 3 - 1 Arthurlie    WoSL

1917/9/29      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Renton    WoSL

1917/9/22      Vale of Leven 2 - 3 Arthurlie WoSL

1917/9/15      Johnstone 1 - 1 Arthurlie    WoSL

1917/9/8        Arthurlie 1 - 2 Abercorn    WoSL

1917/9/1        Arthurlie 0 - 2 Albion Rovers    WoSL

1917/8/25      Dumbarton Harp 5 - 3 Arthurlie    WoSL

The West of Scotland League and the Western Cup were both played as double-round-robin leagues with the same eight teams, looking like an early attempt at a quadruple-round-robin league.

The Western Cup fixture Dumbarton Harp vs Arthurlie is unaccounted for. The February 16th match is a puzzle because Renton vs Arthurlie had already been played.

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the West of Scotland League, Western Cup and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup. Glasgow Herald for 1918/2/16 and 1918/3/30.)

The Battle of Greenock, 1685

On June 3, 1685, rebel forces of the Earl of Argyle landed near the Old West Kirk, repelled some mounted militia, stole supplies, and then sailed away. Read about it here. Map source.

Morton's pre-season friendlies get under way with a visit to Cappielow by Queen of the South. QoS proactively began their preseason last weekend with a 7 - 0 victory over Abbey Vale of the South of Scotland League. The close season is but a blink of an eye these days, yet it feels too long.

2024-25 will be the third consecutive season in League One for the Doonhamers. Last season they finished seventh, and the year before that fifth, so they may be settling in for a long residency. I would rather have them in the Championship than Queen's Park, if only for the Morton Castle Game.

QoS have signed former Morton midfielder Reece Lyon.

Morton have signed 23-year-old midfielder Nathan Shaw, ex of Blackpool, Bamber Bridge, AFC Fylde, Stockport County and most recently ICT. Also 19-year-old centre-back Dylan Corr, previously of Celtic B and Raith Rovers.

Darrah O'Connor has signed with York City.

The Morton women's team is now directly part of Greenock Morton FC. Before, it was under supporters' group Morton in the Community.

[Morton win 1 - 0 on a header by Lamar Reynolds.]

[GodEmperorGunning does a postmortem here.]

Other matches:

Þór/KA 1 - 2 Valur (June 25)

Cobh Ramblers 2 - 2 UCD (yesterday)

Nairn County 1 - 6 St Johnstone (friendly) (yesterday)

Civil Service Strollers [0 - 0] Stenhousemuir (friendly)

ProStars [2 - 1] Scrosoppi

Mito HollyHock [1 - 1] Renofa Yamaguchi

[Largs Thistle 4 - 1 Port Glasgow Juniors]

[Largs Thistle 3 - 2 Maryhill (tomorrow)]

Unity FC [0 - 3] Serbian White Eagles (tomorrow)

Ehime [0 - 3] Sfida Setagaya (tomorrow)

Reilac Shiga [2 - 0] ReinMeer Aomori (tomorrow)

Seasons of Antigua Barracuda:

2011    24    9    2    13    32    32        0    29    6th, USL Pro, American Division

2012    24    5    1    18    16    50    -34    16    11th, USL Pro

2013    26    0    0    26    11    91    -80      0    13th, USL Pro

Antigua Barracuda in Concacaf competition:

2012/5/6      Antigua Barracuda 3 - 0 Inter Moengotapoe (SRM)    CFU ClCh R1

2012/5/8      Victory (Haiti) 0 - 0 Antigua Barracuda    CFU ClCh R1

2012/5/10    W Connection (T&T) 1 - 2 Antigua Barracuda    CFU ClCh R1

2012/6/19    Antigua Barracuda 0 - 2 Caledonia AIA (T&T)    CFU ClCh SF

2012/6/21    Antigua Barracuda 0 - 2 Puerto Rico Islanders    CFU ClCh 3rd pl

2013/4/26    Caledonia AIA 3 - 1 Antigua Barracuda    CFU ClCh R1

2013/4/30    W Connection 0 - 0 Antigua Barracuda    CFU ClCh R1

(CFU ClCh = Caribbean Football Union Club Championship)

Arthurlie FC 1916-17:

1917/5/19      Arthurlie 3 - 1 St Mirren

1917/5/12      Arthurlie 1 - 4 Kilmarnock    charity match

1917/4/28      Arthurlie 4 - 1 Cadets XI

1917/4/21      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Abercorn    RVCup

1917/4/14      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Queen's Park Strollers

1917/4/7        Stevenston United 0 - 2 Arthurlie    WCup

1917/3/24      Arthurlie 7 - 0 Johnstone    WCup

1917/3/17      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Johnstone    RVCup

1917/3/10      Abercorn 0 - 2 Arthurlie    RVCup

1917/3/3        Johnstone 1 - 2 Arthurlie    RVCup

1917/2/24      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Clydebank    WSL

1917/2/17      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Abercorn    WCup

1917/2/3        Johnstone 1 - 1 Arthurlie    WSL

1917/1/27      Clydebank 2 - 0 Arthurlie    WSL

1917/1/20      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Stevenston United    WCup

1917/1/13      Vale of Leven 2 - 0 Arthurlie    WCup

1917/1/6        Arthurlie 0 - 1 Clydebank    WCup

1916/12/23    Abercorn 0 - 0 Arthurlie    WCup

1916/12/16    Stevenston United 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WSL

1916/12/9      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dykehead (expunged)    WSL

1916/12/2      Clydebank 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WSL

1916/11/25    Vale of Leven 6 - 1 Arthurlie    WSL

1916/11/18    Arthurlie 0 - 1 Wishaw Thistle (expunged)    WSL

1916/11/11    Arthurlie 1 - 1 Albion Rovers    WSL

1916/11/4      Abercorn 1 - 0 Arthurlie    WSL

1916/10/28    Johnstone 3 - 1 Arthurlie    WCup

1916/10/21    Arthurlie 3 - 2 Abercorn    WSL

1916/10/7      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Renton    WSL

1916/9/30      Albion Rovers 2 - 3 Arthurlie WSL

1916/9/23      Arthurlie 2 - 3 Dumbarton Harp    WSL

1916/9/16      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Stevenston United    WSL

1916/9/9        Arthurlie 0 - 3 Vale of Leven    WSL

1916/8/26      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Johnstone    WSL

1916/8/19      Royal Albert 1 - 1 Arthurlie (expunged)   WSL

The West of Scotland League fixtures Dumbarton Harp vs Arthurlie and Renton vs Arthurlie are missing. Arthurlie vs Royal Albert, Dykehead vs Arthurlie, and Wishaw Thistle vs Arthurlie were not played.

The Western Cup was played as a league. Arthurlie vs Vale of Leven is missing.

The Renfrewshire Victoria Cup was also played as a league, albeit with three teams.

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the West of Scotland League, the Western Cup, and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup; the Glasgow Herald for 1916/8/19, 1917/4/14, 1917/4/28, 1917/5/12, and 1917/5/19.)

Egyptian Greenock

The demolition of the Babylon Nightclub, formerly a bingo hall and before that a movie theatre, brought to light this artifact. Source.

Morton host Queen's Park. Morton are seventh with 37 points and Queen's Park are eighth with 36 after last night. 40 points is generally regarded as the threshold for safety from relegation but the mark should be higher this year. There could be a lot of Championship clubs packed into the lower forties come May. (See below for a list of unlucky finishers.)

Morton have a win and two draws against QP this season, with one goal scored versus Queen's zero. Queen's Park have not defeated Morton since they came up from League One, and in fact have not defeated Morton since 1962.

During Morton's winning run I said I thought they were due for another losing streak followed by another winning streak. This is definitely the losing streak: five in a row so far.

[Morton win 2 - 0 on goals by Broadfoot and Muirhead.]

[Falkirk have won League One and will play in the Championship next season.]

The other Championship matches:

Ayr United (8th) 2 - 1 Airdrieonians (4th) (last night)

Arbroath (10th) [2 - 3] Dunfermline Athletic (5th)

Dundee United (1st) [2 - 0] Raith Rovers (2nd)

Raith can take over first place with a win. [But no.]

Partick Thistle (3rd) [1 - 0] Inverness CT (9th)

Other matches:

Longford Town 1 - 2 UCD (yesterday)

Sheikh Jamal 1 - 1 Sheikh Russel (yesterday)

Clachnacuddin [1 - 0] Banks o' Dee

Linlithgow Rose [0 - 1] Cowdenbeath

East Craigie [0 - 3] Dundee North End

Stirling University (EOS) [1 - 4] Peebles Rovers

Mito HollyHock [0 - 0] Kagoshima United

Briobecca Urayasu [0 - 1] ReinMeer Aomori

Bunnys Gunma [0 - 0] Sfida Setagaya (tomorrow)

Morton Women [0 - 5] Westdyke (tomorrow)

Welch Cup, SF:

Cardiff MU [2 - 6] The New Saints

2023-24 South Challenge Cup, semifinals:

Cumbernauld Colts [1 - 3] Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Tranent Juniors [1 - 2] East Kilbride

Mie Prefectural championship qualifying final:

Match G: FC Ise-Shima [3 - 0] Ise Yamato (tomorrow)

FC Ise-Shima play in the Tokai League, Ise Yamato in the Mie prefecture league.

Teams that earned 40 points but were still relegated, since 1994:

2016-17    Peterhead           40    9th, League One          lost playoff final

2009-10    Arbroath              40    9th, Second Division    lost playoff final

2006-07    Airdrie United      40    9th, First Division         lost playoff final

2003-04    East Fife              41    9th, Second Division    automatic relegation

2002-03    Stranraer             44    9th, Second Division    automatic relegation

2000-01    Queen's Park      40    9th, Second Division    automatic relegation

1998-99    East Fife              42    9th, Second Division    automatic relegation

1997-98    Stenhousemuir    40    9th, Second Division    automatic relegation

1995-96    Forfar                   40    9th, Second Division    automatic relegation

How many times has each Glasgow club played on Easter Sunday in the 21st Century?

11    Celtic: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024

  6    Rangers: 2000, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2022

  0    Partick Thistle

  0    Queen's Park

Historical matches:

1883/3/31      Morton 2 - 2 Southern            Greenock and District Cup R2 replay

1945/3/31      Morton 1 - 0 Airdrieonians

This was Southern League Cup group stage matchday 6. Morton did not advance.

1968/3/30      Hearts 1 - 1 Morton    Scottish Cup SF

1996/3/30      Dundee 1 - 1 Morton

Goal by Lilley.

Dundee United versus Arbroath in the Forfarshire Cup:

1911/3/25      Dundee Hibernian 1 - 0 Arbroath     F

1914/3/21      Arbroath 1 - 1 Dundee Hibernian      F

1914/3/28      Arbroath 2 - 1 Dundee Hibernian     F replay

1915/3/27      Dundee Hibernian 2 - 0 Arbroath    F

1916/2/19      Arbroath 1 - 1 Dundee Hibernian      SF

1916/2/26      Dundee Hibernian 0 - 0 Arbroath      SF replay

1916/3/11      Dundee Hibernian 1 - 0 Arbroath    SF replay

1921/1/3        Dundee Hibernian 0 - 0 Arbroath      R1

1921/2/21      Arbroath 2 - 2 Dundee Hibernian      R1 replay

1921/3/2        Dundee Hibernian 1 - 1 Arbroath      R1 replay

1921/3/14      Arbroath 0 - 0 Dundee Hibernian      R1 replay

1921/3/16      Arbroath 2 - 0 Dundee Hibernian    R1 replay

1923/2/10      Dundee Hibernian 3 - 1 Arbroath      R1

1924/4/9        Arbroath 2 - 1 Dundee United         SF

1925/4/21      Dundee United 0 - 2 Arbroath         SF

1925/9/28      Arbroath 1 - 0 Dundee United         R1

1929/9/11      Arbroath 1 - 4 Dundee United         SF

1939/4/28      Arbroath 2 - 0 Dundee United         F

1946/2/16      Arbroath 2 - 2 Dundee United          R1, leg 1

1946/5/4        Dundee United 0 - 6 Arbroath         R1, leg 2

1948/10/6      Dundee United 4 - 1 Arbroath         F

1949/9/19      Arbroath 6 - 3 Dundee United         SF

1951/4/28      Dundee United 5 - 0 Arbroath         F

1952/4/30      Dundee United 3 - 4 Arbroath         SF

1954/5/1        Dundee United 3 - 1 Arbroath         F

1959/11/25    Dundee United 7 - 3 Arbroath         R1

1963/5/27      Dundee United 2 - 1 Arbroath         F

1964/4/8        Arbroath 2 - 2 Dundee United          R1

1964/4/15      Dundee United 4 - 0 Arbroath         R1 replay

1968/5/15      Arbroath 1 - 1 Dundee United          SF

1968/8/21      Dundee United 4 - 0 Arbroath        SF replay

1970/3/18      Dundee United 2 - 0 Arbroath        F

1972/4/5        Arbroath 2 - 6 Dundee United        R1

1979/8/2        Arbroath 2 - 4 Dundee United        R1

1983/7/30      Dundee United 2 - 0 Arbroath        R1

1981/7/30      Dundee United 3 - 0 Arbroath        F

1988/10/24    Arbroath wo/scr Dundee United      SF

2011/11/22    Arbroath 1 - 3 Dundee United        R1

2015/7/7        Arbroath 3 - 0 Dundee United        R1

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive)

Arthurlie FC 1903-04:

1904/4/26      Arthurlie 1 - 0 Thornliebank    RVCup SF leg two

1904/4/23      Thornliebank 3 - 1 Arthurlie    RVCup SF leg one

1904/4/16      Arthurlie 1 - 3 Albion Rovers    SFL2

1904/3/26      Arthurlie 2 - 0 Renton    friendly

1904/3/19      Arthurlie 1 - 3 Port Glasgow Athletic    RCup R2

1904/3/12      Abercorn 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1904/3/7        Ayr FC 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1904/3/5        bye    RCup R1

1904/2/6        Ayr Parkhouse 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1904/1/30      Leith Athletic 4 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1904/1/23      Raith Rovers 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1904/1/16      Albion Rovers 3 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1904/1/9        Arthurlie 3 - 1 Raith Rovers    SFL2

1904/1/2        Arthurlie 2 - 2 Clyde    SFL2

1903/12/26    Arthurlie 1 - 2 Falkirk    SFL2

1903/12/19    Clyde 4 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1903/12/12    Arthurlie 1 - 2 St Bernard's    SFL2

1903/12/5      Falkirk 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1903/11/14    Arthurlie 5 - 2 Ayr Parkhouse    SFL2

1903/11/7      Hamilton Academical 5 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1903/10/31    St Bernard's 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1903/10/24    Arthurlie 2 - 2 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1903/10/17    Camelon 3 - 0 Arthurlie    friendly

1903/10/10    Arthurlie 2 - 1 Abercorn    SFL2

1903/10/3      Arthurlie 0 - 2 Abercorn    QCup R3

1903/9/26      Arthurlie 7 - 0 Kilbarchan    QCup R2

1903/9/19      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Leith Athletic    SFL2

1903/9/12      East Stirlingshire 3 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1903/9/5        Thornliebank 0 - 6 Arthurlie    QCup R1

1903/8/29      Arthurlie 1 - 3 Hamilton Academical    SFL2

1903/8/22      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Ayr FC    SFL2

1903/8/15      Abercorn vs Arthurlie (postponed)

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup; the Glasgow Herald for 1903/8/15, 1903/10/17, 1904/3/26.)

Greenock Morton 1900 to 1905

The corner of Dalrymple and William Streets, circa 1905. Source.

Greenock Morton 1904-05:

1905/5/13      Clyde 1 - 0 Morton    G&WSL

1905/5/10      Morton 3 - 2 Kilmarnock    G&WSL

1905/5/6        Morton 3 - 1 Port Glasgow Athletic    G&WSL

1905/5/1        Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton    G&WSL

1905/4/29      Morton 0 - 2 Rangers    SFL1

1905/4/22      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Morton    RCup final, leg 2

1905/4/15      Morton 2 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup final, leg 1

1905/4/10      Morton 2 - 2 Hamilton Academical    G&WSL

1905/4/8        Morton 4 - 0 Abercorn    RCup SF

1905/4/1        Rangers 5 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1905/3/25      Hamilton Academical 3 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1905/3/18??      Morton 2 - 1 Thornliebank    RCup R2

1905/3/18      Morton 2 - 3 Clyde    G&WSL

1905/3/11      Morton 6 - 3 Ayr Academicals

1905/3/11      Royal Albert 3 - 0 Morton A

1905/3/4        Hearts 2 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1905/3/4        bye    RCup R1

1905/2/25      Port Glasgow Athletic 2 - 2 Morton    G&WSL

1905/2/18      Morton 1 - 0 Hearts    SFL1

1905/2/11      Morton 0 - 6 Rangers    ScCup R2

1905/2/4        Celtic 5 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1905/1/28      Morton 2 - 0 Renton    ScCup R1

1905/1/21      Third Lanark 5 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1905/1/14      Hibs 4 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1905/1/7        Morton 1 - 3 St Mirren    SFL1

1904/12/31    Morton 1 - 1 Queen's Park    SFL1

1904/12/24    Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1904/12/17    Morton 5 - 1 Dundee    SFL1

1904/12/10    Morton 0 - 1 Celtic    SFL1

1904/12/3      Queen's Park 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1904/11/26    Rangers vs Morton (postponed)    SFL1

1904/11/19    Morton 2 - 2 Hibs    SFL1

1904/11/12    Morton 2 - 0 Airdrieonians    SFL1

1904/11/5      Port Glasgow Athletic 2 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1904/10/29    Morton 0 - 1 Partick Thistle    SFL1

1904/10/22    Motherwell 1 - 1 Morton (expunged)    G&WSL

1904/10/15    Dundee 6 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1904/10/8      Motherwell 0 - 3 Morton    SFL1

1904/10/1      Morton 0 - 0 Third Lanark    SFL1

1904/9/24      St Mirren 1 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1904/9/17      Partick Thistle 3 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1904/9/10      Morton 2 - 1 Kilmarnock    SFL1

1904/9/3        Morton 1 - 0 Motherwell    SFL1

1904/8/27      Airdrieonians 3 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1904/8/20      Morton 1 - 0 Port Glasgow Athletic    SFL1

(Sources: fitbastats for the Scottish League Division One; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, the Glasgow and West of Scotland League; the Glasgow Herald for 1904/11/26, 1905/3/11.)

Greenock Morton 1903-04:

1904/8/30      Hamilton Academical 2 - 0 Morton    G&WSL

1904/8/15      Motherwell 1 - 0 Morton    G&WSL      

1904/5/14      Morton 2 - 0 Kilmarnock    G&WSL

1904/5/11      Morton 1 - 2 Port Glasgow Athletic    G&WSL

1904/5/9        Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1904/5/7        Morton 1 - 1 St Mirren    RCup final, leg 2

1904/5/5        Morton 2 - 3 Hamilton Academical    G&WSL

1904/4/30      St Mirren 4 - 0 Morton    RCup final, leg 1

1904/4/26      Morton 0 - 0 Clyde    G&WSL

1904/4/23      Morton 3 - 0 Abercorn RCup SF 2nd replay

1904/4/16      Morton 1 - 1 Abercorn    RCup SF replay

1904/4/9        Abercorn 1 - 2 Morton (protested)    RCup SF

1904/4/4        Clyde 0 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1904/3/26      Morton 3 - 0 Paisley Academical    RCup R2

1904/3/19      Queen's Park 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1904/3/12      Royal Albert 2? - 2 Morton    friendly

1904/3/5        Rangers 3 - 0 Morton    ScCup SF

1904/3/5        bye    RCup R1

1904/2/27      Port Glasgow Athletic 2 - 2 Morton    G&WSL

1904/2/20      Leith Athletic 1 - 3 Morton    ScCup R3

1904/2/13      Morton 7 - 1 Motherwell    G&WSL

1904/2/6        Morton 2 - 0 Arbroath    ScCup R2

1904/1/30      Morton 1 - 2 Third Lanark    SFL1

1904/1/23      Celtic 5 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1904/1/16      Third Lanark 1 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1904/1/9        Morton 1 - 2 Hearts    SFL1

1904/1/6        Morton 8 - 1 6th GRV    ScCup R1

1904/1/2        Morton 1 - 1 Dundee    SFL1

1903/12/26    Morton 2 - 3 Motherwell    SFL1

1903/12/19    Hearts 1 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1903/12/12    St Mirren 3 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1903/12/5      Morton 0 - 1 Celtic    SFL1

1903/11/28    Rangers 5 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1903/11/21    Hibs 2 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1903/11/14    Morton 2 - 1 Queen's Park    SFL1

1903/11/7      Airdrieonians 1 - 3 Morton    SFL1*

1903/10/31    Morton 3 - 1 Hibs    SFL1

1903/10/24    Morton 1 - 3 Rangers    SFL1

1903/10/17    Motherwell 0 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1903/10/10    Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1903/10/3      Morton 1 - 0 St Mirren    SFL1

1903/9/26      Morton 0 - 1 Port Glasgow Athletic    SFL1

1903/9/19      Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1903/9/12      Morton 1 - 3 Partick Thistle    SFL1

1903/9/5        Morton 3 - 1 Airdrieonians    SFL1

1903/8/29      Port Glasgow Athletic 2 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1903/8/22      Morton 4 - 2 Kilmarnock    SFL1

1903/8/15      Dundee 6 - 0 Morton    SFL1

(Sources: fitbastats for the Scottish League Division One; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, the Glasgow and West of Scotland League; the Glasgow Herald for 1904/3/12.)

Greenock Morton 1902-03:

1903/11/7      Airdrieonians 1 - 3 Morton    G&WSL*

1903/8/26      Airdrieonians vs Morton (abandoned)    G&WSL

1903/5/13      Motherwell 0 - 0 Morton    G&WSL

1903/5/11      Morton 0 - 2 Port Glasgow Athletic    G&WSL

1903/5/9        Abercorn 0 - 4 Morton    RCup final replay

1903/5/4        Morton 2 - 3 Motherwell    G&WSL

1903/5/2        Abercorn 1 - 0 Morton    RCup final, leg 2

1903/4/25      Morton 2 - 1 Abercorn    RCup final, leg 1

1903/4/18      Morton 3 - 2 Kilmarnock    G&WSL

1903/4/11      Clyde 0 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1903/4/4        Morton 3 - 0 Kilbarchan    RCup SF

1903/3/28      Third Lanark 2 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1903/3/21      Morton 2 - 0 Johnstone    RCup R2

1903/3/14      Morton 0 - 2 Celtic    SFL1

1903/3/7        Morton 9 - 1 Cartvale    RCup R1

1903/2/28      Morton vs Kilmarnock (abandoned)    G&WSL

1903/2/21      Morton 3 - 1 Airdrieonians    G&WSL

1903/2/14      Morton 1 - 2 Queen's Park    SFL1

1903/1/31      Morton 3 - 1 Clyde    G&WSL

1903/1/24      Port Glasgow Athletic 3 - 2 Morton    G&WSL

1903/1/17      Morton 1 - 2 Ayr FC    friendly

1903/1/7        Hibs 7 - 0 Morton    ScCup R1

1903/1/3        Morton vs Queen's Park (abandoned)    SFL1

1903/1/1        Kilmarnock 0 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1902/12/27    Hearts 3 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1902/12/20    Celtic 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1902/12/13    Morton 0 - 3 Third Lanark    SFL1

1902/12/6      Morton 0 - 1 Hibs    SFL1

1902/11/29    Queen's Park 4 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1902/11/22    Morton 0 - 2 Dundee    SFL1

1902/11/15    Dundee 3 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1902/11/8      Morton 4 - 3 Port Glasgow Athletic    SFL1

1902/11/1      St Mirren 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1902/10/25    Morton 3? - 0? Rangers    friendly

1902/10/18    Hibs 3 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1902/10/11    Morton 0 - 4 Rangers    SFL1

1902/10/4      Morton 3 - 3 Partick Thistle    SFL1

1902/9/27      Port Glasgow Athletic 3 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1902/9/20      Rangers 4 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1902/9/13      Morton 0 - 1 Kilmarnock    SFL1

1902/9/6        Morton 2 - 3 St Mirren    SFL1

1902/8/30      Partick Thistle 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1902/8/23      Kilmarnock 4 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1902/8/16      Morton 3 - 2 Hearts    SFL1

(Sources: fitbastats for the Scottish League Division One; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, the Glasgow and West of Scotland League; the Glasgow Herald for 1902/10/25 (blurry), 1903/1/3, 1903/1/17, 1903/2/28.)

Greenock Morton 1901-02:

1902/5/27      Hibs 3 - 0 Morton    GMChCup SF

1902/5/17      Morton 3 - 2 Queen's Park    GMChCup R1

1902/5/13      Morton 1 - 3 Kilmarnock    G&WSL

1902/5/10      Morton 0 - 1 Partick Thistle    G&WSL

1902/5/6        Clyde 3 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1902/5/3        St Mirren 0 - 4 Morton    RCup final, leg 2

1902/4/30      Morton 0 - 3 Clyde    G&WSL

1902/4/26      Morton 0 - 1 St Mirren    RCup final, leg 1

1902/4/19      Kilbarchan 0 - 2 Morton    RCup SF replay

1902/4/12      Morton 0 - 0 Kilbarchan    RCup SF

1902/4/5        Morton 4 - 2 Johnstone    RCup R2 2nd replay

1902/3/29      Johnstone 1 - 1 Morton    RCup R2 replay

1902/3/22      Morton 2 - 2 Johnstone    RCup R2

1902/3/15      Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1902/3/8        Queen's Park 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1902/3/1        St Mirren 3 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1902/2/22      Morton 2 - 3 St Mirren    G&WSL

1902/2/8        Morton 3 - 2 Third Lanark    friendly

1902/1/18      Morton 2 - 3 Third Lanark    ScCup R1 replay

1902/1/11      Third Lanark 0 - 0 Morton    ScCup R1

1902/1/4        Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton    G&WSL

1902/1/1        Morton 1 - 2 Port Glasgow Athletic    G&WSL

1901/12/28    Morton 3 - 0 Airdrieonians    friendly

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

1901/12/14    Third Lanark 4 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1901/12/7      Rangers 2 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1901/11/30    Morton 2 - 2 Queen's Park    SFL1

1901/11/23    Morton 1 - 4 Third Lanark    SFL1

1901/11/16    Morton 1 - 3 Hearts    SFL1

1901/11/9      Morton 2 - 3 Rangers    SFL1

1901/11/2      Dundee 0 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1901/10/26    Hibs 1 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1901/10/19    St Mirren 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1901/10/12    Morton 0 - 2 Hibs    SFL1

1901/10/5      Morton 1 - 1 Kilmarnock    SFL1

1901/9/28      Morton 1 - 3 St Mirren    SFL1

1901/9/21      Celtic 2 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1901/9/14      Kilmarnock 3 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1901/9/7        Morton 1 - 4 Dundee    SFL1

1901/8/31      Hearts 3 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1901/8/24      Morton 1 - 2 Celtic    SFL1

1901/8/17      Morton vs Third Lanark (abandoned)    SFL1

1901/8/7        Third Lanark 3 - 1 Morton    GExCup R1

1901/8/3        Greenock Police Sports at Cappielow

(Sources: fitbastats for the Scottish League Division One and the Glasgow Exhibition Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, Glasgow Merchant's Charity Cup, and the Glasgow and West of Scotland League; the Glasgow Herald for 1901/8/3, 1901/8/17, 1901/12/28, 1902/2/8.)

Greenock Morton 1900-01:

1901/5/15      Morton 2 - 4 Port Glasgow Athletic    G&WSL

1901/5/11      Clyde 0 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1901/5/4        St Mirren 0 - 1 Morton    RCup final, leg 2

1901/5/1        Morton 4 - 1 Clyde    G&WSL

1901/4/27      Morton 3 - 2 St Mirren    RCup final, leg 1

1901/4/20      Abercorn 2 - 4 Morton    RCup SF

1901/4/15      Morton 2 - 3 Port Glasgow Athletic

1901/4/13      Morton 1 - 0 Partick Thistle    G&WSL

1901/4/6        Morton 1 - 0 Kilmarnock    G&WSL

1901/3/30      Morton 1 - 0 Hibs    SFL1

1901/3/23      Partick Thistle 3 - 3 Morton    G&WSL

1901/3/16      Morton 3 - 1 Paisley Academical    RCup R2

1901/3/9        Morton 5 - 0 Thornliebank    RCup R1

1901/3/2        Hibs 2 - 0 Morton    ScCup R3

1901/2/23      Kilmarnock 4 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1901/2/16      Rangers 3 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1901/2/9        Morton 3 - 1 St Bernard's    ScCup R2

1901/2/4        Queen Victoria's funeral

1901/2/2        no football

1901/1/26      Morton vs St Bernard's (abandoned)    ScCup R2

1901/1/19      Morton 5 - 1 Dundee    SFL1

1901/1/12      Morton 10 - 0 Bo'ness    ScCup R1

1901/1/5        Partick Thistle 1 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1900/12/31    St Mirren 6 - 1 Morton    G&WSL

1900/12/29    Morton 3 - 2 Kilmarnock    SFL1

1900/12/22    Hibs 1 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1900/12/15    Morton 1 - 1 Leith Athletic    friendly

1900/12/8      Morton 2 - 3 Partick Thistle    SFL1

1900/12/1      Morton 6 - 2 Queen's Park    SFL1

1900/11/24    Celtic 4 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1900/11/17    Morton 1 - 3 Rangers    SFL1

1900/11/10    Morton 1 - 0 Third Lanark    SFL1

1900/11/3      Queen's Park 3 - 0 Morton    SFL1

1900/10/27    Hearts 1 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1900/10/20    Kilmarnock 4 - 1 Morton    SFL1

1900/10/13    Dundee 5 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1900/10/4      Morton vs Hibs (abandoned)    SFL1

1900/9/29      Morton 6 - 1 St Mirren    G&WSL

1900/9/22      St Mirren 0 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1900/9/15      Morton 2 - 2 Hearts    SFL1

1900/9/8        Port Glasgow Athletic 3 - 3 Morton    G&WSL

1900/9/1        Morton 1 - 0 St Mirren    SFL1

1900/8/25      Third Lanark 2 - 2 Morton    SFL1

1900/8/18      Morton 2 - 3 Celtic    SFL1

(Sources: fitbastats for the Scottish League Division One; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, the Glasgow and West of Scotland League and 1901/4/15; the Glasgow Herald for 1900/10/4, 1900/12/15.)

*This is the same match, counting for both competitions.

Observational Greenock

There was an observatory in the west end of Greenock a couple of hundred years ago. Source. See also.

It's the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Morton are at home to Heart of Midlothian. This is a Monday-nighter for BBC Scotland.

Morton are the only Championship side remaining in this year's Cup. Last year's last Championship team standing was Inverness CT who made it into the final. If Morton win today they'll advance to the semi-finals for the first time since 1981.

Morton and Hearts last met on April 20th, 2021 in the 2020-21 Championship, when they played to a scoreless draw. Their last Scottish Cup game was on February 20th, 1988. Hearts won. Morton's last win against Hearts came on August 18th, 1984 in the 1984-85 Premier Division. Morton's last win against Hearts in the Scottish Cup came on January 28th, 1981 in a Round Three replay. That was the only time Morton have knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup. Hearts have knocked Morton out seven times, beginning in 1890, when they went on to win the Cup (see below).

Morton have won the Scottish Cup once and been knocked out 130 times: 43 times at Cappielow, 81 times at the opponent's ground, and 6 times at a neutral venue. You can see the statistical advantage of home ground. By the luck of the draw Morton have played every 2023-24 Scottish Cup match at Cappielow.

Hearts' top scorer Lawrence Shankland made 16 appearances for Morton in 2017. Winger Barry McKay played for Morton in 2013-14. Hearts have two Japanese players on their roster, and four Australians. Robbie Muirhead played for Hearts in 2016-17.

Shankland has 20 goals in league play this season.

Morton are three games without a win. But Dougie Imrie is Championship Manager of the Month for February.

The last Morton player to score on Hearts was Craig McGuffie on February 20th, 2021.

Do referees favour winning teams? So far this season Morton have received 2.78 yellow cards in matches they have won, and 3.23 in matches they have lost.

[Morton 0 - 1 Hearts.]

The other Scottish Cup fixtures:

Aberdeen 3 - 1 Kilmarnock (March 9)

Celtic 4 - 2 Livingston (March 10)    Hat trick for Maeda.

Hibs 0 - 2 Rangers (March 10)

Championship matches (March 9):

Dundee United (1st) 4 - 0 Arbroath (10th)

Inverness CT (9th) 0 - 0 Airdrieonians (5th)

Queen's Park (8th) 2 - 2 Partick Thistle (3rd)

Raith Rovers (2nd) 2 - 0 Dunfermline (6th)

This is their sixth meeting this season. In 2022-23 they didn't meet at all.

2023-24 UEFA Europa League, group of 16, first leg (March 7):

Benfica 2 - 2 Rangers

Other matches (mostly March 9):

UCD 1 - 2 Wexford (March 8)

Fraserburgh 2 - 1 Banks o' Dee

Cumnock Juniors 1 - 1 Largs Thistle

East Craigie 2 - 5 Carnoustie Panmure

Cumbernauld Colts 1 - 1 Linlithgow Rose

FC Isle of Man 3 - 2 Longridge Town

Carrick Rangers 0 - 1 Newry City

Newtown 2 - 0 Cardiff MU

Morton Women 0 - 0 Dryburgh (March 10)

Vegalta Sendai 1 - 0 Mito HollyHock (March 10)

The Japan Football League begins tomorrow. Suzuka Point Getters have changed their name to Atletico Suzuka. Tokyo Musashino United have changed their name back to Yokogawa Musashino. Let's follow our old pals ReinMeer Aomori.

Minebea Mitsumi 1 - 1 ReinMeer Aomori (March 10)

Minebea are the former Honda Lock.

Icelandic Women's League Cup group stage, matchday 4 (March 9):

FH 1 - 2 Þór/KA

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, QF (March 10):

Hibs 2 - 6 Rangers

Montrose 0 - 6 Celtic

Partick Thistle 0 - 1 Hearts

Livingston 0 - 5 Spartans

Which clubs had to get past Morton on the way to winning the Scottish Cup?

2022-23    Celtic

2017-18    Celtic

1999-00    Rangers

1996-97    Kilmarnock

1990-91    Motherwell

1989-90    Aberdeen

1986-87    St Mirren

1980-81    Rangers

1979-80    Celtic

1968-69    Celtic

1952-53    Rangers

1947-48    Rangers

1946-47    Aberdeen

1930-31    Celtic

1923-24    Airdrieonians

1919-20    Kilmarnock

1912-13    Falkirk

1906-07    Celtic

1896-97    Rangers

1890-91    Hearts

Historical matches:

1883/3/10       Morton 5 - 1 Kilbarchan

1945/3/10      Airdrieonians 0 - 3 Morton

This was Southern League Cup group stage matchday 3.

1968/3/6        St Johnstone 1 - 2 Morton

1968/3/9        Morton 2 - 1 Elgin City    Scottish Cup R3

1996/3/9        Morton 4 - 1 Hamilton Academical

Goals by Douglas Johnstone, Derek Laing, Peter Cormack and Marko Rajamaki.

Raith Rovers versus Dunfermline Athletic During WWII:

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

1939/12/30    Raith Rovers 0 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic    SELNE

1940/3/30      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 4 Raith Rovers     SELNE

1941/9/6        Dunfermline Athletic 4 - 4 Raith Rovers       NELs1

1941/10/4      Raith Rovers 3 - 4 Dunfermline Athletic    NELs1

1942/1/3        Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 2 Raith Rovers    NELs2

1942/4/25      Raith Rovers 4 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs2

1942/9/19      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers    NELs1

1942/10/31    Raith Rovers 1 - 4 Dunfermline Athletic    NEL s1

1943/1/16      Raith Rovers 5 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs2

1943/2/13      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 0 Raith Rovers    NELs2

1943/9/25      Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs1

1943/10/9      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 1 Raith Rovers    NELs1

1944/1/15      Raith Rovers 1 - 4 Dunfermline Athletic    NELs2

1944/2/12      Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 1 Raith Rovers       NELs2

1944/8/19      Dunfermline Athletic 3 - 2 Raith Rovers    NELs1

1944/11/4      Raith Rovers 3 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs1

1945/1/6        Raith Rovers 5 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic      NELs2

1945/3/10      Dunfermline Athletic 2 - 2 Raith Rovers       NELs2

FCup = Fife Cup; NELs1 = North Eastern League, first series; NELs2 = North Eastern League, second series; SELNE = Scottish Emergency League North and East Division

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive)

Arthurlie FC 1900-01:

1901/5/11      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Johnstone    SCom

1901/5/4        Albion Rovers 0 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/4/27      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Wishaw United    SCom

1901/4/20      Arthurlie 5 - 0 Royal Albert    SCom

1901/3/23      Wishaw United 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/3/16      Arthurlie 1 - 2 St Mirren    RCup R2

1901/3/9        Arthurlie 1 - 1 St Mirren 'A'    SCom

1901/3/2        bye    RCup R1

1901/2/23      Kilbarchan 0 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/2/16      Johnstone 4 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1901/2/9        Arthurlie 2 - 0 Third Lanark 'A'    SCom

1901/1/19      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Queen's Park Strollers    SCom

1901/1/12      Dundee 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SCup R1

1901/1/5        Arthurlie 2 - 1 Kilbarchan    SCom

1900/12/29    St Mirren 'A' 4 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/12/22    Queen's Park Strollers 3 - 5 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/12/15    Third Lanark 'A' 0 - 1 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/12/1      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Johnstone    RVCup F leg two replay

1900/11/24    Arthurlie 2 - 2 Johnstone (protested)    RVCup F leg two

1900/11/10    Johnstone 5 - 2 Arthurlie    RVCup F leg one

1900/11/3      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Thornliebank    RVCup SF tiebreaker

1900/10/27    Thornliebank 2 - 1 Arthurlie    RVCup SF leg two

1900/10/20?    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Thornliebank    RVCup SF leg one

1900/10/20?    Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dumbarton    QCup R4

1900/10/6      bye    QCup R3

1900/9/29      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Albion Rovers    SCom

1900/9/22      Arthurlie 6 - 1 Johnstone    QCup R2

1900/9/15      Royal Albert 0 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/9/15      bye    RVCup R1

1900/9/8        Arthurlie 5 - 3 Neilston    QCup R1

1900/9/1        Thornliebank 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1900/8/25      Raith Rovers 4 - 2 Arthurlie

1900/8/18      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Thornliebank    SCom

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Scottish Combination, the Renfrewshire Cup and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Cup; the Glasgow Herald for 1900/8/25)

Thomas Sutherland MP

Thomas Sutherland was Liberal MP for Greenock from 1884 till 1900. Prior to that he was a high-powered banker in Hong Kong, founding HSBC, and was the managing director of the P & O Line and a member of the Hong Kong legislative council. I'm doubtful he ever made it down to Cappielow.  Source.

Airdrieonians visit Cappielow. Morton are fourth in the division with 33 points, Airdrie sixth with 28. Morton have gone 14 matches without a loss, but they have not scored against Airdrie this season.

Morton have allowed 4 goals so far in 2024. Airdrie have allowed 8. Arbroath, Ayr, Inverness [and Partick Thistle] have each allowed 13. [Dunfermline 14.]

Steven Boyd has left Morton.

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

The other Championship matches:

Partick Thistle (3rd) 1 - 3 Dunfermline Athletic (9th) (last night)

Arbroath (10th) [1 - 1] Inverness CT (8th)

Ayr United (5th) [1 - 2] Raith Rovers (2nd)

Dundee United (1st) [3 - 1] Queen's Park (7th)

Other matches:

UCD 0 - 1 Treaty United (yesterday)

Treaty United were formed in 2020 to fill the gap left by Limerick FC (1937-2020).

Bashundhara Kings 1 - 1 Sheikh Russel (yesterday). Iida Kodai scores!

The Bangladesh Premier League takes March off.

East Craigie [3 - 0] Lochee Harp

Linlithgow Rose [1 - 0] Caledonian Braves

Clydebank [2 - 3] Largs Thistle

Peebles Rovers [0 - 2] Burntisland Shipyard

Kendal Town [6 - 1] FC Isle of Man

Loughgall [3 - 3] Carrick Rangers

Connah's Quay [2 - 1] Cardiff MU

Mito HollyHock [1 - 0] Iwaki FC

J1, J2 and J3 all begin this weekend.

Rossvale [5 - 1] Morton Women (tomorrow)

[Rossvale are first in the SWF Championship, Morton are eighth.]

South Challenge Cup, R5 (February 20):

Kennoway Star Hearts 1 - 3 Ashfield

Lowland League Cup (February 20):

Broomhill 1 - 2 East Kilbride (R1)

Cumbernauld Colts 2 - 1 Berwick Rangers (R2)

Tranent 2 - 2 Civil Service Strollers (R2) (Tranent won on PK)

Gala Fairydean Rovers 2 - 0 University of Stirling (R2)

HFX Wanderers have signed Camilo Vasconcelos, formerly of Guelph United. Also Julian Dunn, formerly of Toronto FC II and III, Valour FC and Hamarkameratene of Norway. And Italian midfielder Giorgio Probo.

The Canadian Championship format is out. The eight CanPL teams, three League1 champions and Toronto FC will play in the preliminary round between April 23 and May 1. HFX Wanderers start against CS St-Laurent.

AFC Champions League knockout stage, leg 2:

Kawasaki Frontale 2 - 4 Shandong Taishan (February 20)

Ventforet Kofu 1 - 2 Ulsan Hyundai (February 21)

Yokohama F. Marinos 1 - 0 Bangkok United (February 21)

Yokohama F. Marinos advance. Kawasaki Frontale and Ventforet Kofu are out.

The Japanese prefectural championships are gearing up. Let's follow the Mie Prefecture competition:

Match A: E.X.D. [2 - 0] FC Avenidasol (tomorrow)

Match B: Ise Yamato FC [6 - 3] FC Sasagawa (tomorrow)

2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, Round 1, leg 1:

Cavalry 0 - 3 Orlando City (February 21)

Previous Concacaf Champions Cup matches played in Canada in February:

2024/2/7        Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 1 Tigres UANL

2024/2/7        Forge 1 - 3 Guadalajara

2022/2/22      CF Montreal 3 - 1 Santos Laguna

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

2020/2/26      Montreal Impact 0 - 0 Saprissa

2019/2/26      Toronto FC 1 - 1 Independiente

2018/2/27      Toronto FC 0 - 0 Colorado Rapids

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

Top and bottom Championship sides week by week (2 of 3):

Week 13            Dundee United            Morton

Week 14            Dundee United            Morton

Week 15            Dundee United            Morton

Week 16            Raith Rovers               Queen's Park

Week 17            Raith Rovers               Queen's Park

Week 18            Raith Rovers               Queen's Park

Week 19            Raith Rovers               Queen's Park

Week 20            Raith Rovers               Arbroath

Week 21            Dundee United            Arbroath

Week 22            Dundee United            Arbroath

Week 23            Dundee United            Arbroath

Week 24            Dundee United            Arbroath

(Part 1 of 3.)

Historical matches:

1883/2/24      Abercorn 3 - 3 Morton

1945/2/24      Morton 0 - 2 Queen's Park

This was the first fixture of the Southern League Cup group stage.

1968/2/21      Morton 5 - 2 East Fife    Scottish Cup R2 replay

1996/2/24      Morton 2 - 0 Dumbarton

Goals by Lilley and Mahood.

Arthurlie FC 1898-99:

1899/5/13      Arthurlie 10 - 0 Wishaw Thistle    SCom

1899/5/10      Third Lanark 0 - 2 Arthurlie    SCom

1899/5/6        Hearts 'A' 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SCom

1899/5/1        Third Lanark vs Arthurlie (abandoned)

1899/4/29      Arthurlie 0 - 3 Rangers 'A'    SCom

1899/4/27      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Albion Rovers    SCom

1899/4/22      Albion Rovers 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1899/4/22?    St Mirren 2 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup SF replay

1899/4/15      Rangers 'A' 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SCom

1899/4/8        Arthurlie 1 - 1 St Mirren    RCup SF

1899/3/25      Kilbarchan 0 - 2 Arthurlie    RCup R2 replay

1899/3/18      Arthurlie 4 - 4 Kilbarchan    RCup R2

1899/3/11      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Hearts 'A'    SCom

1899/3/4        Arthurlie 2 - 0 Johnstone    SCom

1899/3/x        Bridge of Weir wo/scr Arthurlie    RCup R1

1899/2/25      Arthurlie 9 - 1 Thornliebank    SCom

1899/2/18      Arthurlie 5 - 1 Johnstone    RVCup F replay

1899/2/11      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Johnstone    RVCup F

1899/1/31      Wishaw Thistle 6 - 4 Arthurlie    SCom

1899/1/14      Third Lanark 4 - 1 Arthurlie    SCup R1

1898/12/24    Arthurlie 2 - 2 Queen's Park Strollers    SCom

1898/12/17    East Stirlingshire 4 - 1 Arthurlie    QCup F

1898/12/3      Arthurlie 5 - 0 Arbroath    QCup SF

1898/11/26    Queen's Park Strollers 4 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1898/11/19    Royal Albert 0 - 2 Arthurlie    QCup R6

1898/11/12    Arthurlie 4 - 1 Ayr Parkhouse    QCup R5 replay

1898/11/5      Ayr Parkhouse 2 - 2 Arthurlie    QCup R5

1898/10/29    Thornliebank 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SCom

1898/10/22    Kilbarchan 1 - 3 Arthurlie    RVCup SF

1898/10/22    bye    QCup R4

1898/10/15    Arthurlie 2 - 0 Royal Albert    SCom

1898/10/8      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Johnstone    QCup R3

1898/10/1      Cartvale 1 - 5 Arthurlie    RVCup R1

1898/9/24      Arthurlie 5 - 0 Paisley Academicals    QCup R2

1898/9/17      Royal Albert 4 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1898/9/10      Kilbarchan 2 - 4 Arthurlie    QCup R1

1898/9/3        Arthurlie 4 - 0 Third Lanark    SCom

1898/8/27      Johnstone 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SCom

1898/8/20      Bo'ness 4 - 6 Arthurlie

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Scottish Combination, the Renfrewshire Cup and the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and Scottish Cup; the Glasgow Herald for 1898/8/20)

Anarchist Lyrical Greenock

Poet John Henry Mackay was born in Greenock in 1864, but moved to Germany at age two. He wrote naturalist fiction with an anarchist bent in German. Some of his verses were set to music by Richard Strauss and Arnold Schoenberg. Source.

It's the Scottish Cup, Round Five. Morton host Motherwell in a Friday nighter televised on BBC Scotland. This is Morton's eighth cup game at home this season, as opposed to only three away.

Motherwell knocked Morton out of the Scottish Cup in 2007, 2012, 2021 and 2022. But all those games were played at Fir Park. The last time Morton and Motherwell met at Cappielow, in the 2015-16 League Cup, Morton won. Morton are on their longest undefeated run since 1979, and have not lost a match since November 18th. Motherwell for their part have not lost a match since December 24th.

Dougie Imrie has been named Championship manager of the month for January. George Oakley is player of the month.

This is the first visit by a Premiership club to Cappielow for a competitive match since October 27th, 2015, when St Johnstone beat Morton in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Have Morton ever before met Montrose and Motherwell in the same Scottish Cup? No, this is the very first time, so don't be going around saying that new things never happen.

Both sides are coming off 5 - 0 wins. When did that ever happen before?

Darragh O'Connor played 4 League Cup matches and 1 Premiership match for Motherwell in 2021. Robbie Crawford played 12 Premiership matches, 3 League Cup matches and 3 Scottish Cup matches for Motherwell at about the same time. Nobody on the Motherwell roster has played for Morton. But the Well has two Canadians, Harry Paton from Kitchener and Theo Bair from Ottawa.

[Logan O'Boy has been loaned out to Cumbernauld Colts.]

Interesting point from the Morton forum: the sideline on the cowshed side at Cappielow is too shallow to allow Lewis Strapp enough of a run-up for his patented long throw-ins. He can only do them on the main stand side.

[Morton win 2 - 1. Goal by George Oakley plus an own goal. Morton advance to the quarter-finals. Attendance 5,167.]

The other Round Five matches (mostly tomorrow):

Kilmarnock [2 - 0] Cove Rangers

Aberdeen [2 - 0] Bonnyrigg Rose

Inverness CT [1 - 3] Hibs

Rangers [2 - 0] Ayr United

Partick Thistle [2 - 3] Livingston

St Mirren [0 - 2] Celtic (Sunday)

Airdrieonians [1 - 4] Hearts (Sunday)

In the Championship:

Dunfermline [0 - 3] Queen's Park (tomorrow)

Former Arbroath boss Dick Campbell has landed in East Fife.

Other matches (mostly tomorrow):

Banks o' Dee [4 - 1] Deveronvale

Edinburgh University [0 - 4] Linlithgow Rose

Glenafton Athletic [2 - 3] Largs Thistle

Glenvale [3 - 1] Carluke Rovers

Prestwich Heys [3 - 4] FC Isle of Man

Glentoran [2 - 2] Carrick Rangers

Cardiff MU [2 - 2] Caernarfon Town

Kashima Antlers [1 - 0] Mito HollyHock (friendly) (Sunday)

Morton Women vs Edinburgh City (Sunday)

[Edinburgh City have withdrawn from the SWF Championship.]

HFX Wanderers have signed Ryan Telfer, formerly of York9 and Atlético Ottawa, not to mention Mississauga Eagles, York Lions, Vaughan Azzurri, Toronto FC and Toronto FC II, Nea Salamis in Cyprus, Columbus Crew 2 and Miami FC.

I haven't featured an Icelandic women's team yet, so let's follow Þór/KA in the úrvalsdeild kvenna. They come from Akureyri, the Northern Capital. Þór/KA is a collaboration between two clubs, Þór Akureyi and Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar. They have been in the top league continuously since 2006 and they won the league in 2012 and 2017.

The 2024 season begins with a League Cup. The top six clubs from last season play a round robin, after which the best four move on the semi-finals. Þór/KA won the League Cup in 2009 and 2018.

Icelandic Women's League Cup, group stage, matchday 1 (tomorrow):

ÍBV [0 - 7] Þór/KA

Federation Cup group stage (February 6):

Bashundhara Kings 0 - 1 Sheikh Russel

Tomorrow: Abahani Chittagong [2 - 1] Sheikh Russel (league)

Scottish Junior Cup quarter-finals:

Darvel [3 - 0] Lochee United

Johnstone Burgh [3 - 3] St Cadoc's [Johnstone win on PK]

Bellshill [1 - 2] Arthurlie

Auchinleck Talbot [3 - 0] Hurlford

2023-24 South Challenge Cup, Round Five:

Kennoway Star Hearts vs Ashfield [postponed]

2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, Round 1, leg 1:

Forge 1 - 3 Guadalajara (February 7)

Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 1 Tigres UANL (February 7)

Lowland League Cup, Round One (February 6):

Tranent 2 - 0 East Stirlingshire 

Cumbernauld Colts 3 - 0 Edinburgh University 

Caledonian Braves 2 - 2 Berwick Rangers (Berwick won on PK)

Bo'ness United 2 - 0 Gretna 2008 

Aberdeenshire Cup QF:

Aberdeen 3 - 2 Keith (February 6)

Deveronvale 2 - 3 Buckie Thistle (February 6)

Fraserburgh 2 - 0 Hermes (February 7)

Inverururie Loco Works vs Formartine United (February 7) (postponed)

Banks o' Dee in the Aberdeenshire Cup:

2006/8/9        R1    Banks o' Dee 1 - 2 Keith

2008/8/20      R1    Keith 5 - 0 Banks o' Dee

2010/8/4        R1    Formartine United 2 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2011/8/15      R1    Banks o' Dee 2 - 1 Huntly

2011/8/24      R2    Deveronvale 5 - 0 Banks o' Dee

2012/8/8        R1    Buckie Thistle 1 - 0 Banks o' Dee

2013/8/27      R2    Inverurie Loco Works 5 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2014/8/12      R2    Huntly 0 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2014/9/2        SF    Fraserburgh 5 - 0 Banks o' Dee

2015/8/12      R2    Huntly 1 - 4 Banks o' Dee

2015/9/16      SF    Inverurie Loco Works 4 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2016/7/27      R1    Turriff United 5 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2018/8/21      R1    Inverurie Loco Works 1 - 5 Banks o' Dee

2018/8/29      R2    Banks o' Dee 4 - 3 Aberdeen

2018/9/12      SF    Turriff United 0 - 7 Banks o' Dee

2018/10/5       F     Cove Rangers 4 - 1 Banks o' Dee

2019/8/21      R2    Banks o' Dee 1 - 6 Aberdeen

2020/11/14    R1    Banks o' Dee 1 - 2 Buckie Thistle

2021/8/4        R1    Banks o' Dee 6 - 1 Keith

2021/8/18      R2    Banks o' Dee 2 - 0 Inverurie Loco Works

2021/8/31      SF    Fraserburgh 1 - 2 Banks o' Dee

2021/10/1       F     Banks o' Dee 4 - 1 Formartine United

2022/7/27      QF    Fraserburgh 1 - 0 Banks o' Dee

(Sources: SFHA;  Highland League website for the 2014/9/2 game; Fraserburgh FC website for the 2022/7/27 game)

Historical matches:

1883/2/10      Thornliebank 3 - 1 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup R3

1945/2/10      Morton 1 - 4 Rangers

1968/2/10      Morton 2 - 0 Stirling Albion

Arthurlie FC 1896-97:

1897/4/3        Morton 3 - 1 Arthurlie

1897/3/27      Neilston 3 - 0 Arthurlie    RL

1897/3/13      Johnstone 3 - 2 Arthurlie    RL

1897/3/6        St Mirren 3 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup R2

1897/2/27      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Neilston    RL

1897/2/13      bye    RCup R1

1897/2/13      Arthurlie 1 - 5 Morton    SCup R2

1897/1/16      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Kilbarchan    RL

1897/1/9        Arthurlie 4 - 2 Celtic    SCup R1*

1896/12/12    Arthurlie 2 - 3 Thornliebank    RL

1896/11/14    Arthurlie 4 - 2 Johnstone    RL

1896/11/7      Falkirk 8 - 1 Arthurlie    QCup R7

1896/10/24    Arthurlie 3 - 2 Blantyre    QCup R6

1896/10/17    Arthurlie 3 - 4 Cartvale    RL

1896/10/17    bye    QCup R5

1896/10/10    bye    QCup R4

1896/10/3      Thornliebank 4 - 1 Arthurlie    RL

1896/9/26      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Kilmarnock Athletic    QCup R3

1896/9/19      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Neilston (replayed 2/27)    RL

1896/9/12      Thornliebank 0 - 1 Arthurlie    QCup R2

1896/8/29      bye    QCup R1

1896/8/22      Cartvale 4 - 0 Arthurlie    RL

The Renfrewshire League fixture Kilbarchan vs Arthurlie is missing.

*This was Arthurlie's greatest moment.

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire League and Renfrewshire Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Cup; Glasgow Herald for 1897/4/3