Plenty of Nothing

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

The Lee Jeans Occupation, 1981

When the workers at the Lee Jeans factory on Earnhill Road learned that the factory was about to close they staged an occupation which lasted seven months. Read about it here and here, or which this video.

Morton visit East End Park in Dunfermline. Morton are fourth in the division with 29 points. Dunfermline are seventh with 24. Dunfermline have won both previous meetings.

After a horrendous autumn Morton are back where they were before the league began, with as many wins as losses and a 0 goal difference. The Ton are on a 11-game lossless streak, which is their best run since 2006-07.

Alex King has been loaned to Clyde for the second time. He played half an hour in the Montrose game during his brief return to Morton in January.

[Morton win 0 - 5. Goals by O'Connor (2), Baird (2) and Garrity.]

The other Championship matches:

Ayr United (6th) [1 - 2] Dundee United (1st)

Inverness CT (8th) [0 - 1] Queen's Park (9th)

Arbroath vs Airdrieonians (postponed)

Partick Thistle vs Raith Rovers (postponed)

Those matches are postponed because it's the Challenge Cup semi-finals:

Raith Rovers 0 - 1 Airdrieonians (yesterday)

Falkirk [0 - 1] The New Saints

2023-24 South Challenge Cup, R4:

St Andrews United 0 - 2 Kennoway Star Hearts (January 30)

R5 (today):

Cowdenbeath [0 - 6] East Kilbride

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy [4 - 1] Pollok

Kilwinning Rangers [3 - 2] Shotts Bon Accord

Troon [3 - 0] Caledonian Braves

Kennoway Star Hearts vs Ashfield [postponed]

Tranent [4 - 1] Broxburn Athletic

Johnstone Burgh [1 - 2] Threave Rovers

Rutherglen Glencairn [0 - 0] Cumbernauld Colts [Colts win on PK]

Other matches:

Sheikh Russel 0 - 0 Rahmatgonj MFS (yesterday)

Banks o' Dee [2 - 0] Keith

Coupar Angus [2 - 3] East Craigie

Hurlford United vs Largs Thistle [postponed]

Carluke Rovers [3 - 1] Lugar Boswell Thistle

FC Isle of Man [3 - 0] Skelmersdale United

Bala Town [1 - 1] Cardiff MU

Largs Thistle players, officials and fans will be walking on embers to raise money for the club today. Source.

2023-24 Scottish Cup Round Four (January 30):

Brora Rangers 1 - 3 Cove Rangers

2023-24 Aberdeenshire Cup, Round One (January 31):

Buckie Thistle 0 - 0 Banks o' Dee    (Buckie win on PK)

Lowland League Cup, Round One:

Gala Fairydean Rovers [3 - 0] Linlithgow Rose

Civil Service Strollers [4 - 2] Albion Rovers

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

East Fife [0 - 10] Hearts

Glasgow City [1 - 1] Hibs [Hibs won on PK]

Hamilton Accies [0 - 6] Celtic

Livingston [2 - 2] Gartcairn [Livi won on PK]

Montrose [5 - 0] Stirling University

Partick Thistle [3 - 1] Queen's Park

Rangers [9 - 0] Dundee United

Spartans [2 - 1] Aberdeen

2023 Asian Cup, Round of 16 (January 31):

Bahrain 1 - 3 Japan

Reo Hatate was injured in the Bahrain game and may be out till April.

QF (today): Iran [2 - 1] Japan

HFX Wanderers' Callum Watson is off to Chatanooga FC. But the Wanderers have signed midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé who played for the club in 2021 and 2022 before signing with York United last year.

The New Saints in the Scottish Challenge Cup, updated:

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

2023/9/8        R3    Hibs B 0 - 3 The New Saints

2023/10/14    R4    The New Saints 2 - 2 East Fife (TNS won on PK)

2023/11/18    QF    The New Saints 4 - 1 Arbroath

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

Historical matches:

1945/2/3        Clyde 1 - 0 Morton

1968/2/3        Airdrieonians 2 - 0 Morton

1996/1/31      St Mirren 0 - 1 Morton

Goal by Peter Cormack.

Arthurlie FC 1895-96:

1896/4/11      Arthurlie 1 - 0 Hamilton Academical    SA

1896/3/28      Wishaw Thistle 6 - 2 Arthurlie    SA

1896/3/21      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Neilston    SA

1896/3/14      Albion Rovers 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SA

1896/3/7        Arthurlie 4 - 1 Burnbank Swifts    SA

1896/2/15      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Cambuslang    SA

1896/2/8        Hamilton Academical 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SA

1896/2/1        Arthurlie 1 - 0 Blantyre    SA

1896/1/25      Paisley Academicals 1 - 1 Arthurlie

1896/1/18      Port Glasgow Athletic 4 - 2 Arthurlie    SCup R1

1895/11/30    Cambuslang 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SA

1895/11/23    Arthurlie 2 - 3 Wishaw Thistle    SA

1895/11/16    Morton 4 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup R2

1895/11/9      Annbank 5 - 1 Arthurlie    QCup R6

1895/11/2      Neilston 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SA

1895/10/26    Arthurlie 3 - 3 Royal Albert    SA

1895/10/19    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Bridge of Weir    RCup R1

1895/10/12    Arthurlie 6 - 4 Cowdenbeath    QCup R5

1895/10/12    bye    QCup R4

1895/10/5      Burnbank Swifts vs Arthurlie    SA

1895/9/28      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Stenhousemuir    QCup R3

1895/9/21      Arthurlie 1 - 0 Thornliebank    QCup R2 replay

1895/9/14      Thornliebank 0 - 0 Arthurlie    QCup R2

1895/9/7        Arthurlie 3 - 2 Albion Rovers    SA

1985/8/31      Arthurlie wo/scr Lochwinnoch    QCup R1

1895/8/17      Royal Albert 4 - 4 Arthurlie    SA

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Scottish Alliance and the Renfrewshire Cup. The Beautiful Dribbling game for the Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Cup. The Glasgow Herald for 1896/1/25.)

The Scottish Alliance results for Arthurlie vs Northern, Northern vs Arthurlie, Blantyre vs Arthurlie and Burnbank Swifts are missing.

Mount Greenock

Mount Greenock, Alberta. Source.

It's the Scottish Cup, Round Four. This round introduces the twelve Premiership clubs, who will mix it up with six from the Championship, six from League 1, five from League 2, two from the Highland League and one from the Lowland League.

Morton host Montrose. These two last met in the third round of the 2021-22 Challenge Cup. They played to a scoreless draw before Morton won in the shootout. They've met twice before in the Scottish Cup, in 1975-76 and in 1995-96, and Montrose won both times.

Morton are nine games without a loss, going back to Round Three of the Scottish Cup on November 25th. Montrose are four games without a win.

The last Morton player to score on Montrose was Craig McGuffie on May 11th, 2021.

Montrose defender Kerr Waddell played for Morton in 2018-19, as did midfielder Martin Gardyne in 2007. Nobody on the Morton squad has played for Montrose.

Montrose manager Stewart Petrie has been in the job since 2016. He's second on the SPFL seniority list after Spartans' Douglas Samuel.

The Premiership clubs have it pretty easy this round: ten of them face opponents from lower leagues. All five League Two entrants play on home ground, but four of them have Premiership opponents. The Premiership clubs are just back from their winter break, which lasted from January 3rd to the 19th, so some of them might be rusty. But not Rangers. They played two friendlies last week: Hertha on January 13th (a loss) and Copenhagen on the 16th (a draw).

Is the winter break just there so that Premiership managers can concentrate on the winter transfer window?

Imrie has spent the transfer window extending the current squad's contracts rather than searching for new players.

[Morton 2 - 0 Montrose. Goals by Gillespie and Oakley. Morton advance.]

The other Scottish Cup matches:

Clyde 0 - 2 Aberdeen (yesterday)

These two have met in the cup six times before. Clyde won the first two times, Aberdeen the next four. Aberdeen beat Clyde 10 - 3 on January 31st, 1962.

Kilmarnock [2 - 0] Dundee

This is the only all-Premiership match in this round. These two have met in the Scottish Cup seven times before. Kilmarnock won four times, Dundee three.

St Mirren [1 - 0] Queen of the South

They met in the 2013-14 cup and St Mirren advanced.

Livingston [2 - 1] Raith Rovers

They met in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and Livi won both times.

Ross County [0 - 3] Partick Thistle    Upset

These two met once before, in 2007, and Partick won.

Motherwell [3 - 1] Alloa

They've met three times before, and Motherwell have always won.

Airdrieonians [1 - 0] St Johnstone    Upset

They met in the 2002-03 cup and St Johnstone squeaked through. 

Ayr United [3 - 0] Kelty Hearts

First match ever. Ayr sacked manager Lee Bullen Monday.

Inverness CT [4 - 0] Broomhill

First match ever.

Bonnyrigg Rose [2 - 1] Falkirk    Upset

First Scottish Cup match.

Dumbarton [1 - 4] Rangers

These two have met in the Scottish Cup eleven times before. Dumbarton triumphed the first three times (1874-75, 1880-81 and 1881-82); Rangers have won every time since. They met in the 1896-97 final.

The Spartans [1 - 2] Hearts

These two Edinburgh clubs have never played a competitive match before.

Forfar [0 - 1] Hibs

They've met in the Scottish Cup six times before and Hibs have always won.

Celtic [5 - 0] Buckie Thistle (tomorrow)

First meeting ever.

Brora Rangers vs Cove Rangers (January 23 30)

First meeting in this cup.

Other matches:

Dunfermline Athletic vs Queen's Park [postponed again]

This is a Championship match postponed from December 2nd.

Banks o' Dee [3 - 0] Inverurie Loco Works

Lochee United vs East Craigie [postponed]

Largs Thistle [1 - 3] Pollok

Carluke Rovers [2 - 1] Saltcoats Victoria

FC Isle of Man [1 - 1] Kendal Town

Coleraine [0 - 2] Carrick Rangers

Abahani Dhaka [3 - 1] Sheikh Russel

Morton Women vs Westdyke (tomorrow) [postponed]

Lowland League Cup, Round One (tomorrow):

Stirling University [4 - 2] Cowdenbeath

2023 Asian Cup, Group D:

2024/1/19    Iraq [2 - 1] Japan

It's the 46th Empress's Cup semi-finals:

Match No. 45: INAC Kobe Leonessa [3 - 2] Elfen Saitama

Match No. 46: Urawa Reds [3 - 3] Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina [Urawa win on PK]

How many times have Morton played Montrose each decade?

2020s        4    (2 playoff, 1 Challenge Cup, 1 Scottish Cup)

2010s        1    (League Cup)

2000s        4    (all league matches)

1990s        7    (4 league, 2 Scottish Cup, 1 Challenge Cup)

1980s        7    (all league matches)

1970s      11    (8 league, 2 Spring Cup, 1 Scottish Cup)

1960s      11    (all league matches)

1950s        9    (all league matches)

1940s        0

1930s      10    (all league matches)

1920s        0

Historical matches:

1945/1/20      Queen's Park 2 - 1 Morton

1968/1/20      Morton 5 - 2 Dundee United

1996/1/20      Clydebank 0 - 1 Morton

Goals by Warren Hawke.

Montrose FC in the Northern League:

1919-20      8      5      1      2    24    12    +12    11    1st

1918-19                            no league

1917-18                            no league

1916-17                            no league

1915-16                            no league

1914-15      3      1      1      1      7      7        0      3    6th

1913-14    14      5      1      8    21    21        0    11    3rd

1912-13    12      4      3      5    21    18      +3    11    3rd

1911-12      9      3      2      4      9    16       -7      8    5th

1910-11    11      3      2      6    12    26     -14      8    6th

1909-10    10      3      3      4    14    15       -1      9    4th

1908-09    21      5      2    14    21    41     -20    12    12th

1907-08    22      7      2    13    36    51     -15    16    11th

1906-07    26      7      6    13    31    57     -26    20    13th

1905-06    21      7      5      9    33    42       -9    19    8th

1904-05    23    10      5      8    30    27      +3    25    6th

1903-04    22    17      0      5    53    25    +28    34    1st

1902-03    23      9      3    11    39    41       -2    21    9th

1901-02    21      4      1    16    33    69     -36      9    11th

1900-01    17      1      4    12    20    74     -54      6    10th

1899-00    14      2      1    11    29    58     -29      5    8th

1898-99    14      1      0    13    24    64     -40      2    8th

1897-98    14      5      2      7    25    28       -3    12    5th

1896-97    14      4      3      7    23    41     -18    11    6th

1895-96    14      4      3      7    30    41     -11    11    6th

1894-95                            no league

1893-94    11      4      2      5    26    32       -6    10    3rd

1892-93    18    10      2      6    81    48    +33    22    3rd

1891-92    14      5      4      5    49    45      +4    14    3rd

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive)

Arthurlie FC 1893-94:

date unkn      Wishaw Thistle 2 - 3 Arthurlie    SA

1894/5/12      Royal Albert 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SA

1894/5/5        Airdrieonians 1 - 4 Arthurlie    SA

1894/4/28      Arthurlie 2 - 1 Cambuslang    SA

1894/3/31      Cambuslang 5 - 1 Arthurlie    SA

1894/3/10      Kilmarnock 3 - 3 Arthurlie    friendly

1894/3/3        Arthurlie 5 - 1 Albion Rovers    SA

1894/2/24      Arthurlie 2 - 0 Ayr    friendly

1894/2/17      Methlan Park 3 - 3 Arthurlie    Is this Helensburgh Arthurlie?

1894/1/13      St Mirren 3 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup SF

1893/12/23    Arthurlie 5 - 4 Cartvale

1893/12/2      Neilston 2 - 2 Arthurlie    friendly

1893/11/18    Arthurlie 6 - 0 Paisley Celtic    RCup R3

1893/11/11    Arthurlie 4 - 0 Thornliebank

1893/11/4      Arthurlie 2 - 0 Stevenston Thistle    friendly

1893/10/28    Arthurlie 10 - 1 Lochwinnoch    RCup R2

1893/10/21    Arthurlie 7 - 6 Dykebar

1893/10/14    Ayr 4 - 4 Arthurlie

1893/10/7      bye    RCup R1

1893/10/7      Arthurlie 4 - 0 Neilston    friendly

1893/9/30      Arthurlie 4 - 4 Airdrieonians    SA

1893/9/23      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Kilmarnock Athletic    friendly

1893/9/15      Albion Rovers 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SA

1893/9/9        Arthurlie 2 - 4 Royal Albert    SA

1893/9/2        Saltcoats Victoria 5 - 3 Arthurlie    SCup PR1

1893/8/26      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Wishaw Thistle    SA

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Scottish Alliance, the Renfrewshire Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Glasgow Herald for 1893/9/23, 1893/10/7, 1893/10/14, 1893/10/21, 1893/11/4, 1893/11/11, 1893/12/2, 1893/12/23    I have called a match a friendly only if the Herald used the word.)

Computing Greenock

Inside the Spango Valley IBM plant. Source.

Morton host Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a match postponed from October 21st. This is the first meeting of 2023-24 between these two sides. In stark contrast, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic have already faced each other four times. In the Covid-delayed 2020-21 season Morton and ICT didn't meet up until January 27th. This paragraph is brought to you by the words Caledonian and calendar.

Morton enter this game in tenth place with 11 points. ICT are sixth with 16. A win this evening would move the Ton up to seventh place, temporarily at least.

The last Morton player to score against ICT was Grant Gillespie on April 1st last season.

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

Another Championship match:

Arbroath [1 - 2] Raith Rovers (tomorrow)

Aberdeenshire Shield final:

Aberdeen U21 [0 - 2] Banks o' Dee (tomorrow)

Which clubs have beaten Celtic twice or more in a season recently?

2023-24    Lazio, Kilmarnock

2022-23    Real Madrid, Red Bull Leipzig

2021-22    Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Rangers

2020-21    Sparta Prague, AC Milan, Rangers, Ross County

2019-20    CFR Cluj

2018-19    Salzburg, Valencia, Rangers

2017-18    Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain

2016-17    Barcelona

2015-16    Molde, Aberdeen

2014-15    Inverness CT

When were the 2023-24 Championship clubs in League One the past decade?

Airdrieonians     22/3   21/2   20/1   19/0   18/9   17/8   16/7   15/6   14/5   13/4    

Dunfermline       22/3                                                               15/6   14/5   13/4

Queen's Park              21/2                                 17/8   16/7

Partick Thistle                        20/1

Raith Rovers                                    19/0   18/9   17/8

Arbroath                                                     18/9   17/8                                13/4

Ayr United                                                            17/8            15/6   14/5   13/4

Morton                                                                                               14/5

Inverness CT

Dundee Utd

When was Morton's most recent goal against each SPFL club and who scored it?

2023/12/9      Arbroath    George Oakley

2023/11/11    Partick Thistle    Grant Gillespie

2023/11/3      Dunfermline    Steven Boyd

2023/10/31    Raith Rovers    Iain Wilson

2023/10/28    Ayr United    George Oakley

2023/10/14    Kelty Hearts    Robbie Crawford

2023/9/16      Dundee United    Robbie Muirhead

2023/9/9        Elgin    Lewis McGrattan

2023/8/19      Rangers    Grant Gillespie

2023/7/29      Edinburgh City    Cameron Blues

2023/7/22      Ross County    George Oakley

2023/7/18      Stranraer    Robbie Crawford

2023/5/5        Cove Rangers    Robbie Muirhead

2023/4/29      Queen's Park    Robbie Crawford

2023/4/15      Dundee    Robbie Muirhead

2023/4/11      Hamilton Accies    Alexander King

2023/4/1        Inverness CT    Grant Gillespie

2022/11/26    Queen of the South    Alexander King

2022/7/23      Bonnyrigg Rose    Grant Gillespie

2022/7/20      Hibs    Grant Gillespie

2022/4/1        Kilmarnock    Gozie Ugwu

2022/1/22      Motherwell    Robbie Muirhead

2021/7/24      Clyde    Robbie Muirhead

2021/5/21      Airdrieonians    Robbie Muirhead

2021/5/11      Montrose    Craig McGuffie

2021/4/24      Alloa    Markus Fjørtoft

2021/4/3        East Fife    Robbie Muirhead

2021/2/20      Hearts    Craig McGuffie

2020/11/11    St Mirren    Ross Maciver

2019/7/23      Annan Athletic    Robbie Muirhead

2019/7/16      Dumbarton    Bob McHugh

2019/4/20      Falkirk    Charlie Telfer

2018/11/27    Peterhead    Chris Millar

2018/7/21      Stenhousemuir    Bob McHugh

2018/4/7        Livingston    Ricki Lamie

2015/10/27    St Johnstone    Denny Johnstone

2015/4/18      Stirling Albion    Declan McManus

2015/1/31      Forfar    Peter MacDonald

2014/11/29    The Spartans    Andrew Barrowman

2013/9/24      Celtic    Dougie Imrie

1996/9/3        Aberdeen    Derek Lilley

(Own goals and shootout goals not included.)

Galoshans

Galoshans is a weeklong festival held in Greenock at the end of October, a sort of Halloween for buskers. Source.

Morton host Raith Rovers in a regularly scheduled Tuesday-nighter. Raith are second in the division with 20 points, Morton tenth with 8. Raith won the first match 3 - 2 at Stark's Park on August 12th.

Morton have held tenth place for four weeks, but they are only five points out of fourth. They can leap over Inverness CT with a win or a draw tonight.

Morton have scored nine goals in league play: two in the first half and seven in the second half.

They have surrendered only one goal this month, to Reece Lyon of Kelty Hearts.

Morton have fared better in the Renfrewshire Cup than Raith have in the Fife one. (See A below.)

Raith have had six winning seasons the past decade, Morton four. (See B below.)

Morton are off to their second-worst start in the league of the past ten years. (See C below.)

[Morton 1 - 2 Raith. Goal by Iain Wilson.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians (4th) [0 - 2] Dundee United (1st)*

* A Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup Round Two match.

Partick Thistle (3rd) [2 - 2] Ayr United (6th)

Queen's Park and Arbroath played their fixture weeks ago. Dunfermline and ICT have moved theirs to November 18.

Other matches:

The Canadian national women's team play a friendly against Brazil at the Wanderers Grounds today. This is one of Christine Sinclair's last games with the national squad.  [Canada 2 - 0 Brazil]

Celtic B [3 - 0] Linlithgow Rose (tomorrow)

African Football League, SF, second leg (tomorrow):

ES Tunis [1 - 0] Wydad AC

[The semifinal ends 1 - 1 on aggregate. Wydad win on PK and advance to the final.]

A) Rank the 2023-24 Championship clubs by the number of times they've won their local cup:

52        Morton (Renfrewshire Cup)

39.5     Raith Rovers (Fife Cup)

31.5     Dunfermline Athletic (Fife Cup)

26        Ayr United (Ayrshire Cup)

21        Dundee United (Forfarshire Cup)

20        Arbroath (Forfarshire Cup)

  7        Partick Thistle (Glasgow Cup)

  7        Inverness CT (Inverness Cup)

  4        Queen's Park (Glasgow Cup)

  2        Airdrieonians (North Lanarkshire Cup)

B) And by recent winning seasons and losing seasons:

                        22/3    21/2    20/1   19/0   18/9   17/8    16/7   15/6    14/5    13/4

Inverness CT     W       W       W       W       W       W        L         E        W        W

Dundee Utd        L        L        L        W       W       W        W        L        W        W

Queen's Park     W       W       W       W       L         L        L         W        W        L

Raith Rovers       L       W       W       W       W       W        L        W         L         L

Airdrieonians      W       W       W       W       L        L        E         L        W         L

Arbroath              L       W        L        E       W       W        W        L        W        L

Dunfermline       W       L        W        L        L        W        E        W        L         W

Ayr Utd               W       L        L        W       W       W        L        W        L         L

Morton               W        L        L        L        L         W        W        L        W        L

Partick Thistle    W       W       W       L        L         L         L          L        L         L

W = more wins than losses, regardless of table position; E = even wins and losses

C) Morton's first nine league results, the past decade:

2023-24    WLLLDLLDW        8 points    (Imrie)

2022-23    DWLDWLLLW     11 points    (Imrie)

2021-22    DWLLLLDDL         6 points    (McPherson)

2020-21    WLWLDLWWD    14 points    (Hopkin/McElhone)

2019-20    LWWLLWLDL      10 points    (Hopkin)

2018-19    DWWLDDLDW    13 points    (McKinnon/Johansson)

2017-18    DWDLWWLLW    14 points    (Duffy)

2016-17    DDDLLWLWW     12 points    (Duffy)

2015-16    DLDWWDDLL     10 points    (Duffy)

2014-15    LWWLWWLLW    15 points    (Duffy)

Garvock

Four and a half miles from Greenock and eight miles from Largs lies Garvock, population zero. Source.

Morton host Inverness CT. Caley Thistle are ninth in the Championship with 5 points and a minus 4 goal difference. Morton are tenth with 5 points and a minus 8 g.d. Morton are coming off a 4 - 1 win over Kelty Hearts in the Challenge Cup last weekend. Inverness didn't play.

Since entering the league in 1994 Inverness Caledonian Thistle have spent three years in tier IV, two in tier III, thirteen in tier II and twelve in tier I. Ross County, Livingston, Hamilton and Rangers are the only other clubs to have played in all four divisions.

Like Morton, Inverness CT are off to a terrible start. They have only one win in league play, and one from the League Cup group stage when they beat Bonnyrigg Rose. They've scored 6 goals in league play, the fewest in the division.

Morton have not won a league match in two and a half months and have not scored in one in a month.

George Oakley played for Caley Thistle from 2017 to 2019 and in 2022-23. Kirk Broadfoot played for them in 2021-22, as did Steven Boyd in 2022-23. Caley's Wallace Duffy spent several days on loan to Morton in 2020 but never played.

Jack Harkness has had surgery and will probably not get to play for Morton before his loan period ends.

Grant Gillespie was the last Morton player to score against ICT, back on April Fools' Day.

Morton won blowout victories on this date in 1944, 1967 and 1995. (See below.)

[Game postponed.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians (5th) 1 - 1 Queen's Park (7th) (last night)

Arbroath (4th) vs Raith Rovers (2nd) (postponed)

Dunfermline (6th) [0 - 1] Ayr United (8th)

Partick Thistle (3rd) [0 - 5] Dundee United (1st)

Other matches:

Cardiff Metropolitan University 2 - 1 Newtown (October 17)

Caernarfon [5 - 1] Cardiff Metropolitan University

East Kilbride 2 - 1 Linlithgow Rose (October 18)

Linlithgow Rose [2 - 0] Civil Service Strollers

Albion Rovers [1 - 0] Berwick Rangers

Turriff United vs Banks o' Dee [postponed]

East Craigie vs Dundee Violet [postponed]

Tweedmouth Rangers [4 - 1] Peebles Rovers

FC Isle of Man [3 - 2] Glossop North End

Larne 2 - 0 Carrick Rangers (yesterday)

Honda FC [0 - 0] ReinMeer Aomori

Blaublitz Akita [0 - 1] Vegalta Sendai (tomorrow)

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

[UCD 0 - 2 Cork City (tomorrow)]

West of Scotland League Cup, R1:

Largs Thistle [1 - 0] Wishaw

Aberdeenshire Shield, QF (October 18):

Formartine United 0 - 5 Banks o' Dee

Scottish Junior Cup, R2 (October 18):

Greenock Juniors 1 - 4 Glenafton Athletic

2023-24 UEFA Women's Champions League, R2, second leg (October 18):

Brann 2 - 0 Glasgow City

South Challenge Cup, R3:

Carluke Rovers [scr/wo] East Kilbride

Canadian Premier League playoffs:

Match #4    Cavalry [2 - 1] Pacific

It's the 59th Shakaijin, from today until Wednesday. The 32 entrants are vying for two spots in the Regional Champions League. They are: Brew Kashima, Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth, BTOP Thank Kuriyama, Sendai University, Cobaltore Onagawa, Tochigi City, Tokyo United, Tokyo 23, Vonds Ichihara, Joyful Honda Tsukuba, Toho Titanium, Atsugi Hayabusa, Artista Asama, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Wyvern, FC Kariya, Gakunan F. Mosuperio, Toyota SC, Arterivo Wakayama, Basara Hyogo, Moriyama Samurai 2000, Asuka FC, Hannan University Club, Belugarosso Iwami, Fukuyama City, Baleine Shimonoseki, FC Tokushima, Kochi University Nankoku, J-Lease FC, Veroskronos Tsuno, Nobeoka Agata and KMG Holdings FC. Seven of these clubs are already in the Regional Champions League as league champions, and some clubs are amateur and ineligible for the Regional Champions League, so it's an opportunity for a couple of also-rans to advance. Let's follow Tokyo 23.

2023/10/21    Tokyo 23 [2 - 2] Hannan University Club [Tokyo 23 win on PK]

[2023/10/22    FC Kariya 2 - 1 Tokyo 23]

The new African Football League starts this weekend. It's a club competition meant to promote the best club teams on the continent. This inaugural season it takes the form of a knockout tournament with eight teams. Next year's version is planned to be more elaborate. Let's follow mighty Enyimba of Nigeria, or whoever can defeat them.

2023 African Football League QF, first leg (tomorrow):

Enyimba [0 - 1] Wydad AC

Historical matches:

1944/10/21    Dumbarton 0 - 4 Morton

1967/10/21    Stirling Albion 0 - 6 Morton

1995/10/21    Morton 4 - 0 St Johnstone

A goal for John Anderson and three for Warren Hawke.

HFX Wanderers versus everyone else all-time, league, cup and playoff, by goal difference:

Valour FC             19    11    3    5    18    10    +8

Guelph United        1      1    0    0      2      0    +2 

FC Edmonton       12      5    3    4    15    14    +1

Vancouver FC        4      1    1    2      6      5    +1

AS Blainville           1      1    0    0      2      1    +1

Vaughan Azzurri     2      1    0    1      3      3      0

Atlético Ottawa     16      6    3    7    21    22     -1

Ottawa Fury           2      0    1    1      4      5     -1

Toronto FC             1      0    0    1      1      2     -1

CF Montréal           1      0    0    1      1      3     -2

York9/United         19     5    9    5     24    28     -4   

Pacific FC             19      5    6    8    18    26     -8     

Cavalry FC           18      2    6   10    13   24    -11

Forge FC              20      4    8    8     17   29    -12

HFX Wanderers have had the most success against Valour, and the least against Cavalry and Forge.

The Greenock Public Library as Hampden Park

The opening of the Greenock Public Library, October 10, 1902. Mrs. Carnegie was there, and that fellow in the robes is Provost John Anderson. Note the quantity of bobbies on hand to keep the cloth caps separated from the top hats. Source.

This building served as Greenock's central library until 1971 when it was replaced by the modernist building off Cathcart Square. The 1902 building then became a municipal office until 2014 when it again became the town's central library and the modernist building was made into municipal offices.

Morton travel to Hampden Park for a match against Queen's Park. QP are seventh in the division with 9 points, Morton tenth with 4. Morton are six league matches without a win, their worst drought since . . . April. They have been a very streaky team under Imrie. For their part Queen's Park have lost five in a row. If Morton can beat QP today, and then Inverness and Ayr, they'll be back in the mix.

Jai Quitongo and Grant Gillespie played for Queen's Park from 2020 to 2022. No one on the QP squad has played for Morton.

Queen's Park's manager is Robin Veldman, who prior to this was youth trainer or assistant manager at Heerenveen, Ajax and Anderlecht.

Queen's Park are playing at Hampden Park again, after having sold it to the SFA in 2020. The club ground-shared at Falkirk Stadium, Firhill and Ochilview while renovations went on at Lesser Hampden to make it their home ground. But now they've leased Hampden back from the SFA and are playing there again.

The earliest match that I know of between Morton and Queen's Park was:

1887/1/15      Morton 4 - 1 Queen's Park

The SPFL's sponsor 'cinch' is quitting early because they're sick of dealing with Rangers. Source.

[Queen's Park 0 - 0 Morton.]

The other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians (5th) [1 - 2] Ayr United (8th)

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

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

Dunfermline (6th) vs Arbroath (4th)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Championship League Cup Round One match. [But it's postponed.]

Scottish Junior Cup, Round 2 (selected matches):

Arbroath Victoria (M) [1 - 4] Benburb (WP)

Cumnock (WP) [2 - 3] Auchinleck Talbot (WP)

Lochee Harp (M) [3 - 4] Irvine Meadow XI (WP)

Hermes (N) [2 - 2] Beith (WP) [Hermes win on PK]

Hurlford United (WP) vs Tayport (M) [postponed]

Greenock Juniors (W3) vs Glenafton Athletic (WP) [postponed]

Ashfield (W1) vs Largs Thistle (WP) [postponed]

Pollok (WP) vs Dalry Thistle (W3) [postponed]

Rutherglen Glencairn (W1) vs Troon (WP) [postponed]

Forfar United (M) vs Arthurlie (WP) [postponed]

Kello Rovers (W3) vs Gartcairn (WP) [postponed]

Vale of Leven (W3) vs Carluke Rovers (W4) [postponed]

Rossvale (W2) [1 - 4] Darvel (WP)

M = Midlands Football League; N = North Region Junior League; WP = West of Scotland League Premier Division; W1 = West of Scotland League First Division; W2 = West of Scotland League Second Division; W3 = West of Scotland League Third Division; W4 = West of Scotland League Fourth Division

Other matches:

Deveronvale 3 - 3 Banks o' Dee (October 4)

Banks o' Dee [2 - 2] Clachnacuddin

Tranent vs Linlithgow Rose [postponed]

Peebles Rovers vs Kennoway Star Hearts [postponed]

Morton Women [0 - 6] Rossvale (tomorrow)

Charnock Richard vs FC Isle of Man (October 3) (postponed)

Burscough [2 - 3] FC Isle of Man

Cardiff Metropolitan University 2 - 1 Barry Town (yesterday)

Loughgall [3 - 4] Carrick Rangers

JEF United Chiba [1 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

Iwaki FC [2 - 2] Vegalta Sendai (tomorrow)

Sony Sendai [2 - 1] Honda FC

Morioka Zebra [2 - 1] Nippon Steel Kamaishi

Vikingur Reykjavik have won the Icelandic league.

Canadian Premier League:

Valour 0 - 1 HFX Wanderers (yesterday)

The CanPL regular season ends this weekend. Wanderers finish with a winning record and can finish no worse than fourth.

Former HFX Wanderer Pierre Lamothe is on loan from Pacific FC to Ho Chi Minh City of the V League.

2023-24 UEFA Champions League group stage, matchday 2 (October 4):

Celtic 1 - 2 Lazio

2023-24 UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 2 (October 5):

Aris Limassol 2 - 1 Rangers

2023-24 UEFA Conference group stage, matchday 2 (October 5):

Aberdeen 1 - 1 HJK

2023-24 AFC Champions League group stage, matchday 2 (October 3 - 4):

Group G: Shandong Taishan 0 - 1 Yokohama F. Marinos

Group H: Ventforet Kofu 1 - 0 Buriram United

Group I: Kawasaki Frontale 1 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai

Group J: Urawa Red Diamonds 6 - 0 Hanoi FC

Morton's most recent visits to Hampden Park:

2016/10/22    Aberdeen 2 - 0 Morton          League Cup SF

2016/9/3        Queen's Park 2 - 0 Morton    Challenge Cup R3

2003/3/8        Queen's Park 0 - 1 Morton    Division Three

2002/11/9      Queen's Park 1 - 1 Morton    Division Three

1995/1/9        Queen's Park 2 - 2 Morton    Scottish Cup R2

1989/8/15      Queen's Park 0 - 1 Morton   League Cup R2

1979/12/1      Aberdeen 2 - 1 Morton          League Cup SF

1969/3/28      Celtic 4 - 1 Morton                Scottish Cup SF

Historical matches:

1882/10/7      Kilmarnock Portland 5 - 1 Morton (friendly)

1944/10/7      Hearts 2 - 1 Morton

1967/10/7      Dundee United 3 - 2 Morton

1995/10/7      Clydebank 1 - 0 Morton

Princes Pier Demolition

Greenock marked Morton's 1967 promotion to the First Division by demolishing Princes Pier. Source.

Morton visit San Starko for a game against Raith Rovers. Morton are second in the division, Raith sixth. Both clubs finished second in their League Cup groups with 9 points and both progress to Round Two. (See A below.)

With this match "Raith away" becomes Morton's most frequently played fixture of the four-division era. (See B below.)

Since 1994 Raith Rovers have spent two seasons in tier I, twenty in tier II and eight in tier III.

Grant Gillespie played for Raith Rovers in 2018-19. No one on the current Raith roster has ever played for Morton, though Andrew Barrowman (Morton 2014-15) is now Raith CEO. Raith have a Polish goalkeeper, Kevin Dąbrowski, who has been playing in Scotland since 2017.

Championship clubs with a proper 2023-24 article on Wikipedia: Arbroath, Ayr United, Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Queen's Park and Raith Rovers. Those without: Airdrieonians, Inverness CT, Morton, Partick Thistle. Raith Rovers have the most old-school website in the Championship.

[Raith Rovers 3 - 2 Morton. Goals by Muirhead and Crawford.]

Other Championship matches:

Airdrieonians [2 - 1] Partick Thistle

Ayr United [1 - 0] Inverness CT

Dundee United [1 - 1] Dunfermline

Queen's Park [2 - 1] Arbroath

It's the 2023-24 Scottish Cup First Preliminary Round. This extra round was added due to the increase in clubs with SFA membership. For the first time there will be no replays in any round of this cup. This is the 150th anniversary of the Scottish Cup, though this is only the 139th time it has been played.

Last year Darvel and Inverness CT each played six rounds in the Scottish Cup. Can Beith go seven?

The matches:

Abbey Vale (South of Scotland League) [0 - 5] Cupar Hearts (Kingdom of Fife Amateur League)

Carnoustie Panmure (Midlands League) [1 - 2] Beith (West of Scotland Premier Division)

Luncarty (East of Scotland Premier Division) [3 - 1] Loch Ness (North Caledonian League)

Other matches:

Rothes [2 - 2] Banks o' Dee

Linlithgow Rose [2 - 4] Cumbernauld Colts

East Stirlingshire [1 - 2] Berwick Rangers

I'm going to keep track of the Lowland League's four former SPFL clubs' matches against one another and make a table out of the results at season's end, and call it SPFL Division X.

Largs Thistle [0 - 2] Clydebank

East Craigie [2 - 2] Lochee United (August 9)

East Craigie [4 - 0] Coupar Angus

Carluke Rovers [3 - 5] Newmains United

FC Isle of Man [2 - 1] Padiham

The Cymru Premier League begins. Let's follow Cardiff Metropolitan University:

Aberystwyth Town [0 - 1] Cardiff Metropolitan University

The Northern Ireland Football League Premiership is also under way. Let's follow Carrick Rangers:

Carrick Rangers [0 - 2] Newry City

NPL2 Vic: Eastern Lions 2 - 1 Preston Lions

Cork City 1 - 1 UCD (yesterday)

Mito HollyHock [3 - 3] V-Varen Nagasaki

HFX Wanderers [3 - 0] Vancouver FC

[Goals by Morelli (twice) and Ferrin.]

HFX Wanderers have signed forward Jordan Perruzza on loan from Toronto FC.

BVB IA Waterloo 0 - 5 Scrosoppi (August 9)

There's a League1 Alberta in the works, due to begin next season. So far the men's and women's sections have five teams each: two in Edmonton, two in Calgary, and one in St Albert.

Morton Women 2 - 6 Glasgow City U18 (friendly) (August 8)

Morton Women 7 - 2 Stenhousemuir (friendly) (August 10)

Bonnyrigg Rose vs Morton Women (tomorrow) [abandoned]

Alex Jack Cup, round 1:

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts [2 - 3] Peebles Rovers

East of Scotland Centenary Cup, semi-final one (August 8):

The EoS Centenary Cup features the winners of last year's Premier (Linlithgow Rose), First (Dunbar United), Second (Whitburn) and Third (Bo'ness Athletic) Divisions, and is in celebration of the league's 100th anniversary.

Linlithgow Rose 5 - 3 Bo'ness Athletic

2023-24 UEFA Champions League, 3QR, first leg (August 9):

Rangers 2 - 1 Servette

2023-24 UEFA Europa League, 3QR, first leg:

None of our teams are in this round.

2023-24 UEFA Europa Conference League, 3QR, first leg (August 10):

Rosenborg 2 - 1 Hearts

Hibs 3 - 1 Luzern

Tobol 1 - 0 Derry City

49th All Japan Municipal Officials Football Tournament:

QF: Fujieda City Hall 6 - 1 Suginami Ward Office (August 7)

SF: Fujieda City Hall 5 - 1 Ota City Hall (August 8)

Final: Fujieda City Hall 6 - 0 Gifu City Hall (August 9)

2023 Women's World Cup, QF (yesterday):

Japan 1 - 2 Sweden

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

12        Airdrieonians (+5)

11        Ayr United (+8)

  9        Morton (+7)

  9        Raith Rovers (+3)

  9        Partick Thistle (+2)

  8        Dunfermline (+5)

  6        Dundee United (+2)

  5        Arbroath (-3)

  4        Queen's Park (+4)

  3        Inverness CT (-2)

bold = advanced to Round Two

B) Morton's most frequently-played fixtures of the four-division era, prior to 2023-24:

35 times    Queen of the South vs Morton

35 times    Raith Rovers vs Morton

34 times    Morton vs Queen of the South

33 times    Ayr United vs Morton

33 times    Morton vs Ayr United

31 times    Morton vs Raith Rovers

29 times    Dunfermline vs Morton

29 times    Morton vs Partick Thistle

28 times    Morton vs Dunfermline

28 times    Morton vs Falkirk

27 times    Partick Thistle vs Morton

26 times    Dumbarton vs Morton

26 times    Falkirk vs Morton

24 times    Morton vs Dumbarton

Historical matches:

1944/8/12    Third Lanark 2 - 3 Morton

This was the first match of the 1944-45 Southern League. It came 42 days after Morton's last Summer Cup match, making their close season even shorter than it is today.

1967/8/12    Queen of the South 0 - 4 Morton

This was the first match of the League Cup group stage. 

1995/8/12    Dundee United 1 - 1 Morton

First league match of the season. Goal for Alan Mahood.

Swedish Greenock

Swedish educator Jane Miller Thengberg was born in Greenock in 1822. Source.

Morton host Stranraer.

Ten or fifteen years ago a cup tie against Stranraer was just the way Morton liked to start the season.

2008/8/5        Stranraer 3 - 6 Morton    LCup R1

2010/7/31      Stranraer 1 - 7 Morton    LCup R1

2011/7/23      Stranraer 0 - 8 Morton    ChCup R1

But when they were drawn together in the 2021-22 League Cup group stage Morton had the Covid and Stranraer were awarded a 3 - 0 win.

Thomas Orr (Morton 2014-17) plays for Stranraer.

The last Morton player to score on Stranraer was Declan McManus on April 25th, 2015, when both clubs were in League One.

Morton have made it out of the group stage twice in modern times. (See below.)

Stranraer haven't made it out of the group stage since 1972. Last year they earned 1 point.

While Morton have employed Finnish, Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic players, they've never had a Swedish player. However, Michael Tidser and Fouad Bachirou have both been signed by Östersunds FK, and Bachirou later appeared for Malmö FF.

[Morton win 3 - 0. Goals by Baird, Blues and Robbie Crawford.]

Tomorrow: Edinburgh City [3 - 5] Kelty Hearts.

Ross County are off.

Standings after these games:

Morton                2    2    0    0    0    6    1    +5    6

Ross County       1    1    0    0    0    5    1    +4    3

Kelty Hearts        2    1    0    0    1    6    6      0    3

Edinburgh City    1    0    0    0    1    3    5     -2    0

Stranraer             2    0    0    0    2    1    8     -7    0

Other matches:

Dundee United [1 - 2] Partick Thistle (Group B)

Yokohama F. Marinos [6 - 4] Celtic (friendly) (tomorrow)

Bangor [0 - 3] Rangers B (friendly)

Linlithgow Rose vs Dunipace (friendly)

Banks o' Dee [5 - 2] Stonehaven (friendly) (tomorrow)

Forth Wanderers [6 - 1] Carluke Rovers (Clydesdale Cup)

2023-24 UEFA Champions League, 1QR, second leg:

Breiðablik [2 - 1] Shamrock Rovers

Larne [2 - 2] HJK (tomorrow)

The New Saints [0 - 2] Häcken

[Shamrock Rovers, Larne and The New Saints drop down to the Conference League.]

Morton in the modern League Cup group stage:

2016-17        4    3    1    0    0          5    0    +5        11     1st    SF

2017-18        4    2    1    0    1          8    6    +2          8    2nd

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

2019-20        4    2    1    0    1        14    8    +6          8    2nd    R2

2020-21        4    1    0    3    0          4    3    +1          6     4th

2021-22        4    1    1    1    1          3    5     -2          6    3rd

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

Japanese regional league leaders:

Hokkaido: Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth

Tohoku: Blancdieu Hirosaki

Kanto: Vonds Ichihira

Hokushinetsu: Fukui United

Tokai: Wyvern

Kansai: Arterivo Wakayama

Chugoku: Fukuyama City

Shikoku: Lavenirosso

Kyushu: Veroskronos Tsuno

Scottish Junior Cup Final, 1960

JUNIOR CUP TO ST ANDREWS

From Our Special Correspondent

   St Andrews United 3,

    Greenock Juniors 1

    St Andrews United won the Scottish Junior Cup on Saturday with an unexpected and somewhat fortuitous win in the final against Greenock Juniors at Hampden Park.

    Greenock were much the better side in the first half, when they scored their goal, but poor finishing prevented them from taking as big a lead as their superior outfield play merited. St Andrews' infrequent attacks generally were competently dealt with by the powerful Greenock defence.

    The match continued in the same vein until three goals for the Fife side in less than 12 minutes quite upset the rhythm of Greenock's attack. They eventually recovered, but St Andrews were by then a much more confident and forceful side.

    Lister, sure handed and agile in their goal, and Davidson at centre half served St Andrews best in defence. All of the forwards, whose play if unmethodical was enthusiastic, appeared to profit from the move of Borella, who started on the right wing, to inside left late in the first half, but their attacks often broke down because of inaccurate passing.

    Stewart, at right half, was Greenock's outstanding player. He worked hard in defence and was also very useful in giving added thrust to the attack. Greenock stifled his effectiveness, however, when they moved him to centre forward after their opponents' second goal, relegating the nippy McKellar, their goal-scorer, to the half-back line.

    The defence were less steady after the barrage of goals against them, but Buchanan remained cool at centre half.

Good Goals

    Three of the goals were most intelligently taken. In the twenty-sixth minute Stewart, although he almost lost control, ran the ball down the right wing to the by-line and chipped it across the goal-mouth to Winter, who headed into the centre, and Samuel let the ball run through to McKellar, who beat Lister with a fine drive.

    Borella accepted with alacrity the chance to equalize in the fifty-seventh minute after the defence had failed to stop a weak cross from Smith on the left, and four minutes later he again scored with a magnificent shot from the edge of the penalty area after carrying the ball just clear of the left back. McGinlay, who had no chance to prevent these goals, was most unfortunate in the sixty-eighth minute when an innocuous shot by Penman (W.) struck Buchanan and spun past the goalkeeper.

    Greenock almost reduced the margin in the hard-fought closing stages -- the play was then unfortunately marked more by petty offences and injuries than constructive football -- when Stewart gathered a neat through pass from McCartney, but his shot struck the underside of the crossbar and rebounded to the inside right, whose header was tipped over the bar by Lister.

    ST ANDREWS UNITED --  Lister; Penman (W. P.) and Hughes; Crookston, Davidson, and Wills; Carmichael and Fraser; Smith; Penman (W.) and Borella.

    GREENOCK JUNIORS -- McGinlay; Riley and Hogg; Stewart, Buchanan, and Brabender; Gibson and McCartney; McKellar; Samuel and Winter.

    Referee -- I. Smart (Bo'ness).

Glasgow Herald, May 23, 1960, p. 9. Photo.