Plenty of Nothing

Maria Chapdeline (1950)

Source.

The Suffragette

Source.

Marcello Dudovich

Look here for a collection of Marcello Dudovich's advertising posters for Naples department store E.A. Mele & Co.

Aurum Liquor Poster

Aurum Liqueur is made in Pescara, Abruzzo.

Sweet Abruzzo

Illustrator Vincent Pompetti makes poster art about Pineto, Abruzzo's coastal resort town, and its inland neighbour Atri.

Japan Rail East "Let's Go, Tohoku" Poster

Source.

Where There's Life There's Hope

Morton visit Dundee United at Tannadice Park for the second leg of their Premiership playoff quarter-final.

I just got it. Tannadice. Tangerines.

This is the third time in Scottish League history that Morton have played on May 12th. On May 12th, 1984, Morton beat Kilmarnock 3 - 2 at Cappielow to secure first place. On May 12th,1965, they defeated Partick Thistle 3 - 2 in Group B of the Summer Cup, also at Cappielow.

Today's game isn't on television, so why stage it on a Friday night instead of Saturday afternoon? It's because Dundee host Ross County tomorrow, and you can only have one match per day in Dundee. It seems that the possibility of Dundee United playing to the Premiership playoff final has moved all the Saturday games to Friday.

[Dundee United win 3 - 0, ending Morton's season. The Ton are in the Championship for another year.]

When was the last time Morton played three games in a row against the same club? 1997. They met Dundee in the Scottish Cup (Feb 15th), a Scottish Cup replay (Feb 18th) and a league match (Feb 22nd).

1898-99. On May 9th, 1899, Morton visited Ayr FC and won 0 - 3. Today Morton visit Abercorn in Paisley and win 2 - 6. (Glasgow and West of Scotland Football League.)

Orr, Mitchell and McWaters are leaving the club at the end of their contracts.

Premiership playoff quarter-final winners, the historical record:

2013-14        Falkirk

2014-15        Rangers

2015-16        Hibs

Championship playoff semi-finals, second leg:

Raith [3 - 3] Brechin

[Brechin win on penalty kicks. Raith are demoted!]

Alloa [1 - 0] Airdrieonians

[Alloa win on penalty kicks.]

League One playoff semi-finals, second leg:

Peterhead [3 - 0] Montrose

Forfar [4 - 2] Annan

Forfar and Peterhead advance.]

League Two playoff final, first leg:

East Kilbride [0 - 0] Cowdenbeath

Have Dundee and Dundee United ever played together in the second tier? Yes, 1938-39 (Division Two), 1946-47 (Division B), and 1995-96 (First Division).

What's the greatest number of opponents Morton have faced in competitive play in a season since they joined the league? What's the smallest number?

Most: 23. In 1919-20, there was a single division of 22 clubs, so 21 league opponents for Morton, plus 2 non-league clubs in the Scottish Cup.

Fewest: 10. In 1894-95, Morton participated in the ten-team Division Two, but seem to have sat out the Scottish Cup. They also played in the short-lived Renfrewshire League, against only St Mirren and Port Glasgow. Port Glasgow were also in the SFL Division Two, but St Mirren were in Division One.

In recent times the lowest number is 11, that is 9 league opponents plus 2 other cup opponents, in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

In 2016-17 Morton played nine clubs in the Scottish Championship, six others in the League Cup, two others in the Scottish Cup, and one other in the Challenge Cup, for a total of 18. If they make the Premiership playoff final, and their opponent isn't Hamilton, it'll be 19. [They don't, so it won't.]

1898-99. Tomorrow Morton visit Abercorn in Paisley and win 2 - 6. (Glasgow and West of Scotland Football League.)

Edusport Academy will play in the Lowland League next season, while Preston Athletic drop to the South of Scotland League.

The East of Scotland League wraps up Saturday. Leith Athletic can overtake Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale for the title if they beat them by three goals today. [Lothian Thistle HV win 3 - 2 and are league champions.]

Europa League semi-finals, second leg:

Manchester United 1 - 1 Celta Vigo

It's Man U vs Ajax in the final.

Winterthur [0 - 3] Zurich

Sunday: FC Osaka [3 - 1] Vanraure

ReinMeer Aomori [0 - 0] Maruyasu Okazaki

Poster: Where There's Life (1947) starring Bob Hope. Source.

Young Miss

This Japanese movie poster with Soviet Constructivist influences is for the lost Yasujiro Ozu comedy Ojo San (Young Miss), which opened on this day in 1930. Source.

Don't Forget Your Doujinshi!

A warning at Ōsaki Station reminding otaku returning from Comiket 89 not to leave behind their stash. Source. This poster is collectible in and of itself!

Capitán Haddock

Game day posters are making a comeback. Here's a Tintin parody for a match between CF Reus Desportiu and RCD Espanyol B of the Spanish third flight. CFRD won 3 - 1.

How many years has it been since anyone used a football with a surface divided into black pentagons and white hexagons? Yet it remains the standard sign of footballness, the way an incandescent lightbulb still represents a bright idea.

The SPFL is in action this weekend, all except Greenock Morton and Queen of the South, who got this fixture out of the way two months ago to create a holiday break.

How often have Morton played on Saturday, December 26th, and how did they do?

2015        no game

2009        no game

1998        Morton 1 - 1 Clydebank

1992        Dumbarton 3 - 1 Morton

1987        Morton 0 - 0 Hearts

1981        no game

1970        Morton 0 - 3 Celtic

1964        Dundee 1 - 1 Morton

1959        Morton 1 - 1 East Stirlingshire

1953        Morton 5 - 0 Cowdenbeath

1942        Celtic 0 - 2 Morton (Southern League)

1936        Brechin 1 - 3 Morton

1931        Morton 4 - 1 Dundee

1925        no game

1914        Morton 3 - 0 Ayr United

1908        Morton 1 - 1 Third Lanark

1903        Morton 2 - 3 Motherwell

1896        Linthouse 2 - 5 Morton

1891        no game

1885        no game

1874        no game

Six wins, five draws, three losses, 29 goals for, 17 goals against.

Morton have two fixtures against Hibs that need to be rearranged: the December 5th game that was rained out; and the January 30th game that will be bumped by Hibs' League Cup semi final.

Tomorrow: Karşıyaka [0 - 1] Altınordu.

I'll put all the Emperor's Cup and Empress's Cup updates in the January 1st post.