Plenty of Nothing

The Renfrew Bridge

A segment of the new Renfrew bridge is towed past Gourock. Source.

Falkirk visit Cappielow for the first time since 2019. The Bairns are currently second in the Championship with 9 points, while Morton are sixth with 3 points.

For a long while after the McKinnon Affair Falkirk were the most hated club in Greenock, but five years of separation have allowed the mantle of most obnoxious opponent to pass to Partick Thistle.

Falkirk went undefeated in League One last season and won that division by 24 points. They have not been defeated in a league match since April 18th, 2023, a run of 41 matches, which is the third-longest streak in Scottish League history. In the past calendar year they have posted only three losses, all of them cup games:

2024/1/20      Bonnyrigg Rose 2 - 1 Falkirk    ScCup R4

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

2024/7/16      Ayr United 1 - 0 Falkirk    LCup GS

They are the only Championship side left in the current League Cup.

Morton have played Falkirk only once since the Bairns' relegation. That was in the 2022-23 League Cup group stage; after a scoreless draw Falkirk won in the shootout. The last Morton player to score against Falkirk was Charlie Telfer, April 20th, 2019.

Morton have begun the league season with the three consecutive draws. The last time they did that was 2016-17. The time before that was 1975-76 and the time before that was 1960-61. They have never started a season with four draws in a row.

Falkirk's Ross MacIver played for Morton in 2020-21, as did Aiden Nesbitt in 2016-17 and from 2019 to 2021, and Gary Oliver from 2016 to 2019 and 2020 to 2022. Calvin Miller played for Morton in 2023. No one on the Morton squad has played for Falkirk.

Yesterday Morton signed 37-year old winger Niall McGinn, formerly of Dungannon Swifts, Derry City, Celtic, Brentford, Aberdeen, Gwangju, Dundee and Glentoran.

[Morton 2 - 3 Falkirk. Morton goals by Boyes and Baird.]

The other Championship matches:

Dunfermline (10th) [1 - 1] Ayr United (1st)

Hamilton (5th) [2 - 2] Airdrieonians (8th)

Partick Thistle (9th) [3 - 0] Queen's Park (4th)

Raith Rovers (7th) [0 - 1] Livingston (3rd)

Other matches:

Fylkir 2 - 2 Þór/KA (August 25)

Stockport Town 2 - 1 FC Isle of Man (August 26)

Nairn County 1 - 5 Brora Rangers (August 27)

Scrosoppi 1 - 0 Alliance United (August 28)

Kerry 0 - 1 UCD (yesterday)

Forres Mechanics [1 - 1] Nairn County

Banks o' Dee JFC vs Culter (postponed)

Civil Service Strollers [1 - 1] Broomhill

Largs Thistle [2 - 0] Shotts Bon Accord

Video: Dazza Visits a Chippy in Largs

Colne [1 - 1] FC Isle of Man

Mito HollyHock [3 - 1] Ehime FC

Scrosoppi [2 - 0] ProStars

Þór/KA 1 - 0 FH

ReinMeer Aomori [4 - 1] Yokohama Musashino (tomorrow)

Orca Kamogawa [1 - 1] Sfida Setagaya (tomorrow)

SWF Championship and League One Cup, R1 (tomorrow):

Glasgow Women [5 - 1] Morton Women

WE League Cup, group stage:

Elfen Saitama [1 - 3] JEF United Chiba

Canadian Championship semi-finals, second leg (August 27):

Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Pacific

Whitecaps advance.

Toronto FC 1 - 0 Forge

2 - 2 on aggregate. Toronto wins on the away goal rule, which you hardly ever hear of anymore.

A drone was observed over a Forge practice prior to the first leg of this tie, two weeks before the Summer Olympic drone scandal broke. Story.

UEFA Champions League, playoff round, second leg (August 27):

Sparta Prague 2 - 0 Malmö

Malmö drop down to the Europa League.

UEFA Europa League, playoff round, second leg (August 29):

Hearts 0 - 1 Viktoria Plzeň

Elfsborg 0 - 1 Molde

1 - 1 on aggregate. Elfsborg win on PK.

Shamrock Rovers 0 - 2 PAOK

Elfsborg advance. Hearts and Shamrock Rovers drop down to the Conference League.

UEFA Conference League, playoff round, second leg (mostly August 29):

Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Copenhagen

The New Saints 0 - 0 Panevėžys (Lithuania)

Başakşehir (Türkiye) 2 - 0 St Patrick's Athletic (August 28)

Larne 3 - 1 Lincoln Red Imps

Larne and The New Saints advance. Kilmarnock and St Patrick's are out.

Scottish Junior Cup, Round One:

Cruden vs Neilston [No, it's on September 21 and the winner will get a bye to Round 3.]

That's it. That's the only fixture in this round.

Scottish Cup, Preliminary Round 2:

Tynecastle (EP) 4 - 0 Glasgow University (W3) (yesterday)

Bo'ness Athletic (E1) 2 - 0 Kilwinning Rangers (W1) (yesterday)

Glenafton Athletic (WP) [2 - 4] Threave Rovers (W3)    Upset

Coldstream (E2) [0 - 6] Camelon Juniors (E1)

Bonnyton Thistle (W2) [0 - 1] Dunbar United (EP)

Jeanfield Swifts (EP) [3 - 0] Newton Stewart (SL)

Lochee United (ML) [4 - 0] Hawick Royal Albert (E3)

Golspie Sutherland (NCL) [0 - 2] Carluke Rovers (W4)    Upset

Pollok (WP) [1 - 3] Darvel (WP)

Coupar Hearts (KoF) [4 - 0] Wigtown & Bladnoch (SL)    Upset

Preston Athletic (E1) [2 - 3] Irvine Meadow (W1)

Tayport (ML) [1 - 3] Dundee North End (ML)

Culter (NP) [1 - 2] Sauchie Juniors (EP)

Dundonald Bluebell (EP) [3 - 1] Edinburgh University (EP)

Fort William (NCL) [0 - 8] Hill of Beath Hawthorn (EP)

Benburb (WP) [0 - 3] Vale of Leithen (E2)    Upset

Burntisland Shipyard (E2) [2 - 1] Dunipace (EP)    Upset

Haddington Athletic (EP) [1 - 4] Auchinleck Talbot (WP)

Creetown (SL) [1 - 3] Cumnock Juniors (WP)

Penicuik Athletic (EP) [0 - 1] Musselburgh Athletic (EP)

Girvan (W3) [9 - 0] St Cuthbert Wanderers (SL)    Upset

Dalkeith Thistle (E2) [1 - 0] Blackburn United (E1)    Upset

Dalbeattie Star (SL) [1 - 2] Whitehill Welfare (E1)    Upset

Rutherglen Glencairn (W1) [2 - 0] Hutchison Vale (EP)    Upset

Easthouses Lily (E2) [0 - 4] Newtongrange Star (E1)

Clydebank (WP) [7 - 0] St Andrews United (EP)

Key: tier 6 = WP EP SL NCL ML NP;  tier 7 = W1 E1; tier 8 = W2 E2; tier 9 = W3 E3; tier 10 = W4; KoF is outside the pyramid

Historical matches:

1901/8/31      Hearts 3 - 1 Morton

1940/8/31      Morton 1 - 1 Falkirk

2002/8/31      East Stirlingshire 1 - 1 Morton

Goal by Alex Williams.

Arthurlie FC 1925-26:

1926/9/14      St Mirren 3 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup F leg two

1926/8/31      St Mirren 3 - 1 Arthurlie    RCup F leg one

1926/8/25      Morton 2 - 3 Arthurlie    RCup R2

1926/4/24      Stenhousemuir 2 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/4/17      Arthurlie 1 - 0 King's Park    SFL2

1926/4/13      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Paisley GSFP    RCup R1

1926/4/10      Bo'ness 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/4/3        Arthurlie 3 - 1 Arbroath    SFL2

1926/3/27      Clyde 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/3/20      Broxburn United 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/3/13      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Alloa Athletic    SFL2

1926/3/6        Ayr United 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/27      Albion Rovers 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/20      East Fife 7 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/17      East Stirlingshire 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/2/13      Arthurlie 6 - 6 Nithsdale Wanderers    SFL2

1926/2/9        Clyde 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SCup R2 replay

1926/2/6        Arthurlie 2 - 2 Clyde    SCup R2

1926/1/30      Arthurlie 2 - 0 Queen of the South    SFL2

1926/1/23      Arthurlie 5 - 4 Armadale    SCup R1

1926/1/16      St Bernard's 5 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/1/9        Arthurlie 2 - 6 Dunfermline Athletic    SFL2

1926/1/4        Bathgate 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1926/1/2        Arthurlie 1 - 2 Dumbarton    SFL2

1926/1/1        Third Lanark 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/12/26    Arthurlie 7 - 4 Armadale    SFL2

1925/12/19    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Clyde    SFL2

1925/12/12    Nithsdale Wanderers 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/12/5      Arthurlie 2 - 2 Ayr United    SFL2

1925/11/28    Arthurlie 5 - 0 East Fife    SFL2

1925/11/21    Arbroath 4 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/11/14    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Bo'ness    SFL2

1925/11/7      Arthurlie 2 - 3 St Bernard's    SFL2

1925/10/31    King's Park 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/10/24    Arthurlie 1 - 2 Stenhousemuir    SFL2

1925/10/17    Arthurlie 2 - 1 Bathgate    SFL2

1925/10/10    Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/10/3      Arthurlie 4 - 1 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1925/9/26      Queen of the South 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/9/19      Arthurlie 4 - 0 Broxburn United    SFL2

1925/9/12      Dumbarton 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/9/5        Arthurlie 4 - 2 Albion Rovers    SFL2

1925/8/29      Alloa Athletic 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1925/8/22      Arthurlie 1 - 2 Third Lanark    SFL2

1925/8/15      Armadale 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two and the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup)

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.

2023-24 Scottish Cup Final

Rangers were actually the ninth team to win the Scottish Cup. Source.

It's the Scottish Cup final: Celtic vs Rangers. In spite of the Old Firm's everlasting domination of Scottish football this is the first Celtic/Rangers final since 2002.

Celtic have won the Cup 41 times, Rangers 34. When was the last time Rangers were ahead of Celtic in terms of Scottish Cups won? 1966. Although Celtic are 15 years younger than Rangers they managed to win the Scottish Cup before Rangers ever did, they have won it more often than Rangers and more recently.

In previous head-to-head finals Rangers have won seven, Celtic seven, plus one final that was called off due to rioting.

[Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers]

Premiership playoff finals:

Raith Rovers 1 - 2 Ross County (May 23)

Ross County [4 - 0] Raith Rovers (tomorrow)

[Raith Rovers stay in the Championship.]

Other matches:

HFX Wanderers 1 - 2 Valour (May 20)

York United [2 - 1] HFX Wanderers (May 24) [Ryan Telfer scored for Halifax.]

York fired their coach Tuesday.

Guelph United [1 - 5] Scrosoppi (tomorrow)

Brothers Union [2 - 3] Sheikh Russel

Athlone Town 2 - 2 UCD (yesterday)

Þór/KA 5 - 0 Tindastóll (yesterday)

Shimizu S-Pulse [2 - 1] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

Shizuoka Bonita [1 - 3] Sfida Setagaya (tomorrow)

2024 Canadian Championship QF, second leg:

Vancouver Whitecaps 0 - 1 Cavalry (May 21)

2 - 2 on aggregate. The Whitecaps win on the away goal rule. (Haven't heard from the away goal rule in a while.)

CF Montreal 1 - 2 Forge (May 22)

Upset! Forge win on aggregate and advance to the semi-finals.

Toronto FC 8 - 1 CS Saint-Laurent (May 21)

Toronto win 11 - 1 on aggregate to advance.

2023-24 UEFA Europa League final (May 22):

Atalanta 3 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen

Lowland League playoff, second leg (yesterday):

Broxburn Athletic 8 - 1 Dalbeattie Star

(11 - 2 on aggregate.)

Broxburn are promoted to the Lowland League.

West of Scotland U21 Amateur Football League West of Scotland League Cup final (yesterday):

Petershill [0 - 5] Greenock High School Former Pupils

2023-24 South Challenge Cup final (tomorrow):

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy [0 - 2] East Kilbride

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup final (tomorrow):

Rangers [2 - 0] Hearts

2023-24 AFC Champions League final, second leg:

Al Ain [5 - 1] Yokohama F Marinos

[Al Ain win 6 - 3 on aggregate.]

Mortonalia:

Three pre-season friendlies have been announced, all of them against League One clubs.

Kirk Broadfoot and Grant Gillespie have signed on for another year and Cameron Blues has signed on for two more.

George Oakley has signed with Ayr United. Between him, Crawford and Muirhead that's 25 league goals per season gone.

Fouad Bachirou is a free agent.

Diddiest clubs to win the Scottish Cup:

1937-38    East Fife    (6th in Division Two = 26th overall)

2015-16    Hibs    (3rd in Championship = 15th overall)

1956-57    Falkirk    (14th in Division One)

1921-22    Morton    (12th in Division One)

1960-61    Dunfermline    (12th in Division One)

2023-24 Championship Streakiness Index:

a) Positive streakiness:

17    Arbroath (5W + 2D + 10L)

14    Raith Rovers (7W + 2D + 5L)

11    Morton (4W + 2D + 5L)

11    Inverness CT (2W + 3D + 6L)

10    Ayr United (3W + 2D + 5L)

10    Queen's Park (3W + 3D + 4L)

  9    Dunfermline (3W + 3D + 3L)

  8    Partick Thistle (4W + 2D +2L)

  8    Airdrieonians (4W + 1D + 3L)

  7    Dundee United (4W + 1D + 2L)

(Positive streakiness equals longest run of wins + longest run of draws + longest run of losses, counting league, cup and playoff games. Matches that go to a shootout count as draws.)

b) Negative streakiness:

22    Morton (11W + 5D) + (5L + 1D)

21    Raith Rovers (12W + 4D) + (5L)

20    Queen's Park (2W + 3D) + (10L + 5D)

19    Dundee United (13W + 4D) + (2L)

17    Inverness CT (4W + 3D) + (9L + 1D)

15    Arbroath (5W) + (10L)

15    Partick Thistle (4W + 3D) + (4L + 4D)

13    Dunfermline (3W + 1D) + (5L + 4D)

12    Airdrieonians (5W + 2D) + (3L + 2D)

  9    Ayr United (3W + 1D) + (5L)

(Negative streakiness equals longest run without a loss + longest run without a win.)

Arthurlie FC 1911-12:

1912/5/7        St Mirren 1 - 1 Arthurlie (St Mirren win on corners)    PChCup R1

1912/4/30      Abercorn 2 - 0 Arthurlie    RVCup F 2nd replay

1912/4/27      Abercorn 2 - 2 Arthurlie    RVCup F replay

1912/4/23      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Morton    RCup F leg two

1912/4/20      Arthurlie 0 - 0 Abercorn    RVCup F

1912/4/13      Arthurlie wo-scr Morton    RVCup SF

1912/3/30      Morton 2 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup F leg one

1912/3/9        Arthurlie 1 - 0 St Mirren    RCup SF

1912/3/2        Arthurlie 6 - 0 Port Glasgow Athletic    RVCup R1

1912/2/24      Arthurlie 6 - 2 Paisley Academical    RCup R2

1912/2/17      Leith Athletic 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1912/2/10      Arthurlie 4 - 1 St Johnstone    SFL2

1912/2/3        Arthurlie 0 - 1 Ayr United    SFL2

1912/1/27      St Bernard's 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1912/1/20      Arthurlie 0 - 3 Johnstone    ConCup R2

1912/1/13      Arthurlie 3 - 0 Royal Albert    ConCup R1

1912/1/6        Ayr United 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

(1912/1/2        Johnstone 3 - 0 Arthurlie    1910-11 RVCup F 2nd replay)

1911/12/30    Abercorn 1 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/12/23    Arthurlie 1 - 0 Cowdenbeath    SFL2

(1911/12/16    Johnstone 1 - 1 Arthurlie    1910-11 RVCup F replay)

1911/12/9      Dumbarton 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/12/2      Arthurlie 0 - 1 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1911/11/25    Dundee Hibs 0 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

(1911/11/18    Johnstone 1 - 1 Arthurlie    1910-11 RVCup F)

1911/11/11    Arthurlie 5 - 0 Albion Rovers    SFL2

1911/11/4      Vale of Leven 2 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/10/28    Arthurlie 2 - 2 St Bernard's    SFL2

1911/10/21    Albion Rovers 0 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/10/14    Cowdenbeath 0 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/10/7      Arthurlie 3 - 4 Leith Athletic    SFL2

1911/9/30      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Dundee Hibs    SFL2

1911/9/23      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Dumbarton    SFL2

1911/9/16      Arthurlie 4 - 2 Vale of Leven    SFL2

1911/9/9        East Stirlingshire 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/9/2        Queen's Park 2 - 0 Arthurlie    QCup R1

1911/8/26      Arthurlie 0 - 1 Abercorn    SFL2

1911/8/19      St Johnstone 4 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1911/8/15      bye    RCup R1

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Consolation Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup, Renfrewshire Victoria Cup and the Paisley Charity Cup.)

Johnstone and Arthurlie

Johnstone Burgh (red) and Arthurlie (blue). Source.

Morton visit Arbroath. Morton are seventh with 41 points, Arbroath tenth with 23. Morton are out of the Premiership playoff hunt and still need to get clear of ninth place. (They must also win their three remaining games if they want to avoid having fewer wins than losses this season.)

Arbroath were relegated last weekend by Ayr United, ending a five-year run in the Championship, during which Arbroath finished higher than Morton three times and took seven wins against four for Morton, with seven draws.

Arbroath have lost each of their last seven matches. They have allowed 77 goals in league play this season. Morton have allowed 42. Morton have beaten Arbroath the last two times.

Morton cannot be relegated if they win and Queen's Park lose.

Dundee FC have been fined £186,000 over the state of their pitch. The club had five home matches postponed this season.

[Morton win 1 - 2 and avoid the relegation playoffs. Goals by Crawford and Oakley.]

The other Championship matches:

Inverness CT (8th) 0 - 1 Raith Rovers (2nd) (yesterday)

Dundee United (1st) [1 - 0] Ayr United (6th)

Partick Thistle (3rd) [4 - 0] Airdrieonians (4th)

Dunfermline (5th) [0 - 0] Queen's Park (9th)*

*This is a Plenty of Nothing Consolation Cup Round One match. [Dunfermline advance on the yellow card rule.]

Scottish Cup semi-finals:

Aberdeen [3 - 3] Celtic [Celtic win on PK]

Rangers [2 - 0] Hearts (tomorrow)

Celtic won the cup last year, Rangers the year before, Hearts in 2012, and Aberdeen in '84.

Other matches:

Hurlford 0 - 1 Largs Thistle (April 16)

Irvine Meadow XI [0 - 1] Largs Thistle

Newry City 1 - 3 Carrick Rangers (April 16)

East Craigie 0 - 2 St James (April 17)

East Craigie [3 - 0] Montrose Roselea

Vancouver FC 2 - 0 HFX Wanderers (April 18)

Wexford 2 - 3 UCD (yesterday)

Police 1 - 0 Sheikh Russel (yesterday)

BSC Glasgow [2 - 0] Carluke Rovers

Carrick Rangers [2 - 1] Loughgall

Civil Service Strollers [2 - 1] Linlithgow Rose

[Edinburgh University are relegated from the Lowland Leaague.]

Wick Academy [1 - 1] Banks o' Dee

[Buckie Thistle win the Highland League.]

Berwick Rangers [2 - 1] Albion Rovers

FC Isle of Man [3 - 2] AFC Liverpool

Cardiff MU [1 - 3] Newtown (tomorrow)

Valur [3 - 1] Þór/KA (tomorrow)

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

Sfida Setagaya [2 - 0] Ehime (tomorrow)

Amateur clubs may now apply for West of Scotland League membership.

Scottish Junior Cup, semi-finals, leg two:

Darvel 0 - 1 Auchinleck Talbot (yesterday)

Darvel win 2 - 1 on aggregate and advance to the final.

Johnstone Burgh [1 - 2] Arthurlie

Arthurlie advance.

One semifinal features two Ayrshire clubs, the other two Renfrewshire clubs. The last eleven winners of the Scottish Junior Cup have come from the West of Scotland.

Talbot have won the Junior Cup 14 times, Johnstone Burgh and Arthurlie twice each, and Darvel never.

The towns of Johnstone and Arthurlie both had clubs in the SFL Division Two in 1924-25. I'm currently compiling historical results for Arthurlie and Johnstone's old club Johnstone FC, and some other Renfrewshire clubs. Links will appear in the margin.

AFC Champions League SF, first leg (April 17): 

Ulsan HD 1 - 0 Yokohama F Marinos

Mie Prefecture Soccer Championship 2024, semifinals (tomorrow):

Match No. 1: Atletico Suzuka [1 - 0] Yokkaichi University

Match No. 2: FC Ise-Shima [0 - 3] Veertien Mie

A tier-VI Angus league within the 2022-23 Midlands Football League:

                                      G    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts

Carnoustie Panmure    10    9    1    0    41      6    +35    28

Kirriemuir Thistle          10    6    2    2    27    15    +12    20

Forfar United                10    5    1    4    19    22       -3    16

Arbroath Victoria          10    4    1    5    20    22       -2    13

Brechin Victoria            10    2    0    8    13    30     -17      6

Forfar West End           10    1    1    8    11    36     -25      4

Historical matches:

1968/4/17      Morton 3 - 3 Rangers

1968/4/20      Celtic 2 - 1 Morton

1996/4/20      Morton 1 - 0 St Johnstone

Goal by Douglas Johnstone.

Arthurlie FC 1906-07:

1907/4/27      Arthurlie 1 - 0 Albion Rovers    ICS SF leg two

1907/4/20      Albion Rovers 5 - 2 Arthurlie    ICS SF leg one

1907/4/13      Abercorn scr-wo Arthurlie    ICS R1

1907/4/8        St Mirren 2 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup R2

1907/3/30      Raith Rovers 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/3/23      Arthurlie 3 -  1 Ayr FC    SFL2

1907/3/16      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Albion Rovers    SFL2

1907/3/9        Cowdenbeath 2 - 5 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/3/2        bye    RCup R1

1907/2/23      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Raith Rovers    SFL2

1907/2/16      Leith Athletic 1 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/2/9        Ayr Parkhouse 1 - 3 Arthurlie    SFL2

1907/2/2        Arthurlie 1 - 2 St Mirren    SCup R1

1907/1/19      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Ayr Parkhouse    SFL2

1907/1/12      Arthurlie 3 - 4 Abercorn    SFL2

1907/1/5        Arthurlie 5 - 1 St Bernard's    SFL2

1906/12/29    Abercorn 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1906/12/22    St Bernard's 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1906/12/8      East Stirlingshire 1 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1906/12/1      Ayr FC 3 - 1 Arthurlie    SFL2

1906/11/24    Arthurlie 3 - 2 Leith Athletic    SFL2

1906/11/17    Arthurlie 2 - 2 Cowdenbeath    SFL2

1906/11/10    Dumbarton 3 - 2 Arthurlie    SFL2

1906/11/3      Renton 1 - 0 Arthurlie    QCup R5

1906/10/27    Arthurlie 1 - 0 East Stirlingshire    SFL2

1906/10/20    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Maxwelltown Volunteers    QCup R4

1906/10/13    Arthurlie 3 - 0 Dumbarton    SFL2

1906/10/6      Abercorn 0 - 2 Arthurlie    QCup R3 replay

1906/9/29      Arthurlie 1 - 1 Abercorn    QCup R3

1906/9/22      East Stirlingshire 0 - 1 Arthurlie    QCup R2

1906/9/15      Vale of Leven 2 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

1906/9/8        Arthurlie 2 - 0 Thornliebank    QCup R1 replay

1906/9/1        Thornliebank vs Arthurlie (abandoned)    QCup R1

1906/8/25      Arthurlie 5 - 4 Vale of Leven    SFL2

1906/8/18      Albion Rovers 3 - 0 Arthurlie    SFL2

(Sources: London Hearts for the SFL Division Two; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Qualifying Cup and the Scottish Cup; Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Renfrewshire Cup and the Inter-County Shield.)

Scottish Cup Final 1920

Killie, 1920. Source.

KILMARNOCK, 3: ALBION ROVERS, 2.

Scottish Cup --- Final Tie

    At Hampden Park, Glasgow, in splendid weather, and before 95,000 spectators, a record attendance for a club match in Scotland. The drawings at gates amounted to £4521 (including tax). Teams: ---

    Kilmarnock --- Blair; Hamilton and Gibson; Bagan, Shortt and Neave; M'Naught and M. Smith; J. R. Smith; Culley and M'Phail.

    Albion Rovers --- Short; Penman and Bell; Wilson, Black, and Ford; Ribchester and Jas. White; John White; Watson and Hillhouse.

    Referee: --- W. Bell (Hamilton).

    The Rovers were the more aggressive side during the opening minutes of what proved a fast and keenly contested match. After J. R. Smith had shot wide of the post, Albion Rovers forced a corner kick, which was sent behind by Ribchester. Returning to the attack, the Rovers five minutes after the start opened the scoring, Watson netting a pass from Ribchester. Immediately following this reverse Kilmarnock were seen to greater advantage, and Culley from close range equalised, the game at this stage having been in progress barely fifteen minutes. Though the Ayrshire team continued to have the better of the exchanges, there was no further scoring. Half-time --- Kilmarnock, 1; Albion Rovers, 1.

    Always the better side in the second period, Kilmarnock through Shortt secured the lead within a few minutes after resuming. The Rovers then forced matters, and Hillhouse, accepting a pass from Wilson, made the score two goals each. Midway though the half J. R. Smith completed a pretty combined forward movement by scoring with a fine shot Kilmarnock's third and winning goal. Towards the close Albion Rovers made a good but futile effort to draw level. Result: --- Kilmarnock, 3; Albion Rovers, 2.

Glasgow Herald, April 19, 1920, p. 13.

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)

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

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.)

Bo'ness

Bo'ness FC, probably in 1922 when they won the Calder Shield. Source.

It's the Scottish Cup, Round Three. Morton host Bo'ness United.

Bo'ness United have been around since 1945. They won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1948, 1976 and 1984. In 2018 they crossed over from the juniors to the East of Scotland League, won that league in 2020 and were promoted to the Lowland League beginning in 2020-21. There they have finished 7th, 11th and 9th, and are currently 4th. They wear blue. Their nickname is "The B.U.'s."

You may recall that Bo'ness United's pitch was set on fire in 2019.

Morton have never played the B.U.'s before, but they did play Bo'ness FC (1878-1945) four times, twice in the 1928-29 Division Two, taking a win and a draw, and twice in the Scottish Cup, winning 10 - 0 in 1900-01, and 9 - 0 in 1934-35.

There's another Bo'ness club, Bo'ness Athletic, who are playing in an Alex Cup semi-final today. (See A below.)

Bo'ness is short for Borrowstounness. It's a seaside town in West Lothian.

If Morton lose today it'll be their second earliest exit from all the cups ever. (See B below.)

[Morton win 4 - 0. Goals by Oakley, Bearne, Muirhead and O'Boy in his debut.]

The other Scottish Cup matches:

Dunfermline Athletic (Ch) 0 - 3 Raith Rovers (Ch) (yesterday)

They've met six times before in the Scottish Cup and taken three wins each. This is their fourth meeting in all competitions so far this season.

Clyde (L2) 2 - 0 Jeanfield Swifts (ELP) (yesterday)

First meeting ever.

Cumnock (WLP) [0 - 3] Broomhill (LL)

Partick Thistle (Ch) [3 - 0] Queen's Park (Ch)

They met in this cup four times in the 19th century and twice in the 20th, but not since 1928. Queen's Park won every time. See B below for their Glasgow Cup results.

Annan Athletic (L1) [4 - 5] Dumbarton (L2)    Upset

This is their first Scottish Cup meeting.

Stranraer (L2) [0 - 1] Airdrieonians (Ch)

This is their first Scottish Cup meeting.

Dunbar United (ELP) [1 - 2] Alloa Athletic (L1)

Broxburn Athletic (ELP) [2 - 2] Buckie Thistle (HL) [Buckie win on PK]

Hamilton Academical (L1) [0 - 2] Kelty Hearts (L1)

First Scottish Cup match.

Brora Rangers (HL) [1 - 0] Pollok (WLP)

Montrose (L1) [3 - 0] Edinburgh City (L1)

They met in the 2009-10 and 2012-13 Scottish Cups and took one win each.

Falkirk (L1) [3 - 0] Formartine United (HL)

First meeting ever.

Stirling Albion (L1) [0 - 2] Cove Rangers (L1)

First meeting in the Scottish Cup.

Inverness CT (Ch) [2 - 0] Cowdenbeath (LL)

First meeting in the Scottish Cup.

Peterhead (L2) [1 - 2] Ayr United (Ch)

They've met in the Scottish Cup three times before and Ayr have always won.

Tranent (LL) [0 - 1] Forfar (L2)

First meeting ever.

Queen of the South (L1) [2 - 2] Dundee United (Ch) [QoS win on PK]    Upset

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

The Spartans (L2) [2 - 1] Arbroath (Ch)    Upset

They met in the 1996-97 cup when Arbroath won, and the 2003-04 cup when The Spartans won.

Albion Rovers (LL) [0 - 1] Bonnyrigg Rose (L2)

First Scottish Cup meeting.

Other matches:

Turriff United 0 - 4 Banks o' Dee (November 22)

After this win Banks o' Dee hold second place in the Highland League.

Huntly [1 - 3] Banks o' Dee

Dundee Downfield [1 - 3] East Craigie

Largs Thistle [2 - 0] Johnstone Burgh

FC Isle of Man [0 - 1] Cheadle Town

Coleraine [1 - 1] Carrick Rangers

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0 - 2 Elfen Saitama (November 23)

Elfen Saitama [0 - 1] Cerezo Osaka (tomorrow)

Honda FC [3 - 1] Criacao Shinjuku (tomorrow)

This ends the 2023 JFL season.

Departures from HFX Wanderers: Fumpa Mwandwe, Mohamed Omar

45th Empress's Cup, Round 2:

Match No. 5: Orca Kamogawa (N1) [2 - 0] Okayama Yunogo Belle (N2)

Match No. 6: Fujieda Junshin High School (Tokai) [4 - 0] Lily Wolf F Ishikawa (Hokushin'etsu)

Match No. 7: Bunnys Gunma (N1) [1 - 1] Osaka University of Physical Education (Kansai) [Osaka win on PK]

Match No. 8: Ehime FC Ladies (N1) [4 - 0] Jumonji High School (Kanto)

Match No. 9: Asahi Intec Loveledge Nagoya (N1) [1 - 2] Viamaterrasu Mitazaki (N2)

Match No. 10: Toyo University (Kanto) [1 - 1] JFA Academy Fukushima (N2) [Toyo win on PK]

Match No. 11: AS Harima Albion (N1) [4 - 1] Enagic Ryukyu Deigos (Kyushu)

Match No. 12: Speranza Osaka (N1) [1 - 0] Tezukayama Gakuin University (Kansai)

Match No. 13: Iga FC Kunoichi Mie (N1) [2 - 1] Nihon University (Kanto)

Match No. 14: Fukuoka J Anclas (N2) [1 - 0] Nordea Hokkaido (N2)

Match No. 15: Nittaidai SMG Yokohama (N1) [3 - 1] Mynavi Sendai Ladies Youth (Tohoku)

Match No. 16: Shizuoka SSU Bonita (N1) [1 - 2] Teikyo Heisei University (Kanto)

Match No. 17: Sfida Setagaya (N1) [1 - 0] Waseda University (Kanto)

Match No. 18: Shunan Public University Vinculum (Chugoku) [0 - 1] Tokyo Verdy Menina (Kanto)

Match No. 19: Yokohama FC Seagulls (N1) [5 - 1] FC Imabari Ladies (Shizuoka)

Match No. 20: Yamato Sylphid (N1) [2 - 0] Yanagigaura High School (Kyushu)

Matches 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 18 are tomorrow.

The final stage of the Japanese Regional Champions League is going on:

Match No. 19: Vonds Ichihara 1 - 0 Joyful Honda Tsukuba (November 22)

Match No. 20: Tochigi City 1 - 2 Fukuyama City (November 22)

Match No. 21: Vonds Ichihara 0 - 1 Tochigi City (November 24)

Match No. 22: Joyful Honda Tsukuba 2 - 0 Fukuyama City (November 24)

They enter the final day of play in a four-way tie, with Joyful Honda Tsukuba one goal ahead on goal difference. The first-place finisher will be promoted to the JFL to fill the 16th spot left vacant when FC Kagaku Mane dropped out of the league. The second-place finisher will play off against the 15th-place JFL club.

Match No. 23: Vonds Ichihara [2 - 0] Fukuyama City (November 26)

Match No. 24: Joyful Honda Tsukuba [0 - 4] Tochigi City (November 26)

[The final pecking order is: Tochigi City, Vonds Ichihara, Joyful Honda Tsukuba and Fukuyama City.]

A) Alex Jack Cup, semi-final:

Arniston Rangers [0 - 3] Bo'ness Athletic

B) When was the earliest Morton were out of all the cups, and who finally put the sword to them?

2001/11/17        Queen of the South

2008/11/29        Peterhead

2014/11/29        The Spartans

2013/11/30        Inverness CT

2005/12/10        Ayr United

C) Queen's Park versus Partick Thistle in the Glasgow Cup:

1888/12/8      Queen's Park 8 - 0 Partick Thistle    F

1889/11/2      Queen's Park 6 - 3 Partick Thistle    R3

1898/9/17      Queen's Park 6 - 1 Partick Thistle    R1

1928/9/4        Queen's Park 3 - 0 Partick Thistle    R1

1937/9/1        Partick Thistle 1 - 1 Queen's Park     R1

1937/9/6        Queen's Park 1 - 5 Partick Thistle    R1 replay

1941/8/27      Partick Thistle 5 - 3 Queen's Park    R1

1945/9/24      Partick Thistle 0 - 0 Queen's Park      SF

1945/10/1      Queen's Park 2 - 1 Partick Thistle     SF replay

1954/8/24      Partick Thistle 1 - 1 Queen's Park     R1

1954/8/26      Queen's Park 1 - 1 Partick Thistle     R1 replay

1954/8/30      Partick Thistle 0 - 0 Queen's Park (Partick won coin toss)    R1 replay

1958/8/25      Queen's Park 2 - 1 Partick Thistle    R1

1979/3/5        Queen's Park 0 - 3 Partick Thistle    R1

1981/9/29      Partick Thistle 0 - 1 Queen's Park     R1

1983/5/10      Partick Thistle 2 - 0 Queen's Park    R1

1989/4/18      Queen's Park 0 - 1 Partick Thistle    R1

(Source: Scottish Football Historical Archive)

Historical matches:

1944/11/25    Morton 3 - 1 Third Lanark

1967/11/25    Morton 0 - 3 Dunfermline

1995/11/25    Dunfermline 0 - 2 Morton

Goals by Lilley and Hawke.

2023 Canadian Premier League Final

Forge and Cavalry opened their league campaigns against each other on April 15th. Source.

Forge host Cavalry in the 2023 Canadian Premier League playoff final. Cavalry won the regular season title, but they have never won the playoffs, whereas Forge have won them three times. In terms of qualifying for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup this is a meaningless game. Cavalry have already qualified as regular season champion and if they also win the playoffs today then the other CanPL berth in the Champions Cup will devolve to the regular season runner-up, Forge.

The Champions Cup begins in February.

Three out of the ten Player of the Year nominees are HFX Wanderers: Callegari, Ferrin and Nimick.

The CanPL's Saskatchewan expansion franchise is on 'indefinite hold'.

Forge versus Cavalry so far this year:

2023/4/15      Forge 2 - 2 Cavalry

2023/6/3        Cavalry 1 - 1 Forge

2023/8/4        Cavalry 3 - 0 Forge

2023/9/9        Forge 0 - 0 Cavalry

2023/10/14    Cavalry 1 - 2 Forge

[Forge 2 -  1 Cavalry.]

The Scottish Championship:

Morton visit Ayr United. Ayr are sixth with 12 points, Morton tenth with 5. But Morton won their first meeting 3 - 1 back on August 5th.

Morton are seven league matches without a win. This is their longest winless streak under Dougie Imrie and their worst since they went ten matches without a win from August to October 2021 under Gus McPherson. Morton have been Team Ten for the past three weeks. Still, between a cup win, a draw and a postponement, Morton have not lost in October.

After eight league matches Morton have scored 8 goals and allowed 16, a ratio of 1:2, but they have not actually lost a match by the score of 1 - 2.

Grant Gillespie played for Ayr in 2020 as did Jack Baird from 2020 to 2022. Ayr's Andy Murdoch played for Morton from 2016 to 2018 and Sean McGinty played for Morton in 2021-22.

Last week's postponed match has been rescheduled to December 12.

Once-upon-a-time Morton forward Nacho Novo has left his managerial job at Lexington SC after losing five straight.

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

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

Dundee United (1st) 6 - 0 Arbroath (5th) (last night)

Inverness CT (9th) [1 - 0] Airdrieonians (4th)

Raith Rovers (2nd) [1 - 0] Dunfermline Athletic (7th)

It's the Scottish Cup, Round Two. There are ten teams from League Two (L2), eleven from the Highland League (HL), eight from the Lowland League (LL), five from the East of Scotland League Premier Division (ELP), four from the West of Scotland League Premier Division (WLP), one from the East of Scotland League First Division (EL1) and one from the West of Scotland League First Division (WL1).

Civil Service Strollers (LL) [0 - 3] Stranraer (L2)

Albion Rovers (LL) [2 - 1] St Andrew's United (EL1)

Stenhousemuir (L2) [0 - 2] Brora Rangers (HL)    Upset

Cumnock Juniors (WLP) [2 - 1] Turriff United (HL)    Upset

Kilwinning Rangers (WL1) [0 - 1] Cowdenbeath (LL)

Peterhead (L2) [3 - 1] Clachnacuddin (HL)

Deveronvale (HL) [0 - 1] Broxburn Athletic (ELP)    Upset

Forres Mechanics (HL) [0 - 1] Buckie Thistle (HL)

Dumbarton (L2) [3 - 2] Banks o' Dee (HL)

Dunbar United (ELP) [1 - 0] East Fife (L2)    Upset

Fraserburgh (HL) [1 - 2] Bonnyrigg Rose (L2)

Tranent (LL) [7 - 0] East Kilbride (LL)

Formartine United (HL) [3 - 2] Clydebank (WLP)

Beith Juniors (WLP) [1 - 3] Broomhill (LL)

Brechin City (HL) [1 - 2] The Spartans (L2)

Jeanfield Swifts (ELP) [6 - 0] Elgin City (L2)    Upset!

Luncarty (ELP) vs Bo'ness United (LL) [postponed to November 4]

Huntly (HL) [1 - 4] Forfar (L2)

Pollok (WLP) [5 - 2] Gala Fairydean Rovers (LL)    Upset

Musselburgh Athletic (ELP) [2 - 3] Clyde (L2) (Monday)

Alex Jack Cup, semi-finals;

Arniston Rangers vs Bo'ness Athletic [postponed]

Heriot Watt University [1 - 1] Rosyth [Heriot Watt win on PK]

Other matches:

Shelbourne 3 - 2 UCD (yesterday)

East Craigie [2 - 1] Forfar West End

Largs Thistle [1 - 0] Benburb

St Peter's [3 - 1] Carluke Rovers

Wythenshawe [1 - 2] FC Isle of Man

Pontypridd [1 - 3] Cardiff Metropolitan University

Carrick Rangers [1 - 3] Glenavon

Fujieda MYFC [1 - 0] Mito HollyHock

Kochi United [1 - 1] Honda FC (tomorrow)

Morton Women [0 - 5] Renfrew (tomorrow)

KÍ have won the Faroe Islands league for the 21st time.

2023-24 UEFA Champions League group stage, matchday 3 (October 25):

Celtic 2 - 2 Atlético Madrid

2023-24 UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 3 (October 26):

Sparta Praha 0 - 0 Rangers

2023-24 UEFA Conference group stage, matchday 3 (October 26):

Aberdeen 2 - 3 PAOK

2023-24 AFC Champions League group stage, matchday 3 (October 24-25):

Group G: Yokohama F. Marinos 3 - 0 Kaya-Iloilo

Group H: Zhejiang 2 - 0 Ventforet Kofu

Group I: BG Pathum United 2 - 4 Kawasaki Frontale

Group J: Urawa Red Diamonds 0 - 2 Pohang Steelers

59th Shakaijin:

    QF (October 23):

J-Lease 1 - 3 Joyful Honda Tsukuba

FC Kariya 5 - 0 KMG Holdings FC

Veroskronos Tsuno 0 - 1 Arterivo Wakayama

FC Tokushima 2 - 1 FC Nobeoka Agata

    SF (October 24):

Joyful Honda Tsukuba 2 - 2 FC Kariya (Kariya won on PK.)

Arterivo Wakayama 3 - 1 FC Tokushima

    Final (October 25):

FC Kariya 1 - 1 Arterivo Wakayama (Kariya won on PK)

    3rd place (October 25):

Joyful Honda Tsukuba 1 - 2 FC Tokushima

African Football League QF, second leg (October 26):

Wydad AC 3 - 0 Enyimba

SF, first leg (tomorrow):

Wydad AC [1 - 0] ES Tunis

Historical matches:

1882/10/28    Johnstone 2 - 1 Morton (Scottish Cup R3)

1944/10/28    Morton 2 - 3 Clyde

1967/10/28    Morton 0 - 2 St Johnstone

Morton are seventh in Division One.

1995/10/28    Dumbarton 0 - 2 Morton

Two for Warren Hawke. Morton are in third place.