Plenty of Nothing

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.

Gourock Train Station

Gourock Train Station before the Seventies. Source.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The other Challenge Cup matches:

Falkirk 4 - 2 Dundee United (yesterday)

You really just want them both to lose.

Hamilton Accies 1 - 4 Raith Rovers (yesterday)

This is a rematch of last year's final.

The New Saints [4 - 1] Arbroath

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

SPFL Championship:

Dunfermline [1 - 1] Inverness CT

2023-24 South Challenge Cup, R4:

Beith [2 - 3] Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Broxburn [3 - 0] Auchinleck Talbot

Caledonian Braves [2 - 0] Cumbernauld United

Cowdenbeath [6 - 0] Lanark United

Dunbar United vs Cumbernauld Colts [postponed]

Heriot Watt University [1 - 3] Rutherglen Glencairn

Kennoway Star Hearts vs St Andrews United [postponed]

Kilwinning Rangers [3 - 0] Albion Rovers

Largs Thistle [1 - 2] Ashfield

Lugar Boswell Thistle [0 - 5] Tranent

Musselburgh Athletic [0 - 2] Johnstone Burgh

Pollok [2 - 0] Linlithgow Rose

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

Shotts Bon Accord [2 - 1] Glenafton Athletic

St Cadoc's [2 - 5] East Kilbride

Threave Rovers vs Leith Athletic [postponed]

Troon [3 - 2] Thornton Hibs

Other matches:

Banks o' Dee [2 - 1] Formartine United

Dundee St James vs East Craigie [postponed]

Auchinleck Talbot 1 - 0 Largs Thistle (November 15)

Largs Thistle vs Cumnock Juniors (postponed)

East Kilbride Thistle [2 - 2] Carluke Rovers

Carrick Rangers [0 - 3] Cliftonville (tomorrow)

Colne vs FC Isle of Man [postponed]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winnipeg Blue Bombers [24 - 28] Montreal Alouettes

Random:

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

Historical matches:

1944/11/18    Albion Rovers 4 - 3 Morton

1967/11/18    Morton 3 - 1 Clyde

1995/11/18    Morton 0 - 3 St Mirren

Morton versus divisional rivals in the Challenge Cup:

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

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

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

2019/9/7        Inverness CT 3 - 1 Morton

2017/8/15      Morton 0 - 2 Livingston

2015/7/25      Morton 2 - 3 Dumbarton

2011/9/4        Hamilton Academical 2 - 1 Morton

2010/8/10      Ross County 3 - 1 Morton

2009/8/18      Ross County 2 - 1 Morton

2008/10/12    Ross County 4 - 1 Morton

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

2007/10/2      Morton 1 - 3 St Johnstone

2007/8/14      Morton 1 - 0 Livingston

2006/8/29      Morton 3 - 2 Cowdenbeath

2005/9/14      Stirling Albion 1 - 2 Morton

2005/7/30      Morton 3 - 2 Gretna

2004/7/31      Forfar 3 - 1 Morton

2003/8/12      Morton 1 - 2 Airdrieonians

2003/8/2        Morton 4 - 3 Arbroath

2002/8/5        Morton 3 - 2 Stirling Albion

2000/8/15      Raith Rovers 0 - 4 Morton

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

1996/9/10      Morton 2 - 1 Partick Thistle

1994/10/4      Dundee 2 - 1 Morton

1994/9/27      Morton 4 - 3 St Johnstone

1993/10/19    Morton 2 - 4 St Mirren

1992/12/13    Hamilton Academical 3 - 2 Morton

1992/10/28    Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton

1991/10/22    Morton 2 - 3 Raith Rovers

1991/10/15    Morton 2 - 1 Kilmarnock

Official Programme

Morton visited Ibrox on this date in 1967. See A below for the final score. Source.

Morton visit Partick Thistle. Partick are third in the division with 19 points, Morton tenth with 8. Morton have been in last place for six weeks. (See B below.)

Morton lost 1 - 4 to Partick at Cappielow September 2nd. So far this season Morton have won one and lost five at home. They are a little bit better away, with 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. Partick have two wins at home and three away.

Partick score two goals per game on average, Morton one. But they're nearly even on goals allowed.

[Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Morton. Goal by Gillespie.]

The other Championship matches:

Dunfermline (4th) 1 - 2 Dundee United (1st) (last night)

Airdrieonians (6th) [2 - 0] Arbroath (8th)

ICT (9th) [3 - 1] Ayr United (5th)

Queen's Park (7th) [2 - 3] Raith Rovers (2nd)

Scottish Challenge Cup, R4:

Rangers B 2 - 4 Airdrieonians, at Cappielow (November 7)

Winner plays Morton in the quarter-finals.

Aberdeenshire Shield, semi-final (November 8):

Huntley 1 - 1 Banks o' Dee (Banks o' Dee win on PK)

Other matches:

Linlithgow Rose [2 - 0] East Stirlingshire

Forres Mechanics [2 - 2] Banks o' Dee

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy vs Largs Thistle (postponed)

East Craigie vs Blairgowrie [postponed]

Newburgh [1 - 4] Peebles Rovers

Carluke Rovers [5 - 3] Campbeltown Pupils

East Fife [5 - 1] Morton Women (tomorrow)

FC Isle of Man [1 - 0] Pilkington

Dungannon Swifts [2 - 3] Carrick Rangers

The WE League regular season begins:

Elfen Saitama [1 - 3] Mynavi Sendai

Honda FC [1 - 0] Murayasu Okazaki

Mito HollyHock [1 - 1] Shimiku S-Pulse (tomorrow)

This ends the J2 schedule. As usual, Mito HollyHock avoid both promotion and relegation. That's much easier to do in a 22-team league than in the 10-team Scottish Championship; still, Mito's 25 straight years (if you include next year) in the same division is a Japanese professional record surpassed only by two J1 clubs, Yokohama F. Marinos and Kashima Antlers.

How did the four Tohoku J2 clubs do against one another?

2023/3/12      Vegalta Sendai 0 - 1 Iwaki FC

2023/5/3        Vegalta Sendai 2 - 2 Blaublitz Akita

2023/5/13      Vegalta Sendai 2 - 1 Montedio Yamagata

2023/5/14      Iwaki FC 0 - 1 Blaublitz Akita

2023/5/21      Montedio Yamagata 2 - 1 Blaublitz Akita

2023/6/11      Montedio Yamagata 3 - 0 Iwaki FC

2023/7/1        Montedio Yamagata 4 - 1 Vegalta Sendai

2023/7/2        Blaublitz Akita 1 - 1 Iwaki FC

2023/9/23      Blaublitz Akita 1 - 1 Montedio Yamagata

2023/10/8      Iwaki FC 2 - 2 Vegalta Sendai

2023/10/22    Blaublitz Akita 0 - 1 Vegalta Sendai

2023/11/4      Iwaki FC 1 - 3 Montedio Yamagata

                                   G    W    D     L     F    A    GD    Pts

Montedio Yamagata    6     4     1     1    14     6    +8    13

Vegalta Sendai            6     2     2     2     8    10     -2      8

Blaublitz Akita              6    1     3     2      6      7     -1      6

Iwaki FC                      6     1     2     3     5    10     -5      5

How did Mito HollyHock fare against the four Tohoku J2 clubs in 2023?

2023/2/26      Mito HollyHock 2 - 2 Iwaki FC

2023/3/19      Blaublitz Akita 1 - 1 Mito HollyHock

2023/4/2        Montedio Yamagata 0 - 1 Mito HollyHock

2023/5/7        Mito HollyHock 1 - 0 Vegalta Sendai

2023/7/9        Iwaki FC 4 - 3 Mito HollyHock

2023/7/16      Mito HollyHock 3 - 1 Montedio Yamagata

2023/8/19      Mito HollyHock 1 - 1 Blaublitz Akita

2023/9/16      Vegalta Sendai 0 - 1 Mito HollyHock

                                   G   W   D    L       F    A    GD   Pts

Mito HollyHock            8    4    3    1    13     9    +4    15

Tohoku clubs               8    1    3    4      9    13    -4      6

(Iwaki FC                     2    1    1    0      6     5    +1      4

Blaublitz Akita              2    0    2    0      2     2      0      2

Vegalta Sendai            2    0    0    2      0     2     -2      0

Montedio Yamagata)   2    0    0    2      1     4     -3      0

It's the 2023 Regional Champions League, Round One. The twelve participants are: BTOP Hokkaido (Hokkaido), Blancdieu Hirosaki (Tohoku), Vonds Ichihara (Kanto), Fukui United (Hokushinetsu), Wyvern (Tokai), Arterivo Wakayama (Kansai), Fukuyama City (Chugoku), FC Tokushima (Shikoku), Veroskronos Tsuno (Kyushu) plus FC Kariya, Joyful Honda Tsukuba and Tochigi City. Kariya and Tsukuba advance from the 59th Shakaijin, and Tochigi City were second in the Kanto League and have 100 Year Plan status.

The clubs are divided into three groups of four, and the three group winners plus the best second-place finisher will go on to the final round to establish the pecking order for promotion to the JFL.

BTOP, Tochigi City, FC Kariya, Arterivo Wakayama, Fukuyama City, FC Tokushima and Veroskronos Tsuno were all in last year's tournament.

Let's follow Blancdieu Hirosaki:

2023/11/10    FC Kariya 2 - 2 Blancdieu Hirosaki

2023/11/11    Blancdieu Hirosaki [0 - 1] Wyvern FC

2023/11/12    Blancdieu Hirosaki [1 - 1] Fukuyama City

[Tochigi City, Fukuyama City, Joyful Honda Tsukuba and Vonds Ichihara advance to the final stage.]

Scottish Junior Cup, Round 3:

Dundee Downfield [1 - 0] Dalry Thistle

Dundee Violet [0 - 3] St Cadocs

Gartcairn [2 - 3] Largs Thistle

Hermes [0 - 8] Hurlford

Johnstone Burgh [3 - 1] Irvine Meadow XI

Rothie Rovers [4 - 3] Shotts Bon Accord

Rutherglen Glencairn [3 - 3] Arthurlie [Arthurlie win on PK]

Canadian Premier League:

João Morelli has retired.

FIFA will put $2 million into the CanPL between now and the World Cup.

2023 FAI Cup final (tomorrow):

Bohemians [1 - 3] St Patrick's

2023-24 UEFA Champions League group stage, matchday 4 (November 7):

Atlético Madrid 6 - 0 Celtic

2023-24 UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 4 (November 9):

Rangers 2 - 1 Sparta Praha

2023-24 UEFA Conference group stage, matchday 4 (November 9):

PAOK 2 - 2 Aberdeen

2023-24 AFC Champions League group stage, matchday 4 (November 7 - 8):

Group G: Kaya-Iloilo 1 - 2 Yokohama F. Marinos

Group H: Ventforet Kofu 4 - 1 Zhejiang

Group I: Kawasaki Frontale 4 - 2 BG Pathum United

Group J: Pohang Steelers 2 - 1 Urawa Red Diamonds

2023 African Football League, finals:

First leg (November 5): Wydad 2 - 1 Mamelodi Sundowns

Second leg (tomorrow): Mamelodi Sundowns [2 - 0] Wydad

[Mamelodi win the inaugural African Football League.]

2023 USports men's soccer championship final (tomorrow):

[Carabins de Montréal 0 - 1 Cape Breton University]

2023 USports women's soccer championship final (tomorrow):

[UBC 1 - 0 Trinity Western]

A) Historical matches:

1944/11/11    Hamilton Academical 4 - 2 Morton

1967/11/11    Rangers 1 - 0 Morton

1995/11/11    Dundee 0 - 0 Morton

B) Top and bottom Championship sides week by week (1 of 3):

Week 1            Dundee United            Arbroath

Week 2            Queen's Park              Arbroath

Week 3            Queen's Park              Inverness CT

Week 4            Dundee United            Inverness CT

Week 5            Raith Rovers               Inverness CT

Week 6            Dundee United            Inverness CT

Week 7            Dundee United            Morton

Week 8            Dundee United            Morton

Week 9            Dundee United            Morton

Week 10          Dundee United            Morton

Week 11          Dundee United            Morton

Week 12          Dundee United            Morton

Arbroath held tenth place for twelve weeks last season but ended up eighth, so there's hope for Morton yet.

WE League kits, 2023-24. Source.

Koji Homma

Koji Homma has played goal for Mito HollyHock since 1999, appearing in a record 575 J2 matches, though he's definitely backup goalie now. Source.

Having entertained Raith Tuesday Morton host Dunfermline today. This Friday night game is for the benefit of BBC Scotland. It's Morton's first Friday-nighter since match 36 of last season.

Dunfermline sit eighth with 11 points. Morton are tenth with 8. The Pars are hopeless at Cappielow, and as ICT play undefeated Dundee United this weekend it's a golden opportunity for Morton to move out of last place.

At the moment only the top three Championship clubs have winning records. Fourth-place Ayr have two more losses than wins and a -6 goal difference.

[Morton 1 - 2 Dunfermline. Goal by Steven Boyd.]

The other Championship matches (tomorrow):

Arbroath (6th) [1 - 3] Partick Thistle (3rd)

Ayr United (4th) [2 - 2] Queen's Park (7th)

Dundee United (1st) [1 - 1] Inverness CT (9th)

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

Scottish League Cup semi-finals:

Hibs [0 - 1] Aberdeen (tomorrow)

Hearts [1 - 3] Rangers (Sunday)

When was the last time Rangers, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen made up the four semi-finalists? It was in 1946-47, the first year of the cup. Who won it that year? Rangers.

When was the last time Morton made the League Cup semi-finals? 2016. And the time before that? 1979.

Who appeared for Morton in that semi-final in 2016? Andrew McNeil, Thomas O'Ware, Gavin Gunning, Michael Doyle, Mark Russell, Kudus Oyenuga, Jamie Lindsay, Jamie McDonagh, Andrew Murdoch, Gary Oliver, Jai Quitongo, and substitutes Aidan Nesbitt, Scott Tiffoney and Lee Kilday. Jim Duffy was manager.

Other matches:

UCD [1 - 5] Dundalk

This ends the season. UCD finish tenth and are relegated to the First Division, replaced by Galway United.

Banks o' Dee [2 - 0] Fraserburgh

Tomorrow:

Cowdenbeath [1 - 1] Linlithgow Rose

Peebles Rovers [2 - 2] Coldstream

Cardiff Metropolitan University [3 - 1] Connah's Quay Nomads

Glentoran [2 - 3] Carrick Rangers

Júbilo Iwata [5 - 0] Mito HollyHock

Iwaki FC [1 - 3] Montedio Yamagata

Tiamo Hirakata [1 - 4] Honda FC (Sunday)

Our guys 1. FC Saarbrücken have knocked Bayern Munich out of the DFB-Pokal.

2023-24 Men's Scottish Cup, Round 2:

Luncarty [0 - 1] Bo'ness United

Winner plays Morton in Round 3.

2023-24 Scottish Junior Cup (tomorrow):

Round 2:

Ashfield [1 - 3] Largs Thistle

Forfar United [1 - 6] Arthurlie

Hurlford United [6 - 0] Tayport

Johnstone Burgh [3 - 0] Dundee North End

Rutherglen Glencairn [2 - 0] Troon

Shotts Bon Accord [0 - 0] St Roch's [Shotts win on PK]

Round 3:

Bellshill Athletic [3 - 1] Lesmahagow Juniors

Bridge of Don Thistle [1 - 1] Auchinleck Talbot [Talbot win on PK]

Caledonian Locomotives [4 - 2] Carnoustie Panmure

Culter [0 - 2] Lochee United

Dundee Downfield vs Dalry Thistle [postponed]

St Anthony's [2 - 2] Benburb [Benburb win on PK]

Stonehaven [2 - 0] Aberdeen East End

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, Round Two (Sunday):

Rossvale [5 - 1] St Mirren

Renfrew [wo/scr] Grampian

Westdyke [5 - 3] Morton

Airdrie [3 - 2] Queen of the South

Armadale Thistle [1 - 2] Edinburgh Caledonia

Inverness CT [8 - 0] Drumchapel United

Falkirk [0 - 2] Glenrothes Strollers

East Fife [3 - 0] Dryburgh

Stenhousemuir [12 - 0] Hutchison Vale

Inverurie Loco Works [2 - 4] Ayr United

Bonnyrigg Rose [5 - 0] Giffnock

Edinburgh City [0 - 6] Dyce

Historical matches:

1882/11/4      Morton 2 - 2 Johnstone Rovers (Renfrewshire Cup R1 replay)

1944/11/4      Rangers 2 - 4 Morton

1967/11/4      Morton 3 - 3 Raith Rovers

1995/11/4      Morton 2 - 1 Airdrieonians

Goals for Mahood and Rajamaki.

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)

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.

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.

Town Hall

No. 11 King Street, Port Glasgow, was built in 1758 and for a time served as Town Hall. Source.

It's Round Four of the Challenge Cup. Morton host Kelty Hearts. These two met in the League Cup group stage in July and Morton won 3 - 1.

Morton reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals four straight years from 2005-06 to 2008-09 but haven't been that far since. Between 2009 and now they have been knocked out in their first match six times. They recently went seven years without a Challenge Cup win. Since 1990 twenty-five clubs have built a better record in this cup than Morton's, including one defunct club and one Welsh one.

But last season Hamilton won the Challenge Cup and went on to be relegated, so anything can happen.

Michael Tidser visits Cappielow as a manager for the first time.

[Morton win 4 - 1. Goals by Muirhead (3) and Crawford. Kelty goal by Reece Lyon.]

The other Challenge Cup matches:

Raith Rovers [3 - 1] Montrose

East Kilbride [2 - 5] Hamilton Academical

These two have met twice before, the Accies winning both times.

Falkirk [1 - 0] Queen's Park

These two first met in Round Three of the 1886-87 Scottish Cup. Queen's Park won that one 3 - 8.

Queen of the South [1 - 2] Arbroath

The New Saints [2 - 2] East Fife [TNS win on PK]

The New Saints are the last remaining cross-border club.

Peterhead [0 - 2] Dundee United

Rangers B vs Airdrieonians (November 7)

Rangers B are the last remaining colt team.

Has there ever been a Challenge Cup match between non-SFA clubs? Yes:

2018/10/13    Bohemians 0 - 0 Sutton United (Bohemians won on PK)

2018/10/13    Connah's Quay Nomads 2 - 0 Coleraine

2023-24 South Challenge Cup, R3 (selected matches):

Beith [4 - 2] Arthurlie

Auchinleck Talbot [4 - 1] Arniston Rangers

Glenafton Athletic [1 - 0] Dundonald Bluebell

Hurlford United [0 - 1] Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Cumbernauld Colts [4 - 2] Irvine Meadow XI

Jeanfield Swifts [1 - 1] Largs Thistle [Largs win on PK]

Pollok 6 - 2 Camelon Juniors (yesterday)

Gretna 2008 [1 - 6] St Cadoc's

Troon [3 - 0] Abbey Vale

Linlithgow Rose [4 - 2] St Peter's

Scottish Junior Cup, Round 2:

Aberdeen East End [5 - 0] East Kilbride Thistle

Carnoustie Panmure [3 - 2] Letham

Dundee Violet [3 - 0] Deveronside

You have to believe that opposing fans call these guys Neveronside.

Finnart [2 - 1] Dyce

Kello Rovers [2 - 3] Gartcairn

Vale of Leven [1 - 0] Carluke Rovers

Canadian Premier League playoffs:

HFX Wanderers finished the regular season in third place, with an identical record to second-place Forge. It wasn't until the fourth tie-breaker (away game goal difference) that Forge emerged the stronger side.

The league has adopted the Page system for this year's playoffs. Five teams qualify. Match #1, the fourth-place finisher plays the fifth-place finisher. Match #2, the third-place finisher plays the winner of Match #1. Match #3, the first-place finisher plays the second-place finisher. Match #4, the loser of Match #3 plays the winner of Match #2. Match #5, the winner of Match #3 plays the winner of Match #4. So Match #3 and Match #5 can feature the same two teams.

HFX Wanderers and Pacific were even in league play this season, with a win, two draws and a loss each.

Match #1 (October 11):

Pacific 1 - 0 York United

Match #2 (today):

HFX Wanderers [0 - 1] Pacific

Match #3 (today):

Cavalry [1 - 2] Forge

Other matches:

UCD 1 - 2 Bohemians (October 12)

Carrick Rangers 1 - 2 Linfield (yesterday)

Montrose Roselea [1 - 7] East Craigie

Montrose Roselea transferred from the North Region Premier League prior to this season. They use Links Park when Montrose FC are out of town.

Inverurie Loco Works [0 - 2] Banks o' Dee

West Didsbury & Chorlton [2 -1] FC Isle of Man

Dryburgh [5 - 1] Morton Women (tomorrow)

Fuji Club [7 - 1] Morioka Zebra (tomorrow)

Aberdeenshire Shield (October 11):

Hermes 3 - 4 Banks o' Dee

UEFA Women's Champions League 2QR, first leg (October 11):

Glasgow City 0 - 4 Brann

WE League Cup final:

Sanfrecce Hiroshima [0 - 0] Albirex Niigata [Sanfrecce win on PK]

Historical matches:

1882/10/14    Johnstone Rovers 2 - 2 Morton    (Renfrewshire Cup R1)

1944/10/14    Morton 4 - 1 Queen's Park    (Southern League)

1967/10/11    Celtic 7 - 1 Morton   (League Cup semi-final. Match report.)

1967/10/14    Morton 4 - 0 Airdrieonians   (league)

1995/10/14    Morton 2 - 0 Hamilton

Goals by Mahood and Hawke.

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

Cragburn Pavilion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Morton 0 - 1 Airdrieonians.]

Morton's first six league matches:

2023-24        WLLLDL        =    4 points

2022-23        DWLDWL      =    8 points

2021-22        DWLLLL        =    4 points

2020-21        WLWLDL       =    7 points

2019-20        LWWLLW       =    9 points

2018-19        DWWLDD      =    9 points

The other Championship matches:

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

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

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

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

The League Cup quarter-finals were held midweek:

Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Hearts

Ross County 1 - 2 Aberdeen

Hibs 4 - 2 St Mirren

Rangers 4 - 0 Livingston

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

Other matches:

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

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

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

Linlithgow Rose [1 - 1] Berwick Rangers

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

East Craigie [1 - 1] Brechin Victoria

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

Largs Thistle [2 - 2] Glenafton Athletic

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

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

Peebles Rovers [1 - 2] Armadale Thistle

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

Carluke Rovers [0 - 2] Glenvale

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

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

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

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

FC Isle of Man [1 - 0] Wythenshawe

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

Derry City 6 - 0 UCD (yesterday)

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

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

Colwyn Bay [2 - 2] Cardiff Metropolitan University

CMU are mid-table in the Cymru Premier League.

Carrick Rangers [2 - 1] Glentoran

Carrick Rangers are second bottom in the NIFL Premiership.

Ventforet Kofu [2 - 1] Mito HollyHock

Mito HollyHock are currently mid-table in J2.

Honda FC [1 - 2] Briobecca Urayasu

Honda FC are top of the Japan Football League.

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

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

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

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

Morioka Zebra [0 - 6] Sendai University II

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

Elfen Saitama [5 - 2] Beleza (tomorrow)

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

HFX Wanderers [2 - 1] Forge

[Goals by Ferrin and Nimick.]

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

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

Scottish Challenge Cup, Round Three (September 26):

Rangers B 4 - 1 Alloa (at Cappielow)

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

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

Bonnyrigg Rose [3 - 0] BSC Glasgow

Cumbernauld Colts [0 - 7] Inverurie Loco Works

Dalbeattie Star [0 - 16] Armadale Thistle

Drumchapel United [3 - 2] Dunipace

Dundee West [3 - 5] Grampian

Edinburgh Caledonia [4 - 0] Kilwinning

Edinburgh South [0 - 3] Dyce

Forfar Farmington [1 - 3] Queen of the South

Giffnock [3 - 2] Dunfermline Athletic

Linlithgow Rose [0 - 2] Glenrothes Strollers

Murieston United [1 - 11] Stenhousemuir

St Mirren [4 - 2] Elgin

Stewarton United [0 - 9] Falkirk

Longest runs in tier III since 1994:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Historical matches:

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

1944/9/20      Morton 4 - 3 Celtic

1967/9/27      Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Morton

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

1967/9/30      Morton 3 - 3 Aberdeen

1995/9/30      St Mirren 1 - 4 Morton

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