| Clubname: | Greenock Morton |
| Fullname: | Greenock Morton Football Club |
| Nickname: | The Ton[1] |
| Founded: | (as Morton F.C.) |
| Ground: | Cappielow Park |
| Capacity: | (5,741 seated) |
| Chairman: | John Laird |
| Owner: | Morton Club Together (MCT) |
| Manager: | Dougie Imrie |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Pattern La1: | _morton2425h |
| Pattern B1: | _morton2425h |
| Pattern Ra1: | _morton2425h |
| Leftarm1: | 0033FF |
| Body1: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm1: | 0033FF |
| Shorts1: | FFFFFF |
| Socks1: | 0033FF |
| Pattern La2: | _morton2425a |
| Pattern B2: | _morton2425a |
| Pattern Ra2: | _morton2425a |
| Leftarm2: | 181146 |
| Body2: | FFFF00 |
| Rightarm2: | 181146 |
| Shorts2: | FFFF00 |
| Socks2: | FFFF00 |
| Website: | https://www.gmfc.net/ |
| Pattern B3: | _morton2324t |
| Pattern La3: | _morton2324t |
| Pattern Ra3: | _morton2324t |
| Socks3: | 1C203E |
| Shorts3: | 1C203E |
Greenock Morton Football Club is a Scottish professional football club, which plays in the Scottish Championship. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs. Morton was renamed Greenock Morton in 1994 to celebrate the links with its home town of Greenock.
Morton won the Scottish Cup in 1922, and achieved its highest league finish in 1916–17, as runners-up to champions Celtic. Morton holds the record for the most promotions to and relegations from the top flight (10 promotions and 10 relegations), but has not competed in the top flight of the Scottish football league system since 1988. In 2014–15, Morton won its tenth league title in all divisions by winning the Scottish League One championship on the final day.
Morton Football Club was established in 1874. In the early 1870s the popularity of football was growing, with many clubs being established around Scotland. At the club's inaugural meeting, the first recorded words were "that this club be called Morton Football Club". The true reason for the name 'Morton' remains unclear, though the general consensus is that the club was named after the 'Morton Terrace', a row of houses next to the original playing field, where some of the players lived.[2] The name would be altered in 1994 to read 'Greenock Morton Football Club', to celebrate the club's links with its hometown, though it is still almost universally referred to as 'Morton'.
Morton was one of the founding members of the old Second Division, formed in 1893, and finished 8th in its first season. Morton first gained promotion to the old First Division in 1899–1900, and finished 4th in its first season there.
Morton's greatest success came in its 1–0 defeat of Rangers in the 1922 Scottish Cup Final. Jimmy Gourlay scored the winning goal directly from a free kick in the 11th minute. Right after the match Morton boarded a train for Hartlepool to play the local side in a pre-arranged friendly match. The celebrations were delayed until the following Wednesday when 10,000 locals turned out at Cappielow Park to celebrate.
Morton has made two other major cup final appearances. On Saturday 17 April 1948, Morton drew 1–1 with Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final.[3] Morton's goal was a free kick scored by Jimmy White. The match was replayed on Wednesday 21 April. This time Rangers won 1–0 after extra time. The goal was said to be highly controversial because it was claimed that Morton goalkeeper Jimmy Cowan was blinded by the flash of a camera.[4] These matches were significant because of the huge crowds they attracted. The first match was played in front of 132,629. The replay, in front of 133,750, was at the time a British record attendance for a midweek match.[5]
Morton's third and final major cup final to date was in the League Cup, played on Saturday, 26 October 1963. As in its previous two final appearances, Morton's opponent was once again Rangers. The Glasgow side won by 5 goals to nil[6] (HT: 0–0) in front of 106,000 supporters.
During the Second World War 'guest' players were common at clubs throughout Great Britain. Morton was particularly fortunate in this respect in that two of English football's greatest ever players turned out at Cappielow. Sir Stanley Matthews[7] and Tommy Lawton[8] made several guest appearances for Morton. When Morton reached the 1948 Scottish Cup Final both players sent telegrams wishing good luck to their former club. Matthews simply said 'I am delighted to see Morton reach the final of the Scottish Cup'. Lawton's was more expressive, he said 'Memories of happy days during the war at Cappielow compel me to wish the Morton manager & the boys all the best of luck in their cup final at Hampden'.
To date Morton has played in a European Club Competition once. After finishing 6th in Scotland's top division in 1967–68 Morton qualified for the European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (now the UEFA Europa League). Drawn to play Chelsea, the club was eliminated at the first hurdle after a 5–0 defeat at Stamford Bridge and a 4–3 defeat at Cappielow.[9]
In 1992–93 Morton lost 3–2 to Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final[10] in front of 7,391 fans. The final was played at Love Street, the home of Morton's arch rivals St Mirren.
After experiencing financial problems the team was relegated from the First Division at the end of the 2000–01 season after a six-year stay and was put into administration. The club's financial problems continued and a second successive relegation followed. In season 2002–03, Morton's first ever season in the Third Division, the club's financial situation was resolved by the takeover by chairman Douglas Rae. Rae appointed John McCormack as manager,[11] and the team won the Third Division championship at the first attempt, confirming its position with a 1–0 victory over Peterhead in front of a then Third Division record crowd of 8,497 people.
After a strong start to the 2003–04 season, the team fell away after the turn of the year, and finished in 4th place, well outside the promotion places. This came after being 12 points ahead in the Championship race at the half-way stage. This led to unfounded allegations that some players had placed large bets on nearest rivals Airdrie United to win the league, which Airdrie eventually did.[12]
Jim McInally was announced as McCormack's successor,[13] and in his first season as manager the club failed to gain promotion to the First Division by a single point, finishing behind Stranraer in 3rd place.
Morton failed to gain promotion to the First Division during the 2005–06 season. Finishing 2nd was not enough, as the SFL playoffs meant that only the championship-winning team would be promoted automatically. Gretna won the division, so Morton entered play-offs along with Peterhead (3rd), Partick Thistle (4th), and Stranraer (9th in Division One). Morton's first play-off match was against Peterhead, and the Greenock side was defeated 1–0 over two legs, the only goal a penalty in the second match at Balmoor.[14]
The following season, a week after a 9–1 defeat of Forfar Athletic at Cappielow Park,[15] Morton achieved promotion to the First Division,[16] and went on to become Second Division Champions.[17]
Jim McInally resigned on 11 February 2008[18] after a run of poor results allowed Morton to slip into 9th place in the First Division and was replaced by Davie Irons, with Derek Collins joining him as Assistant Manager.[19] Morton battled relegation for most of the season and survived on the final day with a 3–0 victory against Partick Thistle, to avoid the relegation playoff by a single goal. Irons was sacked in September 2009 and replaced October by James Grady until the end of the season.[20] Grady was removed from the club in May 2010,[21] and replaced by Allan Moore.[22] Allan Moore was sacked after a 5–1 defeat at home to Livingston on 23 November 2013. His replacement Kenny Shiels was given a contract until the end of season 2014–2015, but failed to reverse the slide towards relegation from the Scottish Championship, which became a reality on 12 April 2014 after a 2–0 away defeat by Alloa Athletic. Shiels resigned after a 10–2 defeat by Hamilton Accies.[23]
After the resignation of Shiels, Jim Duffy was appointed as manager. He won the Scottish League One to return the club the Championship at the first time of asking.[24] This league victory earned Morton's tenth league title, making it the joint third most crowned league champions in Scotland along with Hibernian, but behind Rangers (57) and Celtic (51). Duffy was sacked in April 2018 after the club finished in 7th place in the Championship after a promising start.[25] At the end of the 2017–18 season, Chairman Douglas Rae retired after 17 years and handed the role to his son Crawford,[26] before dying less than two months later.[27]
Jim Duffy was replaced by Ray McKinnon in May 2018 on a one-year contract;[28] however McKinnon left to join league rivals Falkirk after just three months,[29] being replaced by ex-reserve team manager Jonatan Johansson on a two-year deal.[30]
The team's home strip is traditionally a blue and white hooped shirt with white shorts and white socks, though season 2006–07 saw the team playing a blue and white striped shirt with white shorts and blue socks. Short-lived yet distinctive designs have been used over the years, including sky blue and white stripes in the style of the Argentina national team and even a blue Morton tartan. The away strip tends to vary much more: for the 2003–04 season it was an all yellow outfit, changing in 2004–05 to all white, which in turn became the 3rd team strip in 2005–06, with the special re-issue of the blue Morton tartan strip.[31]
For the 2021–22 season, the club issued a commemorative 'throwback' home kit with a similar design to that worn in their 1922 Scottish Cup Final victory, with no sponsor.[32]
See main article: Cappielow. Morton's stadium is Cappielow Park in Greenock, a ground the club has occupied since 1879. The current capacity is,[33] with 5,741 of these being seated. In December 2008, Morton purchased the Reid Kerr sponsored east stand from local rivals St Mirren for £50,000, to improve the away end at Cappielow.[34]
The area currently behind the western goal (upon which the new stand will be built) is known as the Wee Dublin End, which contains non-backed bench seating, converted from the old terracing that once stood there. The main stand contains plastic bucket seating to replace the old wooden benches that were a fixture of the ground until the late 1990s. The "Cowshed" lies to the north of the pitch; formerly a fully terraced arena for both home and away supporters (complete with segregation fence down the middle), it is now for home supporters only, with much of the frontal terracing removed, and plastic bucket seats occupying its place. The segregation fence no longer exists, and the whole area is used by home supporters. Behind the eastern goal is the "Sinclair Street" end, with uncovered terracing.
Greenock Morton has several supporters' clubs based in Greenock and the surrounding towns. The main clubs are The Andy Ritchie Travel Club, The Prince of Wales Travel Club, The Greenock Morton Supporters Club, The Gourock Morton Supporters (Formerly The Albert Hotel Morton Supporters Club) and The Spinnaker Hotel Supporters Club.[35] [36]
The club has a fierce rivalry with neighbours St Mirren, with whom they contest the Renfrewshire derby.[37] It is a rivalry which sees a large amount of animosity between the two sets of fans.[38]
The club also contests a smaller rivalry with Partick Thistle.
The club shares friendships with Reggiana and PEC Zwolle.
¹ Known as Division II at the time
² Known as Division I at the time
³ Known as SPFL League One at the time
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Dougie Imrie | Manager | |
| Andy Millen | Assistant manager | |
| Gary Woods | Goalkeeping coach | |
| George Barnes | Physiotherapist | |
| Lewis Collison | Sports scientist | |
| Derek Lothian | Kit manager | |
| Derek Anderson | Director of youth |
All statistics are for league matches, post-World War II.[46]
| 1 | Allan McGraw | 1961–1966 | 136 | 117 | |
| 2 | Andy Ritchie | 1976–1983 | 213 | 100 | |
| 3 | Rowan Alexander | 1986–1995 | 310 | 98 | |
| 4 | Peter Weatherson | 2003–2013 | 323 | 93 | |
| 5 | Tommy Orr | 1946–1958 | 257 | 86 | |
| 6 | Eddie Beaton | 1956–1960 | 110 | 83 | |
| Derek Lilley | 1991–1997 2005–2007 | 232 | 83 | ||
| 8 | Joe Mason | 1966–1973 | 186 | 76 | |
| 9 | Alec Linwood | 1951–1955 | 101 | 72 | |
| 10 | John McNeil | 1975–1991 | 328 | 67 |
| Name | Period at club | Apps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derek Collins | 1987–1999 2001–2005 | 534 |
| 2 | David Wylie | 1985–1999 | 482 |
| 3 | Jim Holmes | 1976–1988 | 437 |
| 4 | Davie Hayes | 1970–1984 | 353 |
| 5 | John McNeil | 1975–1991 | 328 |
| 6 | Peter Weatherson | 2003–2013 | 323 |
| 7 | Jim McAlister | 2002–2010 2018–2021 | 312 |
| 8 | Rowan Alexander | 1986–1995 | 310 |
| 9 | George Anderson | 1969–1981 1985–1987 | 280 |
| 10 | Roy Baines | 1972–1977 1978–1983 | 271 |
| Chris Millar | 2003–2008 2018–2021 | 271 |
In progress
| class= | Season | class= | Name | Goals | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47 | Ross Henderson | 10 | Premier Division | ||
| 1947–48 | Tommy Orr | 14 | Premier Division | ||
| 1948–49 | Neil Mochan | 13 | Premier Division | ||
| 1949–50 | Neil Mochan | 24 | First Division | ||
| 1950–51 | Neil Mochan | 20 | Premier Division | ||
| 1951–52 | Alec Linwood | 19 | Premier Division | ||
| 1952–53 | Bob Gibson Alec Linwood | 17 | First Division | ||
| 1953–54 | Alec Linwood John Hannigan | 22 | First Division | ||
| 1954–55 | Alec Linwood | 14 | First Division | ||
| 1955–56 | Bob Gibson | 33 | First Division | ||
| 1956–57 | Eddie Beaton | 18 | First Division | ||
| 1957–58 | Eddie Beaton | 25 | First Division | ||
| 1958–59 | Eddie Beaton | 33 | First Division | ||
| 1959–60 | Charlie Stewart | 11 | First Division | ||
| 1960–61 | Billy Craig | 11 | First Division | ||
| 1961–62 | Allan McGraw | 16 | First Division | ||
| 1962–63 | Allan McGraw | 29 | First Division | ||
| 1963–64 | Allan McGraw | 51 | First Division | ||
| 1964–65 | Allan McGraw | 12 | Premier Division | ||
| 1965–66 | Allan McGraw David Watson | 8 | Premier Division | ||
| 1966–67 | Joe Harper | 29 | First Division | ||
| 1967–68 | Joe Mason | 15 | Premier Division | ||
| 1968–69 | Joe Harper | 25 | Premier Division | ||
| 1969–70 | Billy Osborne | 11 | Premier Division | ||
| 1970–71 | Joe Mason | 9 | Premier Division | ||
| 1971–72 | Donald Gillies | 9 | Premier Division | ||
| 1972–73 | Donald Gillies | 14 | Premier Division | ||
| 1973–74 | Hugh McIlmoyle | 8 | Premier Division | ||
| 1974–75 | John Hazel | 6 | Premier Division | ||
| 1975–76 | John Goldthorpe Ian Harley Richard Sharp | 22 | First Division | ||
| 1976–77 | Andy Ritchie | 22 | First Division | ||
| 1977–78 | John Goldthorpe Andy Ritchie | 20 | First Division | ||
| 1978–79 | Andy Ritchie | 22 | Premier Division | ||
| 1979–80 | Andy Ritchie | 19 | Premier Division | ||
| 1980–81 | Andy Ritchie | 8 | Premier Division | ||
| 1981–82 | Andy Ritchie | 6 | Premier Division | ||
| 1982–83 | James Rooney | 7 | Premier Division | ||
| 1983–84 | John McNeil | 17 | First Division | ||
| 1984–85 | James Gillespie | 5 | Premier Division | ||
| 1985–86 | John McNeil | 14 | First Division | ||
| 1986–87 | Rowan Alexander | 23 | First Division | ||
| 1987–88 | Jimmy Boag | 8 | Premier Division | ||
| 1988–89 | Rowan Alexander | 11 | First Division | ||
| 1989–90 | Rowan Alexander | 11 | First Division | ||
| 1990–91 | Dave McCabe | 21 | First Division | ||
| 1991–92 | Alex Mathie | 18 | First Division | ||
| 1992–93 | Alex Mathie | 13 | First Division | ||
| 1993–94 | Rowan Alexander | 11 | First Division | ||
| 1994–95 | Derek Lilley | 16 | Second Division | ||
| 1995–96 | Derek Lilley | 14 | First Division | ||
| 1996–97 | Derek Lilley | 15 | First Division | ||
| 1997–98 | Warren Hawke | 10 | First Division | ||
| 1998–99 | Kevin Thomas | 9 | First Division | ||
| 1999–00 | Harry Curran | 9 | First Division | ||
| 2000–01 | Ross Matheson | 9 | First Division | ||
| 2001–02 | Scott Bannerman | 8 | Second Division | ||
| 2002–03 | Alex Williams | 23 | Third Division | ||
| 2003–04 | Peter Weatherson Alex Williams | 15 | Second Division | ||
| 2004–05 | Chris Millar Peter Weatherson | 10 | Second Division | ||
| 2005–06 | Derek Lilley | 12 | Second Division | ||
| 2006–07 | Peter Weatherson | 15 | Second Division | ||
| 2007–08 | Peter Weatherson | 9 | First Division | ||
| 2008–09 | Brian Wake Peter Weatherson | 9 | First Division | ||
| 2009–10 | Peter Weatherson | 10 | First Division | ||
| 2010–11 | Allan Jenkins | 8 | First Division | ||
| 2011–12 | Peter MacDonald | 10 | First Division | ||
| 2012–13 | Peter MacDonald | 14 | First Division | ||
| 2013–14 | Dougie Imrie | 9 | Championship | ||
| 2014–15 | Declan McManus (on loan from Aberdeen) | 20 | League One | ||
| 2015–16 | Denny Johnstone (on loan from Birmingham City) | 14 | Championship | ||
| 2016–17 | Ross Forbes | 9 | Championship | ||
| 2017–18 | Gary Harkins | 8 | Championship | ||
| 2018–19 | Bob McHugh | 11 | Championship | ||
| 2019–20 | Bob McHugh | 8 | Championship | ||
| 2020–21 | Aidan Nesbitt | 4 | Championship | ||
| 2021–22 | Gozie Ugwu | 8 | Championship | ||
| 2022–23 | Robbie Muirhead | 10 | Championship | ||
| 2023–24 | Robbie Muirhead | 12 | Championship |
The last signed player to earn a full international cap whilst playing for Morton – Fouad Bachirou for Comoros in 2014.[53]
The last signed Morton player to receive international honours for Scotland was Jai Quitongo in 2016, for the under-21 side.[54]
To be included in this list players must have met one of the following criteria...
Fouad Bachirou
Andre Boe
Emilio Bottiglieri
Karim Boukraa
David Brcic Nicolas Caraux Dominic Cervi Paul Fenwick
Markus Fjørtoft Luca Gasparotto
Michal Habai
Atli Thor Hedinsson
Jack Iredale
Dylan Kerr Gudgeir Leifsson
Janne Lindberg John Maisano Parfait Medou-Otye
Stefan Milojević
Nacho Novo Erik Paartalu Tomáš Peciar Marko Rajamäki
Stu Riddle Brian Schwake Jonathan Toto Jani Uotinen
David WitteveenEx-Morton players who have been inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame are listed below.
For all Greenock Morton players with a Wikipedia article, see .
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| John Laird | Chairman | |
| Graham Barr | Director | |
| Ross Gourdie | Director | |
| Sam Robinson | Director | |
| Michael Harkins | Finance director | |
| Dale Pryde-MacDonald | General manager |
This list does not contain caretaker managers.
Jonatan Johansson (2018–2019)Morton first entered the Scottish Cup in 1877–78 season, and won it once in 1922. Over the course of Morton's time in the competition it has changed format seven times, to its current format of 8 rounds and 2 preliminary rounds.
So far Morton have finished the competition in the following rounds, this many times.