10 Things About Morton

Morton take on Alloa at Cappielow on Saturday for a place in Tuesday afternoon's draw for the semi-finals of the Petrofac Training Cup.

Craig Stewart talks us through 10 things you might, or might not, know about the Greenock club, who are looking to lift the trophy for the first time.

1. The reason for the club being called Morton has been lost in the sands of time, with two theories put forward. The most popular one is that it came from Morton Terrace, where the majority of the team were from and which was situated close to the muddy field that was used as their first pitch. The second theory suggests the name comes from the first patron of the club, James Morton, who was a local builder and provost of Greenock when the club was formed in 1874.

2. Morton topped the Premier League back in the autumn of 1979 after an impressive run of form. Reigning champions Celtic were defeated 1-0 at Cappielow before Partick Thistle were thumped 4-1 at Firhill. Those results were followed by a goalless draw in a Renfrewshire derby with St Mirren before eventual champions Aberdeen were defeated 2-1 at Pittodrie. Benny Rooney’s side finished the season in sixth place.

3. Morton won the Scottish Cup in 1922, with a 1-0 win over Rangers in front of 75,000 fans at Hampden with Jimmy Gourlay scoring the winner. It was the first time the cup was won with a goal scored direct from a free kick. The Ibrox side gained revenge in 1948 with a 1-0 success in a replay in front of a crowd of 133,750, which was a then British record attendance for a midweek game. The Tail o’ the Bank club remain sore over that loss, amid claims that goalkeeper Jimmy Cowan was blinded by a photographer’s flash bulb going off when Billy Williamson scored the winner.

4. Morton have met the might of Chelsea in European competition and scored three times against the English side. They met in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in September 1968, with Morton going down 4-3 in the home leg and losing 5-0 at Stamford Bridge.

5. Welsh striker Robert Earnshaw, who holds the unique record of scoring hat-tricks in all four senior leagues in England, had a spell at Morton in early 2000. Earnshaw played four games in Morton colours, scoring twice. The 33-year-old, who now plays for Chicago Fire, also bagged a hat-trick for Wales against Scotland in February 2004.

6. Morton have been in one previous Challenge Cup final, losing 3-2 to Hamilton Accies at Love Street in 1992/93. They have since reached three semi-finals in a row but lost to Clyde in 2006, St Johnstone in 2007 and Ross County in 2008.

7. Morton were one of the original members of the Second Division when it began in 1893/94. They finished in eighth place behind Hibernian, Cowlairs, Clyde, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Port Glasgow Athletic and Abercorn but ahead of Northern and Thistle.

8. When Morton won the Second Division title in 1963/64, they scored an incredible 135 goals in 36 games. Their stats were 32 wins, three draws and one defeat. Legendary striker Allan McGraw, who later managed the club, weighed in with a record 58 goals that season.

9. Current manager Jim Duffy was the PFA Player of the Year when he played for Morton in 1984/85. It was not a great season as Morton were relegated from the top flight and conceded 100 goals but Duffy was recognised by his fellow professionals for his efforts.

10. Striker Joe Harper began his career at Morton as a 15-year-old in 1963 and returned after a brief spell with Huddersfield Town ahead of joining Aberdeen in 1969.