THE MANAGER
DOUGIE IMRIE
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FROM THE BOARD
Welcome to Cappielow for today’s cinch Championship match against Raith Rovers, our penultimate home game of the 2022/23 season and thank you for reading our digital programme for today’s game.
At the beginning of the season, the decision was taken to pause printing of match day programmes. Over the last few months we have been exploring options for bringing this back. This programme is a trial of a new digital programme and we will be keen to hear feedback from supporters. Looking forward, it will also be possible to combine the digital programme with a printed one available at Cappielow.
We would like to extend a welcome to players, staff, management, and supporters from today’s visitors.
Raith arrive at Cappielow today sitting seventh in the table, following a 1-1 draw with Arbroath last week.
Although conceding late on last week was disappointing for us, it was great effort from the squad and could prove to be a valuable point in a few weeks time.
We now have two home games in a row before a trip to Cove on the final day. We are right in the mix for the playoffs and a win today would be a huge step towards that goal.
Both home and away this season, your support of the team has been incredible. We would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for that support and look forward to seeing you again next season. The last few months have been extremely positive for the club, and this is something we want to build on moving forward.
Looking ahead to next season, in May we will be announcing details of season tickets for the 2023/4 campaign. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more details in the coming weeks. We’re also looking forward to utilising Fanbase for
ticket sales next season, something which should make a positive difference to your experience at Cappielow.
This week we also launched our new partnership with MatchWinner which will see some fantastic retro kits for sale very soon. We’ve been delighted with the reaction to this partnership on social media this week. Away from Cappielow, there’s also “An Evening with Morton” at Port Glasgow Town Hall on Saturday 6th May to look forward to And our recently announced fan event at Inverkip Hub on Thursday 27th May.
Finally, as many of you will have read, Graham McLennon has announced his decision to step down from the Morton and MCT Boards for health reasons. Graham has been a huge part of the club’s recent history, and it is unlikely that community ownership would have happened without him. Everyone on the Board would like to thank Graham for all his efforts over the last few years.
Thank you, as always, for your incredible backing across the season, we hope you enjoy today’s game!
AHEAD OF THE GAME
SATURDAY 22 APRIL 2023
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING OUTLETS:
Cappielow – During office hours Monday to Friday, 10am-12noon and 1pm4pm. (Offices are closed Wednesday)
Smiths of Greenock – During opening hours, 9am – 5.30pm.
Purchase online –https://www.gmfctickets.co.uk/
Ticket Office – Matchday, 12pm – 3pm
Tickets are available to purchase on matchday from the Sinclair Street ticket office from 12pm right until kick-off.
2022/23 GATE PRICES
Adult – £22
Concession (Over 65s, 18-20 year olds) – £16
12-17 Year Old – £12
Under 12 – £3
^Please note, proof of entitlement must be provided for concessionary tickets, while proof of age is required for children between 12 and 17 and those between 18 and 20. Prices apply irrespective of the day or time of purchase.
Children Under-12 must be accompanied by an adult when purchasing a ticket and at all times within the stadium. Any child unaccompanied will not be permitted entry to the ground.
Those children without a season card will be required to purchase a physical match ticket with scannable barcode at a cost of £3.
AWAY FANS
Raith Rovers fans will be housed in sections F&G of the Main Stand and will enter via the Sinclair Street turnstiles. Away tickets are available to purchase online or at the ticket office on matchday.
Purchase tickets online HERE .
SOCIAL MEDIA
@Morton_FC
The Lotto jackpot has now reached a MASSIVE £20,305!
Play today before 4pm and be in with the chance of winning this week’s prize.
@Morton_FC
�� It’s time to vote!
Following on from last week’s @MatchwinnerUK partnership announcement, we are pleased to say that voting is now open for the shirts you would like to see reproduced.
@Morton_FC
➡ Full match highlights from yesterday’s draw in Dundee are now available to view on YouTube.
➡️ow.ly/aXyA50NK50u
officialgreenockmorton
⚽Jack Baird with goal number 6 of the season.
@Morton_FC
Official Twitter Account for Greenock Morton FC. Joined March 2010 24.6k Followers
officialgreenockmorton
Darragh O’Connor scoring his first Morton goal in style.! ��
officialgreenockmorton
The official Greenock Morton Football Club Instagram account. 7.4k Followers
officialgreenockmorton �� On Repeat
OfficialMortonFC The official Greenock Morton Football Club Facebook account. 6.9k Followers
We celebrate the birthday of Jimmy McDonald
Last week, Greenock Morton were honoured to gift one of the oldest living former players, Jimmy McDonald, a signed shirt and card to help celebrate his 91st birthday. Jimmy spent two season at Morton in 1957/58 and 1958/59 where he played 27 times, scoring 7 goals. The right sided player also spent time at Dumbarton and Gillingham during his career. Jimmy was kind enough to welcome representatives from the club into his home where he reminisced about what it was like to play for Morton back in the 1950s and shared some stories about his playing days. Speaking on his time at the club, Jim said: “I still have Morton in my heart and every game I played was a good memory. Gibby McKenzie was the manager when I first joined the club and he was followed by Jimmy McIntosh.”
“The club were in the Second Division battling for mid-table and I managed to score a few goals that season. In my first season I needed to get work done on my cartilage and working in the coal industry along with home life really impacted certain footballing decisions.”
“One match I remember well was against Ayr United. I always remember going out with special instructions to stop two of the Ayr players and ‘make a fool of them’, I was playing a modern fullback position even back then! We got a draw that night and unfortunately one of two I was marking got their equaliser.”
“I’m still keeping track of results and still hold an interest in Morton so hopefully things can end well this season!”
We hope Jimmy has a great day celebrating his birthday and we wish him the very best!
THE SKIPPER
GRANT GILLESPIE
Graham McLennan to Step Down
Morton Club Together (MCT) founder, Graham McLennan, has indicated that he wishes to step down from being a member of both the Greenock Morton and MCT boards due to his ongoing health battles. Graham founded MCT in 2019 and the original main aim was to provide additional financial resource to the first team playing budget of Greenock Morton. In addition, MCT aimed to see club debt to Golden Casket written off in stages, an initial/immediate shareholding for the MCT membership and MCT representation on the Club Board. As more and more members signed up to contribute each month, and circumstances at the club changed, the goal quickly shifted towards bringing community ownership to the club. In just two short years, with much of that time spent in Covid lockdowns, that dream became a reality as MCT’s fanbacked takeover of Greenock Morton was confirmed in September 2021. However, for the past three years many of you will know that alongside tirelessly doing everything he can to make MCT and community ownership a success, Graham has also been living with cancer, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2020 and going through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Those of you that know Graham won’t be surprised to hear that while he’s stepping back from being an active board member, he wants to continue doing what he can, time and health permitting, to move Morton forward. Graham will remain a close advisor to the MCT board and the Morton Board have also unanimously agreed to keep Graham as an honorary Director, which will allow him to contribute when he is able.
Graham’s decision does mean that there are now three MCT reps on the club Board – Gordon Ritchie, Graham Barr and Stewart Farmer. The club will now be seeking a new MCT appointee for the Morton Board. In the coming days, Morton Club Together will be communicating the next steps regarding this.
Everyone at Greenock Morton and Morton Club Together would like to say a massive thank you to Graham for his incredible contribution since 2019. The reality is, that without his idea and desire to launch MCT, community ownership at Cappielow wouldn’t have been possible.
Match HIGHLIGHTS
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP - SAT 15 APR 2023
Matchwinner Kit Vote
Following on from last week’s Matchwinner partnership announcement, we are pleased to provide more details regarding the kit vote.
Supporters now have the opportunity to vote on two iconic designs from a selection of five. The two shirts with the most votes will then be reproduced by Matchwinner.
Details of the vote results and when kits can be purchased will be released in due course.
Voting is now open, place your votes HERE
FROM THE ARCHIVE
MORTON v RAITH ROVERS 2009
Morton ended a run of five successive defeats with their best win of the season against a luckless Raith Rovers. The home side went in front on 14 minutes with a goal by Eric Paartalu. The visitors lost Grant Murray to a second yellow card early in the second half shortly before Brian Wake scored a quick-fire double.
Peter Weatherson tapped in his first of the day on 62 minutes and the striker completed the scoring with a header in the last minute.
Attendance: 1,716
Referee: S O’Reilly
14/11/2009 Division One
MORTON 5 RAITH 0
STARTING XI
Stewart, Colin
Van Zanten, David �� (72)
MacGregor, David
Reid, Alan
Greacen, Stewart
Paartalu, Erik ⚽ (17)
Finlayson, Kevin
McGuffie, Ryan
Wake, Brian ⚽⚽ (55, 60)
Weatherson, Peter ⚽⚽ (62, 89)
McAlister, Jim
SUBSTITUTES
Kane, Ryan (77)
Harding, Ryan
Shepard, Nathan
Monti, Carlo
McWilliams, Ryan
MORTON ON THIS DAY
Goals from Greg Kiltie and Charlie Telfer secure a 2-0 win against Falkirk.
20/04/2019 Championship
FALKIRK 0 MORTON 2
STARTING XI
McCrorie, Robbie
Kilday, Lee
Buchanan, Gregor
McAlister, Jim
Iredale, Jack �� (40)
Telfer, Charlie ⚽ (54)
Tidser, Michael �� (18)
Tumilty, Reghan
Lyon, Reece
Oliver, Gary
Kiltie, Greg ⚽ (47)
SUBSTITUTES
Dallas, Andrew (30)
Millar, Chris (71)
McHugh, Robert (90)
Gaston, Derek
O’Connell, Keelan
McKeown, Rory Paul
McGrattan, Lewis
FIRST TEAM 22/23
PLAYER SPONSORS
MORTON IN THE COMMUNITY
WHAT IS BOOTS + PIECES?
It’s a sports swap shop based in Inverclyde, making sure our community is kitted out for sports and exercise.
You can donate items you no longer need and swap them for things you do. From trainers and football boots to shorts and sports bags.
WHAT IS A SWAP SHOP?
STEP 1 - Donations are sorted, laundered or recycled
STEP 2 - Clean items are labelled + available via online form or swap event
STEP 3 - You collect your new items + donate old ones
The swap shop model promotes sustainability and giving preloved items a new lease of life.
You can swap new items for old items you have, or you can donate money to the Greenock Morton Community Trust in one of our collection cans.
DONATION POINTS
• Cappielow Park
• Inverkip Hub
• Fort Matilda Tennis Club
• Saturdays, 9-1 at Clydeview
NEED ITEMS?
Fill out the Google form HERE
Look out for the next Pop Up Shop.
MICRO AND MINI MORTON
Bookings for our new block of Micro and Mini Morton are still LIVE!
The block starts today, don’t miss out. For more information and to book:
LEARNING THROUGH FOOTBALL
The pupils in @CraigmarlochINV were learning about STEM education through @Sphero robots. The pupils were working together to draw and code block.
#LearningThroughFootball
OPPOSITION
RAITH ROVERS
but unable to get involved in the race for promotion.
CLUB MATTERS
Raith travel to Cappielow for this clash sitting in eight place in the form table with just four points from the last five games, some two points less than Morton. Indeed it does read a little worse than that as Raith are on a streak of four games without a win, three of those being defeats as they have lost at Dundee FC and Inverness and at home to Hamilton. And their current form is a good guide to the season that they have had as they sit six points adrift of Morton in the Championship table, well clear of any relegation worries
A draw last Saturday at home to Arbroath did stop the rot but away form has been poor and their last three points on the road came back in early February courtesy of a 2-1 win at strugglers Arbroath. Raith did reach the final of the Challenge Cup, having disposed of Morton on the way to an eventual 1-0 defeat to Hamilton at neutral Falkirk, but their Scottish Cup run ended with a 3-0 reverse at Rangers in the quarter finals.
Stark’s Park, Pratt Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY1 1SA
www.raithrovers.net
THE BOSSIAN MURRAY
Raith Rovers announced the appointment of Ian Murray as the club’s new First Team Manager on a two-year-contract on the 24th of May 2022 following the expiry of his contract at League One side Airdrieonians, where he was the North Lanarkshire side’s Head Coach for the previous four years. Murray led the Diamonds to successive top half finishes in League One during his time there, including a third-place finish when the Rovers won the First Division in the curtailed 2019/20 campaign. Since then, he took Airdrieonians to successive second place finishes in League One, and in season 2021-22 the Diamonds went on a 23-game unbeaten run before being pipped in the Championship Play-Off Final by Queens Park. He started his managerial career in 2012 at Dumbarton as a 31 year old, spending 2 and a half seasons with The Sons before joining St. Mirren for a 6 month spell. After 22 months at Norwegian club Asker as Assistant Manager, Ian joined Airdrieonians in October 2018.
WATCH OUT FORSCOTT BROWN
Glasgow born midfielder Scott Brown signed a 1 year contract with the club in June 2022, and was announced as Team Captain on 5th August.
After coming through the youth ranks at his local team Clyde, Bradford signed Scott in 2012. Scott then moved on to St Johnstone before a successful 6 year spell at Peterhead where he was also Captain. After fulfilling a clause in his contract re appearances earlier this season, Scott agreed a 1 year extension to his contract, through to June 2024.
LAST 5 GAMES
CLUB TOGETHER
We’re heading towards the first full season of Greenock Morton being a community owned football club. It feels like it’s been much longer, but also feels like it’s been a couple of days at the same time, such is the crazy world of Scottish football and being closely involved with a football club.
We’re delighted to see this digital programme be trialled, and would really encourage fans reading to provide their feedback to the club on what they liked, what they didn’t and what they’d like to see from the club, not just in what a future version of a programme looks like, but across all aspects of the club too. We firmly believe community ownership should be a two-way conversation between the club and those that own it, you, the MCT members and Morton fans. That’s why we were delighted to see the fan event in Inverkip be launched recently, and we’d encourage you to secure your spot and head along to have a chat about all things Morton with those that are in and around the club every day. We’re so close to hitting that big 1,000 MCT member milestone now, and we’d love to do it before the end of this season. We know we’ve got a big job on our hands to continue to encourage as many Morton fans as possible that we mean what we say when it comes to community ownership. We hope some of the things you’ve seen over the past couple of years have shown that actions have backed up the words we’ve said along the way. We’re fans in the same way you are, we sit in the stand and take our spot in the Cowshed. We can clearly see that the club has been steadily improving across various different aspects. If you look closely enough, it’s almost night and day with the situation that was inherited. MCT
still has a lot of work to do to continue to assist the club in the right areas, but we’re working on that, we’re getting there.
It’s been spoken about a lot already, but Dalrada and Brian Bonar partnering with the club has been such a big catalyst for an increased amount of change. Plans are well underway across some transformative projects that wouldn’t have been possible without that support and encouragement from Brian and Dalrada. Brian has a passion for success, and we believe that success can come under community ownership. It’s an exciting time to be a Morton fan. Enjoy the game today, here’s to three points!
Breakfast rolls, a cuppa and some good company!
Everyone welcome, age 18+ Wednesday mornings from 9.30am at Cappielow Park