Morton Pre-Season Preview

The club's opposition will vary in quality and stature, as will the towns and villages they will play in. From the Highland League to the Scottish Amateur Football circuit to the First Division, there are some interesting ties in the works. What's more, the tour excites the fans as much as it prepares the team - what's in store for the Morton faithful in places like Brodick or Buckie?

THE TEAM: Viewfield Rovers is a name familiar to most people around Morton, with the amateur club proving worthy opponents in the Renfrewshire Cup for several seasons. This is once again where they'll meet Greenock's finest, in a semi-final tie at Cappielow Park.

While on previous meetings Viewfield have rarely troubled, this season they have ample reason to feel more confident. The Lochwinnoch side ran out 2-0 winners against Norton House in this season's Scottish Amateur Cup Final at Hampden Park. This was something of a coup for the Rovers, who managed only a 7th place in the top division of the Caledonian AFL. However, buoyed by cup victory, and knowing that Morton's confidence will remain fragile after the horrors of the run-in, 'Ton boss John McCormack cannot afford to be complacent.

Nonetheless, a strong backbone for the Morton side may be supplemented by reserves. Last season's semi-final saw fringe players such as departed Finn Jani Uotinen and walkabout Aussie Lee Robertson given a game. This season will probably see youth players and reserve players given a chance to shine, possibly alongside new signings Stuart McCluskey and Iain Diack.

THE PLACE: Cappielow Park needs no introduction. The ground will most likely be almost empty, with only the main stand in operation. A 7:30pm kickoff at the height of the summer holiday against an amateur team won't capture the imagination of the mainstream fan!

THE TRIVIA: Viewfield Rovers played a full card of fixtures in order to win the Scottish Amateur Cup, entering at Round One against Scotia Athletic. They then disposed of Muirkirk, Lions Den AFC, Letham Lads, Dundee College, Clark Drive, Cambusnethan Talbot, Kettle United, and SS Peter & Paul before defeating Norton House. This was their first Amateur Cup Final victory, following three defeats for the venerable Lochwinnoch team.

THE TEAM(S): Little is known about this upcoming tournament, with Morton and their hardy band of followers departing Ardrossan at 9:45am and returning on the 7:20pm (or, for the more inebriated fans, the following morning's) trip. Presumably the tournament takes the form of a pair of semi-finals, followed by a 3rd place playoff and a final match. This means a minimum of 180 minutes of football in one day for Morton - ideal preparation for shaking off the lethargy of the summer break and preparing eased muscles for the rigours of the Highland Tour. Two different sets of players may be used to reduce the strain and give the maximum number of playing staff some much-needed match practice.

THE PLACE: Beautiful Arran is a popular daytrip spot for tourists coming from all over the West of Scotland. The rocky pinnacles of Goat Fell loom large over the island's principal settlement, Brodick. This town is where the tournament is to take place. Visitors looking for a break from the football, or perhaps planning to spend the night on the island, may enjoy such attractions as scenic walks up Goat Fell, into the island's interior or cycling along the coast. Also worth a shot are a round at the island's golf course, a helicopter flight over the isle or even a visit to Arran's brewery or distillery. Indoor accomodation in and around Brodick is reportedly fully booked already (the summer season being busy on the isle); those who want to experience the great outdoors will be pleased to hear Brodick's closest campsites have many pitches available.

THE TRIVIA: With no team information available, footballing trivia is hard to come by. So, here's a snippet about the island itself. Every schoolchild can tell you the legend of Robert the Bruce and the Spider. Bruce, in hiding following military defeats at Methven and Dalry in 1306, scrambles into a cave, where he ponders exile and generally is a living study of melancholy and the futility of the human condition. This is, of course, until he catches a glimpse of a spider building a web across the cave's entrance. Struggling for purchase on the rugged cave walls, the spider spends hours perfecting its web, despite the difficulty of the situation and the odds against its completion. Buoyed by this display of sheer, animal spirit and perseverance, Bruce realises there is hope after all, and confidently marches out of the cave - probably breaking the web, but too bold and determined to care.

THE TEAM: With the tournament at Arran completed, so begins the real substance of the pre-season. Like last year, Morton favour a highland tour to meet sides of slightly lower quality who operate similar play styles to SFL teams. And, once again, our tour kicks off at Victoria Park, where we meet Buckie Thistle.

The Jags enjoyed a season of mixed success in the Highland League, securing a 2nd place finish ahead of local rivals Fraserburgh. Inconsistency and a penchant for draws kept them behind Clachnacuddin, with winning goals hard to come by. Top scorer Colin Milne managing 14 goals (including four penalties); the next best scorer could only manage eight, a clear sign that Buckie fans' calls for a striker to be signed in time for the new season are not unreasonable demands.

Morton will empathise with a lack of killer instinct, although they would do well to remember the off-field problems and humiliating defeats that put paid to our season moreso than a few draws ever could. Those players skilled or lucky enough to be re-contracted or still on the club's payroll for seasons to come have ample chance to prove themselves ready for the new campaign, starting here at Buckie.

The formation chosen by the gaffer is yet to be seen, but with Iain Diack brought in, McCormack may gamble on a 4-3-3, with Diack wide left opposite Weatherson, and Williams in the middle. The fans' choice is a basic 4-4-2, with Diack on the left, a central defence of new signing McCluskey and Greacen, and a midfield of... well, we don't know. With a lack of recent news on the transfer front, many of the glaring gaps in last season's strong team remain unfilled. Fans may like to see Derek Collins at right-back with player of the year Chris Millar given the run of the right-wing, but this leaves the problem of who will play at left-back. With Emilio Bottiglieri released from the club, and Robbie Henderson being let go and now playing at Stenhousemuir, a left-sided defender is sorely needed. If Diack finds himself struggling at left midfield, that position too must be filled. Also, some fans wonder if a midfield of Bannerman as anchorman and defensive battler alongside attacking maestro John Maisano will be more robust this time around than last season. Marco Maisano may yet have another chance to make up for woeful run-in performances, and of course David McGregor may fit in at centre back or central midfield.

3-5-2, McCormack's preferred option, may yet be chosen, with McGregor slotting into defense, Chris Millar given the run on the right, and perhaps Paul Walker given an attacking midfield role alongside John Maisano. At this stage, speculation is all we have.

Buckie opened Morton's pre-season campaign last year at Victoria Park, giving a good account of themselves in a 1-1 draw in which Morton rarely threatened despite striker Peter Weatherson making his debut. One can only hope our enigmatic strikeforce can find its way to the goal this season to atone for last year's collapse.

THE PLACE: Buckie, like Greenock, sports a working harbour. Buckie, unlike Greenock, lies in Moray. Its seafront is littered with trawlers awaiting or undergoing repair, in the friendly gaze of white cottages and ambling visitors. Its main street is a study in staid, dark, solid, stone-cold architecture; a narrow strip of converted housing playing host to local businesses and services. Beachside walks at sunset will offer sun-dappled views of breaking waves and the North Sea. Swim north from Buckie and don't stop until you hit land, and you will hoist your gasping, freezing frame onto the sands of the southern Orkneys. (Note: don't try this at home. This is merely to illustrate where Buckie is geographically. You would in fact succumb to hypothermia and exhaustion long before you reached the isles.)

Morton fans will be familiar with the town's hospitality, having travelled up in force last season to support the side and sample the town's character and refreshments. Supporters' clubs will have their choice of venue arranged most likely in advance; solo travellers will have a host of bars, hotels and B&Bs to choose from when seeking a dram and a bed. As for the ground itself, a line of covered terracing stands opposite a 400-seater main stand, with the area behind each goal bare except for a small grass bank. Buckie's support last year was poor; hopefully the good weather will bring a few more of the Jags faithful out to create some atmosphere.

THE TRIVIA: Morton aren't the only SFL side to feel the wrath of the Victoria Park club. As Scottish Cup veterans, they took a league scalp as recently as January 2001. After beating Edinburgh City in Round One, they faced Hamilton Academical at Victoria Park in Buckie, running out 2-0 winners. Their reward was a trip to Victoria Park, Dingwall. The home side (that is, Ross County) beat the underdog 2-1 in a close-fought contest. Such cup pedigree shows that Buckie are not to be trifled with. That said, on the home front, they seem to be less successful. Their last Highland League championship was in 1958!

THE TEAM: Morton continue their Highland odyssey with a short trip from Buckie down the road to north Speyside. Bypassing last year's pre-season and league opponents Keith and Elgin City, Morton will arrive at modest Grant Park to indulge in its liquid refreshments, use up a fair portion of the stadium's 250 seats, and hopefully witness a Morton win.

Perhaps McCormack will opt to use a different formation to the Buckie game in order to see how players react to different set-ups. Also worth bearing in mind is that some youth players may travel with the squad.

Lossiemouth will be doing their best to bounce back from a dire season in which they could only manage 13th place out of 15. The second worst defence in the League contrived to let 74 goals slip by them in 28 games - Morton fans will hope that a good display from Williams and Weatherson may boost the pair's confidence in time for the new season. On the attacking front, the Coasters did not disgrace themselves; a total of 41 league goals put them around halfway up the Goals For ranking last season and showed that their midfield and attack have no trouble pushing forward even in the face of an onslaught of goals. Whether it is Marco Maisano, Scott Bannerman or a new signing that is put in charge of marshalling the defensive midfield aspect of play, they will need to be on the lookout for ball-winning opportunities, as well as being ready to backtrack to thwart counterattacks.

THE PLACE: Just 20 miles or so west of Buckie on the Moray Firth coast, Lossiemouth prides itself on its centrally located golf course, its pristine beaches and forest trails, and its sailing facilities. For those hoping to take it a bit easier, it's close to the Whisky Trail, contains two castles in its local vicinity, and a fisheries museum. Several hotels and pubs, including the Clifton Free House with McEwan's 80/- and Old Peculier on draught, grace the town. RAF Lossiemouth looms large outside the town; hopefully nuclear war won't begin during our sojourn to the North.

Grant Park itself is not the Highland League's most evocative venue, looking a wee bit sorry for itself, huddled around an old wooden stand. However, a warm welcome should await us, as the excellent Lossiemouth FC Social Club is renowned for its cold beer and pool/darts area.

THE TRIVIA: The club's nickname, The Coasters, refers to (surprise, surprise) the town's location on the North Sea coast. The name was selected following a competition amongst Primary School children in the district to name the club.

THE TEAM: The 'Ton bring their tour to an end at the home of Inverness' "wee team" and Highland League champions, Clach. When Caledonian and Thistle got married and moved to a fancy digs just outside the town to join their friends in the SFL, Clach, the poor gooseberry of Inverness, was left to its own devices as Inverness' sole representative in the Highland League. Thankfully, it seemed to catch the wedding bouquet, and has become one of the HL's most feared sides. A five point clearance at the top of the league after Game 28 saw them crowned champions last season, and it is at this pinnacle of the Northern football scene that Morton end their tour.

After three games on the trot, the Morton players will be tired, but they will need to put on a good performance to overcome Clach. If any new signings are completed between now and the Highland Tour, this will be their best chance to fit into whatever formation the boss decides on, and prove themselves to the Morton faithful.

They will need to be at their best. The Highland League may be a step down, but as Deveronvale and Buckie both proved last year, the teams at the upper echelons of the table can match or even eclipse League sides in terms of ability and effort. While pre-season friendlies are usually taken at a slower pace than league games, Clach may have something to prove to bigger clubs, and Morton may want to take what could be their last non-competitive game before the season proper at a more appropriate speed for campaign preparation. Clach players such as Iain Polworth, the club's top scorer with 22 goals, may well show the under-construction Morton defence a thing or two.

THE PLACE: Inverness, one of Europe's fastest-growing small cities, is a terrific place to visit for the football fan and the tourist. Beautiful scenery in and around the town, a blossoming culinary and nightlife scene, and plenty of accomodation makes it one of Scotland's most popular destinations. The Capital of the Highlands is often an occasion for First Division fans to make a weekend visit of an away game, coming back down the A9 to the Central Belt following two nights of football, boozin' and partyin'. Morton fans may opt to do the same.

For those fans travelling with families, there is plenty to keep them all entertained. Historical sites of interest, including castles and venerable architecture, surround the city. Culloden isn't too far away, if you fancy a bit of historical importance and melancholy introspection. And, just in case you are shallow enough not to care about such things, Inverness is loaded with all the usual chain stores and speciality shops that large towns enjoy. For kids and their parents, Inverness Aquadome is a leisure centre with various water slides, pools and other aquatic attractions.

THE TRIVIA: When considering teams at the lower reaches of the Highland League, one's thoughts invariably turn to the likes of Nairn County, Rothes, Wick Academy and Fort William. However, spare a thought for poor Clachnacuddin, who carry the neck-borne millstone of the lowest ever points total in an HL campaign, racking up only 3 points from 32 games back in 1989.

---

THE TEAM: St. Mirren have already reached the final of this venerable contest, following an early semi-final last month. Last season's final, which Morton won 1-0 at Love Street, saw a full-strength Morton team meet a St. Mirren side that contained mostly members of the first team squad with a few reserves and youths to make up the numbers. This season will probably see the same situation. Eddie Annand, pending fitness tests may make a return to Cappielow for the first time since his loan contract with the Greenock club expired at the end of the 2002/03 season, alongside fellow burly striker Mixu Paatelainen. St. Mirren's poor showing last season was largely down to an impotent strike force - with two such renowned names taking to the field this season, their fortunes may improve greatly.

I will not offer a preview of Morton's chances for this game. If there's one thing we learned from last season, it's that chicken-counting in a pre-hatch scenario is a dangerous profession! Morton must first overcome Viewfield Rovers to be sure of meeting the Paisley Saints in the final.

THE PLACE: *IF* Morton go through to the final, Cappielow Park will see a larger-than-usual crowd. Last year's Cup Final in Paisley attracted 4,000 punters - not bad for what basically amounts to a pre-season friendly. With gate money split between the two teams, both sides will hope for an attendance even larger and more vocal than last time.

THE TRIVIA: Morton have won the Cup 46 times, to St. Mirren's 47. Here's hoping that Morton can overcome both Viewfield and St. Mirren to restore parity to the trophy count.

With Morton leaving it relatively late to start pre-season proceedings, there may only be a week between the Renfrewshire Cup Final, and the first competitive game of the season; the Bell's Cup First Round tie against Forfar Athletic at Station Park. With Chairman DDF Rae looking to arrange a match against quality opposition on the 27th, there is a jam-packed schedule for fans and players alike. Fans will be looking forward the choice Highland and island locations for this season's preparation; they will, of course, be hoping that the players get as much preparation for the harsh campaign ahead out of it as the fans will relaxation and enjoyment.