Greenock Morton

Kit History

1874-1884 a l

1884-1886 l

1886-1892 l

1892-1896 k l

1896-circa1905 l

circa1905-1922 l

1922-1927 l

1927-1933 l

1935-1937 l

1937-1938 l

1945-1947 l

1947-1948 l

1948-1950 c l

1952-1955 l

1958-1959 l

1961-1962 l

1962-1963 l

1963-1966 b2 k l

1966-1969 l

1969-1970 b3 l

1970-1971 c

1972-1973 l

1973-1974 b4

1974-1975 l

1975-1976 l

Umbro

1976-1978 l

Umbro

1978-1979 e

Umbro

1980-1983 f j

Pony

1984-1985 j o

Pony

1985-1986 o

New Olympic

1986-1987 g m o

New Olympic

1987-1988 o

New Olympic

1988-1989 m o

Matchwinner

1989-1991 g n o

Matchwinner

1991-1993 g i o

Matchwinner

1993-1995 g o

1995-1996 g

1996-1997 g i

1997-2000 g i

2001-2002 i

2002-2003 g i

2003-2006 g i

2006-2007 g h

Bukta

2007-2008 h

Background

The shipbuilding town of Greenock lies on the south bank of the Firth of Clyde, sandwiched between Port Glasgow and the prosperous middle class town of Gourock to the west. While the shipyards have now closed, Greenock retains its maritime traditions with a ferry port and an international container terminal.

It is believed the club took its name from Morton Terrace, where most of the founders lived although there is an alternative theory that they were named after James Morton, a local builder and provost of Greenock who became the club's first patron. According to their original constitution the club was to be called Morton FC, would wear "two inch royal blue and white stripes" (ie hoops) and would conduct all business in accordance with temperance principles. Abstaining from alcohol is not an idea that has stood the test of time but the original colours have: despite several flirtations with vertical stripes, plain white tops and even red shirts, Morton are associated with hooped blue and white shirts.

There is some ambiguity over the club's formal title. They are registered with the Scottish FA as Greenock Morton but have generally been known simply as Morton. In 1994 they applied to become "Greenock Morton" according to an article on Wikipedia but in 1998 they appear to have applied to the Scottish Football League to change their official title back to "Morton." On their website they are "Greenock Morton." Locally they are generally known as "The Ton" or, rather more fancifully, "The Pride of the Clyde."

The club became founder members of the Scottish Second Division in 1893 and reached the semi-final of the Scottish FA Cup in 1896-97 where they were thrashed 1-7 by Rangers at Cappielow. In 1900 they finished as runners-up behind Partick Thistle and were elected to the First Division. In 1905 they finished in last place but were spared having to apply for re-election (this was before automatic promotion and relegation) by the decision to add two clubs to the Scottish First Division. The Ton enjoyed their best performances in the First Division between 1914 and 1919 when they finished in fourth place (three times), third place (twice) and as runners up (in 1917).

In 1922 Morton reached the Scottish FA Cup final where, against expectations, they beat Rangers by a single goal. The victorious team immediately took the train to Hartlepool to play a pre-arranged friendly and it was not until the following Wednesday that 10,000 supporters could turn out at Cappielow Park to welcome their heroes home. The following season this succesful side broke up after a dispute over wages and in 1927 Morton were relegated to Scottish Division Two, returning to the top flight as runners-up after two seasons. In 1930 a stone throwing incident during a match with Cowdenbeath led to Cappielow being closed for two matches, evidence that hooliganism is not a modern phenomenon. The club was relegated again in 1933, gained promotion in 1937 but went straight back down again the following season.

When the Scottish League restarted in 1946, Morton were placed in the new Division A (despite having been in the second Division when competition was suspended in 1939). In April 1948 they once again met Rangers in the Scottish FA Cup final but this time they lost in the replay after the first match was drawn 1-1. An astonishing 265,000 spectators watched the two games and it is said that the entire population of Greenock took the train to Hampden on both match days. The following season they were relegated, bounced back immediately as Division B champions only to drop back down again in 1952.

Morton's third cup final appearance was in 1963 (they were still in the Second Division at the time) when they met Rangers again in the final of the Scottish League Cup, the Glasgow club winning 5-0 in front of 103,000 spectators. Promotion and relegation came in quick succession although between 1967 and 1975 they played in the top flight, even qualifying for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (forerunner of the UEFA Cup) in 1967 only to be eliminated by Chelsea 3-9 on aggregate in the first round. They were placed in the new Division One (now the second level) following the formation of the Premier Division in 1975 winning the championship in 1978 and for the next five seasons they struggled to hold on to their place in the Premier Division before being relegated in 1983. After a brief return to the top level (1987-88), Morton dropped briefly into the Second Division (1994-95) before a severe financial crisis hit the club in 2001. The club narrowly avoided being wound up but successive relegations in 2001 and 2002 took the Ton down to the Third Division (the fourth and lowest tier).

Morton won the Third Division title at the first attempt and have been making a concerted effort to return to the second tier ever since.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

Background

Sources