The Crazy World Of Andy Ritchie

This Friday, March 5, Morton legend Andy Ritchie will be appearing at Greenock's Arts Guild Theatre for an evening titled The Crazy World of Andy Ritchie.

In a one-off stage show, the Idle Idol will be interviewed by sports journalists Jim Black and Bryan Cooney, and they have promised to leave no stone unturned in their discussion of his brilliant yet controversial career and the terrible lows he has suffered since retiring.

The night starts at 7.45pm with tickets priced at £12. You can book your seat by calling 01475 723038.

A promotional blurb for the night says:

Andy Ritchie, the King of Cappielow, makes a nostalgic return to Greenock this week.

The Crazy World of Andy Ritchie will be co-hosted by sportwriters Jim Black and Bryan Cooney.

Ritchie, blessed with the dead ball skills of a Brazilian and capable of scoring the most audacious goals, promises to tell all in a no-holds barred interview.

He will discuss his tempestuous relationship with the late Jock Stein and the highs and lows of his career at Cappielow.

Ritchie will also tell his audience how his life fell apart in the wake of his sacking as Celtic’s chief scout.

The hurt of being dismissed by Kenny Dalglish just weeks into the Scotland legend’s ill-fated reign as manager a decade ago without so much as a word from his former team-mate went deep.

So deep, in fact, that Ritchie ended up homeless and living in an institution in Barrhead. For fully two years Ritchie, 54, says he experienced a desperate sense of helplessness as he fought to put his life back together. He recalled: "I lost just about everything. Being without a home is the biggest reality check you can get and that’s what happened to me."

Ritchie now works as an SPL match delegate and he insists that he has no regrets about turning his back on a career at Celtic to pursue new beginnings with Morton. But he still wonders how much different his life might have turned out had he accepted an eleventh hour offer from Jock Stein to sign a new four-year deal."My relationship with Big Jock was either very, very good or very, very bad. He could be nice as nine pence one minute and the next there was no time for niceties," he added.

The audience will also be invited to participate in a question and answer session.

It promises to be an evening to remember featuring one of Scottish football’s true icons.

Arts Guild Theatre - What's On

The Scottish Sun - Kenny Didn't Have The Guts To Tell Me I Was Getting The Sack (26.02.2010)

Another Postponement

Morton's rearranged fixture with Inverness Caledonian Thistle has been postponed for a second time after the Cappielow pitched was ruled unplayabale at a pitch inspection conducted at 4pm today.


gmfc.net - Morton -v- Inverness (01.03.2010)

Morton 1 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic

Morton 1 - McGuffie (54)
Dunfermline Athletic 2 - Kirk (69), Mason (76)

Att: 1,776

A poor show: Lacklustre Morton gave away two shocking goals to lose 2-1 at home to Dunfermline after a Ryan McGuffie header had given them an undeserved lead.

Full match report to follow...






Morton (4-4-2):

1. Colin Stewart - 5
2. Ryan McGuffie - 7
3. Alan Reid - 5
4. Dominic Shimmin - 7
5. Stewart Greacen - 5
6. Stevie Masterton - 5
7. Carlo Monti - 2 (16. Erik Paartalu - 34 mins - 7)
8. Allan Jenkins - 5 (14. Brian Graham - 85 mins)
9. Peter Weatherson - 5
10. Iain Russell - 5 (12. Donovan Simmonds - 74 mins)
11. Jim McAlister - 5

Unused Subs:

15. David MacGregor
20. Kevin Cuthbert

Booked: Greacen

Stewart
McGuffie Greacen Shimmin Reid
McAlister Masterton Jenkins Monti
Weatherson Russell

Dunfermline: Greg Fleming; Greg Ross, Neil McGregor (Chris Higgins, 46), Calum Woods, Austin McCann (c); Steven Bell, Gary Mason, Nick Phinn (Willie Gibson, 59); David Graham, Joe Cardle (Ross Campbell, 69); Andy Kirk.

Unused Subs: Alex Burke, Greg Paterson.

Booked: Mason, Gibson

My man of the match: Ryan McGuffie

Sponsor's man of the match:


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report

Greenock Telegraph - Match Reaction

Scottish Sun - Match Report

bbc sport - Match Report

dafc.co.uk - Match Report

dafc.co.uk - pics

There's Grass On The Pitch, Let's Play!

Today's match against Dunfermline Athletic is on!

The pitch passed an inspection at 9.30 am this morning, and this will see us play our first league match at Cappielow since 12 December, 2009 - over two months ago!

gmfc.net - Games On! (27.02.2010)

Pitch Inspection Tomorrow

A club statement on gmfc.net has confirmed that there will be an early morning pitch inspection to determine whether or not tomorrow's First Division clash with Dunfermline Athletic will go ahead.

With snow falling in Inverclyde most of Wednesday and Thursday, the fixture appeared to be in serious doubt. However, the snow fall has been followed by heavy rain and this started around about 5pm yesterday. Fortunately, the only areas that seemed to have been affected by the snow were high lying areas such as Overton, Grieve Road, Leven Road and Devol. I was in the town centre yesterday and you wouldn't even have known it was snowing anywhere else.

The tone of the club's post suggests that they are hopeful that the game will go ahead. "The condition of the pitch has improved greatly over the last 24 hours, however the inspection has been planned in advance as a precaution due to the changeable weather conditions and so that a final decision can be made in adequate time for both Clubs and supporters."

The post also indicated that the result of the inspection will be posted on the website around about 10am. The inspection is expected to be carried out at 9.30am.

Ton groundsman Mark Farrell (pictured) has asked for help to remove the covers tomorrow morning. Anyone who is available to help should turn up at Cappielow for 9am.

gmfc.net - Morton -v- Dunfermline: Pitch Inspection Planned (26.02.2010)

Help Required At Cappielow, Saturday Morning 9am (Post by InverAlly)

Ross County Match Rescheduled

Last Friday, Morton's First Division fixture against Ross County was postponed due to a frozen pitch. And although there has been no formal announcement, the fixture list on gmfc.net confirms that the match has been rearranged and will now be played on Tuesday 13 April, 2010.

gmfc.net - fixtures

Morton Target N.I. Youngster

Morton are rumoured to be tracking Northern Ireland Under-21 internationalist Liam Boyce.

However, James Grady will face stiff competition for the 18-year-old Cliftonville striker's signature, as Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City and Swansea City are also monitoring Boyce's progress.

“He's not a player I expect to have at Cliftonville for a long time,” manager Eddie Patterson told the Belfast Telegraph last summer. “A few cross-channel clubs are having a look at him and I would be very surprised if he didn't make a move some time soon.

“To get that move, he needs to show what he can do on a regular basis and I'm happy to give him that chance"

According to the Scottish Sun, James Grady and Allan McManus flew to Belfast to watch Boyce (pictured) and one other unnamed player with an eye to signing them for next season. They took in Portadown versus Cliftonville at Shamrock Park - a match which Cliftonville lost 2-0. Boyce featured, as did other players like George McMullan and brothers Ronan and Chris Scanell, all of whom are also rumoured to be attracting the attention of clubs on the British mainland.

Belfast Telegraph - Cliftonville Manager Eddie Backs Boyce For Big Time (25.08.2009)

Paartalu Heading Home

Morton midfielder Erik Paartalu will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The big Australian has agreed to a return home by signing a three year deal with A-League side Brisbane Roar.

"My contract was running down with Morton in the summer and there was plenty of interest from Ange [Postecoglou]," Paartalu told Brisbane Roar's official website. "I've been watching the progress of the A-League and I always imagined myself playing in it, it was just a matter of timing of when to come back.

"I feel the way things are going in Australia I'd like to give it a crack and with what Ange is trying to put together for next season it is going to be interesting and exciting.

"It was an opportunity I couldn't refuse really," he added.

brisbaneroar.com.au - Erik Paartalu Signs For Brisbane (24.02.2010)