Last Saturday Morton lifted the Renfewshire Cup at Love Street in front of 4,008 fans . The celebrations came after Morton had beaten local rivals St.Mirren 1-0 thanks to a superb header by big Stewart Greacen.

The game had added spice due to it being a rare meeting between the sides in recent years due to Morton’s slippery slide down the Scottish league and whisper it , St. Mirren’s promotion to the S.P.L..

The victory on Saturday being Morton’s 46th win, compared to St. Mirren’s 47, Abercorn’s 5, Port Glasgow’s 5, Arthurlie’s 2, Thornliebank’s 2 and Babcock and Wilcoxs 1 win (which as a matter of fact was the last win outside the big two and occurred in 1953-54).

In recent times the trophy has become more of a nuisance than a reason to celebrate. Many of the larger teams from years gone by have become junior or have ceased to exist leaving the ‘Ton and Saints the only two who can realistically win it. Indeed the rest of the tournament is made up of amateur sides with the senior sides entering at the semi final stage.

Over the years reserve teams have been fielded to gain fitness and match sharpness. In fact this seasons semi final between Morton and Viewfield Rovers saw only a few Morton fringe players making up the most experienced players in the team. Jani Uotinen, Phil Cannie, David McGurn and Morton’s answer to Stephane Bonnes, Lee Robertson took part (who has allegedly returned to Australia). However this is no excuse for St.Mirren fans to use in the workplace (aye right!) for Saturday’s defeat. The game was played by what was more or less first teams in a competitive and tense atmosphere. Also for those claiming the Renfrewshire cup is worthless, would you rather have won or lost it on Saturday?

For such an aesthetically impressive trophy this is a sad state of affairs. In particular comparing the way the trophy is now seen in comparison to the prestige formerly involved with being the regional champions. The trophy dates back to 1878 and was competed for by 18 sides none being either the ‘Ton or Saints.

These two first met in 1884 when Morton ran out 4-3 victors. Morton had to wait until 1893 for their first victory in the tournament beating St. Mirren 3-0. In the past the trophy was a very important part of the season with both clubs desperate to be the ‘pride of Renfrewshire’.

In fact Allan McGraw made his debut for Morton in the competition in front of 14,000 fans at Love Street in which Morton won the second leg 2-0 after a
1-1 draw in the first leg. McGraw getting two goals and saying of the game: “ It was my first local derby, I thought it was a Rangers Celtic game, I come from Glasgow, I couldn’t believe the hatred”. Evidently the passion and crowds were present in the past.

A reason for the decline in crowds and importance of the tournament in recent times is mainly down to the emergence of a very full fixture list containing league, Scottish Cup, League Cup and Challenge Cup games .

Clubs do not have the time (or player resources) to take the smaller regional tournaments so serious, this can be seen in all regional tournaments not only in Renfrewshire. A further detraction could be the fact that Greenock now comes under the region of Inverclyde and in essence is not officially in Renfrewshire.

However with Hugh Scott removing Morton from the Renfrewshire Football Association in 1998 the last time Morton competed in the tournament before this season was 1996-97 when we lost to St.Mirren at Cappielow.

The return of Morton to the tournament and the final taking place in the pre-season gave the fixture an added excitement which saw an excellent crowd of 4,008 turn out, an attendance more akin to yesteryear in relation to the Renfrewshire Cup.

Lets hope that the final can be maintained as a pre-season fixture competed by first teams. Especially since the clubs have been kept apart on the domestic front due to relegations and promotions. This may make the game more attractive to fans and players alike again next year when Morton prepare for their first division campaign while up the road the Saints look forward to life in Division 2 (well hopefully).

It is nothing more than a trophy with such history and tradition deserves.

JonaTon