# 2008–09 Greenock Morton F.C. season

Season 2008–09 saw Greenock Morton compete in their second consecutive season in the First Division. They finished sixth in the league, a rise from the previous season's avoidance of the relegation play-off by one goal.

## First team transfers

* From end of 2007–08 season, to last match of season 2008–09

### In

| Player | From | Fee |
| Steven Masterton | Clyde | Free |
| Kevin Cuthbert | St Johnstone | Free |
| Jon Newby | Morecambe | Free |
| Dominic Shimmin | Crawley Town | Free |
| Allan McManus | St Johnstone | Free |
| James Grady | Hamilton Academical | Loan |
| James Grady | Hamilton Academical | Free |
| Chris Smith | Rangers | Free |
| Colin Stewart | Livingston | Free |
| Carlo Monti | Celtic | Free |

### Out

| Player | To | Fee |
| Craig Black | Largs Thistle | Free |
| Adam Coakley | Queen's Park | Free |
| Bobby Linn | East Fife | Free |
| Barry Smith | Valur | Loan Return |
| Dean Keenan | Ayr United | Free |
| Chris Templeman | East Fife | Free |
| David McGurn | Raith Rovers | Free |
| Jon Newby | Burton Albion | Loan |
| Lee Robinson | Rangers | Loan Return |
| Scott McLaughlin | Airdrie United | Free |
| Chris Millar | St Johnstone | Free |
| Jamie Stevenson | Alloa Athletic | Loan |
| Brian Graham | East Stirlingshire | Loan |
| Jamie Stevenson | East Stirlingshire | Loan |
| Kieran McAnespie | Dumbarton | Loan |

## Squad (that played for first team)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | SCO | Kevin Cuthbert |
| — | GK | SCO | Colin Stewart |
| — | DF | SCO | Stewart Greacen (captain) |
| — | DF | SCO | Ryan Harding |
| — | DF | SCO | David MacGregor |
| — | DF | SCO | Allan McManus |
| — | DF | SCO | Alan Reid (trialist) |
| — | DF | ENG | Dominic Shimmin |
| — | DF | SCO | Chris Smith |
| — | DF | SCO | Alex Walker |
| — | MF | SCO | Kevin Finlayson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | SCO | Allan Jenkins |
| — | MF | SCO | Steven Masterton |
| — | MF | SCO | Jim McAlister |
| — | MF | SCO | Ryan McGuffie |
| — | MF | SCO | Carlo Monti |
| — | MF | AUS | Erik Paartalu |
| — | FW | SCO | James Grady (loaned from Hamilton Academical) |
| — | FW | ENG | Jon Newby |
| — | FW | SCO | Iain Russell |
| — | FW | ENG | Brian Wake |
| — | FW | ENG | Peter Weatherson |

## Fixtures and results

Win  Draw  Loss

### Friendlies

| Date | Opponents | Stadium | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 7 July 2008 | Threave Rovers | Meadow Park, Castle Douglas | 9–0 | Brian Wake Iain Russell Jim McAlister Jon Newby Steven Masterton Erik Paartalu | ? |
| 9 July 2008 | Tow Law Town | Ironworks Road Ground, Tow Law | 1–1 | Iain Russell | ? |
| 10 July 2008 | Durham City | The Archibald's Stadium, Durham | 3–0 | Jon Newby Brian Wake Erik Paartalu | ? |
| 12 July 2008 | Ayr United | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–1 | | ? |
| 15 July 2008 | Hartlepool United | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 1–2 | Steven Masterton | ? |
| 16 July 2008 | Celtic | Lennoxtown, Glasgow | 1–5 | Steven Masterton | Closed Door |
| 18 July 2008 | Dumbarton | Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton | 1–0 | Ryan McGuffie | 566 |
| 21 July 2008 | Carlton YMCA (Renfrewshire Cup SF) | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 9–0 | Iain Russell Brian Wake Erik Paartalu Jon Newby Kevin Finlayson Ryan McGuffie | ? |
| 22 July 2008 | Rangers | Murray Park, Milngavie | 1–3 | Brian Wake | Closed Door |
| 26 July 2008 | St Mirren (Renfrewshire Cup Final) | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 1 – 1 (4 – 5 on pens) | Iain Russell | 3,836 |
| 3 September 2008 | Partick Thistle | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–2 | Peter Weatherson Trialist | Closed Door |
| 20 September 2008 | Ayr United | Glasgow Green, Glasgow | 4–4 | Allan Jenkins Kieran McAnespie | Public Park |
| 4 November 2008 | St Johnstone | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–4 | ? | Closed Door |
| 13 November 2008 | Celtic XI | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–0 | | ? |
| 19 November 2008 | Hamilton Academical | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 4–3 | Iain Russell Brian Wake Kevin Finlayson | Closed Door |
| 7 January 2009 | Rangers | Murray Park, Milngavie | 0–1 | | Closed Door |
| 12 January 2009 | Ayr United | Glasgow Green, Glasgow | 2–1 | Peter Weatherson Iain Russell | Public Park |
| 28 January 2009 | St Mirren | St Mirren Park, Paisley | 0–2 | | Closed Door |
| 19 February 2009 | Dumbarton | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–2 | | Closed Door |
| 28 April 2009 | Viewfield Rovers (Renfrewshire Cup SF) | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 11–0 | Ryan McGuffie Kevin Finlayson Iain Russell Peter Weatherson Brian Wake James Grady | ? |

### Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division

| Date | Opponents | Stadium | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | Points | Referee |
| 2 August 2008 | Clyde | Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld | 1–1 | Jon Newby 40' Brian Wake 86' | 1,638 | 1 | C Boyle |
| 9 August 2008 | St Johnstone | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–2 | Ryan McGuffie 5' Erik Paartalu 82' | 2,649 | 2 | C Brown |
| 16 August 2008 | Livingston | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 1–2 | Brian Wake 31' | 2,502 | 2 | B Winter |
| 23 August 2008 | Dundee | Dens Park, Dundee | 0–1 | | 4,032 | 2 | J McKendrick |
| 30 August 2008 | Airdrie United | Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, Drumgelloch | 0–5 | | 1,793 | 2 | A Muir |
| 13 September 2008 | Queen of the South | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–0 | | 2,235 | 3 | C Allan |
| 20 September 2008 | Partick Thistle | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow | 1–2 | Iain Russell 44' | 3,368 | 3 | S Finnie |
| 27 September 2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 1–1 | Brian Wake 60' | 2,156 | 4 | S Nicholls |
| 4 October 2008 | Ross County | Victoria Park, Dingwall | 0–3 | | 2,290 | 4 | A Muir |
| 18 October 2008 | Clyde | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 1–0 | James Grady 37' | 2,041 | 7 | E Norris |
| 25 October 2008 | Dundee | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–0 | Peter Weatherson 26' Ryan McGuffie 59' (pen) | 1,741 | 10 | C Thomson |
| 1 November 2008 | Livingston | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston | 0–1 | | 1,733 | 10 | B Winter |
| 8 November 2008 | Queen of the South | Palmerston Park, Dumfries | 4–1 | Peter Weatherson 19' 28' Allan Jenkins 37' Stewart Greacen 74' | 2,944 | 13 | D Somers |
| 22 November 2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | East End Park, Dunfermline | 0–1 | Erik Paartalu 24' | 4,400 | 16 | M McCurry |
| 25 November 2008 | Airdrie United | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–0 | Brian Wake 34' Allan Jenkins 90' | 1,642 | 19 | C Allan |
| 13 December 2008 | St Johnstone | McDiarmid Park, Perth | 0–1 | | 2,749 | 19 | S O'Reilly |
| 20 December 2008 | Ross County | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–1 | Steven Masterton 35' Brian Wake 64' | 1,853 | 22 | C Charleston |
| 27 December 2008 | Airdrie United | Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, Drumgelloch | 0–1 | Kevin Cuthbert 44' | 1,663 | 22 | C Murray |
| 30 December 2008 | Partick Thistle | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–0 | Steven Masterton 17' Peter Weatherson 65' | 2,385 | 25 | J McKendrick |
| 3 January 2009 | Queen of the South | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–2 | Peter Weatherson 33' 90' | 2,647 | 26 | S Nicholls |
| 17 January 2009 | Dundee | Dens Park, Dundee | 0–0 | | 3,736 | 27 | C Brown |
| 24 January 2009 | Livingston | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–2 | Brian Wake 13' Ryan McGuffie 16' | 2,307 | 28 | I Brines |
| 31 January 2009 | St Johnstone | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–0 | | 2,810 | 29 | C Thomson |
| 21 February 2009 | Partick Thistle | Firhill Stadium, Glasgow | 0–1 | | 3,348 | 29 | C Charleston |
| 28 February 2009 | Dunfermline Athletic | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–1 | Peter Weatherson 28' Stewart Greacen 48' | 2,092 | 32 | M Tumilty |
| 3 March 2009 | Clyde | Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld | 4–2 | Erik Paartalu 32' Iain Russell 70' Brian Wake 86' 90' | 1,165 | 35 | M McCurry |
| 7 March 2009 | Queen of the South | Palmerston Park, Dumfries | 1–1 | James Grady 41' | 2,643 | 36 | B Winter |
| 10 March 2009 | Airdrie United | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–0 | | 1,865 | 37 | E Norris |
| 14 March 2009 | Clyde | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–0 | Allan Jenkins 18' Steven Masterton 68' (pen) | 2,168 | 40 | S Conroy |
| 21 March 2009 | Ross County | Victoria Park, Dingwall | 1–1 | Iain Russell 90' | 2,236 | 41 | C Boyle |
| 4 April 2009 | Dundee | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 2–0 | Peter Weatherson 29' 79' | 2,133 | 44 | C Murray |
| 11 April 2009 | Livingston | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston | 2–0 | Brian Wake 19' 83' | 1,815 | 47 | G Salmond |
| 18 April 2009 | Partick Thistle | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–1 | | 3,323 | 47 | A Law |
| 2 May 2009 | St Johnstone | McDiarmid Park, Perth | 1–3 | Ryan McGuffie 25' (pen) | 6,453 | 47 | S Nicholls |
| 5 May 2009 | Dunfermline Athletic | East End Park, Dunfermline | 1–3 | Carlo Monti 62' | 1,438 | 47 | B Winter |
| 9 May 2009 | Ross County | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 0–2 | | 1,956 | 47 | S Dougal |

### Homecoming Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Stadium | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | Referee |
| 29 November 2008 | Round 3 | Peterhead | Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead | 1–2 | Steven Masterton 24' Peter Weatherson 66' | 817 | S MacDonald |

### League Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Stadium | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | Referee |
| 5 August 2008 | Round 1 | Stranraer | Stair Park, Stranraer | 6–3 | Ryan McGuffie 5' Brian Wake 12' 85' Iain Russell 23' 32' Erik Paartalu 42' | 317 | S Finnie |
| 26 August 2008 | Round 2 | Hibernian | Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh | 3 – 4 AET | Iain Russell 29' 115' (pen) Steven Masterton 66' Ryan Harding 118' | 6,329 | I Brines |
| 23 September 2008 | Round 3 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Cappielow Park, Greenock | 1 – 2 AET | Jim McAlister 34' | 2,023 | M McCurry |

### Challenge Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Stadium | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | Referee |
| 13 August 2008 | Round 2 | East Stirlingshire | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir | 3–0 | Steven Masterton 22' Ryan McGuffie 32' 53' | 753 | S O'Reilly |
| 7 September 2008 | Quarter Final | Queen of the South | Palmerston Park, Dumfries | 2–0 | Brian Wake 48' Ryan McGuffie 77' | 2,991 | W Collum |
| 12 October 2008 | Semi Final | Ross County | Victoria Park, Dingwall | 1–4 | Allan McManus 55' Peter Weatherson 77' | 1,396 | M Tumilty |

## Player statistics
### Overall

| # | Player | Played | Subs | |
| GK | Kevin Cuthbert | 34 | 00 | 00 |
| GK | Colin Stewart | 02 | 02 | 00 |
| DF | Stewart Greacen | 29 | 00 | 02 |
| DF | Dominic Shimmin | 28 | 00 | 00 |
| DF | Alex Walker | 27 | 01 | 00 |
| DF | Chris Smith | 22 | 02 | 00 |
| DF | Allan McManus | 21 | 02 | 00 |
| DF | Ryan Harding | 12 | 02 | 01 |
| DF | David MacGregor | 11 | 00 | 00 |
| DF | Alan Reid | 00 | 02 | 00 |
| MF | Jim McAlister | 42 | 00 | 01 |
| MF | Ryan McGuffie | 38 | 01 | 08 |
| MF | Steven Masterton | 28 | 08 | 06 |
| MF | Kevin Finlayson | 27 | 11 | 00 |
| MF | Erik Paartalu | 24 | 09 | 04 |
| MF | Allan Jenkins | 22 | 13 | 03 |
| MF | Carlo Monti | 03 | 01 | 01 |
| FW | Peter Weatherson | 33 | 08 | 10 |
| FW | Brian Wake | 25 | 15 | 12 |
| FW | Iain Russell | 17 | 15 | 07 |
| FW | James Grady | 16 | 05 | 02 |
| FW | Jon Newby | 05 | 02 | 01 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 4 | Dundee | 36 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 50 |
| 5 | Queen of the South | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 57 | 50 | +7 | 47 |
| 6 | Greenock Morton | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 47 |
| 7 | Livingston (R) | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 47 |
| 8 | Ross County | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 42 | 46 | −4 | 47 |
* ↑ Demoted to 3rd Division for Financial Irregularities