150 years of Greenock Morton: Special day at Cappielow

The Sinclair Street stadium was bathed in a sea of blue, white, and Morton tartan on a day that celebrated the impact that the game of football has had on the local community.

Morton fans' group Cowshed created a stunning tifo (Image: Cowshed) Friends of yesteryear intertwined with the next generation of football followers who are set to embark on a lifetime of thrills spills and everything in between.

Legends interacted with the next generation (Image: alex craig)

Fans united to celebrate the club (Image: alex craig) Cappielow switched from stadium to stage on Saturday, October 5 for the current crop of Morton stars to etch their names in the history books as the club celebrated the 150th anniversary of its inception.

And the matinee performance prior to kick off against Raith Rovers left fans under no illusion as to just how special an occasion they were a part of.

The raising of the flag was a momentous occasion (Image: alex craig)

Ross McDade, a 26-year-old season ticket holder, said: “It was great day at Cappielow. The fans turned out and did their bit to mark the occasion. 

“Hoisting the flag before the game was a nice touch, I think the club really made spectacle of it."

The day was a grand occasion as all four corners of the stadium filled with excited fans as the Kilbarchan Pipe Band serenaded the thousands in attendance to honour the impact that the self-dubbed 'heartbeat of Inverclyde' has had on its community.

Links have been made, partnerships forged, and most importantly memories etched in the minds of many to last a lifetime.

That link is so strong to some, that it was enough to take time out of their busy schedules to create a Cowshed tifo display boasting the words '150 years of Greenock Morton.'

(Image: alex craig) George Anderson was a fitting choice to hoist the flag (Image: alex craig)The club's hall of famer, George Anderson, had the honour of raising the  flag in a symbolic moment of the area's only professional side.

That moment struck a chord with many a Ton fan as the club icon was joined by two of the future to signal the celebration.

Stephen McEleny, a lifelong fan, said it couldn't have been a more fitting line up to present such a moment.

"George Anderson is the epitome of a Morton legend," he said. "He was a very fitting selection to raise a flag honouring 150 years if the club.

"The fact we was flanked by two young representatives of Morton in the Community was a good symbol of the history the club has still to be written."

Another fan added: "George is an example of the very best of local football.

"From his debut as a 16-year-old and a 16-year-old playing association with the club, to a coaching role and onto his work with MCT."

All that was left to do was for Dougie Imrie and his side to do the business on the park where it mattered most. 

And that they did, thanks to a stunning second half performance that saw Filip Stuparevic and Michael Garrity strike when it mattered most to send everyone within Cappielow home happy.

Filip Stuparevic was exceptional (Image: alex craig) Dougie Imrie was delighted to cap off the occasion with a win (Image: alex craig)

Academy graduate and fan favourite Michael Garrity, whose goal put the gloss on a poignant day, says that the spectacle and the win was something that the club deserved.

His goal capped off a special day celebrating the club that has given him his chance in the professional game.

"It was a really special day for me as an academy graduate to be a part of that," he added. "I'm delighted for the club as a whole, that extends from the players to the staff to the fans because I think the club deserved that."

"It had been coming, we've been unlucky in the last few weeks with other results so the fact we were able to all come together and celebrate the club whilst getting the win, was really nice."

First team boss Imrie was just delighted to be able to add to an ever growing list of memories in his relatively short stint in charge at the club.

He said: "I thought the atmosphere in the ground was incredible.

"It spurred the boys on against Raith.

"Everyone will remember the celebration for a long time. Everyone was behind the team and it's always good when you score a couple of goals too.

"Lets hope its a good omen to start the next 150 years of this football club."