Michael Harkins
Director
Michael Harkins
Director
A Morton fan and Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of international experience. Michael returned to Scotland in 2019 and is now owner of a local CA firm, Murray & Henderson. Michael worked alongside former finance director Nick Robinson to learn the systems and processes at the club before officially becoming a board member in May 2022 and will be a valuable addition to the Board.
Mark Farrell
Groundsman
Mark Farrell
Groundsman – sponsored by Manchester City MSC
Mark has been Head Groundsman at Greenock Morton Football Club for the past 13 years, and enjoys every minute working with the owners, directors, players and passionate fans.
After being educated at Myerscough College in Preston, Mark went on to work at two prestigious golf courses, namely The Oxfordshire and Loch Lomond. The skills, knowledge and experience gained within turfcare in the golf sector was extremely valuable for Mark as he made the transition into caring for a grass stadium pitch in professional football.
The same hard work and dedication Mark put into providing the best possible playing surface in golf transferred very well into professional football pitch care. This work ethic and commitment to turfcare has earned Mark an excellent reputation amongst his football groundsman peers.
Mark is highly regarded and well respected, but he is also modest. He prefers to let the pristine grass pitch at Greenock Morton Football Club speak for itself. His unquestionable commitment to Greenock Morton is on display for everyone to see. The pitch received platinum award for 2015-16 season from SPFL.
Andy Ritchie
Commercial Ambassador
Andy Ritchie barely needs an introduction to any Greenock Morton supporter or, indeed, any Scottish football fan of a certain age.
Widely regarded as the club’s most talented player of all-time, Ritchie signed for Morton from Celtic in October 1976 and delighted Cappielow crowds for seven goal-laden seasons.
Ritchie’s first four campaigns in particular were sensational – he scored at least 20 in each of these seasons – and earned him nicknames including ‘the Idle Idol’ and ‘The King of Cappielow’.
In his first full season, 1977/78, Ritchie guided the club to the First Division title and carried his superb form into the next season when he scooped the Scottish Football Writer’s Player of the Year award.
Such was Ritchie’s form in those years that he was alleged to be set for a place in Ally McLeod’s squad for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina until the SFA decreed that it wouldn’t look good for a part-time footballer to be involved.
Sadly, Andy was only to gain a solitary Under-21 international cap and a Scottish League XI appearance as reward for his imperious talents and a reputation as Scotland’s finest player not to win a full cap.
Blessed with a sublime first-touch and ability to score from seemingly anywhere on the pitch, Ritchie is renowned for his stunning goals including a number straight from corner- kicks and free-kicks.
Ritchie became something of a nemesis for Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough, with the Partick Thistle shot-stopper being a favourite target for some of his most spectacular efforts.
Rough wasn’t the only Scotland hero to be terrorised by Ritchie, though. The great Aberdeen team led by Sir Alex Ferguson was regularly on the receiving end of his magic too.
Most famously, Ritchie scored perhaps the club’s best ever goal by twisting the legendary defensive pairing of Willie Miller and Alex McLeish inside out before slotting past Jim Leighton in the Sinclair Street goal.
Ritchie finally left Morton for Motherwell for the sum of £35,000 in 1983 having established himself as perhaps Morton’s greatest and most popular player ever.
Sponsored by
Alan Mather
Andy Adams
Disability Access Officer
Andy Adams
Disability Access Officer
Lifelong supporter Andy was brought on board as the club’s first ever disability access officer in July 2017.
Contact details – dao@gmfc.net
David Bell
Senior Photographer
David Bell
Senior Photographer
When David started taking pictures at Cappielow from the stands during the dark days of administration in 2002, he feared he was documenting the demise of the club.
As the years passed since then he has continued to capture the highs and lows of the club from pitch side in his role as senior club photographer.
David’s images can be found here on the official club website, in the matchday magazine, and on social media channels Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Gary Bradley
Club Photographer
Gary Bradley
Club Photographer
Lifelong Morton supporter Gary Bradley was initialy invited to contribute to the club as Under-20s photographer during the 2016/17 season.
As well as covering the fortunes of the development squad, Gary also covers most first-team fixtures here at Cappielow, providing an alternative angle to complement the work of senior snapper David Bell.
Alistair Wyllie
Programme Sales
Alistair Wyllie
Programme Sales
Alistair Wyllie’s love for Morton is so great that he’s prepared to miss the first half of every single home fixture here at Cappielow.
It is a tough sacrifice to make but the devoted fan knows it is for the greater good of a club that he has volunteered for since 1973.
Just 17 when he started helping out with the Ton, he’s done everything from selling bingo tickets, lottery tickets, and flag day sales.
The 59-year-old from Skelmorlie arrives at 11.45am to look after the 50/50 draw ticket sales and programme selling, with around 20 youngsters, all keen Morton fans, helping with the selling.
Alistair said: “You get to know the managers over the years; the nicest was Jock Stein, who always bought a ticket. He was a supporters’ manager. Most of them say hello but few would buy a ticket these days.
“Anything I am asked to do I will for anyone at Cappielow; it’s part of my life and I love it. You meet a lot of good people. They are diehards but they are genuine folk.”
“It’s for the love of the club, but don’t get me wrong – I also love the closed season. It’s nice to get a break!”
Cappie the Cat
Mascot
Cappie the Cat
Mascot – sponsored by Catriona & Gregor McPherson
When former chairman Douglas Rae accepted the keys to the club, he didn’t know that he was embarking on a journey as a cat rescuer.
Cappie was just a kitten in 2001, happily living with his mum and litter brothers and sisters. The only interest he had in football was chasing the ball across the screen on the television.
Unfortunately for Cappie – his young life was to be completely disrupted when his human family moved house and didn’t register his microchip to their new address.
Cappie got out while investigating their garden, lost his bearings and began using the main stand at Cappielow for shelter, sleeping behind the away directors’ box which is where Douglas Rae found him.
Cappie wasted no time in growing his role: public appearances, dance-offs with Nuts the Killie squirrel and the occasional friendly banter with a certain Panda from Paisley.
However, on one fateful Halloween in 2012, Cappielow was broken into and horror of horrors – Cappie was abducted. A frantic door to door enquiry saw us search for our feline friend.
His body remained missing for a full week following the incident. It was a local fan who came to our rescue, calling late on a Friday evening to let us know that he’d been found at the side of Octavia Court.
Worse for the wear, Cappie took time to make a full recovery but our feisty feline was only absent from Cappielow for one home game. He felt he couldn’t let his loyal fans down especially after receiving so many good wishes.
His comeback was made in dramatic fashion, entering on a stretcher at the Partick Thistle game to a rapturous round of applause. Much loved by staff, players and fans alike, he’ll be at Cappielow for many years to come.
