Since an 1886 friendly against London Caledonian, I’ve identified around 100 friendlies or challenge matches against English opposition, involving almost 60 clubs. In the very early days, these friendly matches happened around the festive period, with trips to Middlesborough, Sunderland, Leeds, and the West Midlands (to play Aston Villa, Wolves and Walsall ). Watford's Elton John with Morton chairman Hugh Currie prior to a pre-season friendly in the late 1970s. David Platt and Jim Hunter in action during Morton's friendly with Aston Villa at Cappielow in the summer of 1988. (Image: Courtesy of Niall McGilp)Morton hit back immediately, Tommy Turner scoring with a fierce volley from a Gerry Ronald corner.