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  • Archive

    Victoria Park kids go gardening

  • Archive

    O’Brien keen for a fresh start

  • Archive

    Madden in charge at Firhill

  • Archive

    Away Day Guide: vs Partick Thistle

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Fir Park

  • Archive

    Hamilton defeat in pictures

  • Archive

    TV: McCall rages at home defeat

  • Archive

    Motherwell 0 – 4 Hamilton Accies

  • Archive

    Double the fun for Motherwell kids!

  • Archive

    TV: Leitch calls for cool heads

  • Archive

    Victoria Park kids go gardening

    MFC Community Trust were delighted to welcome Victoria Park School from Carluke along to the stadium for a visit to the ‘Reading Garden’ last week.

    Victoria Park is a special school catering for children and young people aged between 3 and 18 with additional support needs including complex learning difficulties, physical difficulties, sensory impairment and autistic spectrum disorders.

    The youngsters came along and gave a helping hand in the garden, which is located between the Phil O’Donnell and the Maxim Office Park Stands, removing some weeds and even bringing some flowers to plant themselves.

    Motherwell FC Community Trust Coach Andy Gemmill explained: “We have been working with the pupils from Victoria Park since the start of the school year and were pleased to have them come to visit us and help in the garden, which has helped them in their class topic they have been working on in school.”

    Teacher Alison Hawthorn also added: “The gardening project between Motherwell FC and ourselves has been a great success so far.

    “The pupils took great pride in caring for their little area of the garden and are looking forward to visiting again in the near future. We hope that we can continue to build upon the positive links that we have with the MFC Community Trust and the club.”

  • Archive

    O’Brien keen for a fresh start

    Mark O’Brien got his initial taste of first-team football months after leaving his home in the Republic of Ireland to move to Derby at the age of 15.

    The defender’s determination to keep experiencing the same thrill of playing at the top level has been undiminished despite suffering a series of blows before his 21st birthday that the vast majority of footballers do not experience in a lifetime.

    The centre-back had heart surgery around the time of his 17th birthday and has since had two major knee operations.

    After not making a first-team appearance since February 2013, O’Brien was aiming to come to Motherwell to revive his career.

    The loan deal almost fell through when he suffered an ankle injury during a pre-season training camp.

    But Motherwell manager Stuart McCall waited for him to regain his fitness and the 21-year-old has shown his gratitude by playing his part in Motherwell’s Scottish Premiership revival in recent weeks.

    “I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said. “I think because I’d not played in a first team for nearly a year, it just felt good to be coming up here knowing I had a chance to play first-team football.

    “The league is not spoken about highly enough. It has surprised me a bit because it’s a lot better standard than people let on.”

    Some of O’Brien’s Derby teammates, such as former Kilmarnock midfielder Craig Bryson and former Dundee United striker Johnny Russell, had told him Motherwell was the perfect club to rebuild his career.

    But his willingness to move to Fir Park was strengthened when McCall waited for him to regain his fitness following the minor setback.

    “When I was away in Austria with Derby we were training and the second last day I rolled my ankle,” he said.

    “It could have been a lot worse, we expected it to be a lot worse. When it happened I was gutted because I was told I had torn three ligaments in my ankle because of the swelling and the bruising. But when I found out it wasn’t as bad, it was a weight off my shoulders.

    “I had done all my training, got over my injury from the year before, and I was looking forward to a fresh start at Motherwell. When that happened I was really annoyed, but I was really happy when it was only a couple of weeks of treatment. Because it wasn’t that bad, the manager here stayed patient and let me do my rehab at Derby until I was ready to come up. Not many managers would. A lot of managers get someone else in if it’s not on there and then.

    “I felt privileged that he waited. The fact he waited for me made my mind up a lot clearer than it was at the start.

    “When you’re wanted somewhere it gives you a bit more of a lift, and you want to go there and do well for them.”

    The ankle injury was nothing compared to what O’Brien had overcome in the past – having surgery to cure cruciate ligament damage and then a knee joint problem.

    “The aim is to put all that in the past,” he said. “I’ve done that with the majority of my injuries – put them in the past and get back playing to the standards I was beforehand and get my fitness back. It was frustrating because obviously I’ve had my fair share.

    “I’m still only 21 so I’m lucky in a sense that I tasted first team at a young age. I know what I want from football; I want to play first team week in week out. I’m over my injuries and I want to progress.”

    Dublin-born O’Brien’s ambition to make a career in the game saw him leave home at an early age.

    ” When I came over at just fifteen, I moved straight into digs,” he said.

    “It was strange at first but because I loved football so much it took the homesickness away. I just enjoyed every single day kicking a ball around at training. It was in that same season when I turned 16 that I made my first-team debut.

    “So from moving over at the age of 15, playing for a Sunday league team, to playing for a first team in a big stadium in the same season, it was an eye-opener to what I wanted to do and aim for.

    “Because I got a taste of it at a young age, it was tough when I got injured for the first time, and then got back from that and got injured again.

    “But I knew what I was trying to get myself back for because I had first team when I was young. So whatever injury came around I knew what I was aiming to get back to. I was always driven and never let anything knock me back.

    “Sometimes during my rehab it got me down a lot, because you don’t want to be injured and it was getting frustrating. But now I’m clear of that I’m just happy playing football again.”

    The former Republic of Ireland youth international’s resolve to come through those injuries was never in question, given he had come through an operation to fix a heart defect that was picked up in a routine check in November 2009.

    “At the time when it happened we didn’t know if I was going to play football again or not,” he said.

    “To get my fitness back from that, any injury that came along after that, I knew if I could get back from such an operation that I had when I was younger, that no ankle or knee was going to stop me. And I have just got my head down and done what I needed to do.”

    O’Brien was eager to make sure his most recent return from injury was a lasting one, and knew he would have to leave Derby, temporarily at least, for the sake of his career, after realising he would not immediately be in Steve McClaren’s first-team plans.

    “I’d say I was fit from November until the end of the season,” he said.

    “But there was a new manager and I wanted to prove that I could play the way he wants to play, and be more cautious about getting fitness and getting my knee sorted, rather than getting thrown in at the deep end to playing. I took last season as a stepping-stone to going out on loan this year.

    “For myself I just wanted to get out on loan and play games, and get my name back out there and that I’m back fit. My career was coming to a stop-start, where I would play a couple of games and pick up an injury, play a couple of games and pick up an injury. Now I’m set on playing week after week and on the way doing well for Motherwell, and hopefully we can start climbing back up the table.

    “Before I came up here I was just thinking about taking it for six months, getting my fitness, getting games, getting experience, and when it comes to January, if everything has gone well, hopefully Motherwell can be an option because I’m enjoying every single minute of it.

    “Last Sunday at Celtic Park was the perfect example – everyone worked hard for each other, the subs, the people who travelled, the 11 who were on the pitch. Everyone worked hard for each other and the manager. Day in, day out in training everyone has a laugh but when we need to work hard we all get our heads down.

    “There’s a great balance of when to have a laugh and when to be serious. The lads have been brilliant and it’s helped me settle in a lot easier.

    “It’s been brilliant for the past three weeks. Getting my debut against St Johnstone, getting a win at Ross County, and Celtic Park was a big one. At the time you look at it and think to yourself, this is why I’m wanting to play football, and this is why I made the move.”

    O’Brien is at Fir Park until January but he is open to the possibility of extending his stay.

    “I’ve not really heard anything from Derby since I’ve been here,” he said. “That’s maybe because it’s early doors but they have got to get on with their season and I have to get on with my career.

    “If Derby want to phone up and find out how I’m doing, all well and good. If they are finding out from other people, all well and good. But if not I have to look out for myself and do well for Motherwell.

    “If there’s not much there for me at Derby I have to put it to one side and start focusing on what I want to do myself and make a career for myself. I’ve been at Derby for a long time and coming to Motherwell has made me think of more options other than just at Pride Park.

    “If there is a career for me at Derby, brilliant, but if not this is my opportunity to make a name for myself elsewhere.”

    Words: Gavin McCafferty

  • Archive

    Madden in charge at Firhill

    Referee for this Saturday’s SPFL Premiership clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill is Bobby Madden.

    The match will be Bobby’s first in charge of the Steelmen this campaign, although he’s a familiar face having taken five matches last term.

    The first was the SPFL opener against Hibs at Easter Road, Henri Anier coming off the bench to net the winner on his league debut.

    The second was the 3-1 win over Ross County back in September when the Fir Parkers came back from a goal down to win courtesy of goals from Bob McHugh and a John Sutton double.

    The third was the 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park, when a Kris Commons double and a McManus own-goal handed Celtic all three points. The fourth was the 3-1 defeat at Tannadice in February when John Sutton’s second half penalty wasn’t enough to take any points.

    The most recent was the disappointing 1-2 home defeat by Kilmarnock in late March, Craig Slater’s 94th minute winner inflicting Motherwell’s first home defeat of 2014.

    That defeat to Killie was only Bobby’s ninth fixture in charge of the Fir Park side.

    His first was back in January of the 2011/12 season as the ‘Well slipped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Inverness, Grégory Tadé grabbing the game’s only goal.

    His second was the thrilling 5-1 win over St Johnstone as Motherwell reaffirmed their grip on third spot in the old SPL. Goals that day from Higdon, Law, Murphy and Henrik Ojamaa’s double all but ended Saints’ hopes of nicking the best of the rest gong that season.

    The season previous to last, he also handled two matches. The first was an entertaining 3-3 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

    Motherwell had raced into a 3-1 lead courtesy of goals from Higdon, Hutchinson and Law but a late Aberdeen fightback handed Craig Brown’s men a draw.

    His other, two months later, was a fine 2-1 win at Tannadice. Michael Higdon opened the scoring before Chris Humphrey rocketed in a second goal of the season contender. Jon Daly pulled one back, but it wasn’t enough as Motherwell held on for the three points.

    The whistler has busy already this campaign, with busy domestic duties topped up with games in the Europa League with FC Zürich’s home fixture against Spartak Trnava and the Group Stage game between PSV Eindhoven and Estoril.

    In addition, he handled two UEFA Champions League qualifier between Red Bull Salzburg and Azerbaijani side Qarabağ Ağdam FK.

    His most recent SPFL appointment was last Saturday when Dundee United edged out St Johnstone 2-0 at Tannadice.

    Bobby will be ably assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Alastair Mather with Kevin Graham on fourth official duties. Referee observer is Martin Clark with Gerry Collins as SPFL Delegate.

  • Archive

    Away Day Guide: vs Partick Thistle

    Stadium Details

    Partick ThistleFirhill Stadium
    Firhill Road
    Glasgow

    Tel: 0141 579 1971
    Web: www.ptfc.co.uk

    Stadium Opened: 1909
    Capacity: 10,102
    Sat Nav: G20 7AL
    Distance from Fir Park: 16.6 miles (0 hrs 24 mins)

    Tickets

    ADULTS:    £22 
    CONCESSIONS:                         £15
    UNDER 16s:                         £5
    • Concessions are listed as Over 65s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.
    • Fans who require wheelchair access (priced at concession rates) should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745494631 / 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Car

    Head along the M8 Motorway before taking the Junction 16 cut off (A81) Aberfoyle / George Square.

    At the first set of lights, head straight through onto the A804. At the next set of lights, follow the round around, under the flyover and take the exit for the A81 (Garscube Road).

    Follow that road, through a set of busy traffic lights and after a few hundred yards, take a right onto Firhill Road and you’ve arrived at the destination.

    Parking is available on the street in and around the stadium.

    Supporters Buses

    The Wishaw Bus will leave from Kenilworth Ave at 1.30pm, to book seats call Anne on 01698 384050.

    The Central Branch bus will leave from the Bentley hotel at 1.45pm, to book seats call Jim on 01698 299650.

    The Bellshill bus’ pick-up details will be confirmed soon. Please contact Marc on 07528 021 046 for seats.

    Buses

    Several operators run buses, which will take you within a few minutes walk of the ground, including First service 240/201 into Glasgow, then the 398 through Maryhill.

    Further information and timetables are available online at www.firstgroup.com/glasgow.

    Train / Underground

    For fans wishing to travel by train – several leave from Motherwell / Airbles every hour for Glasgow Central. Head for either St. Enoch or Buchanan Street Underground Stations and get off at either Kelvinbridge or St Georges Cross stations, both are within 10/15 minutes walk of Firhill.

    [mappress]

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Fir Park

    Highlights from Fir Park as a lacklustre Motherwell lose 4-0 to Hamilton Accies.

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Hamilton defeat in pictures

    Action pictures from this afternoon’s poor 4-0 defeat by Hamilton Accies at Fir Park.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

    [svgallery name=”hamilton270914″]

  • Archive

    TV: McCall rages at home defeat

    Stuart McCall was furious with his players after they turned in a shocker against Hamilton Accies.

    The Fir Parkers were humbled by their Lanarkshire neighbours in what was a poor, poor performance.

    Mistakes allowed the visitors to race into a two-goal interval lead, Andreu and Crawford doing the damage, but it was no less than Alex Neil’s men deserved.

    A penalty by Antoine-Curier and a late goal by Crawford put the full stop on an otherwise dismal afternoon at Fir Park.

    [pullquote]Today, we were second to everyone ball, didn’t match them in any area and it certainly doesn’t help when you give schoolboy goals away like we did.[/pullquote]

    McCall said: “I made seven changes today to try and bring some freshness and energy to the side, which we certainly didn’t have.

    “Having said that, if we had defended properly, we could’ve got in at half time with a 0-0, which we wouldn’t have deserved, but it would’ve given us the platform to mix it up.

    “The two goals we lost were really poor individual errors. They were hungrier than us, (showed) a lot more desire and had more confidence.

    “We have got to demand more of the players and they have got to demand more of each other. It was only six days ago we went to Celtic Park, played really well and got a point.

    “Today, we were second to everyone ball, didn’t match them in any area and it certainly doesn’t help when you give schoolboy goals away like we did.”

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Motherwell 0 – 4 Hamilton Accies

    [tab:Match report]

    A dismal Motherwell slumped to their third consecutive home defeat after Hamilton Accies ran out 4-0 winners at Fir Park.

    Following their disappointing Cup defeat to their Lanarkshire neightbours on penalties, Stuart McCall promised to freshen up the side. And the ‘Well boss did so with a massive seven changes from the side that lined up in midweek at New Douglas Park.

    Now regaining match fitness, Henrik Ojamma was back in the starting eleven, as did Bob McHugh, who made his first start of the season and partnered Lee Erwin in attack with John Sutton watching from the bench.

    Not surprisingly with so many changes ‘Well took time to settle and Accies, on a run of great form, dominated the first half.

    A second minute save from Dan Twardzik, palming away a shot from Tony Andreu set the pattern for the first half. Although the pressure was around the home goal, Twardzik only had one more save, when he dived full length to hold a ground shot from Danny Redmond.

    However, slack defending gifted Accies the lead after 33 minutes. Hendrie’s long ball dropped over Stephen McManus at the edge of the box but facing his own goal Zaine Francis-Angol missed his clearance, allowing the ball to roll into the path of Andreu who calmly slotted it past the helpless ‘keeper to make it 1-0.

    Motherwell were heading to the interval with a chance to re-organise when more slack play cost them a second goal. This time Paul Lawson was caught in possession 35 yards from goal and Ali Crawford sped towards the penalty area before confidently firing the ball past Twardzik and put Accies in the driving seat.

    That resulted in two half time changes, Craig Reid replacing McManus, and John Sutton coming on for Lawson, as ‘Well restarted with effectively four strikers.

    And that positive change should have been rewarded as the home side bombarded the Hamilton goal for 15 minutes.

    Michael McGovern was forced into his first save of the game spreading himself to block McHugh from close range.

    Motherwell suddenly looked a lot more threatening force and two minutes later the home side should have pulled a goal back. McHugh at the edge of the box nudged the ball in front of Sutton, but his effort from eight yards was somehow blocked by the keeper.

    McGovern was the busiest player on the pitch and the ‘keeper had to throw himself across goal to catch Erwin’s header. On the hour mark the ‘keeper again denied Sutton blocking the striker’s angled drive.

    Any thoughts of a ‘Well comeback were killed off after 62 minutes. Fraser Kerr and substitute Louis Longridge collided just outside the box as they chased a long ball but referee Willie Collum pointed to the penalty spot. Antoine-Curier calmly sent Twardzik the wrong way to make it 3-0.

    That looked like being the extent of the damage until the final minute when Crawford made it four, firing home from a tight angle and adding further misery to the Fir Park side.

    [tab:As it happened]

     Ally Reilly at New Douglas Park

    FT: Motherwell 0 – 4 Hamilton Accies #MFCvHAFC

    91mins: GOAL, Crawford makes it 4-0 #MFCvHAFC

    83mins: Accies change, Antoine-Curier makes way for Docherty #MFCvHAFC

    82mins: Twardzik dives low to his left to palm away Crawford’s shot from just inside the box #MFCvHAFC

    79mins: Motherwell sub, Francis-Angol off for Law #MFCvHAFC

    77mins: Kerr manages to get his head onto Crawford’s cross to knock it on to safety with Antoine-Curier lurking #MFCvHAFC

    75mins: Accies sub, Andreu off for Lyon #MFCvHAFC

    65mins: Crawford pounces on a loose ball and drives forward. Drags his shot just wide #MFCvHAFC

    61mins: PENALTY – Accies have a pen, scored by Antoine-Curier. Now 3-0 #MFCvHAFC

    60mins: Sutton stings the palms of McGovern with a volley just inside the box. All Motherwell at the moment. #MFCvHAFC

    59mins: Great spell for ‘Well! Erwin gets on the end of Francis-Angol’s cross but heads into the side-netting #MFCvHAFC

    58mins: And another good chance! Erwin gets on the end of Sutton’s header but his own header lacks power #MFCvHAFC

    58mins: Gillespie booked for a lunge on McHugh #MFCvHAFC

    57mins: Brilliant chance for Sutton as McHugh slides him in but he can’t get a shot away under pressure and McGovern races out to gather

    55mins: Great ball in for Sutton by McHugh but he can’t get enough on his header to divert it goalwards #MFCvHAFC

    54mins: Accies sub, Longridge on for Redmond. #MFCvHAFC

    2 half time subs for ‘Well, Reid and Sutton on for McManus and Lawson

    Teams are back out, ‘Well need something special to get back into this…. #MFCvHAFC

    HT: Motherwell 0 – 2 Hamilton Accies #MFCvHAFC

    45mins: GOAL! Crawford makes it 2-0

    33mins: GOAL – Accies are one-up through an Andreu goal after a defensive mistake. #MFCvHAFC

    32mins: Corner to ‘Well but Antoine-Curier is on hand to head clear at the front post #MFCvHAFC

    24mins: It’s a barrage at the moment. Twardzik has to react sharply to get down to a low Redmond shot from just inside the box #MFCvHAFC

    24mins: It’s all Accies as they burst forward again from a slack pass. Crawford tries to place it but sees it fly just over #MFCvHAFC

    22mins: Gillespie jinks into the box and gets a shot away which is deflected wide for a corner. From the corner, Gordon heads over #MFCvHAFC

    …Redmond curls the ball well over the bar #MFCvHAFC

    19mins: And another booking. Francis-Angol hauls down Imrie about 25 yards out…

    18mins: Half a chance there as McHugh gets past the keeper but is forced wide. He delivers but it is swept clear by Tena #MFCvHAFC

    14mins: Another booking. This time Lawson for a tackle on Redmond on the edge of the box #MFCvHAFC

    13mins: Fine block from Francis-Angol to deny Imrie’s goal-bound drive. #MFCvHAFC

    Accies have had two shots, one just over from Hendrie and Andreu whose powerful shot was beaten away by Twardzik #MFCvHAFC

    10mins: Sorry folks, had some internet issues. McManus has been booked for a tackle from behind near the corner flag.

    Game is underway.

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

    Coming Soon

    Hamilton Accies manager Alex Neil:

    Coming Soon

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”203″]

  • Archive

    Double the fun for Motherwell kids!

    This Saturday’s big derby against Hamilton brings with it two exciting opportunities for young Motherwell fans.

    Topps, the SPFL’s official sticker and trading card partner, are bringing a world exclusive to Fir Park tomorrow where they will be giving out trading cards for their brand new Match Attax Trading Card game for 2011-15.

    Young ‘Well fans will be the first anywhere in the world to get their hands on the cards ahead of launch early in October.

    In addition to this, Topps are also giving supporters the chance to have their say with the all new ‘Kids Choice’ Match Attax Man of the Match award.

    From the 80th minute of any home Motherwell FC league game supporters can make their selection via twitter, by and ‘tweeting’ their choice to @motherwellfc and @MyTopps with the hashtag #MatchAttaxMOTM.

    The player with the most votes will win the ‘Kids Choice’ Match Attax Man of the Match award, with Topps randomly selecting one lucky ‘tweeter’ to present a very special award to the player – a giant Match Attax Man of the Match Trading Card.

    The winner will also get the paparazzi treatment, with photos of the presentation appearing in the next edition of club’s Matchday Programme, Steelman!

    Follow Topps’ official twitter account at www.twitter.com/MyTopps.

  • Archive

    TV: Leitch calls for cool heads

    Jack Leitch felt the pain of Motherwell’s defeat against Hamilton as both fan and player – but he recognises the need to stay calm in the return Lanarkshire derby.

    Both teams had a man sent off before Hamilton knocked the Steelmen out of the League Cup on penalties amid an intense off-field atmosphere at New Douglas Park on Wednesday.

    Motherwell have a quick chance to regain the local bragging rights in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday but Leitch, who has a number of friends in the Fir Park support, is determined not to get caught up in the atmosphere.

    The 19-year-old, who converted in the shoot-out, said: “It was bitterly disappointing to go out against Hamilton and of course on penalties. But we just need to keep our heads and go into the game full of confidence looking for the win.

    “Penalties are a lottery. I spoke to a few of my friends and they said we were a bit unlucky, we hit the bar and hit the post; it just wasn’t our night.

    “Against Hamilton it’s always going to be that little bit more disappointing but we just need to forget about the game on Wednesday and kick on and start climbing that table.

    [pullquote]It’s not really about revenge. Of course it’s a local derby and the fans want three points like we all do, but we need to keep our temperament. We need to leave Wednesday night behind.[/pullquote]

    Leitch has been with Motherwell for 10 years and has followed in his father Scott’s footsteps by playing for his local team.

    But now that he has achieved his boyhood dream, the midfielder is looking to push on and help bring success to the club.

    “As a Motherwell fan, it’s brilliant to say you have played for the club,” he said. “But that’s gone now. Last year that was what it was all about but now I’m settled, I’m in the first-team dressing room.

    “It probably means more to me, I want to do well for the club because they are the team I supported as a boy and watched all these great players and great results that we’ve had in the past few years, and to be part of that team now.

    “The end of last season was amazing and I want to continue that this year.”

    Scott Leitch, a former captain and assistant manager of Motherwell, returned to the club last season to head the youth academy and his son appreciates his input.

    Jack, whose younger brother Robbie is also on Motherwell’s books, said: “You have experienced heads in here telling you what to do, but I’ve got the bonus of going home and seeing it from a different perspective as well.

    “He is very positive, very confident and has a lot of information and tips to pass on.”

    MFC TV

    By Gavin McCafferty