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Referee for Saturday’s Scottish Cup fourth round clash against Rangers at Ibrox is Craig Thomson.

The 44-year old takes charge of his third Motherwell fixture of the season, after the league opener against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and the Steelmen’s 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle in September.

One of the top Scottish referee’s in the game, Thomson has been in charge of a number of Ladbrokes Premiership clashes this season as well as officiating in the UEFA Champions League group stages.

Of the three matches he refereed in Europe’s premier club competition, one match saw him oversee last year’s finalists Atlético Madrid who took on Rostov.

Last season, the official took charge of three Motherwell fixtures.

The first two fixtures were away clashes against St Johnstone and Hamilton, with 2-1 and 1-0 losses respectively.

The last time Thomson took charge during last season was the Steelmen’s trip to Inverness, where the hosts won 3-1.

The official oversaw a twice taken penalty just before the interval and it shifted the balance of what was a very even match.

His record in charge of the Steelmen is a bit of a mix bag with 16 wins from 47 matches. There have been 21 defeats and ten draws too.

Not included in that list was the 2007/08 Scottish Cup fourth round replay win against Hearts at Fir Park, when he replaced the injured Stuart Dougal midway through the second-half.

In those games, Motherwell have scored 66 and conceded 68.

165 players have gone into the book, 83 were wearing claret and amber, while seven players, including former and current captains Stephen Craigan and Keith Lasley, have been dismissed. The most recent was Stephen McManus in the away defeat to Inverness.

Craig will be ably assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Andrew McWilliam; with Stephen Finnie on fourth official duties.

Young centre-back David Ferguson may be a first team player, but at 20 years of age the future looks bright for the young defender.

David has become a familiar face amongst ‘Well fans of late, tying down a spot in Mark McGhee’s first team and performing superbly when called upon.

Having played in six matches this season, the youngster has shown not just a level of ability capable of becoming a first team star, but also a mature head on young shoulders.

The 20-year-old has played in a back three alongside the experienced Stephen McManus and the solid Ben Heneghan, or on the left of a back four too.

Perhaps the biggest testament to his performances is that he has looked extremely comfortable in the team.

The fact he has performed so well in the first team is even more impressive considering the young Scot has not been playing in his natural position at times – something Mark McGhee made sure to point out and praise the youngster for.

He said: “We were playing with young Ferguson as our left centre-back and he’s naturally a right-sided player so it’s testament to the young lad that he has that versatility.”

He added: “We’ve seen the breakout of a number of youngsters this season, and it is a huge part of what we do here at Motherwell.

“It is extremely pleasing seeing players make the step up and the task for David and the others is to cement their place in the starting eleven of the weeks, months and years ahead.”

Versatility, ability and a good frame of mind. David ticks the key boxes to make himself a star of the future Motherwell defence.

It is something he admits he will need to work hard for.

He said: “I am delighted to be playing at the moment but for me it’s not about my age, even later in my career I will make sure to play to the best of my ability to keep my name on the team sheet.

“It’s great being around boys who I played with in the 20s like Cadds and Jacko [McMillan] and the future looks bright at the club.”

The player himself would surely concede there were better players who turned out alongside him in his twelve years in the claret and amber, but few if any were as loyal and committed to the cause as John Philliben.

Signed from Doncaster Rovers during season 1986’87, Philliben had previously played more than a hundred league games for Stirling Albion and had been part of a successful Scottish U19 side that won the European Championship four years previous.

Primarily a central-defender he also came to be utilised at left-back and occasionally as a defensive midfielder making more than 300 league appearances for Motherwell.

It is fair to say ‘Softy’ endured highs and lows at Fir Park, missing out on the 1991 Scottish Cup Final; and suffering the heartbreak of his penalty crashing off the woodwork as Motherwell lost on penalties in the League Cup Semi Final against Celtic early in his ‘Well career.

But it is testament to John’s character that he was able to overcome each of those obstacles and go on to spend more than a decade with the Steelmen.

Never the most glamorous of players, John was tough and uncompromising and could be relied upon to give his all every time he set foot on the pitch. Yet he did however gain some unexpected notoriety for his performances in the popular indoor Tennents Sixes tournament of the late eighties and early nineties where his blistering shooting made him one of the tournaments most influential players.

Defensive colleagues came and went over the years but John remained a constant at the club until 1998 when he returned to Stirling Albion, his first and home-town club, as player-manager.

John had actually taken up the role at Forthbank by the time he turned out one last time for Motherwell in a well deserved testimonial match against West Ham Utd.

During his time with the Binos he returned to Fir Park to take on ‘Well in the Scottish Cup with a number of former Steelmen in his ranks.

‘Softy’ would make a further return to Fir Park to join the coaching staff under Billy Davies and took temporary joint-charge of the first-team on a handful of occasions before the appointment of Eric Black.

A true Steelman, John Philliben remains fondly remembered by Motherwell fans.

Tickets for the William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday 21st January are on general sale now.

The Steelmen have been allocated just short of 2,000 tickets for the game and are priced as follows:

* Concessions are listed as Over 65s and 16 and 17 year olds.

‘Well midfielder Carl McHugh is excited for the second half of the season after tasting first team action in the final two games of the year.

MFC TV caught up with the midfielder after he returned from the brief break and as he prepares for the Rangers cup clash coming up.

Carl, who was out for four months with post concussion syndrome, admitted his aim for the next six months is to secure a regular start and help the team to aim for the top six.

He said: “It’s great to be back and I’m just delighted to have got into the team for the last two games and I’m looking forward to the good run of games we have coming up after the break.

“I thought I did alright after coming back. I tired a bit towards the end of the Hamilton game after we went down to ten men for so long, but that’s probably a bit understandable.”

He added: “We got two good results in two important games and it gives us that bit of emphasis to kick on now for the second half of the season.

“I think results have lifted the whole dressing room, especially when you beat teams around you.

“The table doesn’t look too bad now, we’re just a few points off sixth and if you maybe lose those two games or don’t get the results that we got then the break can feel that bit longer.

“We can perhaps enjoy it in a sense because we’ve got those results and we can look forward to two or three great games when we come back.”

[pullquote] It’s great to be back and I’m just delighted to have got into the team for the last two games and I’m looking forward to the good run of games we have coming up after the break.[/pullquote]

With Rangers up next for the Steelmen, Carl is hungry to get back to action.

He said: “I can’t wait, it’ll be brilliant playing there in front of a big crowd.

“It’ll be a difficult because obviously they’re doing well in the league at the moment, but hopefully we can go there, give a good account of ourselves and get through to the next round.”

The Irishman outlined his aims for the coming months, and said: “The boys have done well recently I think in some games we’ve just been a bit unlucky with results and I don’t know if our league position is a true reflection because we’ve played really well in a lot of the games.”

He added: “Hopefully we can change that in to results in the second half of the season.

“The league is crazy at the moment, I’ve never seen anything like it. It keeps it interesting at the moment I guess.

“It’s a cliché but every game is important because you’re playing teams that are around you a lot of the time so that’ll make it exciting coming to the split.”

Lee Lucas has extended his stay at Fir Park until the end of the current 2016/17 season.

The 24-year old Welshman joined the Steelmen in the summer after six-years as English Premier League side Swansea City.

After an unlucky start with injuries, the midfielder has played in the last five games, starting the last three.

His new deal takes him up to the end of May an speaking to MFC TV, Lee said: “It’s good news for me I’m delighted to stay and I think everyone knows that.

“When I’ve been fit and eligible to play I’ve tried to help the team as much as I can and I’ve worked hard to renew my contract here.

[pullquote]“I just hope to stay as fit as I can now for the rest of the season and play as many games as possible and continue to help the team.[/pullquote]

“We’ve started to get some good results together lately and hopefully that can continue now.”

With Rangers up next, but with a ban to serve first, Lee is making sure to focus on keeping himself match fit.

He said: “I know I’m suspended now for a couple of games of course but I’m looking forward to that being over with and getting back in to the team.

“It’s frustrating really because I feel like I was just getting back up to match fitness and it can take a few weeks to get there but I was feeling good.”

MFC TV caught up with Marketing and Fan Engagement manager Ryan Murrant after the recent Supporter Survey came to a close.

Touching on topics like ticket prices, advertisement and supporter safety, Ryan took the opportunity to outline to the Fir Park fans what he intends to do next and just how important the survey has proven to be.

Subscribe to MFC TV’s official YouTube channel for more exclusive content.

Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish Culture for two hundred years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard.

And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse, he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

Close friends of Burns started the ritual a few years after his death in 1796, as a tribute to his memory.

On Friday 3rd February, Motherwell Football Club will be celebrating that tradition with the annual Burns Supper in the Centenary Suite.

Enjoy the finest traditional fare with a healthy dram in congenial company and listen to the convivial tones of our invited speakers all for just £27 per person.

For further information or to make a booking, phone 01698 333 333, email commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk

Motherwell Football Clubs search for a new mascot is growing ever closer.

Hundreds of ‘Well fans submitted their ideas to replace Claret and Amber who are set to go into semi-retirement after around 100,000 high fives and 16 years of service.

The winning entry will be announced soon but for everyone who entered, they will be set to receive a free match ticket at some point this season.

Marketing and Fan Engagement Manager Ryan Murrant said: “We have had literally hundreds of entries in so we will be inviting all those that entered to a game later this season.

“The creativity and the imagination of the children has been brilliant, we are so pleased that so many got involved and we can’t wait to sit down and look through all of the entries and to choose the winners.”

He added: “How on earth we will judge between a giant ball, a badger and a hotdog to name a few I don’t know, but this is the beginning of something very exciting for our young supporters so it is well worth it.”

The designer of the winning mascot will receive the following prizes:

• The mascot will be your best buddy for life.
• You will be the first ever fan to meet them.
• You will be the first fan to walk out the tunnel with the new mascot at a game
• You will meet the first team
• You will meet the first team manager
• You will be invited by the mascot here for your next birthday VIP style
• You will receive a full Motherwell Kit
• A signed ball from the team
• A visit by a first team player and the mascot to your school
• One adult and one child ticket for the remaining games of the 2016/17 season.
• Hero status amongst all of your friends!

Voting has opened for Motherwell’s Player of the Month for December – sponsored by Motorpoint.

Every month, ‘Well fans have the opportunity to cast their vote for who they think has put in the best performances.

December was a game packed month, with the Steelmen taking on Celtic, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Inverness CT and Hamilton Accies; who did enough to get your vote?

Thanks to club sponsors Motorpoint, the decision is up to the fans, so cast your vote here!

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