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The Signing Zone continues for the 2017/18 campaign and there’s a unique chance for ‘Well fans tomorrow afternoon.

Along with strikers Ryan Bowman and summer recruit Alex Fisher, supporters can meet Steelman – the clubs mascot.

And, for the first time, the Signing Zone will be located in the Cooper Bar, to allow more to get involved.

The Signing Zone was a hit last season and got off to a great start with Trevor Carson, skipper Carl McHugh and George Newell amongst those who have already appeared.

Each week, two different players take their seats as the season progresses and as the fan engagement programme here at Fir Park continues to develop.

Share your pics on twitter @motherwellfc using #MFCSigningZone or facebook.com/motherwellfc

Motherwell host Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership tomorrow afternoon as club football returns.

In what is the third consecutive home game, the Steelmen will look to make it nine points from nine when Lee McCulloch’s Killie side arrive in Lanarkshire.

The Fir Parkers currently sit five points ahead of the Ayrshire outfit and have won seven out of nine games so far this term.

However, Kilmarnock will be hungry to secure their first league win of the 2017/18 campaign after enduring a difficult start to the season.

And ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson believes his side are in for a tough afternoon against a side who he thinks will come good soon.

“I think Kilmarnock have been unlucky in a lot of games. I’ve watched a lot of the games they’ve played in and they’re a good team with some very good technical players.

“I think Lee’s put together a good squad so I think it’s only a matter of time before they’re up and running and we just have to make sure it’s not against us.”

He added: “I’ve said it before but we were a bit of an easy trip for teams last year: nice pitch, nice people, nice food.

“We’ve tried to change it on the pitch especially and make it hard by building a bit of a reputation where we are hard to play against, we’re a physical side and then we’ve got players who can play as well.”

[pullquote]I think Lee’s put together a good squad so I think it’s only a matter of time before they’re up and running and we just have to make sure it’s not against us.[/pullquote]

And one player who can play is the returning Stevie Hammell, who has recovered from an injury to put in an impressive performance for the under-20s on Tuesday night before putting in a week of hard, positive training.

However, Robinson will be without winger Elliott Frear, who got back to full fitness from his knock which kept him out for the St Johnstone, Ross County and Hearts games before suffering a concussion in training.

The Englishman will be rested until he is fully recovered and passed fit to play.

And for the in-form Ryan Bowman, his aim is similar to his manager’s – to change the pattern of last season.

He said: “We’re all high on confidence, there’s good team spirit around – so if we had a game on Saturday it would have been good for us.

“I scored my first goal at Fir Park, it only took me a year, but as a striker you’re brought in to score goals and last year was a bit of a disappointment for me.”

He added: “I don’t like looking back on last season though, I’m just focussed on this season and hopefully the goals will continue.

[pullquote]I don’t like looking back on last season though, I’m just focussed on this season and hopefully the goals will continue.[/pullquote]

“As a striker you’re brought in to score goals and I managed two last season which is very poor considering what I’d been doing in previous years – I know it’s a different level but like I said, I was brought in to score goals.”

Tomorrow’s opposition Kilmarnock arrive at Fir Park on the back of a 2-2 draw with Hamilton Accies and will be hungry to pick up their first three points of the campaign.

An in-depth look at Lee McCulloch’s side can be found in this weekend’s match day programme – available for just £3.

	Motherwell V Kilmarnock
	Saturday 9th September 2017
	3.00pm
	Fir Park, Motherwell
	Available on the gate or purchase in advance from Ticket Office.

Admission prices are as follows: 

Motherwell FC can today announce that each one of its first-team players and football management staff has joined the Well Society.

The Society, as owners, support the club financially throughout the year, both on and off the pitch, and have done so since they took over the majority shareholding in October of last year, making Motherwell FC the only fully fan-owned entity in the Scottish Premiership.

The Society generates funds in a number of different ways, the majority raised from monthly contributions from members, with more than 1,000 fans pledging on an on-going basis.

Now, in a show of solidarity, every single player in the Motherwell first-team squad, along with the football management staff, has agreed to become a member and have signed up to a monthly contribution.

Joint Chairman of the Well Society Douglas Dickie praised this gesture saying: “It is fantastic that the players and the management team have agreed to join the Society and invest in our club, which is crucial for our success and long-term stability.

“This only underpins the unity we have throughout the club and will hopefully act as a catalyst for more fans to get behind the Society and its aims.

[pullquote]We want the link between the fans of the club and the players on the park to be strong. That comes from us giving 100% each and every week, but also with things like this, where we put something back because we care about this place. We are all honoured to be members.”[/pullquote]

“All I would say to all the Motherwell fans out there is that the players and management have joined – it’s now your turn!”

Club captain Carl McHugh added: “We are building a very strong bond as a squad, something the manager has worked hard to encourage.

“This is our place of work, but the players have a genuine affinity with this football club, it gets under your skin really quickly.

“Even the new lads who have just joined say there is a special feeling about Motherwell and that’s why we have, as a squad, collectively agreed to join the ‘Well Society and contribute each month.

“We want the link between the fans of the club and the players on the park to be strong. That comes from us giving 100% each and every week, but also with things like this, where we put something back because we care about this place. We are all honoured to be members.”

Stephen Robinson expanded on that by saying: “I’m proud the players have taken this step as it shows what we’re trying to build here has solid foundations.

“We have guys who are genuinely committed to each other as teammates, but also to the club that does a lot for them too.

“As a management team, it was important that we also took this step as a show of unity with the fans and to further solidify our attempts for everyone to move forward in the same direction, which will hopefully lead to positive outcomes in the future.”

The sixth issue of ‘Steelmen’ matchday magazine is on sale ahead of Motherwell’s league clash with Kilmarnock.

And the programme, with a new fan-orientated approach for the 2017/18 campaign, is packed full of new content.

‘Scouting Report’ looks at some of the key men for Lee McCulloch’s Killie side, while writer Eddie Ferguson looks back in-depth at some of the incredible stories during Welsh full-back Ben Ellis’ time at Fir Park in his feature piece ‘Bert McCann: Lynchpin of the “Babes”.

‘Made in Motherwell’ is an exciting new feature which uncovers some of the best local musical talent, while this weeks ‘Final Word’ column comes from Club Journalist Lewis Irons.

Cover star Alex Fisher speaks in depth about his time with the club so far, his aims and hopes for the season ahead and the mind-set he tries to get in to before a big game.

With six pages of kids content, there’s plenty for all ages in tomorrow’s matchday magazine as Steelman teams up with Chris Cadden to teach you how to perform a step-over like the flying winger, while Andy Rose is put on the spot for some quick fire questions.

Updates from Stephen Robinson, Carl McHugh, the MFC Community Trust and the Well Society all feature in issue number six, which is available to buy around the ground tomorrow for just £3.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers – Curtis-Sports – CLICK HERE.

Stephen Robinson believes his side are “refreshed” and “ready to go” ahead of their clash with Kilmarnock tomorrow afternoon.

And following the international break, the Fir Park boss reflected on a busy transfer window and looked ahead to tomorrow’s Ladbrokes Premiership fixture.

Speaking to the broadcast press, he said: “The boys are refreshed, ready to go again. We got the transfer window out of the way, which was good, so we’re ready for the game on Saturday.

[pullquote]The boys are refreshed, ready to go again. We got the transfer window out of the way, which was good, so we’re ready for the game on Saturday.[/pullquote]

“To be honest I think we’ve got a stronger squad than before the window. When we brought Peter Hartley in the board were excellent with me because the only way that Ben Heneghan was going to leave the club was if we had a suitable replacement.”

He added: “I think Kilmarnock have been unlucky in a lot of games I’ve watched that they’ve played in and they’re a good team with some very good technical players.

“I think Lee’s put together a good squad so I think it’s only a matter of time before they’re up and running and we just have to make sure it’s not against us.”

‘Well striker Ryan Bowman hopes that his first goal at Fir Park will be the first of many as he prepares for the visit of Kilmarnock tomorrow afternoon.

The Englishman spoke to the broadcast press this morning and admitted he was disappointed with his goal tally last season.

But ahead of tomorrow’s league fixture, Bowman insisted he is focussed on looking forward instead of back.

[pullquote]We’re all high on confidence, there’s good team spirit around – so if we had a game on Saturday it would have been good for us.[/pullquote]

“The break probably came at the wrong time for us,” the forward admitted. “We’re all high on confidence, there’s good team spirit around – so if we had a game on Saturday it would have been good for us.

“I scored my first goal at Fir Park, it only took me a year, but as a striker you’re brought in to score goals and last year was a bit of a disappointment for me.”

He added: “I don’t like looking back on last season though, I’m just focussed on this season and hopefully the goals will continue.

“As a striker you’re brought in to score goals and I managed two last season which is very poor considering what I’d been doing in previous years – I know it’s a different level but like I said, I was brought in to score goals.”

Due to valuable supporter feedback the club are due to trial a new queuing operation to ease entry into the John Hunter (East) stand on matchdays.

Starting this Saturday and with future league games the club will operate the following entry procedures.

Turnstiles E1 and E2 will be used for cash only entry. Supporters will be asked to queue from the turnstiles and towards Taggart’s.

Turnstiles E3-E5 will be used for season ticket / ticket entry only. Supporters will be asked to queue from the turnstiles and down towards the Cooper bar.

If queues’ to turnstiles E3-E-5 become excessive then the decision may be made to open turnstile E2 for season ticket / ticket holders only.

Safety and Facilities Manager Alan Marshall said “We intend to trial this new system for the next few league games as we believe it will eradicate the congestion we have seen so far this season.

“The safety team will be briefed fully and will be on hand to aid supporters in entering the John Hunter stand in a comfortable environment.

“We thank supporters for their feedback to date and we ask them to be patient whilst we work with them during this trial period. As always, we advise supporters to contact the nearest safety steward should they have any concerns on matchdays”.

Topps, the UK’s leading collectibles company, today showcased their brand new SPFL Match Attax 2017-18 trading card game collection.

Available now, Topps Match Attax, the world’s most successful football trading card game, offers fans of all ages a fun-filled addition to the new SPFL season. Featuring amazing new designs, brand new cards and the biggest stars of the Scottish Premiership and Championship – this season’s collection is sure to be a huge hit with fans of Scottish football.

This year’s collection also boasts new ‘100 Club’ legends, updated star players and captain cards, shiny Man Of The Match and ‘100 Club’ cards, plus new-look limited edition cards and top legends voted in by fans!

Steve Conner, National Sales Manager at Topps, comments:

“SPFL Match Attax is continuing to grow in popularity year on year, and we’re excited to be able to bring fans our latest SPFL edition trading card game. We’re so pleased to have the support of the Premiership and Championship clubs here today, and to get a few of the players actually playing a game of Match Attax!

“The new collection has some fantastic additions, with new cards to collect, and gives fans the opportunity to play a fresh, modern version of SPFL Match Attax.”

There are 336 cards to collect, including brand new ‘100 Club’ legends and shiny ‘Man Of The Match’ cards to enhance gameplay.

The SPFL Match Attax Starter Pack retails at £5.00 and includes a collector binder, double play pitch, supersize collectors game guide, and a six-card packet containing an exclusive gold limited edition card. A packet of nine cards will be £1.00 for collectors.

There is also the SPFL Match Attax Collector’s Tin available in two sizes, with the mini tin retailing at £6.00, with 45 cards including a bronze, silver or gold limited edition card, all packaged in a mini tin to keep collections safe and travel handy! The mega tin will retail at £10.00, and contains 60 cards!

Get the latest news and updates by following @toppsmatchattax on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat!

Junior season ticket holders are invited to claim a free 2017/18 SPFL Match Attax starter pack this weekend when we face Kilmarnock at Fir Park.

As part of our season ticket incentives, we’ve hooked up with Match Attax and will be offering junior fans a free starter pack worth £5 in exchange for voucher J from their season ticket book.

If you arrive at the Well Shop before 1pm you could grab one of the 200 packs available.

Don’t forget the Signing Zone from 12.45-1.15pm ! This week we move upstairs to the Cooper Bar. Keep an eye on our official channels for details of which players will be joining Steelman and Raven Steel.

The referee for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Fir Park is Bobby Madden.

The match will be Bobby’s first in charge of the Steelmen this campaign after he officiated four times last term.

Included in those four fixtures was a 1-0 loss against Ross County, a 3-0 loss away to Hearts, the 3-1 home loss to Aberdeen and a 2-1 away win against this weekend’s opponents Kilmarnock.

The win against Killie was a hugely important result for Motherwell and the ideal start for Stephen Robinson who took charge for the first time as interim boss.

Madden’s overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads seven wins; fourteen defeats and one draw from twenty games. The Fir Parkers have netted 28 times, and conceded 44. In those twenty-one games, he has booked 60 players, 30 of those cautions flashed at players wearing Claret and Amber.

Three players have been sent for an early shower, Anthony Stokes for a lunging tackle on Keith Lasley at Celtic Park last season, Stuart Carswell – who came off the bench against Partick and picked up two yellows – and Keith Lasley in the after he picked up a late red card for a late challenge on Kenny McLean.

Bobby will be ably assisted by David McGeachie and Alastair Mather, with David Munro on fourth official duties.