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  • First team

    Player of the month March

  • Women

    Trio called into Scotland Under 19s

  • First team

    It’s not our fight but it’s still a defeat // Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

  • Club

    North Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee partnership

  • First team

    Motherwell reach Scottish Cup semi final

  • Archive

    Stuart Kettlewell reflects on Rangers defeat

  • First team

    Motherwell 2 – 4 Rangers

  • First team

    Crossing the Irish Sea

  • First team

    Butcher: ‘Sticking to our morals’

  • First team

    Stuart Kettlewell ahead of Rangers clash

  • First team

    Player of the month March

    Player of the month March

    It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for March.

    Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal, Sean Goss and Max Johnston are all in contention.

    To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

    March Matches
    • Ross County 0-2 Motherwell
    • Motherwell 2-4 Rangers
    Kevin van Veen

    Grabbing three goals in two matches, Kevin van Veen is in red hot form.

    Taking his goal tally to 18 this season, the Dutchman is the second highest Dutch goalscorer in the world right now.

    Scoring a vital brace in Dingwall, with two second half finishes, Van Veen also struck inside three minutes against Rangers at Fir Park.

    Blair Spittal

    Back-to-back nominations for Blair Spittal, who has had another fine month at Motherwell.

    He set up Kevin van Veen with a pinpoint cross against Ross County, taking his goal contributions in the cinch Premiership to eight this season.

    Sean Goss

    Back in the international fold, Sean Goss’s performance earned him a first international call-up in five years for Northern Ireland.

    One of the first names on the teamsheet for Stuart Kettlewell at the minute, Goss has linked the play from the middle of the pitch with a range of passing going forward. His ball forward against Rangers found Max Johnston who went on to assist Van Veen for the first goal.

    It hasn’t just been in range of passing that has impressed recently, Goss won 86% of his defensive duels and 100% of
    his aerial duels against Rangers on Saturday.

    Max Johnston

    A revelation since his return from loan at Cove Rangers, Max Johnston has impressed in his stint at right-back.

    Proving to cause issues going forward for opposition defences, Johnston has got two assists in as many games.

    His ‘pass’ from the edge of the box to Kevin van Veen, helped the Dutchman seal the three points in Dingwall.

    Johnston also set the number nine up for a tap-in after a lethal cross across goal against Rangers.

  • Women

    Trio called into Scotland Under 19s

    Trio called into Scotland Under 19s

    Niamh Noble, Kayla Jardine and Tiree Burchill have been named in Scotland’s Under 19 squad. 

    The trio, who all joined in January, are available for Scotland’s upcoming UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Albania and Liechtenstein.

    Scotland take on Albania on Wednesday 5 April before they tackle Liechtenstein on Saturday 8 April.

    Both matches take place at the Arena Kombëtare, Tirana.

    • Albania v Scotland – Wednesday 5 April (1.30pm K.O)
    • Scotland v Liechtenstein – Saturday 8 April (10.30am K.O) 
  • First team

    It’s not our fight but it’s still a defeat // Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

    It was four games unbeaten in the Stuart Kettlewell era at Motherwell but that record would be put strongly to the test against second-placed Rangers.

    Unbeaten in the league since Michael Beale’s arrival, the Gers arrived at Fir Park looking to close the gap on leaders Celtic. But it would be Motherwell who put the first marker down.

    Kevin van Veen netted his 18th goal of the season after just three minutes to give Motherwell an early, before Rangers moved the game into their favour come 47 minutes, when Fashion Sakala made it 2-1.

    Substitute Bevis Mugabi got the home side on level terms however Rangers would go on to win 4-2, with Callum Slattery receiving a controversial red card in the process.

    They were looking to cause what would have been an upset by beating Rangers, but Motherwell manager Kettlewell knows games against Rangers won’t be season defining but he wants his team to know it was still a defeat regardless.

  • Club

    North Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee partnership

    North Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee partnership

    Players and staff from Motherwell Football Club’s youth academy, together with the North Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee, are working together to raise awareness about what we can all do to help keep North Lanarkshire’s children and young people safe.

    We can all play our part by helping to make our communities safe, nurturing places for all children to grow up in.

    Listening to what children say to us and taking any worries they have seriously helps children feel valued, respected and encourages them to speak up if they don’t feel safe.

    The club is delighted to announce an extension to the long-established partnership which sees the youth academy continue to back the child protection message by displaying the Child Protection Committee logo on their tops throughout the season.

    The club also displays prominent child protection messages around Fir Park, as well as information on how to report concerns. Motherwell will also promote important child protection messages through their social media and digital channels.

    “We are delighted to continue our partnership between our academy and the Child Protection Committee,” Suzanne Reid, Head of Commercial & Marketing at Motherwell FC, said.

    “The particular focus this year will be on keeping children safe online, especially on social media.

    “Our academy players and coaches will work to spread the message of internet safety across our local area.”

    For more information, go online.

    Contacts
    Childline – 0800 1111 (free 24 hour service), childline.org.uk
    Parentline  – 08000 28 22 33 (free to call 9am-9pm Mon – Fri and 9am-12pm Sat – Sun)
    CELCIS Protecting Children– celcis.org/our-work/protecting-children
    Think u Know –  an education programme for children, young people parents and workers – thinkuknow.co.uk  

  • First team

    Motherwell reach Scottish Cup semi final

    Motherwell reach Scottish Cup semi final

    Hampden bound. The women of steel secured their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after a comprehensive 0-4 victory over Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill on Sunday.

    An early first-half penalty had Motherwell ahead at the break before a quickfire second from Carla Boyce saw the women of steel in the ascendency midway through the second half.

    A precise effort from Lauren Doran-Barr was quickly followed by a well-placed header from Boyce who secured her hat-trick with the final few minutes to spare.

    Assistant Manager, Leanne Crichton made two changes from the side that cruised to a 1-3 victory over Aberdeen at Cormack Park last weekend. Captain Gill Inglis and Louisa Boyes both missed out with Kayla Jardine and Kodie Hay returning to the starting XI.

    The visitors wasted no time in breaking the deadlock after striking in the early exchanges. Niamh Noble’s quickly-taken throw was controlled by Tiree Burchill, who shifted the ball onto her stronger right foot before being hauled down under a late lunging challenge. The referee rightly awarded the spot kick which Boyce coolly dispatched into the bottom left corner.

    Neither side posed much of an attacking threat as the half-time whistle loomed, with both sides struggling to settle into the occasion.

    Nevertheless, Motherwell soon found a vital second. Strikes from Burchill and Kayla Jardine ricocheted across the face of goal, before falling kindly to Boyce at the edge of the box, and the striker accurately picked out the bottom left corner for her second of the afternoon.

    Not long after the hour mark, it was three. Glasgow failed to clear their lines, with the ball drilled towards the direction of Doran-Barr, who connected perfectly on the half-volley, and her strike sailed past the keeper before hitting the bar and nestling into the bottom corner.

    With the final few minutes ticking by, Motherwell netted a decisive fourth to seal their place at the national stadium.

    Kodie Hay’s perfectly-weighted delivery from the right flashed across the face of goal, and Boyce calmly nodded home from a few yards out to earn their place in the semi-finals.

    Motherwell will now await their opponents in the next round, with a place in the Scottish Cup final at stake.

  • Archive

    Stuart Kettlewell reflects on Rangers defeat

    “Massive moments in the game have went against us today, which is very frustrating.

    “We don’t want to be glorious losers. We came close but we now go into the break and look forward to the next game.”

  • First team

    Motherwell 2 – 4 Rangers

    Motherwell 2 – 4 Rangers

    Stuart Kettlewell’s impressive unbeaten start as Motherwell boss came to an end as Rangers fought back from a goal down to eventually emerge comfortable winners from an enthralling match, as ‘Well played the final 15 minutes with 10 men.

    On the back of two consecutive home wins the Fir Park men headed into this mid-day cinch Premiership clash in a confident mood especially after Kevin van Veen gave them the perfect start with his 18th goal of the season. And although James Tavernier equalised midway through the first half, the Steelmen were still very much in a position to produce a shock at the break.

    Even after Fashion Sakala put the visitor’s ahead, ‘Well showed great resilience with Bevis Mugabi forcing an equaliser. However a quick double from Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman, allied to Callum Slattery’s red card, undid Motherwell’s early promise and contribution.

    Following a two week break since their win over Ross County, Kettlewell resisted the temptation to freshen up his side, making only one change with Dean Cornelius coming in for the injured Jon Obika.

    From the kick-off ‘Well opted for a high press with Liam Kelly intent on sending the ball deep into the Rangers’ half.

    And within three minutes the home side had made the dream start.

    Sean Goss curled the ball over the visitor’s back four into the path of Max Johnston who quickly sped towards the right hand side of the box before firing the ball low across Allan McGregor’s goal. It was begging a touch which Van Veen duly supplied stabbing the ball home to silence the Rangers’ fans packed behind the goal.

    As the Motherwell players closed down the space and harried for possession, Michael Beale’s men had no rhythm to their game and posed little threat on the home goal.

    Indeed, it took a tough challenge from Ben Casey after 20 mins, which earned him a booking and provided Tavernier with the first opportunity to whip the ball into Kelly’s area.

    That came to nothing but two minutes later the Rangers’ captain netted the equaliser after a couple of poor decisions from the Fir Park men.

    Callum Slattery may have got a touch of the ball but his sliding tackle on John Lundstram at the corner of the box cost him a yellow card and a free kick.

    Having curled one home from an identical position against Livingston, Kelly should have been more aware as Tavernier lined up to take the free kick. But the ‘Well ‘keeper showed too much of his goal to his right and the Rangers captain accepted curling the ball low into the corner with Kelly sprawling to keep it out.

    The Rangers’ fans expected that to be the lift their side needed but an onslaught failed to materialise as Kelly was asked to produce only a couple of saves before the interval.

    The first came in the 33rd minute when Casey’s headed clearance found Lundstram 25 yards from goal and his low shot on the volley forced a good reative save from Kelly to beat the ball away. Other that the ‘Well stopper had only a routine save to hold a low drive from Ridvan Yilmaz.

    Motherwell were prepared to give possession to their opponents and attack on the counter with speed and three minutes from half time a quick through ball released Van Veen. But as he headed unchallenged towards McGregor his heavy first touch allowed the ‘keeper to collect the ball and leave the game level at the break.

    That changed within a minute of the restart when the Ibrox side took the lead.

    Tavernier sent an inviting ball across Kelly’s goal and Sakala rose highest to power his header into the net much to the relief of the away fans behind the goal.

    Four minutes later the Steelmen almost came up with a quick reply. Van Veen chased a hopeful ball out to the touchline before before turning and whipping a pass into the path of Casey galloping unchallenged towards goal but the ball was too far in front of the central defender.

    With 53 minutes played Kettlewell decided that more height was needed in the heart of the home defence sending on Bevis Mugabi for Paul McGinn.

    And it proved to be an inspired substitution – at the other end of the park. Van Veen’s tenacity forced Lundstram to concede a corner. James Furlong then floated the ball into a packed box and as the visitors failed to clear the danger in their six-yard box, Mugabi forced the ball low past McGregor.

    The Rangers’ ‘keeper was almost caught out three minutes later when he raced out of his box to cut out a long ball. But Van Veen got there first and his delicate lob over the stranded McGregor floated just wide of goal.

    It was end to end action and two minutes later Rangers were back in front.

    A low ball into the box found efforts from Kent and Colak blocked by Kelly but when the ball rebounded to Cantwell he slammed it high into the net.

    There was still a sense that the Fir Park men might reply with another equaliser but it was the visitors who scored again to ensure all three points were heading back to Govan.

    This time it was the Gers’ subs who made an impact Morelos cutting the ball back to Tillman who hammered the ball high past Kelly from 15 yards for a spectacular finish.

    Although Mikael Mandron and Ross Tierney were brought on in the hope of recovering the situation, ‘Well’s cause was made impossible when Slattery was shown a second yellow reducing the home side to 10 men for the final 15 minutes.

  • First team

    Crossing the Irish Sea

    Crossing the Irish Sea

    There been little time for thinking long term for Dan Casey since moving to Motherwell, but that one-week-at- a-time approach that one-week-at- a-time approach is proving fruitful in his strong Premiership start.

    The Irish defender has quickly become a fans’ favourite since making the switch to ML1 alongside some Irish peers, following time in the sunshine state of California at Sacramento Republic.

    Some of Stuart Kettlewell’s men were spotted out on the karaoke decks during a week’s hiatus from league business, and Casey says it points to a happy mood in the camp.

    He’s yet to taste defeat in the Premiership after a rocky arrival in Lanarkshire, his debut in the Scottish Cup at Raith Rovers seeing Steven Hammell – who signed Casey – leave his role in the aftermath.

    It’s been nice to be amongst cheery peers once more for the 25-year-old who spent longer than he anticipated searching for a club in the UK or Stateside.

    “We have still been in, we were in all of last week,” Casey said ahead of the match today with Rangers. “I wasn’t one of the ones pictured on karaoke, it was just a team night out but it was good fun.

    “It goes without saying that when you are winning games that you tend to be happier so long may that continue. It has been a bit hectic coming in late and a lot of different things have happened since.

    “We are in a good place now though so hopefully it is just a case of pushing on until the end of the season now. I left America last November and I was out of contract, I thought I would get things sorted earlier than I did, maybe in January.

    “But you know what football is like and then this opportunity came around, so I grabbed it with both hands. America was an option for me again but to be honest I was looking at a few places, there was never anywhere I was closed off to.

    “America, England and Scotland were my three main focuses and luckily enough for me I got something sorted here at Motherwell, and it has worked out.”

    After starting out as a youngster with Sunderland before stints in his native Ireland with Bohemians over two spells and Cork City, Casey took a big leap and moved to America.

    Sacramento aren’t in the MLS but do feature in the league below – the USL Championship. They are an ambitious outfit who have made moves to try and enter the top rankings of US ‘soccer’, which is making strides with a World Cup hosting looming in 2026.

    All that bought into an American dream for Casey, but while the defender’s return to colder climates has been a subtle shock, getting used to new team-mates hasn’t been an issue for the centre-back.

    Irish pals have proven a welcome boost even if shouts of ‘brother’ have worn off with Ross Tierney. There’s been a partnership in steel formed with Calum Butcher and one half of that expects further friendships to blossom.

    “America was brilliant and I had a great time there, everything was very professional,” Casey explained.

    “The set-ups are very good and I really enjoyed it. Football is only going to get bigger in America as they are investing a lot into it with the World Cup coming up over there.

    “So I had a great time. The view out my window is different but the thing that’s really different is the weather! It is a good few degrees colder, I’ll tell you that. It is a bit of a shock and it does bring it home a bit.

    “I have played in England and Ireland so I know what to expect. It’s not California weather but I have enjoyed it all the same. It does help (new players settling in at the same time) and the fact that there are a lot of Irish boys in the team.

    “I knew a few coming in. With the new boys coming in at the same time as me, we can talk to each other in that respect of that we are new and learning all about Motherwell and getting to know this set-up.

    “To be fair, I think it’s now Logan Dunachie and Ross who are big brothers now! I think everybody gives them a bit of stick for looking like each other, the comparison between those two is too accurate so that is getting used instead of me and Ross!

    “I think both me and Calum want to win each match we play and we will both do what is necessary. I think we both enjoy defending and Calum is a good player too which is obviously nice.

    “It is good we have managed to build up a relationship, and I am sure if any of the other boys come in, the relationship will be good there. I think everybody just wants to win games and we’ll do what we can to get as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.”

    There’s a gratitude for what Hammell did for him but it’s under new boss Stuart Kettlewell where Casey has flourished. He was gutted it didn’t work out for the man who signed him, but clear messaging from the top flight Manager of the Month for February has helped fill the void.

    Scotland is becoming a platform for Irish players like him and the defender believes that standards on either side of the water are on the up.

    “It has been a bit different as I had originally signed for Steven Hammell, and I am very grateful to him for giving me this opportunity,” said the defender.

    “But football is football and things happen and Stuart has come in, I’ve loved working with him. I’m very happy with things at the moment.

    “It’s clear what the message is. Before every game we know exactly what it is we are doing and everybody has bought into it, and I think the results show that. We must be doing something right anyway!

    “The quality in Scotland is there for everyone to see, it is a good standard. You look at Celtic and Rangers, and they have both been doing well in Europe recently. They set the standard for the league and the league is only getting better, the standard is going up.

    “Just from outside watching in, I have seen it and then being in it, it’s a good league to be part of. It is tough and hard with no easy games, every team has their own strengths and weaknesses. It is certainly a challenge but one I am enjoying.

    “The Scottish league is a good one but the League of Ireland is a good one, too. I think people are noticing there are a lot of good players over there, and there is a demand for players going to England or Scotland.

    “That will only grow as football is only growing in Ireland and already there’s a good pool of players there. So to go to a big club like Motherwell or somewhere else like that, guys will take that with both hands.”

    It was only a short-term deal Casey signed in the winter and in the summer, as things stand, he will have a decision to make over where he rocks up come the start of next season.

    That is a conversation far removed from the centre-back’s thinking at this minute in time. For now, it’s each game as it comes, and that begins with Rangers at Fir Park.

    One thing he does know when that conversation comes is that he hopes Motherwell are firmly in the mix. But all he’s got his eyes on is Michael Beale’s men this lunchtime.

    “Oh, of course,” the former Sunderland youth said when asked about getting something sorted in Motherwell beyond this summer. “Definitely. I have enjoyed my time here and it has been brilliant.

    “When you are coming to a new place, it just takes time to get used to everything. You get used to the places you like going and it’s the same as anywhere in the world. It’s just something that will come with time.

    “As soon as I came in I just wanted to get playing and as soon as I did that I wanted to start playing well. That has been my only thought so far and I want to finish out the season strongly.

    “I would be very open to that and I am just sort of taking one game at a time at the minute. I don’t want to start getting ahead of myself, things are going well at the minute so I just want to keep going and try to improve things.”

  • First team

    Butcher: ‘Sticking to our morals’

    Calum Butcher relishes the matches against the old firm, and this one is no different against Rangers in the cinch Premiership.

    Motherwell’s February player of the month says his teammates, including himself, are aware of the talent Rangers have in their ranks but they just have to stick together as a team and the game plan set to them.

  • First team

    Stuart Kettlewell ahead of Rangers clash

    Stuart Kettlewell says the break last weekend has allowed players to get match fit and has allowed his staff to access the fitness of the group.

    Despite a run of four games unbeaten since he arrived, the manager knows this is the biggest task that his side have faced yet but says his team must embrace that challenge as they take on Rangers in the cinch Premiership.