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  • Archive

    ‘Steelmen’ scoops programme gong

  • Archive

    Trust relaunch Soccer Centres

  • Archive

    Under 20s work to achieve a CSLA

  • Archive

    Club Statement: Fan behaviour

  • Archive

    Celtic hospitality available now

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Dingwall

  • Archive

    McCall angered at ‘limp’ ‘Well

  • Archive

    Ross County 3 – 0 Motherwell

  • Archive

    Matchday Live: Ross County

  • Archive

    Collum in charge for Highland showdown

  • Archive

    ‘Steelmen’ scoops programme gong

    Motherwell FC is delighted to announce that the Steelmen Matchday Magazine has been awarded the ‘Most Improved’ prize in the 2012-13 Programme Monthly Awards.

    It is the second successive year that the magazine has won the award and the programme team are also celebrating after finishing close runner-up to Aberdeen in the overall award, as well as a second place in the best design category.

    “It’s a great reward for all the contributors to the programme,” said editor Andy Ross.

    “We have worked hard to make this season’s programme our strongest yet and I think the award reflects that.

    “Our designers at Blue Chilli and publisher Curtis Sport have been fantastic in their support and enthusiasm – hopefully we can continue to flourish in the remainder of the season.”

    Press & Media Manager Alan Burrows added, “I am very proud of everyone involved in the Matchday Magazine and I would like to record my personal thanks to everyone who contributes and gives of their time to make things happen issue to issue.

    “We have the ultimate aim to be the best in the SPL and with the second successive most improved award, we are certainly heading in the right direction.

    “The content and design of the magazine is superb and we hope our readers enjoy the publication.”

  • Archive

    Trust relaunch Soccer Centres

    The MFC Community Trust is pleased to announce a re-launch of the successful Soccer Centres programme.

    Motherwell Soccer Centres have been operating since the 1990’s and during that time, thousands of boys and girls from all around Lanarkshire and beyond have developed their skills in a fun and safe environment, through our community coaching programmes.

    The courses are based on the same principles used on the training ground by our first team players such as Chris Humphrey, and Tom Hateley; developing the young players technical skills and passion for the game to ensure they become the best players they possibly can at a level they are comfortable with.

    Our soccer school courses welcome children of all abilities and it doesn’t matter which team they support, we just want everyone to have fun whilst learning to play football the Motherwell way.

    All players on our courses will have the chance to learn the techniques of the game: dribbling, passing, turning, finishing, defending, and we have goalkeeping courses too.

    All coaching is delivered by experienced Motherwell Soccer School coaches accredited by the Scottish Football Association. For more information, including a breakdown of courses and online booking, CLICK HERE.

  • Archive

    Under 20s work to achieve a CSLA

    The Under 20s have kick-started their Community Sports Leader Award (CSLA) course with MFC Community Trust’s Programme Development Manager, Graeme McArthur.

    Graeme will take the boys through the course, which aims to give our rising stars an understanding of what it means to be an effective leader, and to teach them about the skills and abilities, which are required to lead others successfully.

    The Under 20s will work within the MFC Community Trust Soccer Centres and Community Teams to give them an opportunity to develop their coaching skills and to experience what it is like to work within a Community Trust.

    It also allows the footballers to use this nationally recognised qualification as a stepping-stone to further education or further employment later in their career.

    Graeme explained “It’s not only a great opportunity from the Under 20s but also for the younger children who attend our Soccer Schools.

    “I remember being one of the first kids to attend the Saturday Morning Club at Fir Park and the under 20s came along to take a session. A few years later one of the players which took my session was playing in the first team and it’s stuck with me to this day!”

    For more information on the projects carried out by Motherwell Football Club Community Trust visit: www.mfccommunitytrust.org.uk or to book your child on to the Soccer Centres call 01698 239 926.

  • Archive

    Club Statement: Fan behaviour

    Motherwell FC would like to acknowledge and thank the many supporters who made the long trip to Dingwall on Saturday.

    Colour and vibrancy has become synonymous with our travelling support and it is very much appreciated, particularly by the management staff and players.

    Unfortunately however, there were several incidents both before and during the match that has caused difficulty and embarrassment for the club, including five separate smoke canisters.

    These incidents were acknowledged by the match commander and will be included in the SPL delegate’s report.

    We recognise that it was only a very small minority of our support and that our fans normally enjoy away trips without incident. Events on Saturday however fall way below the usual impeccable standards.

    Smoke canisters, fireworks and pyrotechnics are absolutely forbidden from Scottish Football grounds and are frowned upon by Motherwell Football Club and the authorities.

    We would ask our fans to refrain from using anything of this nature.

  • Archive

    Celtic hospitality available now

    Hospitality bookings are now being taken for the match against Celtic at Fir Park on 27th February.

    Matchday host Stevie Kirk will meet and greet you at the door before showing you to your table.

    Expect a visit from first-team players and of course our matchday snapper will be on hand to take your photographs as a lasting memory of your day.

    Catch some of Stevie’s pre-match banter and hear any team news first. Don’t forget to visit our other resident legend, Dougie Arnott, at the bar.

    Our Centenary ‘Claret’ Package starts from £60 per person. For more information or to book your place, contact us now on 01698 338062

    Season Ticket Upgrades…

    Upgrade your season ticket for just £25 to include a fabulous pre-match meal in our Centenary Suite before taking your own seat in the stand to watch the match.

    Upgrades are available to all season ticket holders so book early to avoid disappointment.

    * Please note dress code is smart casual; no jeans or trainers.

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Dingwall

    Extended highlights from the Global Energy Stadium as Motherwell sink to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of on-form Ross County

    -WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS FROM FIR PARK ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    McCall angered at ‘limp’ ‘Well

    Stuart McCall was left angered as a below-par Motherwell crashed to a poor 3-0 defeat at the hands of Ross County this afternoon.

    The Steelmen never really good going and were out-fought by the Highlanders, who controlled the majority of the match and could have added more goals to their tally.

    The Fir Park boss admitted he had a few choice words for his troops and awarded none of them pass marks in what was a miserable showing.

    [pullquote]Throughout the team, there is not one player who gets pass marks in what was a really, really poor performance.[/pullquote]

    He told MFC TV after the match: “I’m hugely disappointed with the lack of anything both in an attacking and a defending sense, and I’ve made those feelings clear to the players.

    “We’ve not put in a performance as limp as that for a long, long time and that is hurtful.

    “Ross County did all the dirty things better than us, winning all the second balls and putting their head in.

    “Throughout the team, there is not one player who gets pass marks in what was a really, really poor performance.

    “I’m annoyed at the lack of desire although thankfully performances like that are few and far between.”

    -WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Ross County 3 – 0 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

    Alan Burrows at The Global Energy Stadium

    Motherwell slipped to third in the SPL after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the Global Energy Stadium.

    Played on a bumpy, sandy pitch, Ivan Sproule opened the scoring on 34 minutes, firing a Rocco Quinn pass under Darren Randolph after Zaine Francis-Angol was caught in possession.

    Sproule turned provider twenty minutes from time, setting up Richard Brittain to curl home from just inside the box.

    The home side added the exclamation mark to the victory in the dying moments, Iain Vigurs volleying home from close range.

    Stuart McCall made three changes to the side that lost in midweek. Tom Hateley and Stevie Hammell both missed out through injury and Kallum Higginbotham had to be content with a place on the bench. They were replaced in the starting eleven by Francis-Angol, Adam Cummins and the returning Keith Lasley – making his 300th start in Claret and Amber.

    ‘Well had to start the match with just six substitutes after Fraser Kerr felt ill before the match.

    The first chance fell to the visitors inside the opening two minutes but Michael Higdon’s shot was blocked.

    County replied when Sproule volleyed over before both Vigurs and Quinn both tested Republic of Ireland International Darren Randolph.

    The hosts eventually took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark. Francis-Angol was robbed in possession and Quinn quickly slid in Sproule who kept his composure to dink it past Randolph from close range.

    Former Hibs striker Sam Morrow came close to a second for County but his shot was deflected just wide of the post for a corner.

    Incredibly, despite having nothing in the way of an attacking threat for the majority of the first-half, Motherwell could and probably should have been level just before the interval.

    Nicky Law’s free-kick was perfect for Shaun Hutchinson but the big Geordie could only head over from close range when a goal looked on the cards.

    A few minutes after the restart Chris Humphrey gave Mark Brown something meaningful to do when he latched on to a ball over the top but his low shot was fairly comfortable for the former ‘Well stopper.

    At the other end, Randolph had to look smart to block a close-range effort from Sproule after the Northern Irishman had been set-up by the excellent Paul Lawson.

    McCall introduced James McFadden after the hour and his first action was to fire a free-kick off the wall. Nicky Law followed that up with a decent curling shot that had Brown scrambling only for it to drop a yard or so wide of the post.

    It was to prove a pivotal point as County made it 2-0 shortly after. Sproule closed down Cummins and managed to block his attempted clearance. He hared off down the right before firing it across goal for Brittain who fired home from the edge of the box.

    That took the wind out of the Motherwell sails and chasing a way back into the match, County created more.

    Brittain curled a free-kick narrowly and Vigurs prompted Randolph into another decent block.

    However, Vigurs’ next effort in the 89th minute was more successful when. From around eight yards, the former Inverness man was completely unmarked and smacked home a ball from the right to complete the scoring.

    McCall will now need to pick his troops up for the midweek visit of Celtic who travel to Fir Park with at least an eighteen point gap.

    [tab:As it happened]

    Ally Reilly at The Global Energy Stadium

    FT: Ross County 3 – 0 Motherwell

    89mins: Ross County sub, Hainault on for Lawson

    88mins: GOAL- It’s 3-0 as Vigurs volleys home form close range.

    81mins: Vigurs should have buried that from only 12 yards out. Still 2-0

    80mins: Motherwell sub, Daley on for Humphrey

    78mins: Ross County subs, Sproule off for Wohlfarth and Glen on for Morrow

    75mins: Morrow heads just past from Vigurs’ cross

    72mins: Motherwell sub: McHugh on for Francis-Angol

    70mins: GOAL: Brittain makes it 2-0.

    69mins: Good effort from Law as he cut inside and curled it just past from 25 yards.

    67mins: Faddy jinks past two and wins a free-kick in a good position. Free-kick drilled straight into the wall.

    63mins: Motherwell sub: McFadden on for Carswell

    59mins: Ramsden booked for a foul on the half-way line.

    50mins: Great save by Randolph at the feet of Sproule after Lawson put it on a plate for him across the box.

    47mins: Corner to Motherwell….easily gathered by Brown.

    46mins: Humphrey races onto Law’s punt forward. Shoots straight at Brown. Good chance though,and encouraging.

    Teams back out and we’re underway for the second half. Need a big, big improvement from that first half! #COYW

    HT: Ross County 1 – 0 Motherwell

    44mins: Corner to Motherwell…

    41mins: Decent chance for ‘Well! Great free-kick delivered by Law. Hutchinson stretches and heads just over the bar from 10 yards.

    40mins: Morrow really should have put them 2 up! Misses from about 10 yards out.

    38mins: Humphrey gets in behind Oikonomou but his cross is just behind Higdon and County sweep it clear.

    33mins: GOAL – Sproule opens the scoring for Ross County. Quinn slid him in and he found himself with all the time in the world to fire past helpless Randolph

    30mins: Half an hour in and it’s still quite poor. ‘Well yet to have any meaningful possession.

    29mins: Rocco Quinn up next to try his luck from range. His shot is on target from 20 yards but doesn’t really trouble Randolph

    26mins: Brittain works a bit of space just inside the side the box but sees his shot deflected wide for a corner.

    23mins: Another good chance for County.This time Britain drives in a crossed free-kick which Randolph has to deal with at his front post.

    21mins: Morrow nods down Kovacevic’s cross to Sproule. Thankfully he blazes well over from 18 yards.

    20mins: Ross County starting to get the upper hand. They’re pressing further up the field but have yet to test Randolph.

    17mins: bit of slackness from Hutchinson allows in Vigurs. He tries to clip the ball in to Sproule but ‘Well clear.

    12mins: Half chance there for County. Vigurs hung a cross up at the back post but Randolph gathered with ease.

    10mins: 10 minutes in and there is very little happening. Most of action played on the sandy side of pitch and very scrappy so far.

    1mins: Early corner to Motherwell… Falls to Higdon at the back post.His left footed volley is diverted away from danger by County.

    And we’re underway! #COYW

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

    “Just not good enough and we need to be better.

    “Everywhere throughout the park, they were better than us, stronger than us, wanted it more and from a manager you don’t want to say those things.

    “I don’t think anybody in our side got pass marks whatsoever. I don’t take anything away from Ross County because they were, in spells, very good.

    “We’ve got to make sure it is a one-off because we can’t have performances like that.

    “I can always accept people just not having the best of games but I just thought there was a lack of urgency and a lack of real desire and stomach.”

    Ross County manager Derek Adams:

    “We’re moving on up the league, we’re eight unbeaten and we just want to keep it going,

    “It was a very good win for us, against a team that are pushing for second position.

    “We’ve cut the gap between Motherwell and ourselves to two points and moved up positions in the league.

    “This is why I keep saying that the restructuring of Scottish football should not be happening.

    “I’m deeply against it and this is one of the reasons why.”

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”139]

  • Archive

    Matchday Live: Ross County

    Motherwell make the long journey north to take on Derek Adams’ Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.

    TEAMS:

    Ross County manager Derek Adams has a full squad for Saturday’s meeting with Motherwell.

    Midfielder Iain Vigurs returns from suspension, while Ivan Sproule returned from a hamstring injury last week.

    Motherwell have a couple of injury doubts including Stevie Hammell.

    However, Keith Lasley and Fraser Kerr are both available following suspension and James McFadden is set to start on the bench after making his return to the club on Tuesday.

    TICKETS:

    Tickets are available from the Global Energy Stadium. Admission is priced at:

    ADULTS: £20
    CONCESSIONS: £12
    JUVENILE: £10

    • Concessions are listed as Over 65s, Under 18s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.

    TRAVEL:

    There is significant roadworks on the Kessock Bridge in Inverness and fans should factor this in to their journey time north.

    WEATHER:

    It will be a sunny day in Dingwall. Expect a crisp afternoon, temperatures sitting at around 4 degrees at kick-off.

    FOLLOW THE MATCH:

    Motherwell Media will bring you all the action from Fir Park. Graham Barnstaple and Alan Burrows will call every kick off the ball live on MFC TV.

    All the pre, during and post match chat will be on our Facebook page. You can also follow match updates on Twitter and join in the debate on our Foursquare and listen out for Stuart McCall’s pre-match thoughts on Audioboo.

    After the match, the official website and MFC TV will bring you reports, pictures, reaction and highlights.

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Collum in charge for Highland showdown

    Willie Collum will take charge of Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.

    Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s fourth Motherwell game of the current campaign.

    The first match this season was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October when Danny Grainger’s long-range effort separated the sides.

    He also took charge of both William Hill Scottish Cup clashes with Aberdeen.

    In the first meeting at Pittodrie, Niall McGinn headed home a late equaliser to cancel out Jamie Murphy’s opener 10 minutes from time and there was disappointment for the Steelmen in the replay as goals from Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy helped the Dons progress to the next round.

    Motherwell were handed a lifeline in injury-time when Michael Higdon netted from the penalty spot, however Craig Brown’s side held firm in the final minutes.

    Most recently, he was the man in the middle for the narrow 3-2 win over St Johnstone in January; Michael Higdon’s hat-trick sealing a terrific three points.

    Collum be a familiar face to most ‘Well fans having officiated at the top level for many years now, including two Motherwell matches last term.

    He took charge of the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox in early May, Rangers’ last SPL fixture at their own ground. The other match was Motherwell’s Scottish Communities League Cup defeat at home to Hibs; the Easter Road men progressing through on penalties.

    Incredibly, Motherwell win over Saints last month with the first league success with Willie in charge.

    The only victories recorded whilst the Bellshill based whistler has been the man in the middle was the then CIS Cup win against Raith Rovers at the start of the 2007/08 season, a Scottish Cup success at Inverurie the following season and a 1-0 success over Dundee United in the League Cup – Alan Gow’s goal earning the Fir Park side a place in the last four.

    His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads four wins, ten defeats and five draws from nineteen matches.

    In those games, Motherwell have scored 27 and conceded 35. 35 players have gone into the book, 15 wearing Claret and Amber, while three players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road a few years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago and Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10.

    Willie Conquer and Stuart Stevenson will run the lines with Andrew Dallas on fourth official duties.