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  • Club

    Introducing our 2020/21 away kit

  • First team

    Pair nominated for Scottish Football Writers’ awards

  • First team

    End of 2019/20 first team squad update

  • Club

    Season ticket Early Bird period extended

  • First team

    Tony Watt signs new deal

  • Club

    Tributes paid to Christian Mbulu

  • Club

    Christian Mbulu

  • Club

    Our season ticket pledge to you

  • Club

    When Motherwell were the kings of Spain

  • First team

    Motherwell clinch third spot in Premiership

  • Club

    Introducing our 2020/21 away kit

    Introducing our 2020/21 away kit

    Claret and amber colours true. But we started out in blue.

    Our away kit for the 2020/21 season is now available to pre-order. You can secure yours now.

    Manufactured by Macron, we’re paying homage to our original colours when we played our first game in 1886.

    Our club was formed through the merger of two local clubs, Glencairn and Alpha, on 17 May 1886. Our first match as Motherwell FC came six days later against Hamilton Academical, resulting in a 3-2 victory.

    The blue kit was worn that day and the colours would be used predominantly from then until 1913, with some variants along the way, before we adopted our claret and amber.

    Our modern take on that kit brings a mainly blue kit, with an added claret, amber and white band across the chest. The shorts are blue with a white trim, with white socks with a blue trim.

    The kit will be available from late July. Pre-order now to guarantee yours.

    A sponsor for the 2020/21 season is still to be confirmed but will be added to the shirts prior to launch.

  • First team

    Pair nominated for Scottish Football Writers’ awards

    Pair nominated for Scottish Football Writers’ awards

    Stephen Robinson and Allan Campbell have been nominated by the Scottish Football Writers Association for their end-of-season awards.

    Robinson is amongst the nominees for the William Hill Manager of the Year award, and is up against Neil Lennon, Dick Campbell and Gary Holt for the prize.

    Campbell could follow in the footsteps of team-mate David Turnbull, who scooped the Doubletree by Hilton Young Player of the Year award in 2019.

    The midfielder has been nominated for the 2019/20 season alongside Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson, St Johnstone’s Ali McCann and Hearts defender Aaron Hickey.

    The winners will be in announced in the next two weeks.

  • First team

    End of 2019/20 first team squad update

    End of 2019/20 first team squad update

    Following the conclusion of the 2019/20 season, we can now update you on our first team squad going forward.

    We are saying goodbye to our club captain Peter Hartley, 2019/20 ever-present Mark Gillespie and full-back Richard Tait.

    Hartley leaves after three years at Fir Park, during which he made 66 appearances in central defence.

    He took over the captaincy from Carl McHugh in 2018/19 and featured heavily this campaign as the club took third spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Goalkeeper Gillespie departs after two years in North Lanarkshire.

    With 25 clean sheets and a 47% penalty save percentage in 67 appearances, his 17 shutouts in 2019/20 had him challenging to match Trevor Carson’s record 20, before the season was curtailed.

    Richard Tait was a popular figure on and off the field at the club, having signed from Grimsby Town in the summer of 2016.

    The 30-year-old made 12 Premiership starts last season, taking his overall tally to 142 in claret and amber across four campaigns.

    Also departing from the first team squad are goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson, midfielder Christian Ilic, youth academy product Adam Livingstone and forward Christy Manzinga.

    Rolando Aarons, Mikael Ndjoli and Mark O’Hara return after loan spells to their parent clubs Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Peterborough United respectively.

    We have been discussing with Charles Dunne the possibility of a short-term deal, allowing him to get back to full fitness at the club before he is assessed over a potential longer contract.

    “I’d like to thank every player who is leaving for their efforts during their time at the club,” said Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson.

    “They leave us with our best wishes for the future.”

    Everyone at the club would like to thank those moving on this summer, and wish them all the best.

    The following players will leave after either turning down an offer of a new deal or their contract expiring
    • Rohan Ferguson
    • Mark Gillespie
    • Peter Hartley
    • Christian Ilic
    • Adam Livingstone
    • Christy Manzinga
    • Richard Tait
    The following players’ loan periods are coming to an end
    • Rolando Aarons
    • Mikael Ndjoli
    • Mark O’Hara
    The following players have been offered extended deals
    • Charles Dunne
    • Christopher Long
    • Barry Maguire
    • Peter Morrison
    • Harry Robinson
    • Yusuf Hussain
  • Club

    Season ticket Early Bird period extended

    Season ticket Early Bird period extended

    We’re extending our ‘Early Bird’ season ticket pricing until Sunday 7 June.

    Over 2,000 of you have already got your tickets for the campaign, far surpassing sales figures at this stage in normal years.

    Many of you have been snapping up tickets this week in anticipation of the original deadline. Due to demand, we’re extending it by seven more days to allow time for us to get through sales and give you more time to make your purchase.

    To buy, please use our online purchasing service at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk if you can. You can also call us between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, on 01698 333333.

    We’re pledging that everyone who buys a season ticket for 2020/21 will get the full value of their purchase.

    We understand that there is still no clarity over when football will resume for us, nor any prediction over when supporters will be able to attend matches again.

    With that in mind, we will guarantee everyone who purchases, or has already purchased, a season ticket for 2020/21 will get the chance to attend 19 home league matches, whenever that is possible.

    If that is not possible in 2020/21, we will offer you the chance to claim the credit value of the missing games back. This can either be used against the value of your season ticket for 2021/22, or if you don’t renew next year, you can claim the equivalent number of match tickets for games in 2021/22.

    If matches are initially played behind closed doors, we pledge that you will not be adversely impacted.

    For example, if five matches are played behind closed doors in 2020/21, you can choose to either have the value of those matches deducted from your season ticket cost for 2021/22, or we will give you the equivalent amount of match tickets for games in that season.

    Everyone who buys a new season ticket will also be given free entry to our first UEFA Europa League match.

    Prices

    * Concession pricing applies if you’re aged 16-18, aged 60 or over, or you’re a full-time student.

    All the information you need

    Read our brochure

    Spread the cost or pay now

    There are many ways to pay for your season ticket.

    If you can, you can pay in full now by visiting tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. If you’ve never logged in to the website before, follow this guide if you are an existing season ticket holder. If you’re buying new, please create a new account.

    Alternatively, you can buy over the phone by calling 01698 333333. Please be patient, as we have limited telephone sales capacity at this time.

    You can also email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk and ask us to call you back.

    Pay by standing order

    You can pay for your season ticket in four instalments from May to August by using our standing order facility. Forms are available here, or you can call 01698 333333 and we will get you set up. If you’re filling out a form, you can scan it and email it to tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk or post it to the club.

    Please note that standing orders are only available on our full season ticket prices, and can not be used for our early bird rate.

    Finance

    Finance is available to spread your cost over 12 months at an interest rate of 19.5%.

    To apply, please call us on 01698 333333.

    Activating your online account

    It’s easy to buy or renew your ticket online. First, just head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    I am renewing

    To renew, you’ll need your client number. If you don’t know it, don’t worry, it is written on your season card.

    If you’ve never used our online platform before, head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Click sign in in the top right corner, and then enter your client number and then choose the option ‘activate my account’. You’ll then be able to set a password for yourself and update your details, before going on to either renew your existing seat or choose a new one from our stadium map.

    If you’re more familiar with our online ticketing site, login to your account now. Your current seat is reserved and you will see a notification, and you can renew it in a matter of clicks. Or you choose a new seat.

    I didn’t have a 2019/20 season ticket & I want to buy one

    Again, it’s easy to do this. Head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk and then press ‘season tickets’ from the top menu.

    You’ll then be given the option to choose where in the stadium you would like to sit. From there, you can create yourself an account, and then buy your season ticket for the 2020/21 campaign.

    Need help?

    If you want help setting up your online profile, or would prefer to buy by phone instead, just call 01698 333333. You can also email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Buying for more than one person

    If you have season tickets for your kids, or want to manage all your family’s tickets through one account, it’s easy to link them together. First, head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    If you’ve never set up an online account for the specific ticket holder you want to buy for, log out of your account and press sign in again. Then:

    • Click on the ‘activate my account’ link. Input the customer number on the season card, and then the surname, and click the ‘find my account’ button.
    • On the following page, check and update your details and create a password for use on the website. Please note that the address listed here is where your season card(s) will be sent to.
    • If you are doing this on behalf of a junior member of your family, please enter a unique email account. This is due to some functionality – like forgotten password – which will look at the email address, and may cause a conflict.
    • Once this form is complete, click on the ‘save details’ button at the bottom of the page. You will then be directed back to the home page where your registered name and number will appear in place of the ‘my account’ drop down at the top right hand corner – you are now ready to renew the season ticket.
    • Then, sign out and go back to your account you want to control all tickets from. For example, the account of the adult season ticket holder who wants to have control over buying kids tickets. Follow the initial steps, and then you’ll be all linked up.

    Next – or if an online account exists for the ticket holder in question, follow these steps:

    • Press sign in. Once you are logged in to your master account, simply click on ‘my account’ and choose network.
    • From here, you can search for someone by using their customer number and surname.
    • Once you’ve found them, just press ‘add member’ and you’re done.

    Then, to complete the purchase of the season ticket for another person:

    • Select the individual in the “your network” menu.
    • Select the “edit” button next to the person you wish to buy for.
    • On the next page, make sure you select the “manage” option and then press “send request”.
    • Log off of the site.
    • This will send an email to the other person’s email address. They need to open the email and select the link – which will force then to log into the site – to complete the action.
    • Then, you can sign out and then sign back into your main account, and you’re good to go.

    If you have family members who haven’t received their code to renew, don’t worry. Just get in touch by emailing tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk, sending us a direct message on Facebook or Twitter, or calling us on 01698 333333. We will be able to give you the rest of the codes you need straight away. And if you’re having trouble linking your accounts, just get in touch as well.

  • First team

    Tony Watt signs new deal

    Tony Watt signs new deal

    Tony Watt has extended his stay at Motherwell Football Club.

    The forward, who initially joined the club on a short-term deal in February, has signed a new contract for the 2020/21 season.

    Watt, 26, scored two goals across 326 minutes in six appearances, before the 2019/20 campaign was ended.

    “I’m really happy to be staying at Motherwell,” said the player.

    “The manager and the coaching staff have been outstanding with me since I came to the club.

    “The manager gave me a real belief when I joined and helped me get my confidence. I’m ready to do anything to repay that and help the club.

    “It’s a place where I feel at home. I really feel I can make a mark and I can’t wait to get started again.”

    Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson added: “We’re delighted Tony has agreed to sign for the season and we are looking forward to working with him.

    “I believe he showed the quality he has when he came in earlier in the year. The fitter and stronger he gets, the bigger an asset he will be to us.

    “I feel there is a lot more to come and he has shown me he really wants this. We will give him a platform to show his talent and give him a stage where he can be successful, with people who believe in him.”

    A full update on the squad for 2020/21 will be published on Sunday.

  • Club

    Tributes paid to Christian Mbulu

    Tributes paid to Christian Mbulu

    Motherwell players and staff, past and present, have paid tribute to Christian Mbulu.

    The 23-year-old, who made six appearances with the club in the 2018/19 season, passed away on Tuesday.

    As a club, we are deeply shocked and saddened by the news. Christian was an incredibly positive, hard working and humble young man who will be missed. Our thoughts are with his family.

    Stephen Robinson

    “Christian was a gentleman. He always had a smile on his face playing the game he loved.

    “This is a tragic loss for his family, his friends and all of the football community, and to us at Motherwell FC who had the opportunity to work with him.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very sad time.”

    Keith Lasley

    “So shocked to hear this news. Had such a positive outlook and enthusiasm for both football and life in general. My thoughts go to his friends and family.”

    Peter Hartley

    “I can’t believe this. RIP brother. Nicest guy in the world. Gone way too soon.”

    Charles Dunne

    “Took Mbulu under my wing when he came up to Scotland. It’s not easy moving up alone. Became my brother! Always smiling always positive. Just took anything that came his way in his stride. R.I.P My Broo.”

    Gboly Ariyibi

    “Still can’t believe this, praying I had a bad dream. Honestly a great man and so genuine, nothing but good memories with you bro. Sending all my condolences to his family. RIP Chris.”

    Elliott Frear

    “Can’t believe this. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Absolutely gutted. Thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace buddy.”

  • Club

    Christian Mbulu

    Christian Mbulu

    We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Christian Mbulu, a former player at the club.

    Christian was with us in the 2018/19 season, making six first team appearances and a further three for our Under 20s in the Challenge Cup.

    Twenty-three years old, he left Fir Park in May 2019 and went on to play in England with Crewe Alexandra and then Morecambe.

    “We are shocked to hear of the news of Christian’s death,” Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon said.

    “He was such a friendly, pleasant and dedicated young man who we loved having around Fir Park.

    “Our thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time. We hope their privacy is respected by everyone as they try to come to terms with their loss.”

  • Club

    Our season ticket pledge to you

    Our season ticket pledge to you

    We’re pledging that everyone who buys a season ticket for 2020/21 will get the full value of their purchase.

    Almost 1,800 of you have already got your tickets for the campaign, far surpassing sales figures at this stage in normal years.

    We understand that there is still no clarity over when football will resume for us, nor any prediction over when supporters will be able to attend matches again.

    With that in mind, we will guarantee everyone who purchases, or has already purchased, a season ticket for 2020/21 will get the chance to attend 19 home league matches, whenever that is possible.

    If that is not possible in 2020/21, we will offer you the chance to claim the credit value of the missing games back. This can either be used against the value of your season ticket for 2021/22, or if you don’t renew next year, you can claim the equivalent number of match tickets for games in 2021/22.

    If matches are initially played behind closed doors, we pledge that you will not be adversely impacted.

    For example, if five matches are played behind closed doors in 2020/21, you can choose to either have the value of those matches deducted from your season ticket cost for 2021/22, or we will give you the equivalent amount of match tickets for games in that season.

    Everyone who buys a new season ticket will also be given free entry to our first UEFA Europa League match.

    Our Early Bird discount period on 2020/21 season tickets is available until 7 June. Don’t miss out.

    To buy, please use our online purchasing service at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk if you can. You can also call us between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, on 01698 333333.

    “Fans have responded brilliantly to buy season tickets so far, despite there being uncertainty over when Fir Park will be open again to watch football,” chief executive Alan Burrows said.

    “Although that situation hasn’t changed, we hope that this guarantee will encourage other supporters to now commit to buying for 2020/21, and help the club prepare for what lies ahead.

    “If you can afford to do so, please buy your season ticket now.”

    Prices

    * Concession pricing applies if you’re aged 16-18, aged 60 or over, or you’re a full-time student.

    All the information you need

    Read our brochure

    Spread the cost or pay now

    There are many ways to pay for your season ticket.

    If you can, you can pay in full now by visiting tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. If you’ve never logged in to the website before, follow this guide if you are an existing season ticket holder. If you’re buying new, please create a new account.

    Alternatively, you can buy over the phone by calling 01698 333333. Please be patient, as we have limited telephone sales capacity at this time.

    You can also email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk and ask us to call you back.

    Pay by standing order

    You can pay for your season ticket in four instalments from May to August by using our standing order facility. Forms are available here, or you can call 01698 333333 and we will get you set up. If you’re filling out a form, you can scan it and email it to tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk or post it to the club.

    Please note that standing orders are only available on our full season ticket prices, and can not be used for our early bird rate.

    Finance

    Finance is available to spread your cost over 12 months at an interest rate of 19.5%.

    To apply, please call us on 01698 333333.

    Activating your online account

    It’s easy to buy or renew your ticket online. First, just head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    I am renewing

    To renew, you’ll need your client number. If you don’t know it, don’t worry, it is written on your season card.

    If you’ve never used our online platform before, head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Click sign in in the top right corner, and then enter your client number and then choose the option ‘activate my account’. You’ll then be able to set a password for yourself and update your details, before going on to either renew your existing seat or choose a new one from our stadium map.

    If you’re more familiar with our online ticketing site, login to your account now. Your current seat is reserved and you will see a notification, and you can renew it in a matter of clicks. Or you choose a new seat.

    I didn’t have a 2019/20 season ticket & I want to buy one

    Again, it’s easy to do this. Head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk and then press ‘season tickets’ from the top menu.

    You’ll then be given the option to choose where in the stadium you would like to sit. From there, you can create yourself an account, and then buy your season ticket for the 2020/21 campaign.

    Need help?

    If you want help setting up your online profile, or would prefer to buy by phone instead, just call 01698 333333. You can also email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Buying for more than one person

    If you have season tickets for your kids, or want to manage all your family’s tickets through one account, it’s easy to link them together. First, head to tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    If you’ve never set up an online account for the specific ticket holder you want to buy for, log out of your account and press sign in again. Then:

    • Click on the ‘activate my account’ link. Input the customer number on the season card, and then the surname, and click the ‘find my account’ button.
    • On the following page, check and update your details and create a password for use on the website. Please note that the address listed here is where your season card(s) will be sent to.
    • If you are doing this on behalf of a junior member of your family, please enter a unique email account. This is due to some functionality – like forgotten password – which will look at the email address, and may cause a conflict.
    • Once this form is complete, click on the ‘save details’ button at the bottom of the page. You will then be directed back to the home page where your registered name and number will appear in place of the ‘my account’ drop down at the top right hand corner – you are now ready to renew the season ticket.
    • Then, sign out and go back to your account you want to control all tickets from. For example, the account of the adult season ticket holder who wants to have control over buying kids tickets. Follow the initial steps, and then you’ll be all linked up.

    Next – or if an online account exists for the ticket holder in question, follow these steps:

    • Press sign in. Once you are logged in to your master account, simply click on ‘my account’ and choose network.
    • From here, you can search for someone by using their customer number and surname.
    • Once you’ve found them, just press ‘add member’ and you’re done.

    Then, to complete the purchase of the season ticket for another person:

    • Select the individual in the “your network” menu.
    • Select the “edit” button next to the person you wish to buy for.
    • On the next page, make sure you select the “manage” option and then press “send request”.
    • Log off of the site.
    • This will send an email to the other person’s email address. They need to open the email and select the link – which will force then to log into the site – to complete the action.
    • Then, you can sign out and then sign back into your main account, and you’re good to go.

    If you have family members who haven’t received their code to renew, don’t worry. Just get in touch by emailing tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk, sending us a direct message on Facebook or Twitter, or calling us on 01698 333333. We will be able to give you the rest of the codes you need straight away. And if you’re having trouble linking your accounts, just get in touch as well.

  • Club

    When Motherwell were the kings of Spain

    When Motherwell were the kings of Spain

    Only one foreign team in the world has a Copa del Rey – the main domestic cup of Spain – in its trophy cabinet.

    The story of how it came to be Motherwell who still give the prize pride of place today is a lesser-told tale in the club’s history.

    Runners up in the Scottish top flight in 1926/27, John Hunter’s team headed to mainland Europe as the invited guests of the RFEF to take part in a post-season special edition of the competition. Swansea City were also in tow on the trip, heading to Madrid to take part.

    Real Union were the winners of the 1927 Copa del Rey, but the Steelmen would eventually be pitted against the might of Real Madrid at their home Estadio Chamartín, albeit with some players from other Spanish sides thrown in as special guests to bolster the hosts’ chances.

    An all-British showdown first

    With a special version of the trophy donated by King Alfonso XIII of Spain for the purposes of the competition, Motherwell and Swansea would face each other first for the right to be the foreign guests in the final.

    It would also mark the first time two sides from the United Kingdom would face each other on Spanish soil, with the Scots running out 4-3 winners in what was described by the King in publications as being a “brilliant display of scientific football”.

    Lying in wait were Real Madrid, and some friends. Los Blancos were yet to register the first of their 33 La Liga titles by that time, with the national league not being formed until two years later, but had won five Copa del Rey trophies in what was still their early years.

    The (unofficial) 1927 Copa del Rey final

    Yes, the match between Motherwell and Real Madrid was for an unofficial version of the Copa del Rey, but it presented the unique opportunity to claim the trophy on foreign soil.

    Two days after the win over Swansea City, 17 May 1927 saw the Steelmen face Los Merengues on their own turf and run out 3-1 winners. In doing so, they joined Dundee and Dundee United in being a Scottish club to win in Madrid in the 1920s. But only one returned with such prestigious silverware.

    It wouldn’t be the only trophy Motherwell would take home too. A trip to Barcelona followed a few days later and, after a 2-2 draw with the Catalan side, a 1-0 win over Swansea – again – also saw the club presented the Barcelona Cup.

  • First team

    Motherwell clinch third spot in Premiership

    Motherwell clinch third spot in Premiership

    We have finished third in the 2019/20 Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Following the decision of SPFL clubs and the league board on Monday, the campaign has been brought to a halt without completing all scheduled fixtures.

    With the final table being calculated on a points per game basis, Motherwell retain third spot in the league and record the club’s highest league finish since coming second in 2014.

    We have been nominated as one of Scotland’s participants for the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League qualifying round.

    “It is an incredible achievement to finish third in the Premiership,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

    “Regardless of how it came to an end, this squad have earned their place with their performances across the season.

    “Our target every year is to stay in the division, although we always have aspirations to surpass that.

    “But to come third given the parameters we work under, and the quality of the teams we have finished above, speaks volumes for the hard working, talented group of players and staff we have.”

    Motherwell completed 30 league games from a scheduled 38 in the 2019/20 season, accumulating 46 points, winning 14 matches and scoring 41 goals.

    Applying the formula adopted by the SPFL, we averaged 1.5333 points per game, compared to 1.5 by Aberdeen in fourth, and 2.3103 by Rangers in second.

    “The season may not have ended with a last-game finale, but our sense of achievement remains,” chairman Jim McMahon said.

    “We would have preferred to have played the season in full. But nevertheless, this is a great feat by Stephen, Keith, the coaching staff and the team. We are incredibly proud.

    “During difficult times, we can reflect on the good moments the team brought us across the season in reaching third spot. Football is not the priority in these difficult times. But it gives us a common purpose from which we can draw some comfort.

    “We can also look forward to playing European football again, whenever that may be.

    “But most crucially, our club – and Scottish football as a whole – can now be focused fully on trying to get playing again at the earliest, safest opportunity.

    “The support from all our fans throughout the season has been as outstanding as ever and has played a huge part in what we’ve done. I am certain we will show the same unity to help us come through the next challenges together.”