| 6 | Dundee | 31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | -10 | 39 |
| 7 | Hibernian | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | -7 | 38 |
| 8 | Motherwell | 32 | 8 | 12 | 12 | -5 | 36 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 32 | 8 | 10 | 14 | -5 | 34 |
| 10 | St Johnstone | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | -20 | 31 |
Motherwell’s goalkeeper coach Craig Hinchliffe has had plenty of challenges of the 2020/21 season so far.
Having started the season with Trevor Carson as number one and Scott Fox as his deputy, the team have had to contend with injury to both, as well as trying to get vital experience for youngsters PJ Morrison and Matty Connelly.
A trip to St Johnstone kicks off a run of games which takes us through to the close of 2020.
If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis from St Johnstone for £17.50.
International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.
Kick-off on Saturday at McDiarmid Park is at 3pm.
Motherwell have won three of the last five encounters between the two sides, with St Johnstone winning the other two.
An early Allan Campbell goal was the difference in the last meeting in September this year.
At McDiarmid Park last time out, a last-minute Chris Kane goal broke Motherwell hearts in a 2-1 victory.
Motherwell have won three of their last five Scottish Premiership fixtures, with defeats coming against Celtic and Rangers.
St Johnstone were in Betfred Cup action during the international break, drawing with Dundee United and then winning 3-1 at Peterhead to top their group, and set up a last 16 clash with the Steelmen.
If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis from St Johnstone for £17.50.
International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.
Our third inductee to the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame in 2020 is Davie Cooper.
The 1991 Scottish Cup winner joins John Hunter and Andy Paton in this year’s intake.
We will honour the class of 2020 with a unique virtual induction event this winter by means of a special live, free-to-air, online event.
We are also once again asking the fans to pick our fifth inductee.
You can join in the vote by nominating any individual from any era in Motherwell’s past – player, manager or official – who you think is worthy of being included in the 2020 class.
Click here to vote for who you want to see in the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.
Born in Hamilton on 25 February 1956, it is fair to say Davie Cooper would become one of the most popular post-war Scottish football players ever.
He joined Motherwell in 1989 for £50,000, having lost his place at Rangers amid the bankrolled Graeme Souness era, and seemingly near the end of a most successful career. It was not to be and in his twilight years at Fir Park, he revealed himself to be a quite extraordinary player, whose guile and skill more than made up for his advancing years.
The then-Motherwell manager Tommy McLean signed the prodigious and obvious talent for a relatively small fee, which history will tell you now was a stroke of genius. McLean had chased Cooper for some time, knowing fine that he would be the cherry on top of the workmanlike squad he had built to maintain the clubs’ status in the top flight of Scottish football.
Those who thought Cooper was going to North Lanarkshire merely to play out his years were proved spectacularly wrong as he arguably produced some of the best football of his entire career whilst at Fir Park.
All the wizardry and accuracy that characterised his time at Ibrox seemed undiminished by his veteran status. He was still the master of the dribble and, even more so, the weighted pass. Subtle tricky and endearing, he was a player fans of both sides could warm to.
His debut in claret and amber came at Rugby Park in a midweek League Cup tie in August 1989. His performance was as good any he would produce for the club. Motherwell fans were aghast as Cooper set up three of the four goals the Steelmen scored that evening, as Kilmarnock were brushed aside 4-1.
His first game at Fir Park turned out to be equally entertaining. Cooper again was the main man, being the architect of a 3-1 win over St. Mirren with two goals for Nick Cusack, and a clincher from Stevie Kirk.
He continued to inspire those around him. He was the lynchpin of a terrific showing at Fir Park in September when Dundee were swept aside 3-0 with Cooper scoring his first-ever goal for the Steelmen. Attendances began to rise as the Lanarkshire public warmed to the Hamilton man. When Rangers came calling four days after the Dundee match, that warming grew into unconditional love for the winger.
The big-spending Glasgow giants were humbled as the Steelmen went top of the league, as Cooper combined with another former Ger, Bobby Russell, to create and score the winner on a memorable night under the Fir Park lights.
October saw another Cooper masterclass when Dundee United were defeated in a five-goal thriller. The national press began to speculate on whether Davie should be included in the Scotland squad for a vital upcoming World Cup qualifier against Norway. As it happens, he was included and produced a man of the match performance as the Scots won 3-1 to secure a place at Italia 90.
Domestically, he would score seven times in his first season, a couple of which secured a draw at home to Aberdeen in another pulsating affair as Ne’erday approached. Motherwell finished a comfortable mid-table in a 10-team division, which most fans were happy with, hoping it would be a springboard to success in campaign 1990/91.
Davie was integral to everything Motherwell produced that following season, missing only two league games, scoring another five times as the Steelmen replicated the previous year’s performance with a similar position in the final league table. Where the league form could be labelled workmanlike, the Scottish Cup seemed to spark the players into life.
Cooper inspired a cup run that will never be forgotten around Lanarkshire. He was integral to the exciting victories over Aberdeen, Falkirk and Morton before being suspended for the two semi-final ties against Celtic, largely due to his inability to button his lip with match officials.
Of course, he was back in the side come that wonderful day in May 1991.
His presence and experience undoubtedly gave the confidence to his teammates and the belief that they could lift the Scottish Cup for the first time in 39 years.
That belief turned to reality as goals from Ian Ferguson, Phil O’Donnell, Ian Angus and Stevie Kirk brought joy, not only to the 35,000 Motherwell fans on the slopes of Hampden Park but those with claret and amber in their hearts watching from afar.
Despite approaching his mid-30s, Davie only missed five games of the 50 Motherwell played the following season, scoring five times. Two of these came in a great 2-0 win over St. Mirren at Love Street in early November. He, of course, was also part of the first-ever Motherwell side to take part in European competition on 18 September 1991 in Poland against GKS Katowice. The 2-0 defeat that day was witnessed by a sizeable support from Scotland and would’ve been bigger, had two supporter buses not missed all but ten minutes of the tie.
The second leg witnessed a sublime display from Cooper as he dazzled under the Fir Park floodlights. Over 10,000 fans roared the home side on from the kickoff as the Steelmen looked to overturn the first-leg deficit.
After incessant pressure, the visitors fell behind when a sumptuous pass from Cooper set Kirk up, who finished with aplomb. Early into the second half though, the Steelmen were caught with a breakaway and Katowice equalised on the night briefly silencing the home support.
Back ‘Well roared back with Cooper at the helm, as he crossed first for Nick Cusack to score, and then minutes later for Stevie Kirk to notch his second of the evening. Despite the atmosphere reaching fever pitch, Motherwell failed to score for a fourth time, and we were eliminated on the dreaded away goals rule.
Davie’s final full season at the club was the 1992/93 campaign. However, it proved to be something of a disappointment for the fans, again allowed Coop to display his talents time after time. Incredibly for his age, and position he played, Cooper was the only ever-present Motherwell player that season, turning out in all 46 competitive matches. Indeed, his final goal in our colours came in the April of that season at Fir Park against Celtic, in a memorable 2-0 win over the Glasgow side.
After the summer of 1993, it became apparent that Cooper’s appearances for the club would be mostly from the bench. Indeed, his final sighting in a Motherwell kit was as a substitute in mid-December, contributing to a terrific 3-2 win at Tynecastle Park over an excellent Hearts team, with goals from Tommy Coyne, twice, and Rab McKinnon.
With his chances of regular football at Fir Park diminishing somewhat, Davie decided to continue playing, and more significantly perhaps contributing, to football matches, and returned to serve his first club, Clydebank.
Many had assumed that Cooper’s move to Fir Park would see him treating the move as a form of early retirement. But Davie proved he was bigger and better than that by not only winning a Scottish Cup winner’s medal with Motherwell but also resurrecting his International career. In fact, had he not gone over on his ankle as he ran through Strathclyde Park shortly before the squad was announced, Cooper would’ve been the first-ever Motherwell player to play on the World Cup Finals stage in Italia ’90.
In the 15 months since Davie had left Fir Park, life had been good with Motherwell narrowly losing out in a title fight with Rangers in 1994 and going toe to toe again with the Light Blues the following season eventually finishing runners-up.
However, everything was put into perspective when news broke of Cooper collapsing at Broadwood Stadium in March 1995 whilst filming a television show and coaching youngsters.
The following day as the Motherwell squad and fans were travelling through to Easter Road to take on Hibs in a vital league match, it was confirmed that Davie had passed away of a brain haemorrhage aged just 39.
Given the impact he had had during his time in North Lanarkshire, quite understandably, neither the players nor the fans seemed capable getting themselves up for the game, and the home side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. It is no exaggeration to say that the whole Scottish nation was both stunned and deeply saddened by his untimely death, as floral tributes were left at Ibrox, Fir Park and Kilbowie in abundance.
The Motherwell FC board decided to name the newly constructed North Stand after him.
Davie Cooper inspired a team of footballers and supporters of this club, giving everything he had for the cause. 165 appearances and 17 goals for Motherwell may be the facts and figures of his time at Fir Park, but they barely scratch the surface of his life and times at the club.
His range of ball skills and sheer entertainment value made him instantly recognisable. Cooper was clearly a match-winner, a skilled craftsman and an almost unique talent. He had a cultured left foot, amazing dribbling skills, precision crosses and truly stunning dead-ball accuracy. He was a player that literally had you off your seat when on the ball, dictating play to his preferences, and his teams’ advantage.
Motherwell has been fortunate to have a list of quite outstanding left wingers throughout history. From Bobby Ferrier, Johnny Aitkenhead and Pat Quinn are just some of the big names to have played in that position through the years.
Cooper rightly deserves his position near the top of such a list for the way he almost single-handedly raised the spirits of the area and the perception of Motherwell Football Club within the game that his contribution is hard to measure subjectively.
Off the pitch, he was a terrific ambassador for the football club and the wider community, contrary to the perceived “Moody Blue” persona which was portrayed during his time at Rangers.
History will dictate that Davie Cooper’s legend is more famed for his stint at Ibrox and although his time with us may have been relatively short, no one could ever question the effect, nor the passion he had for this our club. A modern-day footballing genius and a man who inspired a group to achieve immortality.
Motherwell will face St Johnstone in the second round of the 2020/21 Betfred Cup.
The last 16 of the competition will see the Steelmen host the Perth side.
‘Well were seeded for the draw, with our opponents topping their group.
Ties are due to be played on the weekend of 28 and 29 November.
Motherwell picked up their first win of the SWPL1 season with a convincing 3-0 victory at Hearts on Sunday.
Goals from Lori Gardner, Katie Rice and Chelsie Watson secured the three points on the road for Eddie Wolecki Black’ side in Edinburgh.
An unchanged squad took to the pitch at the Oriam, where both teams were looking to get their first points on the board.
Motherwell were the team who started the brighter, with Claire Adams and Georgie Crooks finding themselves with most of the ball.
The better start turned into a lead when Kacey Watson won the ball on the left. A pass to captain Katie Rice saw her thread a perfectly timed and weighted ball through to the onrushing Gardner, who calmly slotted past the goalkeeper.
Motherwell then continued to have the better of the play but with no real end product, with final passes and crosses only finding the Hearts ‘keeper.
Hearts started to find themselves getting back into the game with some aggressive and direct balls. However, Ailey Tebbett was a match for everything they came up with.
Then, 10 minutes before half-time, Rice intercepted a cross pass from the Hearts goalkeeper and slotted into an empty goal.
The second half saw a change of shape from Hearts and a more of an even game, with both teams cancelling each other out with few chances for either.
A momentary lack of concentration saw Tebbett having to deal with a one-on-one situation, spreading herself big to save the effort and pounce on the rebound to keep the score as it was.
After that, Motherwell began to get a hold of the game. And with the game entering the final quarter, a free-kick was awarded after a handball on the edge of the box.
Centre half Watson stepped up and expertly lifted the ball over the wall and into the top corner give the Hearts keeper no chance to stop it.
The visitors held on to keep a clean sheet and most importantly all three points, their first of the season.
Spartans lie in wait next Sunday at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie.
Motherwell: Tebbett, Connor (Reside), C Watson, Crooks (Roberts), Adams, Rice, Baillie, Sinclair (Swanson), Gardner, Callaghan (Skelton), K Watson.
Subs not used: Pollard, Ramsay.
Stress and emotional eating are set to be explored in the next free e-clinic from Paycare Wellbeing.
It’s part of a varied series of hour-long webinars, focused on a different aspect of mental health each time.
Virtual attendees will be able to join the session, running from 10am to 11am on Thursday 26 November, to find out about current research, and tips around stress management.
Topics to be covered include the effects of cortisol and weight loss on the body, emotional and binge eating, stabilising the blood sugar rollercoaster, and referral pathways for stress and eating disorders.
Paycare’s wellbeing manager, Kerry B Mitchell, will be joined by friend of Paycare, guest speaker Laura Butler, a lifestyle intervention consultant and health coach.
Kerry, a mental health first aid qualified trainer, said: “Our free sessions have been offering attendees lots of information, examples of best practice and plenty of time to ask questions about the topic.
“Stress awareness is so important, especially mid-pandemic, and many companies and individuals will find themselves either directly or indirectly impacted by the pressures of 2020.
“Our team also deliver a range of mental health training courses designed for companies who wish to delve further into wellbeing strategies and invest in their employees’ wellbeing.”
Laura added: “Many of us recognise the link between stress and emotional or over-eating, feeling the need to comfort ourselves with food.
“But what is often not talked about is the effect on our health when we eat in a stressed state and how certain foods can also make us feel stressed.
“I am thrilled to have been asked by Paycare to discuss these topics at their upcoming e-clinic as when people have a better understanding of these, they can use this knowledge to transform their eating habits and overall wellbeing.”
To book a place on the stress and emotional eating e-clinic, simply email wellbeing@paycare.org.
For more information on upcoming e-clinics and themes, head to paycare.org/mhfa
In addition to the webinars, Paycare Wellbeing is also extending its online offering o complement its pre-pandemic face-to-face mental health training programme, which now includes a two-day virtual accredited MHFA course. Visit paycare.org/mhfa to find out more.
Motherwell travel to Hearts next in SWPL1.
After giving champions Glasgow City a contest last weekend, Eddie Wolecki Black’s side head to the capital in search of their first points of the season.
Kick-off on Sunday 15 November at the Oriam Performance Centre in Edinburgh is at 3.15pm.
The game is closed to supporters.
The two sides have faced each other five times on competitive business, with all fixtures coming in SWPL2.
Motherwell have won three of the encounters, drawing one and losing the other.
Both sides have started the new SWPL1 season with three defeats, albeit it’s Hearts who sit bottom of the table on goal difference.
A 5-1 opening day defeat at Rangers was followed by a 10-0 home loss to Celtic, and then a 3-0 loss at Forfar Farmington on Sunday.
‘Well also lost at Forfar on the first day, suffering a 4-2 defeat. That was then followed by home reversals at the hands of Hibernian and Glasgow City.
“We showed last weekend against Glasgow City that we are very capable,” manager Eddie Wolecki Black said.
“The average age of our team in that game was around 19 years old, so it’s even more of a credit that such a young group are acquitting themselves so well.
“This is an opportunity now against Hearts to try get our first points on the board. We’ll be ready for it.”
Motherwell pair Declan Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell made history with the Scotland national team on Thursday night.
A penalty shootout victory in their play-off final away to Serbia clinched qualification for UEFA Euro 2020, ending the country’s 23-year wait to participate at a major tournament.
Both players started the match in Belgrade, in which Scotland took a second-half lead through Ryan Christie.
Luka Jovic’s 90th minute equaliser looked to have put the nation on a predictable path to glorious failure but Steve Clarke’s men held firm, and then prevailed 5-4 in the shootout.
Both Motherwell men were at the heart of the action in a dogged, outstanding performance, with Gallagher in particular coping brilliantly up against £22m Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović.
Skipper Gallagher now has six Scotland caps whilst playing in claret and amber, drawing him level with Andy Weir as the joint fourth in Motherwell history, with only Hall of Famer George Stevenson (12), Willie Redpath (9) and Ian St John (7) ahead of him. Stephen O’Donnell has earned four (from a 15 cap haul) whilst at Fir Park, drawing him level with Tom Boyd, Pat Quinn and James McFadden.
Scotland will face Croatia, Czech Republic and England in UEFA Euro 2020 in June 2021.
This is the last month in ML1.
There have been many challenges for Motherwell to overcome in recent weeks.
October started with a second late cancellation of a Premiership match, with our game with St Mirren being called off with just hours to go. That meant for a dramatic last-minute change of plans – and a month-long wait for a match.
Another man without playing time recently is Liam Donnelly. The influential midfielder was sidelined with a meniscus injury early in the season, leaving him on the sidelines for months. It also meant he missed the club’s UEFA Europa League fixtures, as well as Northern Ireland’s crucial UEFA Euro 2020 play-off ties.
The return to action would eventually come on 24 October, as Ross County visited Fir Park. With Motherwell eager to get points on board after a slow start to the season, it would be a test of character against a team who won when the two faced on the opening day of the campaign.
That home fixture would also see the loss of a second goalkeeper from the original squad which started 2020/21. Another meniscus injury, this time to Trevor Carson, would see him join Scott Fox on the sidelines.
Aaron Chapman and Jordan Archer have been added, with young goalkeepers PJ Morrison and Matty Connelly also developing under the coaching of Craig Hinchliffe.
A trip to Livingston ended the month and it also marked the 50th appearance of club captain Declan Gallagher.
The central defender suffered a blip when he was sent off in the UEFA Europa League match away to Hapoel Beer-Sheva. But he has responded well to be part of the Scotland team which stands on the brink of qualification to UEFA Euro 2020.
Scotland are just one victory away from qualifying for their first major tournament since 1998.
Ahead of Thursday’s crunch clash with Serbia in Belgrade, we look at the top 10 players who have earned the most caps for Scotland while playing for the Steelmen.
A one-club man, midfielder George Stevenson made 572 appearances for Motherwell between 1923 and 1939, contributing 170 goals.
Stevenson was part of the Steelmen side that became champions of Scotland in 1932 and 86 years on from his last appearance for the Scottish national side. He still holds the record number of appearances for the Scots while playing for ‘Well.
George scored four times in the dark blue, with his most notable goal coming in a 2-0 victory over England at Hampden in 1931 – a game played out in front of a crowd just short of 132,000.
After the Second World War, Stevenson returned to Fir Park as manager and guided them to the club’s only ever League Cup triumph in 1950 and their first Scottish Cup success in 1952.
In November 2019, his achievements with the club were recognised when he became one of the first inductees into the Motherwell Football Club Hall of Fame.
Willie Redpath was part of George Stevenson’s successful ‘Well side that sampled League Cup and Scottish Cup glory – netting in the 4-0 Scottish Cup final thrashing of Dundee in 1952 and grabbing the decisive goal in the 3-1 semi-final replay victory over Hearts.
Redpath made his first appearance for Scotland in a 3-1 victory over Wales in 1948 and went on to feature in the famous 3-2 success over England at Wembley three years later.
Regarded as one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, Willie forged a reputation for his cultured and creative style, as well as his ‘keepy-uppy’ abilities – he used to bet with his fellow teammates that he could do two rounds of the Fir Park pitch without the ball hitting the deck, something that often helped boost his wages.
Ian St John made the initial steps in his incredible career at Fir Park, hitting the headlines for his scoring feats as part of the famous Ancell Babes.
Growing up following the Steelmen, St John was part of the 136,274 crowd that watched the ‘Well defeat Dundee 4-0 in the 1952 Scottish Cup final, and five years later he would go on to make his debut for the club.
St John scored 80 times in 113 league appearances in claret and amber and was part of some incredible displays during that time including a 5-2 victory over Rangers at Ibrox, scoring a sensational two-and-a-half-minute hat-trick against Hibernian and banging in six goals against Brazilian side Flamengo at Fir Park.
St John won his first Scotland cap in a 3-2 win over West Germany at Hampden, and he scored his first international goal a year later as Poland edged out the Scots by the same scoreline.
After four magnificent years with ‘Well, legendary manager Bill Shankly splashed out a club-record fee to take St John to Liverpool where he won the English league title on two occasions.
In 2008, St John was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
In 1959 Andy Weir pulled on a Scotland jersey for the first time alongside two of his Motherwell team-mates (Ian St John and Bert McCann) and wasted little time in making a big impression – finding the net just seven minutes into his debut against West Germany.
Blessed with lightning-quick pace, a great ability to beat his man and the ability to deliver a devastating cross ball, Weir was renowned for being a handful to contain, regularly putting in performances that left opposition defences dazzled.
Described by his fellow Ancell Babes as the ‘pick of the bunch’, it was incredibly unfortunate that injuries prevented Andy from achieving even more within the game and after a series of bad injuries and illness and he was forced to retire in 1968 – eight years after making his sixth and final appearance for Scotland in a 4-2 defeat in Turkey.
Despite an untimely end to his football career, his feats in the game can’t be understated, and during his career he would turn out almost 300 times for Motherwell, scoring 61 times.
‘Well captain Declan Gallagher will be hoping to continue his successful run at the heart of the Scots defence when they take on Serbia on Thursday with a place at the European Championships up for grabs.
Following his move from Livingston in the summer of 2019, Gallagher has been an integral part of the Motherwell defence, and last Saturday’s 2-0 win over his former side marked his 50th game in claret and amber.
Since making his Scotland debut in a 2-1 victory over Cyprus in Nicosia, Gallagher has yet to sample defeat with the national side, and he was an ever-present across last month’s triple-header in which the Scots kept three successive clean sheets.
For many years Motherwell fans have perhaps felt a slight sense of injustice that many of their top performers have been overlooked for a national call-up. Therefore it has been doubly satisfying to see Gallagher’s excellent club performances be rewarded and then replicated playing for Scotland.
Having taken up the role of captain at Fir Park ahead of the 2020/21 season, Declan has undoubtedly carried his leadership skills on to the international stage and alongside his ‘Well team-mate Stephen O’Donnell he will be hoping to help play a big part in helping the national side earn a place at a major finals for the first time in over 20 years.
Another member of the Ancell Babes that gained international recognition, Bert McCann was described as the ‘lynchpin’ of everything that happened offensively for Bobby Ancell’s famous ‘Well side of the fifties and sixties.
His international debut came in May 1958 in front of over 100,000 fans as West Germany were defeated 3-2 in a friendly match at Hampden Park, alongside fellow debutants and ‘Well players Ian St. John and Andy Weir, who scored Scotland’s second goal.
Further appearances in dark blue came against Northern Ireland, Wales and England before his final cap which ended in a 9-3 defeat against the “Auld Enemy” at Wembley in May 1961.
For the Steelmen, McCann notched up 331 appearances across nine years at Fir Park, he captained the side on several occasions and forged a reputation as one of the best left-sided midfielders to have ever played for the club.
Also earning five caps for the national side during his time at Fir Park was legendary striker Willie Pettigrew.
Pettigrew was the first inductee in the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame, giving much-deserved recognition to his incredible goalscoring prowess throughout his time with the Fir Parkers.
He netted 20 goals for the ‘Well in 1974/75 campaign and the following season went one better.
His partnership with Bobby Graham brought goals but also international recognition, where he went on to score on his debut for Scotland against Switzerland in April 1976.
Pettigrew found the net again in his second appearance for the Scots, on that occasion Willie Ormond’s side swept aside Wales 3-1.
He would go on to make three further appearances for the national side, and on each occasion, Scotland emerged the victors.
1991 Scottish Cup-winning captain Tom Boyd showed his leadership qualities from early on in his Motherwell career.
Two years on from breaking into the first-team at the age of 19, he was handed the captains armband at 21, making him one of the youngest ever captains not only to lead the club but to lead a side in the Premier Division.
His finest moment in claret and amber came at the home of the Scottish national side in May 1991 as he held the Scottish Cup aloft after the Steelmen finally overcame Dundee United 4-3 in a nerve-shattering final.
Boyd’s first cap for Scotland came in a 2-1 victory over Romania at Hampden in 1990, and he would finish his career on 72 appearances for the national side – playing at Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup before captaining his country on six occasions.
During his 251 appearances over his seven years at Fir Park, Pat Quinn enjoyed a remarkable run of goalscoring form.
The striker found the net 119 times for ‘Well and his superb feats in claret and amber caught the attention of international boss Ian McColl while also drawing interest from a host of potential suitors south of the border.
Quinn’s Scotland debut came in the infamous 9-3 defeat to England at Wembley. However, he would go on play a role in a much more favourable result in his second cap when doubles from Ralph Brand and David Herd eased the Scots to a 4-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland.
Quinn would be sold to Blackpool in 1962 for £34,000, a significant sum for the times, though his only international recognition came during his time with the Steelmen.
James McFadden enjoyed a Hall of Fame-worthy career for the national side, undoubtedly bringing Scotland fans some of their greatest moments in recent times.
The highlight of McFadden’s time in a Scotland jersey came against France in Paris when he unleashed a stunning 30-yard effort beyond Mickaël Landreau to earn a 1-0 triumph against all the odds.
13 years on and the Tartan Army still love to reminisce about what is one of the most iconic Scotland goals of all time.
Speaking on the 10th anniversary of that famous night Faddy explained: “I played 48 times for my country and I scored 15 goals. That was a special night, but I would have taken one appearance for Scotland to score a goal that is talked about now, 10 years after the event – it’s brilliant for me.”
There were plenty more moments of brilliance from McFadden for both club and country and by the time the curtain came down on a fantastic career he had made almost 150 appearances in claret and amber – earning him his place in the club’s Hall of Fame.
By Andy Ross.
