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  • Club

    Campbell and Maguire absent for St Johnstone trip

  • First team

    ‘We’ve used the time wisely’

  • First team

    ‘We will be prepared and ready to go’

  • First team

    How to watch St Johnstone v Motherwell

  • First team

    Storylines: St Johnstone v Motherwell

  • Women

    Spartans visit in SWPL1

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Loan report: Goals and clean sheets for youngsters

  • First team

    Craig Hinchliffe on life with six goalkeepers

  • First team

    Next up: St Johnstone

  • Club

    Davie Cooper inducted to Hall of Fame

  • Club

    Campbell and Maguire absent for St Johnstone trip

    Campbell and Maguire absent for St Johnstone trip

    Allan Campbell and Barry Maguire are required to miss our match with St Johnstone due to Covid-19 protocols.

    We were informed shortly after 11am on Saturday morning by the Scottish FA that the pair are required to self-isolate, as a result of three members of the Scotland Under 21 squad testing positive for the virus.

    Both Allan and Barry tested negative when they were tested by Motherwell FC on their return to Fir Park on Wednesday.

    However, the Scottish FA have informed us that due to the seating arrangements on flights and buses in Greece, our players are required to isolate under trace and protect procedures.

    We were first notified of the potential need to exclude Allan and Barry at 9:30pm on Friday night. They will now be obliged to isolate for 14 days.

    As a result of what has happened, we will write to the Scottish FA on a number of points on which we believe urgent answers are required.

  • First team

    ‘We’ve used the time wisely’

    “We’ve used the time wisely. Hopefully it shows on Saturday.”

    Stephen Robinson previews the trip to face St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

  • First team

    ‘We will be prepared and ready to go’

    “The games are going to come thick and fast now. We will be prepared and ready to go.”

    Allan Campbell previews Saturday’s return to action away to St Johnstone.

  • First team

    How to watch St Johnstone v Motherwell

    How to watch St Johnstone v Motherwell

    There’s various ways to watch St Johnstone v Motherwell on Saturday.

    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, priced at £17.50.

    International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

  • First team

    Storylines: St Johnstone v Motherwell

    Storylines: St Johnstone v Motherwell

    Motherwell return to action on Saturday with a trip to face St Johnstone in Perth.

    Here’s the storylines going into the match.

    The start of a long journey

    The 2020/21 season has been broken up by international breaks so far, but it’s about to embark on a long run of matches which will take us through to the next stoppage in March.

    With no winter break, Motherwell now have a minimum of 19 games before the next interruption. That starts at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

    Internationals back with a spring in their step

    Declan Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell have become history makers since the last time they pulled on claret and amber.

    Starting Scotland’s UEFA Euro 2020 play-off final in Serbia, they performed outstandingly to be part of the team which ended the national side’s 23-year wait to be at a major final.

    Familiar foes

    Saturday’s game marks a double header between the two sides.

    St Johnstone play host on Saturday in the league, before travelling down to ML1 in the Betfred Cup last 16 a week later.

    Mixed fortunes at McDiarmid

    The fixture has seen mixed fortunes for both teams when the game is contested at McDiarmid Park.

    The Saints were 90th minute 2-1 winners last time we met back in February. Before that, Motherwell won two, drew one and lost one in Perth.

  • Women

    Spartans visit in SWPL1

    Spartans visit in SWPL1

    After victory against Hearts at the weekend, Motherwell look to make it two wins from two when they host Spartans in SWPL1.

    Kick-off on Sunday 22 November at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie is at 12.30pm.

    A live stream of the match can be purchased for £5 by clicking here.

    The game is closed to supporters.

    Tale of the tape

    The last two encounters between Motherwell and Spartans have been tight affairs, with both ending in draws.

    A 2-2 score came in their last encounter back in October 2019 at Ainslie Park, two months after a 0-0 home draw for Motherwell.

    Prior to that, Spartans won the opening two games of 2019, while Motherwell won the first-ever encounter between the pair in a 3-1 Scottish Cup semi-final victory at Forthbank in 2018.

    Form guide

    The win in Edinburgh ended a run of three defeats for the women of steel. An opening day 4-2 loss at Forfar Farmington was followed by home defeats to Hibernian and Glasgow City.

    Spartans also sit on three points from four games but with a six-goal better goal difference.

    An opening day 2-1 defeat to Hibernian came before 1-0 losses to Celtic and Rangers. A 1-0 home win against Forfar Farmington came last weekend.

    Positive signs after first win

    “The players showed what they’re capable of winning so convincingly at Hearts,” manager Eddie Wolecki Black said.

    “When we were put under pressure, we dealt with the challenge, and we took our chances when they came.

    “We are level on points with Spartans, so it’s another opportunity for us.”

    match programme

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Loan report: Goals and clean sheets for youngsters

    Loan report: Goals and clean sheets for youngsters

    Motherwell’s young loanees have been in action across the international break.

    With Betfred Cup and Lowland League matches continuing, there was a chance for the four fit players to get valuable game time. Harry Robinson is currently injured.

    Ross MacIver

    The forward got a big goal for his club Greenock Morton in the Renfrewshire Derby match with St Mirren.

    The game – the first of two Betfred Cup ties for the Ton – saw the player climb off the bench in the 60th minute and then score immediately to level the tie at 1-1.

    He also scored his penalty in the shootout for a bonus point in the group stage fixture, but his side lost out 6-5.

    Ross’ award would be a start in the crucial trip to face Partick Thistle in the final match, where a win could potentially send the Championship team through to the knockout stages.

    However, a 0-0 draw and a loss in the shootout would ensure they finished fourth in their group.

    Jamie Semple

    A trip to Dundee in Cove Rangers’ penultimate group stage match would prove a stern test, even for a side flying high in League One.

    Jamie played the first 45 minutes as his team went in 1-0 down at the break, before eventually succumbing to a 3-0 loss through two goals in the last five minutes.

    An appearance from the bench with 25 minutes left would come next for the midfielder in their final home match with Forfar Athletic.

    Rory McAllister’s penalty two minutes after Semple’s introduction would prove the difference, but Cove’s elimination from the competition was already secured.

    A trip to face Falkirk – and come face to face with fellow loanee PJ Morrison – lies in wait this weekend.

    PJ Morrison

    Falkirk had one remaining Betfred Cup match over the international period – a trip to face fellow League One side Dumbarton.

    Victory would put the Bairns in with the chance of progression to the knockout stages as an unseeded team and they did exactly that, routing the Sons 4-0.

    The win would give PJ the clean sheet, to add to his penalty save in the 2-2 draw at Partick Thistle last weekend. And the reward for progression for Falkirk was a home tie with Rangers in the last 16.

    Sam Muir

    A win and a defeat would come for Gretna 2008 in the Lowland League, defeating Caledonian Braves 5-0 away and then losing 1-0 at Civil Service Strollers.

    Central defender Sam was an unused sub for the game against the Braves, before coming on for the last five minutes in the second match.

  • First team

    Craig Hinchliffe on life with six goalkeepers

    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.

  • First team

    Next up: St Johnstone

    Next up: St Johnstone

    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.

    Tale of the tape

    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.

    Form guide

    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.

    Watch live

    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.

  • Club

    Davie Cooper inducted to Hall of Fame

    Davie Cooper inducted to Hall of Fame

    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.