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Things are going in the right direction in ML1.

After a busy summer with 12 players signing on, the transfer window slammed shut on the final day of August.

In the immediate aftermath of the season’s first deadline day, our new head of recruitment operations Nick Daws outlined the club’s strategy to help source the best players in the market.

Motherwell’s longest-serving player, and fans’ favourite, Liam Grimshaw, is a regular in the starting XI again after recovering from glandular fever, which had him ruled out of action since early 2021.

Now back in the side, and still on a high from scoring his first professional goal, Grimshaw enjoyed a day off at Hamilton Racecourse – something he hasn’t been able to do for a long time due to lockdowns and illness.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, the team, faced a tricky run of games. A dramatic win against Aberdeen was followed by a point at Ibrox to silence the 50,000-strong home support.

A late winner against Ross County then closed September with seven points from nine, leaving the Steelmen fourth in the Scottish Premiership table, just two points off the top spot.

Our players and football management team have joined the Well Society.

The players, together with the coaching staff, decided to collectively join and contribute monthly to the club’s fan ownership group, highlighting their commitment to the cause and to play their part in the continuing health and growth of Motherwell Football Club.

You can follow in their footsteps and join the Well Society by clicking here.

“It was very important to the whole squad that we demonstrated our effort away from just a Saturday afternoon,” club captain Stephen O’Donnell said.

“This is a special club where the supporters and the local community are at the heart of everything we do and stand for.

“The players buy into that and are proud to represent the club, but we also want to play our part by giving something back.

“We are delighted and honoured to be involved.”

‘Well boss Graham Alexander added: “I have said on many occasions that togetherness can help drive a club forward.

“It’s so important that all aspects of a club, from the boardroom to the dressing room, from the terracing to the pitch, are united and working towards the same goal.

“This group, both players and coaches, not only want to make the fans proud of their team when they are on the pitch but want to make them proud when they’re off it too.

“They do that by working hard to understand the ethos, the principles and the character of the supporters and people in this part of Lanarkshire, and what is expected of us as Motherwell players and coaches, which will hopefully transfer onto the pitch on a matchday and drive good performance.”

The Well Society, the vehicle in which the club operates its current fan ownership model, bought Motherwell FC from Les Hutchison in October 2016.

With over 3,000 active members, almost 1,300 of them contributing each month, the Society has supported the club throughout its ten-year existence, investing over one million pounds in working capital.

“We are thrilled to have the first-team squad and coaching staff as part of the Well Society and it clearly demonstrates the spirit and determination of this group,” the Well Society’s co-chair Douglas Dickie said.

“The more fans who are in a position to join the Society and contribute on a monthly basis will only help the club grow and grow.

“As we approach the fifth anniversary of taking a majority ownership in the club, it would be great if we could use this as a launchpad to attract more people to come on board.”

Corey O’Donnell has joined Albion Rovers on loan until January.

The young forward, who turned professional in the summer, has trained with the first-team squad for several months.

He featured regularly during pre-season matches and was named amongst the substitutes in the Premier Sports Cup group stage games.

The 17-year-old will now join Brian Reid’s League Two side for at least the next three months.

“This is a great opportunity for Corey to learn about first-team football and continue the progress he’s made since training regularly with the senior squad here,” Motherwell boss Graham Alexander said.

“I’m sure he’ll make a very good impression at Albion Rovers and we’ll continue to monitor him closely between now and January.”

Motherwell will be encouraged with their performance despite suffering a 4-0 defeat to Celtic at the Penny Cars Stadium on Wednesday.

Charlie Welling would fire the hosts in front from close range early on, before adding her second of the game on the stroke of half-time.

An unfortunate Jo Addie own goal would give Celtic a third, before a late Clarissa Larisey strike sealed victory for the visitors.

Motherwell applied the early pressure and were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the early stages.

Leanne Crichton’s perfectly-weighted through-ball found Gemma Hughes unmarked at the edge of the box, and the forward skilfully beat her opponent before firing her strike towards goal, but her effort was easily gathered by the keeper.

Minutes later, Gill Inglis’ clever interception deep into the Celtic half released Lori Gardner, who burst with pace before placing her strike past Chloe Logan. However, the winger’s effort landed agonisingly wide of the Celtic post.

Despite Motherwell’s early chances, it would be the visitors who would find the opener after 15 minutes.

Chloe Warrington’s in-swinging cross found Welling unmarked in the box, and the forward calmly placed her strike past Khym Ramsay from close range.

Celtic would double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Shen Mengyu’s low-driven cross again found Welling unmarked in the box, and the striker coolly slotted her strike past Ramsay into the bottom left corner.

The league leaders would add a third in the latter stages of the game. Rachael Donaldson was left in acres of space on the right, and the midfielder’s powerful low cross was inadvertently deflected past Ramsay by teammate Addie’s tackle into the bottom left corner.

With 10 minutes left to play, Celtic would seal all three points by adding a fourth. Donaldson’s whipped in free-kick was parried away by Ramsay, but only as far as Larisey who comfortably followed up from a yard out.

Motherwell will be encouraged with their display and will have positives to take before they host Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton in the first-ever women’s Lanarkshire derby later next month.

It’s been an extraordinary past few months for Liam Grimshaw.

The fans’ favourite found himself sidelined at the start of 2021 with glandular fever.

Expecting to be out for a matter of weeks, the rest of the season was wiped out as he took a prolonged period of time to recover.

Fighting his way back to fitness, he had another hurdle to overcome – netting his first professional goal.

After well over 100 appearances in claret and amber, the big moment finally came at a crucial time, with his strike proving to be decisive in a big win at Livingston.

The Burnley native has taken ML1 to heart since arriving in 2015, and then signing permanently in 2017, and took us out for a day at one of his favourite pursuits – horse racing.

Juhani Ojala has been called up by Finland.

The central defender returns to the national side after a short absence, taking his place in the selection for FIFA World Cup qualifying matches with Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Capped 31 times by his country, the 32-year-old has been a standout performer for Motherwell since his summer switch from Vejle.

Finland host Ukraine at home first on 9 October, before making the trip to Kazakhstan for their second match on 12 October.

Defender Murron Cunningham has signed from Heart of Midlothian.

The 22-year-old, who has turned out for Hearts and champions Glasgow City previously, joins up with Paul Brownlie’s side having won the Players’ Player of the Year at the Jambos last season.

“We are continuing to add quality to the squad,” head coach Brownlie said.

”Murron will bring vast experience and real leadership qualities that will complement the squad.

“She is only 22 and I believe she has real quality that she can continue to develop and take her game to the next level.”

Cunningham, who can play in defence or midfield, is looking forward to the future.

“I’m looking forward to starting fresh here at Motherwell,” she added.

”It’s something that I feel I can contribute to looking into the future.

“I’m ready to give my best here at Motherwell and hopefully help the team progress as much as possible”

Cunningham will wear the number 28 kit this season.

Liam Kelly and Stephen O’Donnell have been named in the Scotland squad for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying double header.

The Motherwell pair are in the selection for matches with Israel and the Faroe Islands on 9 and 12 October respectively.

Both were in the party for Scotland’s last round of games, with O’Donnell featuring in the away win in Austria.

Club captain O’Donnell goes into the match also looking to break the record for Scotland caps earned while on the books at Motherwell.

Having equalled George Stevenson’s record in Vienna, his 13th cap would earn him the accolade.

Our physiotherapist David Henderson also takes up his regular place on the backroom staff.

Our main partners Paycare Wellbeing have organised a Motherwell Mental Health Awareness e-clinic.

The free virtual event, which is aimed at individuals and businesses who want to learn more about wellbeing, will run from 11am until 12pm on Tuesday 23 November.

Run in conjunction with the club, it will feature guests Robert Nesbitt from the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Aaron Connolly from Time to Tackle.

Booking your free place couldn’t be easier – simply click here.

SAMH has been running for almost 100 years, launching in 1923, and is Scotland’s national mental health charity which works with adults and young people to provide support within social care, primary care, schools and other settings.

Time to Tackle was set up by Aaron and Siobhán Connolly, after Aaron struggled to find support for his mental health. They run an award-winning Football Therapy programme and aim to challenge stigma, promote open and honest conversations, and create peer support networks to combat loneliness.

“We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Motherwell FC even further by jointly hosting a free webinar focused around mental health,” Paycare’s Wellbeing Manager Kerry B Mitchell explains.

“I’ll be sharing some information about various conditions and risk factors, tips on approaching difficult conversations, signposting pathways, and some of the statistics and myths around mental health.

“I’m sure with the Scottish Association for Mental Health and Time to Tackle both joining us on the e-clinic that it’ll be a really interesting and informative hour for those attending.

“It’s so important for us all to be having these conversations, especially with more of us than ever likely to develop mental ill health during our lifetimes – and I’d like to thank Motherwell FC for their commitment to highlighting this issue.”

Motherwell head to Hearts in the cinch Premiership match on Saturday.

Kick-off at Tynecastle Park is at 3pm.

Tickets

There’s one last chance to get tickets for Hearts v Motherwell.

Tickets are available from the ticket office at Fir Park between 10am and 12pm on Saturday before the match.

Adult tickets cost £27. Over 65s and those in full-time education get in for £19, Under 18s for £14, Under 16s for £7 and Under 13s for £5.

Mandatory vaccine certification will be in place for this fixture. Spot checks will take place as you enter the stadium.

You must be fully vaccinated to attend. You and everyone in your party must bring proof of this status with you to the match, unless you are exempt (under the age of 18, not able to get the vaccine for medical reasons, or taking part in vaccine trials).

You can get proof of your vaccination status here.

Please only purchase tickets if you meet these criteria as Hearts will have to refuse entry if you are subject to a spot check and cannot comply with the Scottish Government vaccine certification legislation.

Watch live

The match is available to buy on pay-per-view from Hearts in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Ireland for £15.

To buy, head to ppv.heartsfc.co.uk.

Due to UEFA restrictions, the game can not be sold in England.

International viewers can watch through our subscription service at live.motherwellfc.co.uk. Packages start at as little as £12.50 per month to watch all 38 cinch Premiership fixtures.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five encounters with the Edinburgh side.

The last meeting came in the capital in March 2020, when Christopher Long’s goal contributed to a 1- 1 draw.

Form guide

Motherwell are unbeaten in their last six league matches, winning four and drawing two.

The 2-1 win over Ross County on Saturday kept Graham Alexander’s men within two points of top spot with seven matches played.

Hearts sit a point ahead in third, having won four and drawn three to also remain unbeaten in the league so far in 2021/22.