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  • Club

    Bobby Ferrier to be inducted to Hall of Fame

  • Women

    Motherwell academy recruiting coaches

  • Women

    Derby day delight in SWPL1

  • Women

    Lanarkshire derby in SWPL1

  • First team

    Manager reacts to loss at Hearts

  • First team

    Hearts 2-0 Motherwell

  • First team

    Manager previews Hearts

  • First team

    Last chance to get tickets for Hearts

  • First team

    Dundee United home game brought forward

  • First team

    Graham Alexander named as Manager of the Month

  • Club

    Bobby Ferrier to be inducted to Hall of Fame

    Bobby Ferrier to be inducted to Hall of Fame

    The first of our 2021 inductees to the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame is Bobby Ferrier.

    Regarded as the club’s true world-class player of his time, he will be formally inducted at our event in November.

    His two grandsons, Robert and James, will attend the event to witness his inclusion.

    The legend of Robert Ferrier began in Sheffield when he was born to a father who himself was a football icon of the local “Wednesday” football club.

    His dad had previously turned out for his local side Dumbarton at a time when the Sons were operating at the very top of Scottish football, winning the title twice in successive seasons, before being transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1894.

    Three weeks after his birth, young Robert was brought back to Dumbarton, and lived there for the rest of his life.

    Ferrier’s career at Motherwell, his only club, was incredible not only in its length and quality, but in its achievement.

    For eight seasons in the period between 1926 and 1934, Motherwell were never out of the top three in Scotland. When the Steelmen won the championship in 1932, they were the only team outside the Old Firm to do so in 44 years.

    Even then, Scottish football was dominated by the two large Glasgow clubs. Ferrier was captain of the title-winning side and always maintained that they were the greatest team he ever played with, although he rated the Motherwell side of the early 20s, including stars like Willie Rankin, Davie Thackeray and Hughie Ferguson, almost as highly.

    The Motherwell championship-winning team was a side of moulded talents allied with supreme elegance and style. That season 66 points were won from a possible 76, with 119 goals being scored in 38 matches, with legendary striker Willie McFadyen netting 52 times.

    Bobby Ferrier had a long, lazy and deceptive stride which allowed him to float past defenders with ease. He could flick, clip and back heel in the air, balls any other player could not reach.

    His was a game of spaces and angles played with infinite grace, and his control of a ball through the air was often quite exquisite. He could float, chip, hook or slice crosses to his liking with a left foot which many commentators claimed was akin to a magic wand.

    That left peg also possessed enough strength to allow him on occasion to drill a ball into an opponent’s net with accuracy and power.

    In 1929/30 Ferrier scored 32 goals from 37 games playing in his favoured left-wing position, often scoring from the touchline, beating goalkeepers at both the near post, and drifting a cross by them, and nestling the ball inside the far post.

    Ferrier was a cultured footballer in an era where many hard men were playing the game. Players like Meiklejohn and McPhail of Rangers, with McGrory and McGonagle at Celtic, would rejoice in repeatedly going in heavy on Ferrier, but the Motherwell man would routinely get up dust himself down and continue his task of mesmerising full-backs.

    By the summer of 1927, Motherwell were keen to exploit the world’s developing love of Scottish football by arranging lucrative tours during the close season. That summer, Spain and France were the destinations, where eight games were arranged for a Motherwell squad now captained by Ferrier.

    The captain had a very productive time of it on tour with goals against both Swansea City and Real Madrid, a double against Celta Vigo and a hat-trick in Paris against Red Star Olympique. Six games were won, with only one loss, and scoring 23 goals in the process.

    This successful tour, combined with the excellent season that had gone before, had set Motherwell up for an unprecedented run of success over the next decade, as they put up a sustained challenge to the two Glasgow clubs who had dominated league football in Scotland since the game had turned professional in the late 18th century.

    By April 1932 the Fir Parkers were on the verge of achieving something special, with captain Ferrier only having missed one game in all competitions, and scoring 16 times in that campaign.

    With three league games to go Motherwell, travelled to Firhill looking to confirm themselves as champions with a win, and as a result a huge army of fans headed through from the Steel Town to the north side of Glasgow in anticipation of a wonderful occasion.

    The 32,000 crowd were largely disappointed with the dull 0-0 draw which left Motherwell still looking for a point from the last two games.

    A 3-0 win at home to Cowdenbeath, in which Ferrier opened the scoring, left a chasing Rangers outfit with no margin for error. That margin was lost the following midweek when the Ibrox club could only draw leaving Motherwell as champions of Scotland by the time they took the field for the final game of the season at Fir Park against Clyde.

    The title triumph was dedicated by the players to manager Sailor Hunter, who had spent years developing a squad and a way of coaching which was years ahead of its time.

    April 1937 saw the great man’s final goals for Motherwell, a brace in a 6-0 demolition at Fir Park against Dunfermline, whilst his final season registered as a player was 1937/38.

    After the summer of 1938, Bobby, with his boots hung up, was appointed Motherwell’s first-ever assistant manager. This meant the break-up of one of the greatest wing partnerships the game had ever seen, lasting almost 15 years.

    Bobby Ferrier was without question Motherwell FC’s greatest ever outside left. He had all the qualities that a winger requires: great skill, peerless dribbling and pinpoint crossing. With a knack of shooting with power and accuracy, he was also a prolific scorer in his own right, notching close to 350 career goals, an astonishing return for a wide man.

    Robert “Bobby” Ferrier died in April 1971, aged 71, and is buried in Dumbarton. Revered in his time by Motherwell fans, he should still be revered by fans today, because if ever we had a truly world-class footballer at our club that we should celebrate, then Bobby Ferrier is that man.


    Our Hall of Fame will welcome its new inductees in a special event in November.

    Taking place at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday 13 November, the event will induct the classes of both 2020 and 2021.

    The event is priced at £60 for adults and £30 for children aged under 12.

    We will induct both the 2020 and 2021 intake at the event.

    Buy your tickets online here now.

    Current Hall of Famers include George Stevenson, Willie Pettigrew, Phil O’Donnell, Ally Maxwell and James McFadden.

    The delayed 2020 class, who will also be inducted on the night, includes John Hunter, Andy Paton, Joe Wark, Davie Cooper and Steven Hammell.

  • Women

    Motherwell academy recruiting coaches

    Motherwell academy recruiting coaches

    The Motherwell youth academy is expanding and we are recruiting coaching staff to join.

    Training sessions will take place in the Motherwell area, two nights per week and with weekly matches taking place within the Scottish Women’s Football youth leagues.

    Working closely with the highly experienced Motherwell coaching staff through regular in-service training, there will be opportunities to progress within the club.

    We are looking for someone who can inspire and motivate players, has good communication skills, good knowledge of the game and has high standards.

    The candidates must be reliable, ambitious, creative and be positive role models for the players.

    If you are interested or would like further information, contact paul.brownlie@motherwellfc.co.uk.

  • Women

    Derby day delight in SWPL1

    Derby day delight in SWPL1

    Motherwell cruised to their first league win of the season after defeating rivals Hamilton 3-0 at Alliance Park in the first Lanarkshire derby.

    Leanne Crichton would open the scoring from the penalty spot before Lori Gardner added a spectacular second on the stroke of half-time.

    Academy graduate Jemma Hughes would fire home the third in the second half to secure the women of steel’s first three points of the season.

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

    Kodie Hay’s cross from the right was superbly flicked on by Claire Crosbie, but Hamilton would clear their lines after a goal-line scramble.

    Minutes later, Crichton’s in-swinging cross was met by Hughes at the back post, but the striker’s powerful header sailed narrowly above the crossbar.

    Motherwell would be awarded a penalty midway through the first half after Crichton’s powerful effort struck the hand of a Hamilton defender.

    Crichton stepped up and confidently placed her strike past Sarah Rhind to open the scoring for the hosts.

    Motherwell came close to doubling their advantage minutes later. Amy Anderson’s pass was brilliantly controlled by Hay, who turned and rifled a long-range volley towards goal, but her dipping effort was superbly parried away by the keeper.

    The women of steel would add a second in the latter stages of the first half.

    Gardner found space on the right, and skilfully passed her opponent with a clever nutmeg before firing her strike into the top corner to give her side a comfortable advantage heading into half-time.

    The Well would add a third on the hour mark. Gardner’s perfectly weighted through-ball found Hughes unmarked at the edge of the box, and the forward skilfully beat her opponent before calmly firing her strike into the top left corner.

    The result will be a confidence boost for Motherwell who move off the foot of the table, before they travel to face Spartans next week.

  • Women

    Lanarkshire derby in SWPL1

    Lanarkshire derby in SWPL1

    Motherwell face newly promoted rivals Hamilton Academical in the first Lanarkshire derby of the 2021/22 SWPL1 season.

    Kick off on Sunday 3 October will be at 4pm at Alliance Park.

    Tale of the Tape

    This will be the first meeting of Motherwell and Hamilton.

    Form Guide

    Motherwell are still looking for their first points in SPWL1 this season, off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Celtic on Wednesday night.

    Accies have won one game in the league this season against Hearts and come into the game having lost to champions Glasgow City 3-1.

    Prior to that, they were beaten by Aberdeen 1-0 in the clash of the promoted sides.

  • First team

    Manager reacts to loss at Hearts

    “We gave supporters belief we were still in it right to the end.”

  • First team

    Hearts 2-0 Motherwell

    Hearts 2-0 Motherwell

    Hearts defeated Motherwell in the capital, but the visitors left frustrated after a heavy attacking onslaught in the second half.

    Liam Boyce’s early penalty and Stephen Kingsley’s free-kick was enough to do the damage, despite Motherwell banging down the door relentlessly in the second period.

    Bevis Mugabi came in for Ricki Lamie in the only change to Motherwell’s starting team, with Graham Alexander sticking with the vast majority of the side which defeated Ross County last time out.

    In front of a buoyant home crowd, the hosts would find themselves ahead early doors.

    Boyce slipped in down the right and, with Kelly diving out, went down in the area.

    Referee David Munro took his time but pointed at the spot, with Boyce stepping up to dispatch his spot kick powerfully into the bottom-left corner.

    Motherwell didn’t wilt and matched up to a high-tempo battle in midfield, but it took time to get the ball into scoring positions.

    Before they did, Hearts were two up.

    Winning a free-kick on the edge of the box, Kingsley showed his prowess to curl the ball into the top-left corner of the net from 25 yards.

    Motherwell grew in confidence and, restricting the hosts to one chance from open play all half, had plenty opportunities of their own.

    Woolery’s shot from 25 yards was netbound before being deflected behind at the last moment, with Ojala rising to head narrowly over from the resulting corner.

    Then, in first half stoppage time, two huge chances came Motherwell’s way.

    Watt saw his chance from 30 yards and sent a dipping half volley towards goal which Gordon had to act fast to tip over the bar.

    Then, from the corner, the visitors again caused chaos in the box and Watt’s swivel and shot from close range was somehow smothered by Gordon.

    Hearts were on the front foot early in the second period and could have killed the game.

    Devlin went down easily in the box and referee Munro was quick again to point at the spot.

    This time, Kelly read Boyce’s intentions perfectly and turned away the penalty to keep ‘Well in it.

    It was from there the momentum swung. Motherwell dominated proceedings, with Woolery having the best chance, only to be denied by the brilliant save from Gordon.

    Van Veen, O’Hara and Ojala also went close but Gordon would stand firm and the boys in claret and amber left the capital empty-handed.

    Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Ojala, McGinley, Grimshaw, O’Hara, Slattery, Woolery, Watt, Van Veen.

  • First team

    Manager previews Hearts

    The Motherwell boss looks ahead to the cinch Premiership clash at Tynecastle.

  • First team

    Last chance to get tickets for Hearts

    Last chance to get tickets for Hearts

    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.

  • First team

    Dundee United home game brought forward

    Dundee United home game brought forward

    Our cinch Premiership home match with Dundee United later this year has been brought forward.

    The game will now be played on Tuesday 30 November at 7.45pm. It was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 1 December.

    The match will be broadcast live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports.

  • First team

    Graham Alexander named as Manager of the Month

    Graham Alexander named as Manager of the Month

    Graham Alexander is the Glen’s Vodka Premiership Manager of the Month for September.

    The Motherwell boss guided his team to an unbeaten month, defeating Aberdeen and Ross County at home, and putting in a solid performance in a 1-1 draw at Rangers.

    That run of form was matched only by the Ibrox side, with the panel electing to reward Alexander with the prize for the second time since taking over the role at Fir Park in January.

    “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of every person that has contributed to our results over the past month,” Alexander said.

    “They have all helped the team to win the points that they have.”

    Colin Matthews, CEO of Glen’s owner the Loch Lomond Group, added: “Motherwell are enjoying a brilliant start to their season.

    “After leading his side through September undefeated, which included a tough away game against the defending champions, Graham Alexander fully deserves his Glen’s Manager of the Month award.

    “Congratulations to him, his players and his staff.”