Latest News

Lauded as one of the best football pitches in the country, our Fir Park surface takes an incredible amount of skill and effort to keep in top condition.

The winter months add a particularly difficult challenge to keep on top of things, and ensure the team have the best possible surface to play on.

Our head groundsman Paul Matthew talks us through the state of the pitch at present, and the work that goes in during the league’s winter break.

Barry Maguire has signed a new deal.

The midfielder has extended his stay at the club until the summer of 2024.

“I’m delighted Barry has committed himself to us at an important stage of his career,” manager Graham Alexander said.

“He’s consistently shown he has all the attributes of a player we want, from how he trains and prepares, to his will to win and quality.

“He’s great to work with and we believe he will continue to progress into a top midfield player.”

Maguire has been an impressive and regular performer in midfield this campaign, making 15 appearances and netting one goal.

The 23-year-old has played 57 times in total, scoring twice, since making his professional debut in April 2018.

Motherwell get their 2022 Scottish Women’s Cup campaign underway on Sunday 9 January when they face Partick Thistle in round three. 

Kick off is 12.30pm at Petershill Park in Glasgow. 

HOW TO WATCH

Tickets will be sold at the gate of the stadium. There is not an option to buy online before the match. 

Tickets are priced at £7 for adults and kids go free. 

Alternatively, there will be a live stream of the match on Partick Thistle Women’s YouTube channel. The stream will launch shortly before kick off.  

TALE OF THE TAPE

Motherwell last faced off against the Jags in September in SWPL1.

In a back and forth game, Thistle came away with all three points in a 3-2 win. Lori Gardner and Kaela McDonald-Nguah grabbed the goals for the women of steel. 

The sides have history in the Scottish Cup. In 2019 Motherwell came out on top in a 2-0 win after extra-time and progressed to the next round. 

FORM GUIDE

Both sides haven’t played since 12 December 2021.

Thistle’s last encounter came against champions Glasgow City, where they were beaten 2-0.

In SWPL1, the Jags last picked up points at the start of November with a 0-0 draw against Spartans. 

Motherwell come into this cup tie after a 7-0 defeat to SWPL Cup winners Celtic before the winter break.

The women of steel have two wins in five stretching back to the end of October. 

Goalkeeper Katie Andrews has joined Glasgow Women on loan until the end of the season.

The 16-year-old, who joined Motherwell in the summer, joins up with the SWPL2 side to get vital game time and experience.

“This is an opportunity for Katie to play at a very good level and help fulfil her potential,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“She has trained well since joining us in the summer and we are looking forward to seeing her progress.”

Paige McAllister has signed a permanent deal with Motherwell.

Signed initially on loan from Celtic in the summer, the centre back now moves on a permanent basis from the Hoops. 

Making six appearances thus far in the claret and amber, the number 66 joins after spending five years with Celtic. 

“We were really excited to get Paige in the door,” head coach Paul Brownlie said. 

“She is an exciting prospect who has looked assured and strong when she has played this season for us.

“The loan period has allowed her to get settled and now she can kick on from here.”

McAllister is looking to establish herself in the Motherwell team this season.

“I believe this is the best place for my long-term development,” she added. 

“It’s a great project here and we want to play football the right way.

“We are a really ambitious group on and off the pitch, it’s an exciting time to be at Motherwell. 

“If we keep building, improving and working hard I think we can take this club on a special journey.”

Kevin van Veen is your Paycare player of the month for December.

Narrowly edging out Bevis Mugabi in the public vote, the Dutch striker picks up the trophy for the first time since his arrival in the summer.

Van Veen scored three goals in four appearances in the final month of 2021, netting first in a 2-0 home win over St Johnstone.

He then grabbed both goals in a 2-1 victory against Livingston to cap off the month, and extend ‘Well’s home run of consecutive wins to four.

Mich’el Parker has left Motherwell.

The defensive midfielder signed a short-term deal in the summer, and was on the bench for three Premier Sports Cup group stage matches earlier in the campaign.

With his contract now at an end, the former Liverpool and West Ham United trainee departs with our best wishes for the future.

Motherwell have signed Scotland Under 19 goalkeeper Ciara Duff.

Duff, who was most recently at Boroughmuir Thistle, joins up with the women of steel on a deal until the end of the season.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to get Ciara to Motherwell,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“She will add real strength to the goalkeeping department.

“She’s someone I’ve worked with previously at youth national level so I’m fully aware of the qualities she will bring to the team.

“Ciara is still young but has lots of potential. It’s important we help her to maximise that potential.”

Duff will wear the number 35 shirt.

“I’m delighted to join Motherwell as this is such an exciting time for the club,” she added.

“I’m really looking forward to working under Paul and his team, and the competitive, professional environment they have created.”

“It was a fantastic performance. It keeps our run going and it’s down to how hard our players work.”

Motherwell brought down the curtain on 2021 with a fourth consecutive home win and another three points to maintain their hold on fourth place in the cinch Premiership.

A goal in each half from Kevin van Veen made it a highly impressive 17th win for Graham Alexander since he took charge at the start of the year.

It was another stunning strike early in the game which settled the home side and set them on the way to another impressive win. With his wonderful free-kick having treated the limited crowd to a goal of the season contender, the Dutch striker effectively tied up the points 20 minutes from time with a glancing header.

Bruce Anderson’s goal three minutes from time gave the ‘Well fans an uncomfortable end to the game but overall it was a thoroughly controlled and deserved win for the Fir Park side.

The football year concluded where it began with a restriction on fans. ‘Well’s 500 season ticket holders who were fortunate enough to get a seat via a ballot, were thinly scattered the length of the John Hunter stand.

The ‘Well boss made two changes to his starting line-up. Barry Maguire replaced Dean Cornelius in the middle of the park with Connor Shields replacing Tony Watt.

And the former Queen of the South striker was immediately in the thick of the goalmouth action. An inswinging free-kick from Sean Goss caused a bit of melee in the six-yard box forcing Max Stryjek to drop and smother the ball as Shields pounced looking for a loose ball.

It was pretty even start by both sides until the 13th minute ‘Well opened the scoring with a real Christmas cracker.

Alan Forrest needlessly tugged Nathan McGinley’s jersey five yards outside the box as Livi attempted to clear Liam Donnelly’s corner.

With Goss and Van Veen hovering over the free-kick it was a case of a Dutch masterclass as the Fir Park striker sublimely curled the ball over the defensive wall and high past the motionless Stryjek for a wonderful goal.

That spurred a response from the visitors as they made themselves busy around the home goal.

It was a Kelly double after 25 minutes when Sean, with a drive from 20 yards, forced the first save for his brother Liam in the ‘Well goal.

As the game passed the half-hour mark it was the Fir Park men who were increasingly being asked to defend their own penalty area.

In a rare attack eight minutes from the break, a foul on Stephen O’Donnell provided his side with another free-kick just outside the visitor’s box. This time Goss was given the responsibility but his curled effort was easily held by Stryjek.

Four minutes from the interval Liam Kelly held Forrest’s free-kick before sending Kaiyne Woolery off on a threatening run. But after attempting to work an exchange with Van Veen, Craig Sibbald’s crude lunge brought the Livi midfielder a yellow card and an end to any chance of ‘Well grabbing a second goal.

As referee Don Robertson brought the first half to a close there was little other than the Steelmen’s stunning goal to ward off the December chill.

Within two minutes of the restart, Van Veen was given another chance to demonstrate his dead ball expertise, But his free-kick from 25 yards clipped the Livi ‘wall’ and deflect behind the goal. From the corner, Donnelly’s outswinging ball found Sondre Solholm but his downward header was wide of target.

The chance of a better second half from the home side improved five minutes later when ‘Well came close to adding a second goal.

Woolery won the ball on the right of the box and his pass found Goss unmarked on the penalty spot who could only watch his firm left foot finish blocked as Sean Kelly bravely threw his body in front of the ball.

A more determined spell from Graham Alexander’s men had Livingston defending deep inside their own box, although Stryjek remained untested.

On the hour David Martindale made the first change bringing on striker Anderson and his introduction sparked a bit of life into the Livi attack.

But it was Motherwell who again came close to scoring after 65 mins. Van Veen threaded the ball into the path of the overlapping Goss and his low angled drive produced a good blocking save from Stryjek.

Four minutes later ‘Well made it 2-0. Shields whipped a tempting cross towards the six-yard box and van Veen rose behind his marker and with a nonchalant header send the ball narrowly inside the ‘keeper’s right hand post and put the home side on the driving seat.

It should have been 3-0 after 75 minutes when van Veen and Shields combined to set up Woolery, However, 10 yards from goal his poor first touch allowed Stryjek to easily gather the ball when the Livingston ‘keeper should have been collecting the ball from the back of his net.

That miss might have mattered as the Fir Park men, with Juhani Ojala returning from injury to replace Solholm for the final 10 minutes, were given a fright three minutes from time when Anderson swept home Penrice’s cross.

There was still time for van Veen to be denied his hat-trick after his run from the halfway line ended with his low shot being blocked by Stryjek’s leg.