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  • Women

    Hearts next in SWPL1

  • First team

    Next up: Celtic

  • Club

    Motherwell Football Community Trust’s autism sessions

  • Club

    Financial results for year ending May 2021

  • Women

    Scotland Under 19s call for Duff and Pollard

  • First team

    Tickets on sale for Dundee United away

  • Archive

    Graham Alexander on the draw at St Mirren

  • First team

    St Mirren 1-1 Motherwell

  • First team

    Chris Lucketti previews St Mirren trip

  • Women

    Victory over Spartans in SWPL1

  • Women

    Hearts next in SWPL1

    Hearts next in SWPL1

    Motherwell face Hearts in SWPL1 next on Sunday 6 February at The Oriam Sports Centre in Edinburgh.

    Kick off is 3pm. 

    Come and Watch

    Tickets for the match are priced at ​​£5 for adults and £2 for U16s/Over65s. Tickets can be bought here.

    There will be no option to pay at the gate on the day of the game. 

    Tale of the Tape

    Last time out, Motherwell came away with a comfortable 2-0 win against Hearts at Alliance Park.

    A Leanne Crichton penalty opened the scoring, before Kaela McDonald-Nguah doubled ‘Well’s advantage. 

    Motherwell have won each of the last four encounters against the Jambos, conceding only one goal in the process. 

    The last time Hearts took any points in this fixture, was in 2018 when the sides met in SWPL2. The score was 1-1. 

    Form Guide  

    Hearts currently occupy eighth in the table with ten points. Since the return from the winter break, they have one win in five in all competitions, that win coming against Gleniffer Thistle in the Scottish Cup. 

    Last week, they were beaten 2-0 by Glasgow City, after drawing 1-1 with Spartans the week prior. 

    Motherwell come into this game after claiming seven points from a possible 14.

    They dispatched Spartans 3-0 in their previous game to go four points clear of Aberdeen in fifth place in the table. 

    London Pollard netted her first Motherwell goals as she grabbed a double, whilst Jo Addie added a third in the second half. 

  • First team

    Next up: Celtic

    Next up: Celtic

    Celtic come to ML1 next in the cinch Premiership.

    Kick-off on Sunday is at 1.30pm.

    Get your ticket

    Home fans can get their tickets online now or by visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.

    Away supporters should contact Celtic directly for tickets.

    Covid-19 information

    Due to a change in legislation by the Scottish FA, Covid-19 certification checks will not be in place.

    Only venues with over 10,000 in attendance are required to carry out checks.

    Join us before the match

    The Cooper Bar is open from 11am for food and drink.

    Watch live online

    In the UK and Ireland, the game is being broadcast live on Sky Sports. PPV is not available.

    If you’re based abroad, you can watch via subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Form guide

    Celtic raced to a crushing 3-0 home win over Rangers in the derby on Wednesday night.

    Reo Hatate’s double, followed by Liel Abada’s strike, had the Glasgow side ahead at the break, and they maintained their lead to go top of the cinch Premiership table.

    In their last five league matches, Celtic have won all five, scoring 11 and conceding two.

    Motherwell left it late but grabbed an injury-time equaliser at St Mirren on Tuesday night, with Ross Tierney netting to secure a 1-1 draw.

    In their last five league matches, ‘Well have won one, drawn two and lost two.

    Tale of the tape

    Celtic are on a run of 10 consecutive wins against the Steelmen.

    Motherwell’s last positive result in the fixture came in December 2018, when Danny Johnson’s late equaliser ensured a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Fir Park.

  • Club

    Motherwell Football Community Trust’s autism sessions

    Motherwell Football Community Trust’s autism sessions

    Motherwell FC Community Trust’s autism friendly football sessions are back once again after taking a break over the holidays. Everyone deserves to be included in sports and should feel welcome.

    The Community Trust runs the autism friendly sessions in. partnership with Reach Lanarkshire, an autism charity which helps support the parents and carers of autistic children around both South and North Lanarkshire.

    The class was originally set up in April 2021. There is no age limit for the group, but the majority of the participants are between primary and secondary school age. The children learn basic football skills such as passing, shooting, and dribbling.

    There is no pressure on the kids to attend every session, either. Typical football sessions can be triggering for autistic people due to what can be large pieces of confusing information being relayed to them at once.

    They can be extremely noisy, the feeling of wearing kit can cause irritation on their skin and make them feel uncomfortable, to name just a few issues.

    William Francis, one of the head coaches of the team, said, “Colour coded cones are used to help the youngsters improve their skills. We ensure sessions are fun and engaging and follow 9 similar structure every week so that our participants can have a routine. We keep instructions simple and use a variety of visual demonstrations.

    “We also try to avoid overloading them with too much information that would potentially confuse them.”

    Since autism can impact a person’s social skills, a lot of young autistic people find it hard to make friends and they feel lonely as a result. The National Library of Medicine in 2000 found that children with autism reported higher degrees of loneliness than those in the same age group as them, as well as a lower association between social interaction and loneliness than non-autistic children.

    The Community Trust’s autism friendly sessions provide young people the chance to meet and engage with others similar to them and form good relationships that they may not have been able to do if the sessions didn’t exist.

    “It is really rewarding for me seeing the children having fun enjoying playing football, it is so important to us that they all have a positive experience,” said William.

    “The kids are lovely, they all get on well with each other and have made friendships with both us and each other.

    “I have worked with autistic children previously, before getting involved with the group I was a coach with “Active Schools’ and I would deliver sessions to schools that were for pupils with additional supports needs which is something I still enjoy doing to this day.

    “Unfortunately, there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding autism and the ways autistic people should be treated. Some still confuse an autistic meltdown or shut down as a child behaving badly, especially in public places which can provoke a negative reaction.

    “Sensory overload and meltdowns can be prevented with sensory objects such as tinted glasses, noise cancelling headphones and weighted blankets. Being calm towards a child who is suffering from a meltdown is vital as shouting can make it worse and stress the child more than they already are.

    “I think the group does have the potential to help stop the negative stigma and stereotypical connotations surrounding autism,” added William.

    “Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sport and in our case football. Parents of the children taking part are allowed to stay with their kids and a support worker from REACH Lanarkshire will be present in case any child shows signs of distress.

    “Having a parent there as well as a support worker means if a child starts to feel overwhelmed the necessary help and care can be given so the child feels as safe as possible.”

  • Club

    Financial results for year ending May 2021

    Financial results for year ending May 2021

    Motherwell Football Club posted a record profit of £3,575,615 in the year ending 31 May 2021.

    This figure is a significant lift on the £435,970 profit recorded in 2020, with a total increase of £3,139,645.

    Included in the figure is a £1,518,471 accounting profit attributed to a Scottish Government interest-free loan, which is further detailed in the financial review below.

    The financial year in review by our chairman, Jim McMahon

    The financial results for the 2020/21 season are difficult to compare and contrast to earlier years.

    But despite the financial challenges created by Covid-19, I can report that the profit for the financial year is a club record £3,575,615.

    The pandemic caused a major reduction in our operating income. For example, revenue in the prior year included £1.35m of gate receipts. With matches being played behind closed doors, no such income was generated in 2020/21.

    The restrictions also reduced our commercial income by almost £350,000. There were various other smaller reductions in funding from the football bodies, who had front-loaded awards at the start of the pandemic.

    The club had put measures in place to reduce the impact of the pandemic on its finances. These were very successful and resulted in £4.1m of Other Operating Income being recorded in the financial year. This includes monies from the HMRC Job Retention (furlough) scheme, a business interruption insurance claim and an SPFL Trust Covid-19 grant.

    We also borrowed £2,959,000 from the Scottish Government to further strengthen our position should the pandemic, and the associated restriction to our normal trading conditions, continue for an extended period. The borrowings are to be repaid between September 2022 and August 2042 and are unsecured and interest-free.

    Accounting standards require such debt transactions to reflect normal commercial arrangements, i.e., the interest rate an arms-length lender could be expected to charge on an unsecured 20-year loan. Therefore, the financial results recognise the “benefit” of having such a loan interest-free. The total of that computed over the loan’s full term is shown as a credit to Other Operating Income in year one of the borrowing. This has been calculated at £1.518m. This amount will subsequently be charged as a finance cost in the club’s future financial results spread over the total period of the borrowing.

    The biggest factor in the profit for the financial year is generated in player registration gains, made up almost entirely of our initial fee from Celtic for David Turnbull. That transfer deal, a total that will most probably end as being at least double our previous record sale, also contains several add-ons, one of which has already been achieved during the 2021/22 season. It also includes the opportunity to retain future economic rights, should the player’s career continue to blossom.

    Over the last five financial years, the player registration gains generated by the club have been £6.2m. Whilst player registration gains are not incorporated within the club’s operating revenue, they form an integral part of the financial results and strategy, and influence budget decisions such as setting the staff budget. The two-pronged approach of generating income through player recruitment and development, together with academy promotion, will continue to form the spine of our model for the future.

    At the end of the financial year at 31 May 2021, and despite all the challenges created by the pandemic, the balance sheet shows we are in a strong financial position with significant net assets and over £4m of bank funds.

    This backdrop enabled us to reward and acknowledge the loyalty and support of our fans throughout the pandemic. We were able to renew season tickets to existing season ticket holders free of charge. We froze gate prices for non-season ticket holders at pre-pandemic levels, including juvenile entry at £3. And in conjunction with our fans, we provided free gate entry to those otherwise unable to afford to attend games due to unemployment and/or low income. As a result, our season ticket numbers sit at nearly 5,600, our highest ever total, and an improvement of 50% on the Covid-19 impacted 2020/21 total.

    The club’s financial position is healthy in the short to medium term. But we are acutely aware of the potential threats we face. We hope that this is the final spin of the Covid-19 roulette wheel, but it would be imprudent to plan solely on that basis.

    We continue to examine new ways of generating additional revenue streams and look at ways to streamline costs and make the club more efficient. This needs to be done whilst remaining competitive in what is probably the most challenging top league in Scotland for the last two decades. It is not an easy balance to get right, but it is essential that we do.

    The club only works properly and with a chance of success when all the component parts – fans, owners, playing and coaching staff, the management team and the Board – work in unison. They have, and I give my thanks to everyone for making that happen during 2020/21.

    Jim McMahon
    Chairman


    The 116th annual general meeting of the club will be held on Monday 21 February 2022.

    We anticipate the meeting will be held in person, but if for any reason Covid-19 restrictions are tightened between now and the 21st, we will revert to an online Zoom meeting.

    Any shareholder who would wish to receive either a printed or emailed copy of the audited accounts should email accounts@motherwellfc.co.uk before the close of business on 15 February 2022.

  • Women

    Scotland Under 19s call for Duff and Pollard

    Scotland Under 19s call for Duff and Pollard

    Motherwell pair Ciara Duff and London Pollard have been called up to represent Scotland in a double header against Wales this month. 

    Goalkeeper Ciara Duff, who was in the Under 19s squad last month, will once again be looking to impress manager Pauline Hamill and cement a place in her team. 

    After netting her first goals for Motherwell last weekend against Spartans, Pollard is also once again selected as she continues her development. 

    Scotland face off against Wales on Tuesday 15 February and Friday 18 February.

  • First team

    Tickets on sale for Dundee United away

    Tickets on sale for Dundee United away

    We go to face Dundee United in the cinch Premiership on Wednesday 9 February.

    Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

    To buy tickets, you can get yours online now from Dundee United, or from the ticket office at Tannadice until kick-off.

    Prices are:

    • Adults: £26
    • Concessions : £14
    Covid restrictions

    Due to a change in legislation by the Scottish FA, Covid-19 certification checks will not be in place.

    Only venues with over 10,000 in attendance are required to carry out checks.

    We advise that all fans take a lateral flow test before travelling to the match, regardless of their vaccination status.

  • Archive

    Graham Alexander on the draw at St Mirren

    “We’ve got a team here that won’t ever give up and will keep going for the fans.”

  • First team

    St Mirren 1-1 Motherwell

    St Mirren 1-1 Motherwell

    Ross Tierney’s stoppage-time equaliser earned Motherwell a deserved share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at St Mirren.

    Alex Gogic’s debut headers 10 minutes from time looked to have won it for the hosts, before Tierney got the goal that ‘Well’s play at least deserved.

    Manager Graham Alexander made changes from the side which lost 2-0 at Hearts on Saturday.

    Bevis Mugabi returned to the heart of defence as ‘Well changed shape to a 3-4-2-1, with Sean Goss starting and Liam Donnelly back in the starting team after suspension.

    At their expense, Ross Tierney and Jordan Roberts dropped to the bench, with Barry Maguire missing out injured.

    New recruit Joe Efford made the bench for the first time, as one of five attacking players amongst the substitutes.

    A tepid affair saw almost half an hour before either goalkeeper was troubled, but it would be the hosts’ number one who would be called into action.

    Alnwick had to be alive first to hold onto a fierce drive from the left by Goss, with Van Veen and Mugabi waiting to pounce on any slip.

    Soon after, the midfielder would continue to enjoy his attacking role by sending in a low drive from 20 yards, which the goalkeeper did well to beat away.

    A moment of controversy came shortly on its heels. Tait went up with a high foot in the tackle with Donnelly, for which referee Euan Anderson saw no need to punish.

    If the first half was light on quality, the start of the second period saw ‘Well ramp things up.

    Substitute Tierney had the best opportunity, being denied from just inside the box by the despairing lunge of Shaughnessy, just when it looked like his first goal in claret and amber was certain.

    Van Veen would get the next one with 20 minutes to go, burning Dunne for pace down the right before seeing a fierce shot at goal on the angle parried again by Alnwick.

    ‘Well were on top but had to call Kelly into action twice to make important stops.

    First, his claw off the line from Tait’s back post header was remarkable, shortly followed by a brilliant tip over the bar from Flynn’s drive from distance.

    From that corner, however, the visitors would become unstuck.

    A ball from the right was met by Gogic on his debut, with the midfielder glancing his header in off the left-hand post.

    ‘Well could have crumbled but instead rallied. And the goal came one minute into stoppage time.

    Woolery forced his way in on the right, dispossessing Tait and firing across goal to meet the near post run of Tierney, who steered the ball into the t0p-right corner of the net.

    Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Solholm, Carroll, McGinley (Roberts), Donnelly, Goss, Slattery (Woolery), Shaw (Tierney), Van Veen.

    Subs: Fox, Ojala, Nirennold, Grimshaw, Amaluzor, Efford.

  • First team

    Chris Lucketti previews St Mirren trip

    The Motherwell assistant talks deadline day and the push to get more points on the board in the cinch Premiership, ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Paisley.

  • Women

    Victory over Spartans in SWPL1

    Victory over Spartans in SWPL1

    Motherwell cruised to their fifth league victory after defeating Spartans 3-0 in a phenomenal performance at Alliance Park on Sunday.

    London Pollard netted her first Motherwell goal to put the women of steel in the ascendency, before adding her second of the match on the stroke of half time.

    Jo Addie fired an exceptional third midway through the second half to secure all three points.

    Looking to build on their performance in the midweek defeat to Hibernian, ’Well applied the early pressure and deservedly broke the deadlock after five minutes.

    Pollard skilfully latched onto Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s through ball, before coolly dispatching her strike into the bottom-left corner to give her side the early advantage.

    After dominating much of the early possession, Motherwell continued to threaten and came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage midway through the first half.

    Katie Rice’s pinpoint delivery accurately picked out McDonald-Nguah deep into the Spartans penalty area, but the forward was unable to capitalise at the back post.

    With the half time whistle looming, Motherwell were reduced to 10 as McDonald-Nguah was given her marching orders, much to the bewilderment of the Motherwell technical area.

    However, despite the disadvantage, Motherwell pressed forward and deservedly netted a second on the stroke of half time.

    Pollard’s perfectly-timed run exploited Spartans’ high defensive line, allowing the striker to race through on goal. She skilfully rounded the keeper before calmly placing her strike into the empty net.

    With the second half underway, the women of steel continued to advance in search of a vital third goal.

    Their efforts were rewarded as Leanne Crichton’s exceptional cross accurately picked out Addie at the back post, who composed herself before rifling a spectacular half-volley into the top left corner.

    With the final few minutes ticking away, the visitors searched for a late consolation. Sarah Clelland’s long-range attempt swerved unpredictably in the stormy conditions, but Khym Ramsay reacted quickly to produce a smart stop.

    Nevertheless, the hosts stood resolute to record their fifth victory in the SWPL1 this season.

    Paul Brownlie will be encouraged by his side’s performance as they look to extend their advantage over Aberdeen in the league table with a win away to Hearts next week.