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  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Motherwell duo in Scotland’s Under 17s

  • Women

    Hibernian next in SWPL1

  • First team

    Next up: Hibernian

  • Club

    SRB: Make the most of this year’s tax allowances

  • Women

    Shaping Motherwell Women for the future

  • Women

    Positives to take in Glasgow City defeat in SWPL1

  • First team

    Manager reacts to draw with Dundee

  • First team

    Motherwell 1-1 Dundee

  • Archive

    Mark O’Hara is back doing what he loves

  • First team

    Graham Alexander previews Dundee visit

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Motherwell duo in Scotland’s Under 17s

    Motherwell duo in Scotland’s Under 17s

    Motherwell pair Lennon Miller and Bailey Rice have been called up to the Scotland’s Under 17s squad. 

    Scotland are in group three along with Czech Republic, Germany and Georgia in the UEFA Under 17s Championship qualifiers.

    The Scots face Czech Republic on 23 March, before taking on Germany on 26 March.

    Scotland will round off their camp when they face Georgia on 29 March. All games will take place at the Falkirk Stadium.

  • Women

    Hibernian next in SWPL1

    Hibernian next in SWPL1

    Motherwell will look to bounce back from defeat against the champions Glasgow City when they take on Hibernian on Sunday at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

    Kick off is 4pm.

    Tale of the Tape

    Hibernian have the upper hand in this fixture this season.

    They have won both games, 1-0 and 4-0 respectively this campaign.

    Form Guide

    Hibernian come into the fixture off the back of two defeats. The most recent coming against Edinburgh rivals Spartans, when they fell to a 2-0 defeat on Sunday.

    The Hibees last league win came against Motherwell in January, when they won 1-0.

    Motherwell were beaten 6-0 by champions Glasgow City on Sunday.

    The women of steel have lost their last three games, with their last win coming against Spartans in January.

     

  • First team

    Next up: Hibernian

    Next up: Hibernian

    It’s Scottish Cup weekend at Fir Park, as Hibernian visit in the quarter-final on Sunday 13 March.

    Kick-off is at 12.30pm.

    Ticket information

    Tickets are now available to buy online or from the Fir Park ticket office.

    If you are a season ticket holder, your normal seat is being held for you until 5pm on Wednesday 9 March. To buy, visit our online ticketing service, log in and go to My Tickets.

    Our prices, agreed between both clubs, are:

    • Adults: £15
    • Over 60s / 16 and 17 year olds / Full-time students: £10
    • 15 and under: £5

    The ticket office will open at 10am on Sunday for sales and the Cooper Bar will open at 11am on Sunday to home and away fans selling food and drink.

    Hibernian fans are asked to buy tickets directly from their club.

    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.

    Watch live online

    In the UK, the game is being broadcast live on BBC One Scotland.

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

    Form guide

    Motherwell are in a challenging spell of league form going into the fixture. A draw with Dundee last weekend leaves the Steelmen with no league wins to their name in 2022. They have fared better in the cup though, securing wins over Greenock Morton and Aberdeen.

    The visitors have only won one of their last ten league games, although they are unbeaten in their last five, with four clean sheets in that spell. Hibernian progressed to the quarter-final with wins against Cove Rangers and Arbroath.

    Tale of the tape

    Hibernian have the upper hand between the two so far, having won the opening game of the season at Fir Park and drawn the two encounters since.

    The visitors have a good record at Fir Park but Motherwell will be looking for some revenge after the Easter Road side put them out the Scottish Cup at this stage last season.

    On that occasion the Steelmen clawed their way back from two goals down before eventually losing on penalties.

  • Club

    SRB: Make the most of this year’s tax allowances

    SRB: Make the most of this year’s tax allowances

    Whatever your financial goals, don’t miss this year’s use-by date for your tax allowances.

    · It’s important to understand your financial targets and how to achieve them. Making the best use of your tax allowances, exemptions and reliefs before their use-by date (the end of this tax year on 5 April) could help get you there sooner.

    · Tax-efficient pensions and Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are important options when it comes to creating a more secure financial future.

    · If you’re thinking about how to pass your wealth to loved ones, look at ways to reduce the Inheritance Tax on your estate, such as gifting money to children or grandchildren.

    With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic making the future feel uncertain, you may feel torn between wanting to save for your long-term financial goals and shorter-term measures. You may be rebuilding your income and savings buffer after a challenging period, planning for a long-awaited holiday or wondering what to do with the extra money you’ve saved during lockdown.

    But where do you start?

    Depending on your situation, it will differ. But the best thing to look for is a balance between short-, mid- and long-term goals. An expert in financial planning can help you navigate the options and create a plan that meets your goals.

    Acting now, and making the most of your tax allowances could go a long way toward helping you reach your goals sooner.

    · If you’re starting to build a financial foundation…

    …you can consider taking on more risk with your investments. The longer your money is invested, the greater the potential rewards.

    · If you’re securing the financial future for you and your family…

    …don’t panic if you haven’t done much about this yet – you’re not alone. People often put off investing for the future as they manage today’s cash-flow needs, particularly during these difficult times. But it’s never too late to begin.

    · If you’re thinking about a comfortable retirement…

    …you should make the best, and most appropriate, use of all available tax-efficient savings options, particularly your pension and ISAs.

    When it comes to pensions, there is a lot to consider, and financial advice is critical to ensure you maximise the opportunities.

    · If you’re considering how to pass on your wealth…

    …look at the tax-efficient options available to support other people in your family, now and in the future.

    Whatever your goals, the time is ripe to ensure you’re making the most of this year’s tax-saving allowances and reliefs. Contact us before 5 April for expert guidance and let us help you plan your financial future. https://srbwm.co.uk/contact

    The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

    The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is generally dependent on individual circumstances.

  • Women

    Shaping Motherwell Women for the future

    Shaping Motherwell Women for the future

    While women’s football continues to grow and advance, combined with the announcement of the SPFL taking over the SWPL last month, big things are coming towards Motherwell FC’s new girls academy.

    The move to the SPFL aims to help clubs become more professional, give them better decision-making powers and greater revenue streams. The Scottish FA has also promised to give the SWPL clubs access to their commercial and broadcast resources to further promote and improve women’s football which the new academy will benefit from.

    It’s no secret that the game in Scotland has been under-appreciated at times, but the academy has every ability to become a blazing force in the expansion of the female game.

    Led by first team manager Paul Brownlie, the academy will provide young girls the opportunity to rise through the ranks from youth player to first-team player, and will help mould and build their talent.

    Brownlie has been coaching both youth and adult teams for the last 17 years, and after joining Motherwell as head coach, he has transformed the side with innovative singings and has earned more points in half of the season than the club garnered across 2020/21.

    The Women of Steel currently sit in sixth but have been in and out the top five all season as the rebuild continues to grow and improve.

    “When I started in June there had been talks of the SPFL making a pitch to become the new governing body, I was excited,” he said.

    “The new resources and opportunities that it brings will make a huge difference to both our first team and for the academy. We want to become a full-time club and show the girls coming through the ranks that they will have every opportunity to become a professional football player.

    “The tools that will now become available to us as a result is fantastic.”

    Motherwell’s academy is well known for creating exceptional players such as David Turnbull, Chris Cadden, James McFadden, Stephen Pearson, Stevie Hammell and also Allan Campbell. It will be hoping to produce female players of a similar if not even better calibre.

    Currently the women’s first team has talented youth players that originated from Motherwell youth squads. One of those being 17-year-old Jemma Hughes, who graduated from Motherwell’s original youth system, and who scored the final goal to seal Motherwell’s first ever Lanarkshire derby win in September while receiving a Scotland call up in January.

    She isn’t the only youth club talent in the squad as vice-captain Amy Anderson, who is a die-hard Well fan, started playing for Motherwell as a child and has worn the captain’s band when Gill Inglis has been unavailable to play.

    Previously there wasn’t a concrete system for girls to advance into senior playing roles at Motherwell, but the new academy aims to rectify that.

    With squads for under 11s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s, the academy will revolutionise Motherwell, and will hopefully bring the same levels of success as the boy’s academy.

    “With my experience working alongside Steven Hammell, seeing what he has done with the boys and being involved at different clubs all around Europe, we really want to innovate and change the game,” said Brownlie.

    “For us, it’s all about who can be the next Amy Anderson in terms of attitude and success.

    “We will be asking a lot from our players, and we tell them that if you don’t perform in the classroom, you won’t perform on the pitch and instilling that into the girls from a young age is vital.

    “They may need to make sacrifices and put hours in training before and after school, but it will educate them and provide them with not just good footballing skills but also good life skills as well with time keeping and personal responsibility.

    “Their overall education is still hugely important and that is why we take this strict stance, we can’t have them excelling on the pitch but falling behind in their studies.

    “We have plans to hopefully bring new sports scientists into the fold. We want to educate the girls on things like proper nutrition, and most importantly educate them on how to work as a team and how to grow as a footballer.

    “We want to grow their minds and their talent to make them the best they can be.”

    As a child, it is majorly important to have as many opportunities as possible to take part in hobbies you enjoy. With scheduled training sessions and regular matches, the girls will be able to develop their hobby into a potential career.

    The Scottish FA performance schools have seen an influx of female football players applying and being accepted into the likes of Braidhurst High School in Motherwell. The academy aims to recruit girls from the local area by screening the potential of female footballers, while also being creative with their signings and trialists.

    Academy football is a step up from local boys and girls club levels, and academies with links to the SWPL are hugely important in the success of future generations of players, whether it be from watching the first team train or play competitively, or from competing against other SWPL academy teams such as Glasgow City, Rangers, Celtic, Hearts or Hibernian.

    “The academy is a long-term investment for the club,” added Brownlie. “What we’ve done at the first team level is crucial as now we have role models for the girls coming through that they can look up to. The goal is to try and bring the academy as close as possible with the first team.

    “The girls have aspirations of playing at a top level, and all the girls involved have got the ability and that’s why they are here. Standards are extremely important to me and how they act on and off the pitch as they represent this football club now.

    “The rewards of being connected to the club are higher than they have ever been, and we hope that being involved with the club will keep them on the right path, give them stability and a routine they actively want to follow.

    “Not every player may be able to graduate into the first team and that’s OK, because the training and tools we have given our players means that they could go on to play for clubs that aren’t Motherwell and still be successful. That is what matters most to me.

  • Women

    Positives to take in Glasgow City defeat in SWPL1

    Positives to take in Glasgow City defeat in SWPL1

    Despite a spirited and resolute Motherwell performance, Glasgow City came away with maximum points at Petershill Park on Sunday with a 6-0 victory.

    Lauren Davidson fired the hosts in front after nine minutes before Megan Foley doubled the hosts advantage minutes later.

    Davidson prodded home her second of the afternoon midway through the first half, before a Priscila Chinchilla double followed to give the hosts a comfortable advantage at half-time. Mairead Fulton netted a late sixth to complete a disappointing afternoon for Paul Brownlie’s side.

    Looking to continue their quest for silverware this season, City started on the front foot and deservedly netted the opener after some early exchanges.

    Chinchilla’s incisive through ball accurately picked out Tyler Dodds on the right, who rifled a low cross into the box which Davidson coolly slotted into the bottom left corner, beyond the reach of Duff.

    Minutes later, the hosts netted their second of the afternoon. Kerry Beattie’s floated short corner fell kindly to Foley at the edge of the box and her enticing low cross evaded everyone before nestling into the far corner.

    Glasgow continued to threaten the Motherwell goal and soon added a third in quick succession. Dodds’ perfectly weighted cross found Haley Lauder lurking at the back post and the captains intelligent pass was drilled into the bottom right corner by Davidson for her second of the afternoon.

    The hosts continued to flood the Motherwell penalty area and added their fourth in the latter stages of the first half. Beattie’s short corner found Chinchilla unmarked at the edge of the box, who composed herself before curling a spectacular effort into the top right corner.

    With the half time whistle looming, Glasgow added their fifth of the afternoon. Chinchilla skilfully latched on Fulton’s through ball before nutmegging Kate Rice and bending an exceptional effort into the top left corner.

    With the women of steel chasing the game in the second half, Paul Brownlie’s side pushed forward in search of a consolation.

    Finding space on the left, Kaela McDonald-Nguah burst forward before firing towards goal, but her low-driven strike was brilliantly parried away by Alexander to the feet of Rice who couldn’t convert at the back post.

    Minutes later, Lori Gardner showed magnificent skill to escape her marker with a clever nutmeg before curling an excellent effort towards goal, but Alexander again reacted superbly to make a comfortable save.

    Unable the capitalise on their string of chances in the second half, Motherwell were left to rue their squandered opportunities as Glasgow City sealed all three points with a sixth goal.

    Fulton’s dipping strike from distance sailed past Duff to complete a disappointing afternoon for Paul Brownlie’s side. The women of Steel will look to rectify this result when they travel to face Hibernian in the capital next week

  • First team

    Manager reacts to draw with Dundee

    “The game was there for us to win. But we didn’t force the issue enough.”

  • First team

    Motherwell 1-1 Dundee

    Motherwell 1-1 Dundee

    It was another difficult afternoon for Motherwell as the Steelmen struggled to overcome bottom club Dundee and had to settle for a point in their bid to climb back into the top six in the cinch Premiership.

    Mark McGhee’s relegation-threatened side might have been weakened by injury and illness but they made life difficult for a Well side now 10 league games without a win.

    For the ninth game since the winter break, ‘Well found themselves a goal behind, this time as early as six minutes when Paul McMullan gave Dundee a shock lead.

    Joe Efford’s first goal for ‘Well levelled the scores after 18 minutes. But despite a late push for a winner it never arrived as Motherwell’s miserable run continued.

    After the disappointment of the midweek defeat, Graham Alexander made two changes. Jake Carroll and Connor Shields made way for Juhani Ojala to come back into the centre of the defence, with Ricki Lamie moving across to the left back berth. Joe Efford got the nod to form a front three with Kevin van Veen and Kaiyne Woolery, tasked with finding goals to end their winless run league games.

    It wasn’t looking like a case of happy returns for McGhee on his first visit to Fir Park since vacating the manager’s seat. Injuries and Covid restrictions forced the new Dens boss into making five changes including a debut for 20-year-old ‘keeper Harry Sharp.

    Clearly Motherwell set out to test the young goalkeeper but it was the Fir Park men who once again found themselves a goal behind.

    A high ball from the right floated over the ‘Well goal face and there seemed no danger when Stephen O’Donnell had the time to clear the ball. A slip by the Scotland full back gifted the ball to McMullan who wasted no time in whipping the ball beyond Liam Kelly and put Dundee ahead after less than six minutes.

    Recognising nervousness in the home defence, Dundee almost punished further slack play three minutes later when Max Anderson drove narrowly wide of Kelly’s right hand post.

    Motherwell’s play lacked cohesion and failed to exert any pressure on the visitor’s defence until they snatched an 18th-minute equaliser. It owed a lot to Van Veen’s determination who kept possession from the middle of the penalty box to the byline, before pulling the ball back to Efford. From the corner of the six-yard box the American’s first effort was blocked but he reacted quickly to smash the loose ball past Sharp to make it 1-1.

    That injected some much need life into the home side and within a couple of minutes, Woolery had headed wide before Efford tried to claim a second goal but his drive sailed over the crossbar.

    Once the Dens defence regained its composure, though, ‘Well were restricted to very few openings.

    Seven minutes from half-time O’Donnell’s weighted ball towards goal found Woolery racing into the six-yard box but his swipe at the ball failed to direct it towards goal.

    Woolery was involved again when he was barged to the ground by Ryan Sweeney at the corner of the box. Despite decent claims for a penalty, referee Andrew Dallas waved play on denying ‘Well the chance to take a lead into thehalf-time break. That left the game finely balanced but Motherwell started the second half looking more determined to take all three points.

    Despite forcing a couple of early corners, young Sharp remained untested in the Dundee goal as the game approached the hour mark.

    Indeed, it was Kelly’s goal that came under threat when McMullan found space to cross into the six-yard box and Declan McDaid hooked the ball over the bar. A minute later McDaid’s shot took a deflection off Shaun Byrne forcing Kelly to pounce on the ball low to his left.

    With 15 minutes remaining and ‘Well fans airing their frustrations, Alexander made a double substitution with the introduction of Callum Slattery and Ross Tierney.

    Tierney was immediately involved in a three-man move on the right which ended with the ball at Van Veen but from a very tight angle, his powerful drive was palmed behind by Sharp.

    Seven minutes from time Van Veen reciprocated when his neat flick set up Tierney but his shot on the run was blocked making it an easy save for Sharp.

    As ‘Well desperately pressed for a winner in the closing minutes the young Dundee ‘keeper was finally the centre of the action.

    Sharp did well to hold Slattery’s 20-yard drive but did better diving full length to push away Woolery’s low drive which looked destined for the corner of the net and a late winner.

    However, it wasn’t to be as Motherwell had to settle for a solitary point from back to back home games.

  • Archive

    Mark O’Hara is back doing what he loves

    Mark O’Hara is back doing what he loves

    For someone who’s struggled to find any crumb of luck in the past 12 months, Mark O’Hara is a man full of enthusiasm and positivity.

    It hasn’t been without its hardship right enough since Graham Alexander arrived as boss last January. First of all it was a concussion that left him in the treatment room.

    After a lengthy recovery from that, the midfielder thought pre-season would be a chance to reset and kick on for this term now fans were back after 2020/21’s lockout.

    A hamstring problem thought otherwise but eventually a run in the team came for O’Hara in the Autumn. Again, his injury curse seemed apparent with a quad problem suffered following November’s trip to Pittodrie against Aberdeen.

    Just over three months following his knock, a return was made in the Scottish Cup success against November’s foe before a goal in Premiership action against the Dons one week later.

    He might be a bit sick of the colour red and Aberdeen by this stage – three of his last four matches coming against Aberdeen – but the goal he scored was a sweet feeling months in waiting.

    A one-armed Kevin van Veen and Kaiyne Woolery helped O’Hara in his quest to get it and relief was felt when the Fir Park stands
    roared. After months in front of the TV and blood, sweat and tears during his rehab, O’Hara says it was a moment for him to relish.

    Part of his latest injury comeback has been credited to his inner circle, who managed to keep his mood high during a period where frustrations began to set in.

    “It was good to be back amongst the goals against Aberdeen,” he said. “It is the moment I had been visualising in my head while times were tough. There is no better feeling than scoring.

    “So it was a good moment for me to get my name back out on the scoresheet. Kev was playing with one arm for part of the game but he did well to shrug off the defenders and created an opportunity.

    “Luckily it fell to my feet and Kaiyne did very well too as he took it down initially. I owe a thanks to them. It was a good time to score and I would have hoped that was the start of us going on to win.

    “It wasn’t to be, so I hope there are more goals that lead to three points in the coming games.

    “The days were longer (when he was injured) so I hadn’t a chance to pick up any new hobbies or that.

    “I was in from after eight to about half-four every day. The days were long and tiring as I worked hard. It was a matter of watching TV and Netflix at night time.

    “I enjoyed Stay Close, ‘Don’t F*** With Cats’ was a bit mindblowing. I have a strong group of friends and family. It’s important that you keep your spirits high when you are away from football.

    “If you aren’t playing or you have an injury, things can get to you. I had good support groups so I was kept in good spirits while I was out.”

    What O’Hara has returned to is a league of finer margins than ever before. Teams from fourth to 10th will fancy their chances of making the top six and potentially a run to European places.

    That’s an objective O’Hara is keen to achieve. But there’s another lingering dream living on in the background while fierce competition ensues on the Premiership stage.

    For years, fans at Fir Park have sung of a claret and amber ribbon in the merry month of May, without much joy at the end
    of it. This year marks 31 years since Motherwell’s last piece of silverware, the 1991 Scottish Cup.

    O’Hara hasn’t played at Hampden before and he is keen to have that opportunity by helping his team beat Hibs next weekend in the cup’s quarter-final stage.

    The Easter Road side managed to beat Motherwell on penalties last year despite a late comeback from the Steelmen, something that still sits with O’Hara ahead of next week’s contest.

    He won’t look too far ahead though, as plenty of crucial Premiership fixtures lie in wait for Alexander’s men. It’s tight, but advancement on two fronts could set up Motherwell for something memorable this season.

    “The league is anybody’s in terms of claiming a place in that top six,” O’Hara said. “We will do everything we can to make sure it is us. There are some massive games coming up but every game is at this stage.

    “We want to make sure that every game that comes, we will be targeting three points. I don’t ever recall such a small margin separating so many teams. It’s probably exciting for the neutral and people looking in.

    “We need to make sure we finish up on a positive note. Our destiny is in our hands. We can potentially have a very special season or we can have a mediocre season. We need to make sure it’s special.

    “I want to help the team solidify its place in the top six and make it to Hampden which is something I have never done in my career.

    “That Hibs game is massive and perhaps a chance at redemption after they put us out at this stage last year.

    “It’s a goal I think for every Scottish player, to make it to Hampden. It’s not something I have managed to achieve yet and I would love to do that with Motherwell.”

    O’Hara feels indebted to both clubs taking to the turf at Fir Park today. By the end of this season – barring any more injury concerns – Motherwell will be the club he’s represented most since he left Kilmarnock, but it’s Dundee who helped make him.

    After starting at Killie and being played here, there and everywhere in Ayrshire, Dundee manager Paul Hartley made sure O’Hara was to be used in a midfield position.

    It’s where he has stayed until this day and outside a stint at centre-back last season, has thrived in claret and amber. O’Hara’s time
    at Dens Park was fruitful and it earned him a move to English side Peterborough United.

    There have been similarities between his Dens and Fir Park spells, in that he has learned plenty in both stints. It’s something the 26-year-old acknowledges with fondness.

    “I loved my time at Dundee and I learnt a lot there,” the ex-Dens battler said. “I spent a couple of seasons there. At Kilmarnock I was used in different positions and was more of a utility man.

    “At Dundee, I solidified myself as a midfielder. I learnt a lot from two good managers there in Neil McCann and Paul Hartley. I really enjoyed my time there and it’s been similar to Motherwell in that I have learned from two good managers here too.

    “These spells have been good learning curves for me and I hope that they will stand me in good stead.”

    With his contract up in the summer, O’Hara’s long-term future is uncertain for the time being.

    It’s not something he has had too much time to think about during his rehab and then work back into the Well squad.

    His three seasons at Motherwell have all had hitches or disruptions at some stage, which has made it a peculiar time in his career. But
    one he has enjoyed all the same.

    O’Hara doesn’t expect to just be handed a new deal at Fir Park, he knows he has to play his way there after a spell with injury. The midfielder is in no doubt though that his time in Motherwell has been one he’s very thankful for after initially arriving on loan from Peterborough in 2019.

    “This is my third season now,” he added. “It’s been strange as when you say three seasons, that sounds like quite a lot of time. But obviously, one season was disrupted by Covid, then last season was different in terms of there were no fans.

    “This season has now been disrupted by injury. I think I have somewhere around 60 appearances and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

    “I know that is an old cliché but I genuinely have loved my time here. Hopefully there’s more to come. I have felt pretty settled since I got here.

    “I am up and out of contract at the end of the season. With the way the situation was when I was injured, it was difficult to set any long-term goals.

    “My goal was to just get playing first and foremost and then just let the football take care of itself. I have not been offered anything as such yet but I am obviously trying to play well to earn it.

    “I feel as if I have to make up for lost time and between now and the end of the season, I want to perform as well as I can and help the team earn success.”

  • First team

    Graham Alexander previews Dundee visit

    The Motherwell boss says there is plenty room for improvement and his side know what they have to do to start picking up results.