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Paul Brownlie will vacate his role as Head of Girls and Women’s at the club to take up a new position elsewhere. 

Arriving in the summer of 2021, Brownlie has built up a strong foundation within the women’s setup at Motherwell. Building our first-ever Girls Academy that has allowed numerous young players to make their debuts in the Scottish top-flight, he has also steered our first-team side to a string of various successes over the last four years.

“This has been a really difficult decision,” Paul Brownlie stated.

“It’s hard to close this chapter of my life, as I’ve loved my time here and met some great people along the way, and we have had some proud moments. When I reflect on what we’ve achieved here in the last four years, I feel a sense of pride.

Establishing the Academy and producing and developing young players has always been a huge part of my coaching philosophy.

“The girls in the first-team have been a joy to work with. Not just those in the team currently, but all the players and coaches who have moved on during my spell at the club. I thank each and every one of them for their dedication and enthusiasm. So many people behind-the-scenes volunteer so much of their time to make things possible; I would have been lost without them.

“We have managed to put in place a strong structure that will continue to flourish. The women’s game continues to grow here in Scotland, and I look forward and hope this team continues to have success.”

Motherwell became the first women’s side to play at Hampden Park in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Rangers in 2023, before guiding the women of steel back to Hampden for the second occasion last season.

In the league, Brownlie and his side secured a maiden top-six finish in the SWPL last campaign, an unprecedented achievement for the team.

“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Paul since I arrived at the club,” Chief Executive Brian Caldwell said.

“He has dedicated so much time to improving the structure and success of our women’s team and girls’ academy. I am extremely grateful for his efforts, which have seen the team enjoy so many moments of success over the past four years.

“Everyone at Motherwell wishes Paul the very best in this next chapter of his career and we thank him sincerely for all his hard work here at Motherwell.”

Brownlie will remain at the club in his role until December. The club will now begin the recruitment process to replace Paul and will update in due course.

Motherwell travel to Aberdeen on Sunday 9 November in their final match before the November international break. 

Kick off is 3pm at Pittodrie.

How to follow the game

You can buy tickets online here.

These are physical tickets so must either be collected at Fir Park or posted out. Last day for postage will be 4th November.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell exited the Premier Sports Cup at the semi-final stage last weekend against St Mirren. Amidst a disappointing afternoon, Callum Hendry got off the mark for the club, scoring his first goal for the Steelmen.

In the league, Jens Berthel Askou’s side have been in good form, winning their last two games against Dundee United and Livingston. Tawanda Maswanhise moved onto nine goals for the season, as he looks to hit double figures as soon as possible.

This will be the third meeting between Motherwell and Aberdeen this season. Motherwell won 1-0 at Pittodrie thanks to Regan Charles-Cook’s strike, with goals from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Johnny Koutroumbis sealing a 2-0 win at Fir Park also.

Opposition Report

After a sluggish start to the season, the Dons’ form has gone in an upward trajectory. Sealing their first win of the league season against Dundee four weeks ago, Aberdeen have gone on to win three of their last four league matches.

Star signings Jesper Karlsson has found the back of the net three times this season, with Marko Lazetic finding the back of the net twice in the last four outings.

Aberdeen travel to Cyprus on Thursday night in Europa Conference League action against AEK Larnaca, as the Dons look to pick up their first points on the European stage this season.

Elijah Just will return to the international stage with New Zealand next month. 

The All Whites regular will travel with his country, having missed their matches in October as he completed his recovery from a minor knock.

Just returns to the international fold for their two upcoming friendly matches. New Zealand will head for America to face Colombia and Ecuador.

• Colombia v New Zealand 
• Sunday 16 November 
• 12:00am Kick Off 
• Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Ecuador v New Zealand 
• Tuesday 19 November 
• 1:30am Kick Off 
• Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey

The build up had been long and exciting going into the Premier Sports Cup semi-final match against St Mirren at Hampden for Motherwell fans, with over 9000 supporters making their way to Glasgow in the hope of seeing their side reach a final for the first time since 2018. 

But on the pitch, things didn’t go according to plan as St Mirren raced away into a two-goal lead, leaving a mountain to climb for Motherwell.

In the second-half, the Steelmen held onto the ball for large periods in the St Mirren half but were limited to few openings. Callum Hendry did find the back of the net with seven minutes to go, offering a crumb of encouragement to the fans that a comeback could be on.

But that feeling was short-lived, as St Mirren added a third and a fourth before the full-time whistle as Motherwell went all out for an equaliser. A thoroughly disappointing day on the big stage, but the Steelmen have an opportunity to go out on a high ahead of the next international break when they face Aberdeen for the third time this season next weekend.

The manager reacts to losing to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final.

It proved to be a disappointing afternoon on the North-East coast, with hosts Montrose compounding Motherwell’s frustrations on the road, holding the women of steel to a two-goal stalemate at Links Park.

Bailley Collins broke the deadlock in the latter stages of the first-half, drilling home a low strike past Rachael Perry, but former Motherwell striker Kaela McDonald-Nguah responded in the second-half, rattling the Motherwell crossbar with an unstoppable finish that ricocheted kindly into the roof of the net.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made two changes from the side that were defeated by defending champions Hibernian at K-Park a fortnight ago.

Defender Katie Rice returned to the Motherwell starting XI, with Tegan Browning settling for a place amongst the substitutes alongside Hannah Cairns, making way for striker Carla Boyce who led the line.

The women of steel capitalised moments before half-time, with Carla Boyce driving across the right flank before drilling a low delivery across the face of goal, and Bailley Collins was on hand to prod home the opener from close-range.

Motherwell hoped the opening goal would rejuvenate their frustrating first-half display, but the hosts relented, and equalised minutes into the second-half. Countering with pace, Montrose pressed high into the Motherwell half, with the ball falling kindly to McDonald-Nguah at the edge of the penalty area, and the striker made no mistake, lashing home a powerful strike off the underside of the crossbar before nestling into the roof of the Motherwell net.

Both sides pushed for the decisive winner in the final stages of the game, with Motherwell turning to Kodie Hay and Hannah Cairns on the bench, but neither side could find the eventual breakthrough.

The women of steel will return to action in a fortnight’s time when they travel across Lanarkshire to face local rivals Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

Motherwell’s hopes of progressing to next month’s Premier Sports Cup final ended in disappointment when they were cruelly punished by an efficient St Mirren.

In a poor first half for the Steelmen, goals from former Motherwell striker Mikael Mandron and Miguel Nlundulu gave Saints a commanding lead.

A positive response in the second half saw the Steelmen exert some pressure on the Saints’ defence, but Stephen Robinson’s men looked content to give his former club possession and rely on counter attacks.

Callum Hendry’s goal eight minutes from time raised hopes of a grandstand finish, but Richard King’s reply a couple of minutes later clinched the tie for the Paisley side. A fourth goal from Mandron merely added to Motherwell’s disappointing day.

Jens Berthel Askou made five changes to his starting 11 for the second game running. The Motherwell manager brought Liam Gordon, Emmanuel Longelo, Elijah Just, Ibrahim Said and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos into his team, with Stephen Welsh, Callum Slattery, Regan Charles-Cook and Callum Hendry all dropping to the bench.

Stephen O’Donnell dropped out of the squad from Wednesday night’s game after the full-back was taken off midway through the first-half.

Immediate pressure on the Saints’ goal as Well forced four consecutive corners, until Apostolos Stamatelopoulos headed the ball over the bar and allowed the Paisley men to get beyond their own penalty area.

It was a game of contrasting styles; the Fir Park men were intent on using the full width of Hampden pitch, while the Buddies opted for a more direct route towards Calum Ward’s goal.

The first real threat arrived after 22 minutes when Just and Tawanda Maswanhise combined on the right of the box before the Zimbabwe international pulled his low shot across Shamal George and the keeper’s far post.

Two minutes later Saints found the back of the net in rather controversial circumstances. As the ‘Well players protested about a quickly taken free kick, Miguel Freckleton raced downfield and won a corner. When he swung the ball into a packed box, Mandron reacted quickly to smash the ball past Ward from eight yards.

Almost immediately the Steelmen replied when Stamatelopoulos won possession on the halfway line and carried the ball 40 yards before unleashing a low shot which George pushed round his post.

For all Motherwell’s possession and neat play around Saints’ box, their ‘keeper was never troubled.

Five minutes from the interval, Well’s task was doubled.

A loose ball at the edge of the box found Nlundulu directly in front of goal, and his fine strike flew high into the net and made it 2-0.

Stephen Welsh replaced Gordon for the second half as Fir Park returned to the pitch early in the hope of getting back into the tie.

And with a bit more intensity about their play, Well looked more of a threat. After five minutes Elliot Watt tested George with a firm drive from 30 yards as Motherwell fans sensed a fightback might be on the cards.

The Steelmen made their second substitution after 56 minutes, with Slattery replacing Said. The former Southampton youth player almost pulled a goal back six minutes later. Koutroumbis laid the ball back at the corner of the box, and Slattery’s shot was swerving away from the ‘keeper until George leapt high to his right and prevented the ball from finding the net.

A few minutes later, Askou made two more changes, bringing on Hendry and Tom Sparrow as the Australian pair Stamatelopoulos and Koutroumbis made way.

Twenty minutes from time Well, they came close to the goal their second half merited. Just’s ball towards the six-yard line took a nick from a defender, which prevented Maswanhise from getting a solid touch yards from goal.

Careless play yards from their own goal line presented Saints with a chance to grab a decisive third goal, but Mandron let his former teammatesoff the hook, smacking the ball off the post.

That prompted Well’s final change, Charles-Cook replacing Maswanhise, but with 15 minutes remaining, the tie looked beyond the Fir Park side.

However, with eight minutes remaining, the subs combined to conjure up a goal. Charles-Cook fed Sparrow on the right, and his low ball across the box was whipped into the net by Hendry to give Well fans some hope.

Any notion of a late fightback was immediately erased when King’s low shot was blocked by Ward’s boot, but the ball spun up and over the ‘keeper and just over the goal line despite his and Lukas Fadinger’s efforts to keep the ball out.

Mandron’s angled effort, which took VAR a while to ratify the striker’s goal, perhaps provided St Mirren with a final scoreline which flattered them, but that didn’t disguise Motherwell’s poor performance.

Motherwell Team: Ward, Koutroumbis, McGinn, Gordon, Longelo, Watt, Fadinger, Just, Said, Maswanhise, Stamatelopoulos.

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Welsh, Balmer, Sparrow, Priestman, Halliday, Slattery, Charles-Cook, Hendry.

Captain Paul McGinn is delighted the team have picked up back-to-back wins coming into the semi-final against St Mirren, but believes when the games come round, none of that matters and that the team need to remain focused on the task at hand. 

McGinn was also full of praise for St Mirren and the problems they will cause the defensive line on Saturday.

Arianna Corrieri is ten years old. She is in primary school. However, she is a young woman who is living far beyond her years. 

Her mum, Louise, was diagnosed with a rare condition called Addison’s Disease. Following this diagnosis, it was also confirmed she had gastroparesis. In her own words, steroids keep Louise alive.

And with her partner working the night shift, ten-year-old Arianna has had to step up to look after her mum. Arriana ensures her mum takes her medication, gets her younger brothers ready for school whilst feeding them, walks the dogs and keeps everything in order in the house.

On top of all this, she is ready for a worst-case scenario. Prepared to administer emergency aid and having phoned ambulances when necessary previously, she is a true inspiration in our community.

Winning the BBC Young Hero Award, an accolade given to someone under 16 who has made a positive impact in their community or achieved something exceptional, there was only one person we wanted to lead our team out onto the Hampden Park turf on Saturday against Saturday.

Upon learning Arianna’s story, Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou wanted to surprise Arianna ahead of the match and articulate his appreciation for everything Arianna does.

Chairman Kyrk Macmillan speaks ahead of St Mirren semi-final, offering an update to supporters in a number of areas across the club.