We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of former club and Well Society chairman Brian McCafferty, aged 79.
Brian died peacefully at home over the weekend, surrounded by his family, following a battle with cancer.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his wife Linda, daughter Lynne, son Gavin, daughter-in-law Helen and grandson Ross, and Brian’s wider family and many friends.
Brian played a hugely significant role in the modern history of Motherwell FC. His leadership helped steer the club through a particularly challenging period, helped lay the foundations for fan ownership and, in more recent years, helped ensure the club’s history was preserved and brought to life for future generations.
He was one of the original four Well Society Board members elected in October 2012 and, in April 2013, became one of the Society’s first two representatives on the Motherwell FC Board alongside Graham Barnstaple.
Brian succeeded Graham as Well Society chairman in September 2014, at a critical moment for the club. Earlier that year, the Society had been challenged to raise a further £400,000 as Motherwell faced a significant cash shortfall.
Brian subsequently led the Well Society’s negotiations with Les Hutchison, majority shareholder John Boyle and the club. Those discussions culminated in the rescue deal signed in January 2015.
Under the agreement, both the Well Society and Les invested in the club, with Les acquiring John Boyle’s majority shareholding for £1. Brian became chairman of Motherwell FC that same month.
He stepped down from both boards towards the end of 2015, less than a year before Motherwell FC formally moved into fan ownership in October 2016.
“Everyone at Motherwell Football Club is deeply saddened by Brian’s passing,” chairman Kyrk Macmillan said.
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with Linda, Lynne, Gavin and everyone who knew and loved him. Brian gave an enormous amount to Motherwell FC. At a crucial point in our history, he was one of those who stepped forward, took responsibility and helped create the conditions for the progress we have subsequently seen, both on and off the field.
“What is particularly remarkable is that Brian’s work on behalf of the club continued right until the end. Brian reached out to me when I became chair, to offer his guidance and we maintained contact which I greatly appreciated and through his work with the Heritage Trust, he continued giving his time, energy and experience to Motherwell FC.
“Brian will be greatly missed, but his presence will continue to be felt around Fir Park, through the work of the Well Society, the Heritage Trust and in the club he helped shape.”
“Brian was not only a gentleman but also a giant of Motherwell Football Club and its fan ownership movement,” Well Society chairman Derek Watson added.
“At a time when the future of our club faced enormous challenges, Brian showed real leadership. He gave his time, energy and expertise to the Well Society and Motherwell FC and played a hugely important role in the journey which ultimately delivered fan ownership.
“Those of us involved in the Well Society today, and all those who value fan ownership are beneficiaries of the foundations laid by people like Brian.
“I had the honour and privilege of being co-opted to the Well Society board by Brian back in 2012 during my first spell as a Director. Brian’s guidance, and stewardship was invaluable back then, but more recently his advice and wisdom has been hugely beneficial in my role as Chair.
“He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him, but his work will never be forgotten. On behalf of everyone at the Well Society, I send our deepest condolences to Linda, Lynne, Gavin and the whole family.”
“Brian brought tremendous warmth, energy and enthusiasm to everything he did,” Motherwell FC Heritage Trust’s Nick Mackie stated.
“He loved Motherwell Football Club, he loved its history, and he was passionate about bringing that history to life so that new generations of supporters could understand and celebrate the people and moments which made our club what it is today.
“Brian continued to play an active role in the Trust until very recently, chairing our meetings and providing the advice, encouragement and wise counsel that we valued so greatly. He was closely involved in our work to create a new heritage installation in the Davie Cooper Stand concourse and was determined to see it completed.
“When that work is finished, it will stand as part of Brian’s remarkable legacy and his lifelong contribution to the club he loved. Above all, though, we will miss Brian himself – his friendship, his warmth, his enthusiasm and his presence enormously.”
“My dad’s final trip to Fir Park was for the Hearts game in May,” Brian’s son Gavin McCafferty and Well Society director said.
“It was a fitting farewell: the biggest crowd for 21 years, a huge occasion, a big step towards European football, and some more great football.
“Seeing the football on display over the past 12 months or so helped him through his treatment and gave him a lot of satisfaction after all the hard work that he and many others put in over a long number of years to maintain Motherwell’s status as a top-flight fan-owned club.
“He was latterly involved with MFC Heritage Trust and was always keen to stress the importance of fan ownership in the club’s history plus the generosity and sacrifice of John Boyle in making it possible, and the commitment, patience, generosity and effort of Les Hutchison in keeping the dream alive.”
Details of Brian’s funeral arrangements will be shared in due course.
