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John Martis is to join the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

The Ancell Babe will be inducted at our event on Saturday 13 November. Limited tickets remain available.

Martis was only 17 years old when he was signed by manager Bobby Ancell from Royal Albert in November 1957.

A native of Motherwell and an apprentice plumber, he made his debut on 2 January 1958 in a 3-1 win over Hibs at Fir Park.

“Motherwell had played on New Year’s Day at Airdrie losing 4-1,” he recalled. “At that time, they were losing centre-halves through injury as though there was no tomorrow.

“Drew Paton was the first to be injured followed by Archie Shaw. Then came Willie Cowie and finally Jim Forrest. We were due to play Hibs and Andy Weir and myself had reported at the ground at midday to board the bus for the reserve game at Easter Road.

“Mr Ancell told us to go home and come back at 2pm – we were playing in the first team. To say I was excited was a total understatement. Playing against Joe Baker aided and abetted by the legendary Lawrie Reilly was dream material. Happy to say we won 3-1, a great day.”

John’s early football prowess shone through at primary school level.

Selected for Motherwell and Wishaw Burgh Schools side, they went on to win the Scottish Schools Under 12 Cup in 1952 with a side containing a galaxy of future talent in the shape of Joe Baker, Bobby McCallum, Sammy Reid and Jim Conway. The interesting aspect of that side was the occupant of the outside left berth – a certain John Martis.

“It was my former Boys’ Brigade captain who converted me into a centre half,” he said. “My father and Archie Shaw had developed a firm friendship and through that association, I was invited to train at Fir Park.

“I played in a friendly for the club against Royal Albert at Larkhall and eventually agreed to join the Junior club. Mr Ancell was still keen for me to come to Fir Park, but with Royal Albert engaged in the Scottish Junior Cup, I would only sign for Motherwell once the Albert had been knocked out of the competition.

“It took about five games to beat Strathclyde Juniors, followed by Douglas Water Thistle taking us apart to the tune of 5-0 in the next round. 1957 was the year I signed for Motherwell and I spent 12 very happy years at Fir Park.”

In his first full season of 1958/59 he played in 30 out of 34 league games.

He was only 18 years old when he played in a ‘Well team that lost 3-2 in a Scottish Cup semi-final against Clyde on 5 April 1958, with Charlie Aitken hitting the bar in injury time.

A few years later, he played in the friendlies at Fir Park against Brazlian sides Bahia and Flamengo.

John received his first international honour when he won a Scotland Under 23 cap, lining up beside Motherwell teammates Willie Hunter, Andy Weir and Ian St John against England in March 1960 in a 4-4 draw at Ibrox, with St John scoring twice. Jimmy Greaves scored a hat-trick and Bobby Charlton got the other goal for the visitors. He then gained his one full Scotland cap aged 20 in October 1960 in a 2-0 defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

Essentially a defender, there must have been the occasional goal in the Martis scrapbook that took pride of place and stretched the waistcoat buttons?

“I think on balance there were as many own goals as there were good goals,” he said.

“Funnily enough, when helping renovate and redecorate my daughter’s flat under the carpets we found an old newspaper which faithfully recorded one of the few Martis goals. It’s now a very valuable newspaper and a prized family heirloom.”

The match which probably tingles the Martis memories most of all was the 1961 Scottish Cup third round tie replay against Rangers.

“We were losing 2-0 at Fir Park but an Ian St John goal before half-time reduced the lead and in the second half, Bert McCann found an equaliser.

“Rangers were down to 10 men when Jim Baxter was injured, but we held on and managed to force a draw. The 5-2 win in the replay at Ibrox before 80,000 must go down as probably one of Motherwell’s best results.”

John scored only two league goals whilst wearing claret and amber, both against Partick Thistle. A late winner in a 2-1 victory in January 1964 was followed by a strike in a 5-0 win three years later.

He was named the club’s Player of The Year in seasons 1965/66 and 1966/67.

Perhaps a modicum of itchy feet materialised, encouraging John to try his luck abroad. South Africa beckoned and in January 1969, off went this Lanarkshire plumber to help the defence of the Cape Town club Hellenic, in a deal reported to be in the region of £2,500.

Administered by a Greek consortium, the side failed after a mere two months, and two games played to hold the Martis interest.

A return to his grassroots in Scotland was imminent. Former colleague Pat Quinn was still parading his soccer skills with East Fife and was instrumental in having manager Jimmy Bonthrone persuade the far travelling Mr Martis to drop his anchor at Bayview Park.

John wore the black and gold colours with distinction for another six years, operating under the successive managerial directions of Bill Baxter and Pat Quinn. East Fife even achieved promotion in season 1970/71, with John at the helm.

In just over 11 years at Fir Park, John played in 295 league games, scoring two goals. He played in 59 League Cup games and 30 Scottish Cup games. Add to these totals Lanarkshire Cup and friendly games, and his record with the ‘Well is up there with the best.

The family home is only a good free-kick away from Fir Park and in the unlikely event of any stray balls landing in the Martis front garden, they’ll be despatched back into play with the same panache as was evident from his playing days at Fir Park.

Our Hall of Fame will welcome its new inductees in a special event in November.

Taking place at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday 13 November, the event will induct the classes of both 2020 and 2021.

The event is priced at £60 for adults and £30 for children aged under 12. Limited tickets are available.

We will induct both the 2020 and 2021 intake at the event.

Buy your tickets online here now.

Current Hall of Famers include George Stevenson, Willie Pettigrew, Phil O’Donnell, Ally Maxwell and James McFadden.

The delayed 2020 class, who will also be inducted on the night, includes John Hunter, Andy Paton, Joe Wark, Davie Cooper and Steven Hammell.

We’re hosting our first business breakfast since lockdown, offering networking opportunities for local businesses.

Chris Mitchell, the chief finance officer of Loch Lomond Group, is the guest speaker at our event.

It tasks place on Friday, 12 November in the Millennium Suite at Fir Park. Chris will discuss the club partnership, in addition to their sponsorship of the SPFL.

Tickets cost just £10 per person. The price includes a breakfast roll, tea/coffee and orange juice. The event starts at 8am and runs until 9.15am.

To book your place, email mhairi.daly@motherwellfc.co.uk, book online or call on 01698 338011.

Get your hands now on our limited edition 1991 Scottish Cup commemorative whisky.

To mark 30 years since our Hampden success, the 10-year-old single malt has been matured in American oak casks and has a perfect balance of fruit notes with hints of honey and vanilla with a light touch of peat smoke.

Get yours by buying online for click and collect from Fir Park.

We’ve partnered with the International Professional Scouting Organisation.

The club will benefit from access to further education from the organisation.

IPSO will deliver their Level One course on first-team scouting at our home match with Hearts on 20 November 2021.

To book a place on the course, click here.

“We’ve been invited up to deliver our Level One course for CPD work which will have in attendance some of the staff at Motherwell as they look to build and progress their scouting department,” Colin Chambers, the education director of IPSO, said of the collaboration.

“We think this is a great move for both parties and we can help Motherwell with any future scouts not only in Scotland but in England, Ireland and Wales not forgetting Europe if need be.

“As we look to build a good relationship, we are hoping to do many things with Motherwell which could help in many areas in the future.”

Nick Daws, Motherwell’s head of recruitment operations, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with one of the leading providers in scouting and analysis education as we develop and strengthen our approach to recruitment and look to provide a pathway into the professional game for talented and enthusiastic people.”

The first of our 2021 inductees to the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame is Bobby Ferrier.

Regarded as the club’s true world-class player of his time, he will be formally inducted at our event in November.

His two grandsons, Robert and James, will attend the event to witness his inclusion.

The legend of Robert Ferrier began in Sheffield when he was born to a father who himself was a football icon of the local “Wednesday” football club.

His dad had previously turned out for his local side Dumbarton at a time when the Sons were operating at the very top of Scottish football, winning the title twice in successive seasons, before being transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1894.

Three weeks after his birth, young Robert was brought back to Dumbarton, and lived there for the rest of his life.

Ferrier’s career at Motherwell, his only club, was incredible not only in its length and quality, but in its achievement.

For eight seasons in the period between 1926 and 1934, Motherwell were never out of the top three in Scotland. When the Steelmen won the championship in 1932, they were the only team outside the Old Firm to do so in 44 years.

Even then, Scottish football was dominated by the two large Glasgow clubs. Ferrier was captain of the title-winning side and always maintained that they were the greatest team he ever played with, although he rated the Motherwell side of the early 20s, including stars like Willie Rankin, Davie Thackeray and Hughie Ferguson, almost as highly.

The Motherwell championship-winning team was a side of moulded talents allied with supreme elegance and style. That season 66 points were won from a possible 76, with 119 goals being scored in 38 matches, with legendary striker Willie McFadyen netting 52 times.

Bobby Ferrier had a long, lazy and deceptive stride which allowed him to float past defenders with ease. He could flick, clip and back heel in the air, balls any other player could not reach.

His was a game of spaces and angles played with infinite grace, and his control of a ball through the air was often quite exquisite. He could float, chip, hook or slice crosses to his liking with a left foot which many commentators claimed was akin to a magic wand.

That left peg also possessed enough strength to allow him on occasion to drill a ball into an opponent’s net with accuracy and power.

In 1929/30 Ferrier scored 32 goals from 37 games playing in his favoured left-wing position, often scoring from the touchline, beating goalkeepers at both the near post, and drifting a cross by them, and nestling the ball inside the far post.

Ferrier was a cultured footballer in an era where many hard men were playing the game. Players like Meiklejohn and McPhail of Rangers, with McGrory and McGonagle at Celtic, would rejoice in repeatedly going in heavy on Ferrier, but the Motherwell man would routinely get up dust himself down and continue his task of mesmerising full-backs.

By the summer of 1927, Motherwell were keen to exploit the world’s developing love of Scottish football by arranging lucrative tours during the close season. That summer, Spain and France were the destinations, where eight games were arranged for a Motherwell squad now captained by Ferrier.

The captain had a very productive time of it on tour with goals against both Swansea City and Real Madrid, a double against Celta Vigo and a hat-trick in Paris against Red Star Olympique. Six games were won, with only one loss, and scoring 23 goals in the process.

This successful tour, combined with the excellent season that had gone before, had set Motherwell up for an unprecedented run of success over the next decade, as they put up a sustained challenge to the two Glasgow clubs who had dominated league football in Scotland since the game had turned professional in the late 18th century.

By April 1932 the Fir Parkers were on the verge of achieving something special, with captain Ferrier only having missed one game in all competitions, and scoring 16 times in that campaign.

With three league games to go Motherwell, travelled to Firhill looking to confirm themselves as champions with a win, and as a result a huge army of fans headed through from the Steel Town to the north side of Glasgow in anticipation of a wonderful occasion.

The 32,000 crowd were largely disappointed with the dull 0-0 draw which left Motherwell still looking for a point from the last two games.

A 3-0 win at home to Cowdenbeath, in which Ferrier opened the scoring, left a chasing Rangers outfit with no margin for error. That margin was lost the following midweek when the Ibrox club could only draw leaving Motherwell as champions of Scotland by the time they took the field for the final game of the season at Fir Park against Clyde.

The title triumph was dedicated by the players to manager Sailor Hunter, who had spent years developing a squad and a way of coaching which was years ahead of its time.

April 1937 saw the great man’s final goals for Motherwell, a brace in a 6-0 demolition at Fir Park against Dunfermline, whilst his final season registered as a player was 1937/38.

After the summer of 1938, Bobby, with his boots hung up, was appointed Motherwell’s first-ever assistant manager. This meant the break-up of one of the greatest wing partnerships the game had ever seen, lasting almost 15 years.

Bobby Ferrier was without question Motherwell FC’s greatest ever outside left. He had all the qualities that a winger requires: great skill, peerless dribbling and pinpoint crossing. With a knack of shooting with power and accuracy, he was also a prolific scorer in his own right, notching close to 350 career goals, an astonishing return for a wide man.

Robert “Bobby” Ferrier died in April 1971, aged 71, and is buried in Dumbarton. Revered in his time by Motherwell fans, he should still be revered by fans today, because if ever we had a truly world-class footballer at our club that we should celebrate, then Bobby Ferrier is that man.

Our Hall of Fame will welcome its new inductees in a special event in November.

Taking place at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday 13 November, the event will induct the classes of both 2020 and 2021.

The event is priced at £60 for adults and £30 for children aged under 12.

We will induct both the 2020 and 2021 intake at the event.

Buy your tickets online here now.

Current Hall of Famers include George Stevenson, Willie Pettigrew, Phil O’Donnell, Ally Maxwell and James McFadden.

The delayed 2020 class, who will also be inducted on the night, includes John Hunter, Andy Paton, Joe Wark, Davie Cooper and Steven Hammell.

Our players and football management team have joined the Well Society.

The players, together with the coaching staff, decided to collectively join and contribute monthly to the club’s fan ownership group, highlighting their commitment to the cause and to play their part in the continuing health and growth of Motherwell Football Club.

You can follow in their footsteps and join the Well Society by clicking here.

“It was very important to the whole squad that we demonstrated our effort away from just a Saturday afternoon,” club captain Stephen O’Donnell said.

“This is a special club where the supporters and the local community are at the heart of everything we do and stand for.

“The players buy into that and are proud to represent the club, but we also want to play our part by giving something back.

“We are delighted and honoured to be involved.”

‘Well boss Graham Alexander added: “I have said on many occasions that togetherness can help drive a club forward.

“It’s so important that all aspects of a club, from the boardroom to the dressing room, from the terracing to the pitch, are united and working towards the same goal.

“This group, both players and coaches, not only want to make the fans proud of their team when they are on the pitch but want to make them proud when they’re off it too.

“They do that by working hard to understand the ethos, the principles and the character of the supporters and people in this part of Lanarkshire, and what is expected of us as Motherwell players and coaches, which will hopefully transfer onto the pitch on a matchday and drive good performance.”

The Well Society, the vehicle in which the club operates its current fan ownership model, bought Motherwell FC from Les Hutchison in October 2016.

With over 3,000 active members, almost 1,300 of them contributing each month, the Society has supported the club throughout its ten-year existence, investing over one million pounds in working capital.

“We are thrilled to have the first-team squad and coaching staff as part of the Well Society and it clearly demonstrates the spirit and determination of this group,” the Well Society’s co-chair Douglas Dickie said.

“The more fans who are in a position to join the Society and contribute on a monthly basis will only help the club grow and grow.

“As we approach the fifth anniversary of taking a majority ownership in the club, it would be great if we could use this as a launchpad to attract more people to come on board.”

Our main partners Paycare Wellbeing have organised a Motherwell Mental Health Awareness e-clinic.

The free virtual event, which is aimed at individuals and businesses who want to learn more about wellbeing, will run from 11am until 12pm on Tuesday 23 November.

Run in conjunction with the club, it will feature guests Robert Nesbitt from the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Aaron Connolly from Time to Tackle.

Booking your free place couldn’t be easier – simply click here.

SAMH has been running for almost 100 years, launching in 1923, and is Scotland’s national mental health charity which works with adults and young people to provide support within social care, primary care, schools and other settings.

Time to Tackle was set up by Aaron and Siobhán Connolly, after Aaron struggled to find support for his mental health. They run an award-winning Football Therapy programme and aim to challenge stigma, promote open and honest conversations, and create peer support networks to combat loneliness.

“We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Motherwell FC even further by jointly hosting a free webinar focused around mental health,” Paycare’s Wellbeing Manager Kerry B Mitchell explains.

“I’ll be sharing some information about various conditions and risk factors, tips on approaching difficult conversations, signposting pathways, and some of the statistics and myths around mental health.

“I’m sure with the Scottish Association for Mental Health and Time to Tackle both joining us on the e-clinic that it’ll be a really interesting and informative hour for those attending.

“It’s so important for us all to be having these conversations, especially with more of us than ever likely to develop mental ill health during our lifetimes – and I’d like to thank Motherwell FC for their commitment to highlighting this issue.”

Joe Wark will be inducted to our Hall of Fame at our 2021 event.

The last of our delayed 2020 inductees, the club legend takes his place alongside Steven Hammell, John Hunter, Davie Cooper and Andy Paton.

Joe had begun his career in the Ayrshire juniors, running up and down Cochrane Street Park playing in the tangerine and black of Irvine Victoria. It wasn’t long before scouts from the senior ranks all over Scotland were alerted to the performances of the strong, tidy and creative player with a throw-in akin to a corner kick, which led to reports landing on managers desk up and down the country.

It was Motherwell boss Bobby Howitt who made the first move, and Joe was more than happy at the age of 20 to make the Fir Park dressing room his home for the next 16 seasons.

Strangely enough on his debut in a friendly against Tranmere Rovers in a pre-season friendly in October 1947, Joe spent 87 minutes in goal after ‘Well ‘keeper Keith McRae was injured. The clean sheet he achieved was to be the first small step on his journey towards legendary status at our club, as a Jim “Jumbo” Muir double won the game for Motherwell.

The fact that Motherwell had begun season 1968/69 in Scotland’s Division Two probably helped him make the step up in class a little easier. Joe was an ever-present in midfield, driving the club forward in a glorious romp to the title, netting 112 times, conceding 23 and losing a mere two matches along the way.

With Motherwell back in the top flight, Joe would make the left-back berth his own as he launched upon a remarkable career with the Steelmen.

Over 16 seasons he would amass 539 appearances, establishing himself as an all-time club legend. Unfortunately, an appearance in a cup final would elude him, with several heartbreaks in the last four of the major competitions, but memorably featured in several Anglo-Scottish Cup ties in which he shone against World Cup winners like Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters.

Many Motherwell fans have waxed lyrical over the years desperately trying to describe what Joe meant to this club. On the field, his “Mr Consistency” tag was well earned, as on a weekly basis, he took his “teeth oot”, rolled up his sleeves and went to work, playing the game in the right way.

An immaculate tackler who went his whole career without seeing a red card, his time at Fir Park spanned eight managers, before he hung up his boots at the end of the 1983/84 campaign. It was a travesty that this true legend was never given a full Scotland cap, although he did gain a solitary Scottish League cap against England.

Joe died in 2015, at the age of 67, after a battle with Alzheimer’s. One of Motherwell’s most famous sons now takes his rightful place in our Hall of Fame.

Our Hall of Fame will welcome its new inductees in a special event in November.

Taking place at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday 13 November, the event will induct the classes of both 2020 and 2021.

The event is priced at £60 for adults and £30 for children aged under 12.

We will induct both the 2020 and 2021 intake at the event.

Buy your tickets online here now.

Current Hall of Famers include George Stevenson, Willie Pettigrew, Phil O’Donnell, Ally Maxwell and James McFadden.

We’re asking supporters to bring along items for our food bank collection at our match with Celtic on Saturday 16 October.

We’re collecting items on the day of the game for the Lanarkshire Community Food Partnership and the Motherwell Food Bank.

We are asking all fans to bring what they can to support this important cause, so that those in need can receive a food parcel to help.

Items needed are:

• Long life milk
• Tinned meat, curries, stew, etc
• Tinned potatoes and vegetables
• Tinned fruits, custard, puddings
• Tinned soups, beans
• Pasta, Rice, Noodles, Cereal, Jam
• Pasta sauces
• Diluting juice, crisps and biscuits
• Toiletries for men and women
• Cleaning products and toilet roll
• Pet foods

Home fans can drop off at the Cooper Stand car park. Away fan drop points are on your approach to the South Stand. Collections are available from 1.15pm.

“It is crucial that we continue to try and help people in need in our local community,” Motherwell FC chief executive Alan Burrows said.

“We are all too aware of the need for assistance that many in our local area have. With many still feeling the impact of the pandemic, on top of other factors, it is important that we all step up to give what we can.

“We hope that fans of both clubs will step up and help us collect as much as possible.”

Thank you for your help. Your contributions will be a massive help to those in need.

Our ever-popular Ladies Day event returns for 2021 when Motherwell host Ross County on Saturday 25 September.

Hosted by Gavin Wallace, there’s a full day of fun and laughter planned, as well as cash prizes for the best dressed in attendance.

We’ll also be joined by Love Island’s Harry Young.

The last few tickets are available. Get your before it’s too late.

Priced at £40 for season ticket holders, and £50 for non-season ticket holders, our Centenary Suite Ladies Day package starts at 12pm and includes:

• Complimentary cocktail on arrival
• A two-course meal served from 1pm
• Match ticket in the main stand
• Best dressed competition with cash prizes
• Games and music until 7pm

It’s a day not to be missed, thanks to our sponsors Cadzow Nursery and Manor Estate Agency.

To get your tickets, just buy online now at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk, email us at hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk or give us a call on 01698 333333.