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We will honour the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame Class of 2020 with a unique virtual induction event this winter.

Our Hall of Fame was launched in November 2019 at a memorable dinner in the Bothwell Bridge Hotel.

George Stevenson, Willie Pettigrew, Ally Maxwell and James McFadden were all inducted, with our fans’ vote adding Phil O’Donnell to complete the inaugural group.

The current Covid-19 restrictions make a similar night impossible in 2020. Instead, we will have a special live, free-to-air, online event coming soon.

Tam Cowan will again host, and our assistant manager – and former club captain – Keith Lasley will join him to induct four more legends from the club’s past.

We are also once again launching a special fans’ vote for a five inductee.

You can join in the vote by nominating any individual from any era in Motherwell’s past – player, manager or official – who you think is worthy of being included in the 2020 class.

Click here to vote for who you want to see in the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

We will shortly be announcing the other four inductees who will either receive their induction on the night, either in person or represented by a relative, the date of which will be announced in due course.

The four inductees usually come from four broad groups:

1886 – 1939
1945 – 1969
1970 – 1995
1996 – 2020

“It was crucial to continue the Hall of Fame this year, despite the Covid-19 restrictions,” chief executive Alan Burrows said.

“We want to ensure this is an annual induction, and being a member of the Hall of Fame really means something special to those involved, which is why we will carry on with an online version.

“All four in the class of 2020 have made incredible contributions to Motherwell FC and are already, rightly, genuine club legends.

“The event itself is only possible thanks to the brilliant backing of our five sponsors, who I thank very much for their ongoing support. I hope fans enjoy the event when we broadcast it live across our platforms later this year.”

Our precautionary round of Covid-19 testing has returned negative results for the entire playing squad and coaching staff.

After one player tested positive earlier this week, we took the measure of an additional round of tests to ensure the health and safety of all, including our weekend opponents Ross County.

With no-one other than our positive player required to isolate and no further Covid-19 cases, Saturday’s Premiership match will go ahead as planned.

A member of our playing squad has tested positive for Covid-19.

Following testing on Tuesday morning, we then learned of the result.

The player in question immediately went into self-isolation and underwent a secondary test on Wednesday, which also returned positive.

No other squad members or staff members tested positive in that round of testing, and no-one has been required to isolate under contact tracing procedure.

As a precaution, the playing squad and coaching staff will undergo further tests on Friday morning.

Racism has no place in football. Racism has no place in society.

We are proudly continuing our support for Show Racism the Red Card, as they continue their Fortnight of Action. The education charity have spread messages of tolerance and inclusion within football for many years.

Now more than ever, the importance of this fortnight cannot be overstated.

Our fight to end racism exists every day. This weekend against Ross County – and across all Scottish football matches – we as clubs will united to call for an end to racial discrimination and inequality throughout society.

Show Racism the Red Card work all year round with schools, workplaces, grassroots, youth football clubs and the prison service to educate young people and adults on challenging prejudice and stereotypes, using the power of football as a positive way to instigate conversation on anti-racism.

Covid-19 and events overseas have shone a light on the growing inequalities that some of us unfairly face. Still today, many experience this disproportionately due to the colour of their skin.

Last year in Scotland, 81% of young people felt more confident in identifying and safely challenging racism after working directly with Show Racism the Red Card.

Scottish football is committed to eradicating racism and discrimination in all its forms from our game. We call on our supporters to continue to challenge racism. It is the responsibility of us all to ensure that the anti-racism message is carried out beyond the Fortnight of Action.

“It is so important that we continue to push the message that racism has no place in our sport or society,” Motherwell FC manager Stephen Robinson said.

“Sadly, we continue to see incidents of racism around the world. Whether they are occurring on our doorstep or thousands of miles away, the connected world we live in means that these despicable moments are brought close to home for all.

“We must never be complacent. We must never stop calling it for what it is. We must stand against racism.”

We stand with everyone who has had to endure racial prejudice in all areas of their lives. We condemn all forms of racism and any racist behaviour will not be tolerated at our club.

Football is a sport that is loved by people across the world and football matches should be an enjoyable experience for all, whatever your background. Education is the key. We support Show Racism the Red Card to ensure our future generation are equipped with the tools to challenge and eradicate racism from football and society.

For useful resources and information, please visit theredcard.org or follow the organisation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Our main sponsor Paycare have teamed up with iconic fragrance brand Molton Brown to offer an exclusive range of discounts on Eau de Parfum and Toilette, Bath, Body and Hair Care, and Home collections.

The partnership, which saw Paycare staff and policyholders given access to unique offers for a limited time back in May, was formed when Molton Brown’s Sarah White met Paycare CEO Kevin Rogers at a pre-lockdown football match in Scotland.

The first tranche of discounts proved so popular that there will be even more exclusive products and discounts on offer from 16 October to 9 November.

“The initial offering ran during May, at a time when we knew many of our policyholders were struggling with being in lockdown and not being able to jet away for their summer holidays,” explained Paycare CEO Rogers.

“In addition to the range of services we were able to continue offering throughout the spring peak of the pandemic – like our Wellbeing services and newly-launched Bundle product, including our well-loved and well-used MyPocket GP app and Employee Assistance Programme – we wanted to remind people how important it was to relax, unwind and take care of their own wellbeing.

“It was so well received that a repeat in autumn – when many of us are starting to think about festive gifting – seemed perfect, even before we knew tighter restrictions were about to be announced by the Government.

“As a luxury brand, with a strong sense of care, Molton Brown is a perfect fit and we’re delighted to continue the partnership, helping many of our Policyholders to truly unwind and focus on taking time for mental wellbeing.”

Sarah White, Corporate Sales at Molton Brown, added: “Our partnership with Paycare allows us to add luxurious moments to daily routines.

“From iconic Bath and Shower Gels to nourishing Body Lotions, our exquisite fragrances refresh, intrigue or unwind the senses. During these uncertain times, our reassuring gestures of care and cleansing are more important than ever.

“With our second promotion, we’re adding an extra twinkle to uplift the spirits this festive season; featuring shower gel-filled Baubles and sensational gift sets that’ll bring joy to loved ones.”

Paycare policyholders can access the discounts through their MyPaycare Portal between Friday 16 October and Monday 9 November 2020.

With no reserve football on offer in the 2020/21 season, new ways have had to be found to ensure the next crop of talented Motherwell youngsters can progress.

While David Turnbull, James Scott, Jake Hastie, Barry Maguire and countless others have benefitted from having the opportunity to play minutes, the current batch faced sitting in the stands waiting for first team opportunities.

The start of the lower league season in Scotland has opened the door to a number going out on loan, combining playing meaningful football with still training with the team at Dalziel Park.

Harry Robinson, Ross MacIver, PJ Morrison, Jamie Semple and Sam Muir have all taken the step so far, with others likely to follow at the right moment.

“The players could stay here and potentially be the 21st man,” Diarmuid O’Carroll, who is responsible for overseeing their development away from the club, explained.

“But they get much more from being out in real football. Playing for points every week, competing and getting used to the rigours of first team football day-to-day.

“Whether they come back in January or the summer, hopefully they will be ready to go straight in and be a fully-fledged first team player.”

Queen of the South, Greenock Morton, Falkirk, Cove Rangers and Gretna are the respective clubs where our young talent are currently earning their stripes.

Picking the right destination for each player has also been part of the design of the new way of doing things.

“We’ve picked the clubs and the coaches specifically so that we can work with them, so we can put demands on their training structure,” O’Carroll expanded.

“We also then analyse the player in games so they can work on it when they are back in the building during the week.

“Generally most weeks they will be with us one to two days. They are still very much in the circle.

“It’s not like they are out of sight, out of mind. These are still very much first team squad members for us.”

Getting the chance to play competitive football in pressured environments, as opposed to sitting in the stand on a Saturday, is crucial both for the club and the development of the players.

“It’s an experience more than anything else,” O’Carroll said.

“Showing they are capable physically, technically and tactically to go and be a big boy. Be a man in a man’s environment and then come back.

“We’ve seen with Jamie Semple already, coming back in after a few weeks. You can see he’s already puffed the shoulders out and developed over the course of a month.

“Hopefully they all develop, enjoy it, field the challenge and come back ready to go.”

The impact of kindness on our brain is the key message at an upcoming e-clinic led by Kerry Mitchell, wellbeing manager and mental health trainer with our main partners Paycare.

It is part of a series of online sessions our sponsor are running for free. The clinic starts at 10am on Tuesday, 20 October.

The hour-long e-clinic will include six science-backed ways that being kind is good for you and others, how the kindness actually impacts the brain, and referral pathways for talking therapies.

Attendees will also look at the factors which make people feel uncomfortable starting a conversation about mental health, and some of the current research associated with World Mental Health Day, which takes place across the globe in October

To secure your free place at the next session, or for more information about Paycare Wellbeing’s Mental Health Training, email wellbeing@paycare.org.

Kerry, Paycare’s Mental Health First Aid qualified trainer, said: “The e-clinic is part of a series being held once a month. During October we wanted to support organisations to be able to respond with kindness, and the real-life benefits associated with the way we treat others.

“This year has been a tough one, particularly for people living with mental illness and their carers. Research suggests that nearly 80% of people living with mental illness say that Covid-19 and associated lockdown has made their mental health worse.

“After World Mental Health Day, we will tie in the theme of how kindness can act as a chemical and can further support others who are dealing with mental health.”

In addition to the webinars, Paycare Wellbeing is also extending its online offering to complement its pre-pandemic face-to-face Mental Health First Aid training options, incorporating the new accredited online version of the full Mental Health First Aider course.

For more information about Paycare Wellbeing’s E-Clinics, head to their latest blog.

Go behind the scenes on our trips to Northern Ireland and Israel in episode 12 of Inside Motherwell.

We’ve some great prizes to win thanks to our partner Nutrition X.

Nutrition X offer a range of products and supplements scientifically formulated by a team of world-renowned sports nutritionists, designed to support athletic performance from every angle.

The competition bundle is worth £65.96 and includes:

• Repair Shots – Raspberry
• Hydra+ – Lemon
• Hydra+ – Blackcurrant
• Xplode Shots – Orange

Dedicated to quality, each of their products are batch-tested and Informed Sport certified, giving athletes the reassurance they need that every product adheres to substances listed on the WADA banned substance list.

As a result, they have fast become the number one choice for elite athletes and professional sports teams around the world, and are proud to fuel top-level clubs across multiple disciplines.

‘We are so proud to be working alongside Motherwell Football Club for the 2020/21 season,” said Nutrition X’s managing director James Markey.

“It’s fantastic to be supporting their head of sports science Andy Boles and the players with their nutritional requirements throughout the busy year ahead for the club.”

To enter, just tweet to @nutrition_x with the answer to the following question. Don’t forget to follow their account too.

Question: What’s the name of Nutrition X’s award-winning collagen-based recovery shot? (pssst…you can head to their website to find out at nutritionx.co.uk)

Our main sponsor Paycare have launched their Bundle Wellbeing package, which aims to help employers engage their teams and to keep them mentally, physically and financially healthy.

For £2 per employee per month, it includes access to a support helpline, round-the-clock GP appointments, and an extensive discount scheme. It’s designed to give employees working for businesses who sign up the opportunity to access a holistic wellbeing service.

Bundle includes three elements: the first is a round-the-clock telephone support with MyHelpline, which can be used to chat confidentially about a wide range of life events from stress management, debt or legal support and relationship breakdowns to signposting towards caring resources for elderly relatives.

Members will also gain access to Paycare’s well-loved 24/7 online and telephone GP consultation service to help them receive quicker access to healthcare support. MyPocketGP aims to take the pressure off the NHS and ensure those using it can get a telephone call, video consultation or message a doctor at a time convenient to them – without having to physically visit their medical practice.

The MyPocketGP app can be accessed worldwide, with all of the service’s doctors being experienced NHS GPs who can help any time, day or night. Either with a phone call or with the booking of a video consultation, follow up actions on the doctor’s advice can include a private prescription service with medication delivered to the patient’s door or even an open private specialist referral for further investigation of more complex conditions.

The third part of Bundle is access to Paycare Perks – a Paycare exclusive online discount platform which offers a variety of everyday savings on health and fitness, shopping, leisure and entertainment products and services.

“At Paycare we have a long and proud history of helping some of the region’s biggest and smallest employers to find the right way to support their teams,” Anthony Burns, Paycare’s commercial director, said.

“Many companies implement plans to support their employees’ health through our range of Health Cash Plans, but this isn’t the only way that we can help.

“Bundle, available for any business with two or more employees, is an affordable choice for employers who want to offer their teams some recognition for hard work, support for their mental, physical and financial health and as a reward that also proves great for business.

“For us, it’s all about looking at the entire health and wellbeing of our members — not just their physical health but their mental, emotional and financial wellbeing too. That’s why our Bundle has been designed to help employees access support for all these integral parts of their overall health and happiness and offer key benefits that find a logical place within almost any wellbeing strategy.

“Bundle mirrors the fantastic wellbeing services integral to many of Paycare’s Health Cash Plans, for a fraction of the cost at just £2 per employee. This was an idea conceived and trialled with over 300 members before we’d even heard the words Covid-19.

“We know that support like the virtual GP consultations and telephone counselling have become ever more essential during this health crisis, and with ongoing changes to working patterns, priorities and demands for lots of businesses, we know health and wellbeing support will continue to be on the agenda for all.

“Bundle is a great low-cost, high-value employee benefit, which supports wellbeing strategy, shows your team that you care while supporting their holistic health needs.”

To register for Bundle, visit www.paycare.org/bundle or to ask any questions, please email anthonyburns@paycare.org.