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“Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” (UNESCO)

Many of you may recall that in 2016 Motherwell fans received questionnaires to collect their views on what a Club heritage project might look like. And now we’re looking to update that with a special event in April to collate thoughts and gauge interest in such a project.

The key findings from the 2016 questionnaire were:

• 100% of respondents thought the heritage of Motherwell Football Club is either very important (78%) or important (22%) to the local community
• 100% of respondents agreed that the heritage of Motherwell Football Club should be collected, preserved and made available to the community and future generations
• 85% of respondents would like to see a permanent exhibition of the Club’s heritage at Fir Park;
• 62% would like to see a Heritage Trail at Fir Park.

So much has changed since then.

But one thing remains the same. A desire to develop a vision for all things ‘Heritage’.

Over the past year or so, building on studies undertaken pre-pandemic, a volunteer Heritage Working Group has been tasked with assessing the feasibility of establishing a range of ‘heritage experiences’ throughout Fir Park Stadium.

Why does our heritage matter?

Brian McCafferty from the Working Group explains: “Most families have a heritage; a sense of our identity bound by stories from generations past and present – inherited possessions, photographs, and artefacts that can shape the hopes and aspirations for new arrivals.

“So too with a football club like ours. For many fans, our club is a part of our family, and a cornerstone of our local community, in which we take great pride.”

Many clubs at home and abroad have developed a variety of projects to curate, record, preserve and celebrate their history, making their heritage accessible to people far and wide.

“We have the opportunity to follow suit, preserve what we have – physical objects, documents, films, original records – and keep these safe for future generations,” added Brian.

Football heritage is not just limited to artefacts. It also includes knowledge and understanding passed from generation to generation, such as tales from memorable matches, players’ performances as well as identifying common themes that have prevailed throughout the Club’s long history.

Heritage working group

In response to the key findings of the questionnaires and extensive research, including from home and abroad, the group has now developed an outline concept plan of what might be possible.

Brian concludes: “Before setting anything in stone, we’ll seek input from Well Society members, fans and other stakeholders and their views will inform a more detailed concept plan for further consultation.”

Initially, an evening event is being proposed, hopefully in April where the group will present their design ideas and take-in suggestions. The bar will also be open. Watch out for further news on this.

When we hoist the Well Society flag above Fir Park ahead of our SPFL fixture against St Mirren it’ll signal the start of Well Society Day.

To kick off the countdown to the match on Saturday 30 March we’re today launching our hospitality package draw and giving you a peek at what’s in store on the day.

We’ll be celebrating Motherwell FC as a club for everyone, and inviting those who make the club what it is to take a bow. We’ll also:

• give Junior Steel members and their St Mirren counterparts the chance to run out with their heroes as mascots
• celebrate both clubs’ commitment – as fan-owned clubs – to their respective communities, by inviting a community champion to lead each team onto the pitch
• have an opportunity for youngsters to take part in team announcements and pitchside activity
• ensure Steelman and Raven Steel make an appearance to entertain the kids
• raise money through a bucket collection for the Society
• be on hand to answer your questions about membership and the direction of travel of the Well Society

Be in the mix

To give your child the chance to get involved in match day activity – including the opportunity to claim up to four FREE tickets – ensure they’re signed up as a Junior Steel member. You can sign up for as little as £2 per month or renew here. Please email the child’s name and date of birth to: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk

Already a Junior Steel member?

Look out for details over the coming week on how to get involved. If you haven’t claimed your full allocation of free Junior Steel tickets this season already, now is your chance. Email: ticketing@motherwellfc.co.ukwith the child’s name, number of tickets required and a contact number. See the webpage for conditions.

Get involved in the draw

For just £20 per ticket you can have the opportunity to win a hospitality package for six people which includes:

• two course meal
• tickets for the Phil O’Donnell stand
• traditional half time refreshments
• complimentary bar pre and post-match
• the chance to make man of the match selection and be presented with a first team top

To take part in the hospitality draw scan the QR code below or click here to buy a ticket. Then drop us a line: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk / 01698 338009 for tickets. Multiple entries are permitted. The winner must be aged over 18. The draw will take place at noon on Friday 22 March.

Doug Inglis and grandson Josh Bell were invited to the boardroom at Fir Park ahead of the recent Ross County match. Board member Maureen Downie praised Doug’s contribution to Society and handed over some gifts from colleagues.

Doug then watched as his predicted 5-0 win came to pass, the Steelmen putting the visitors to the sword. The icing on the cake for Doug was a visit from Player of the Match Blair Spittal, his favourite player.

“Meeting Blair on the night he scored two goals, had one assist (arguably two!) and was man of the match can’t be topped,” said Doug.

Motherwell Football Club’s recent ‘Hollywood-style’ investment campaign has certainly had an impact.

With Well Society membership now through the 3800 barrier – and climbing – new members are joining all the way from Motherwell to Michigan.

To date the cheeky film – in which players invited Hollywood A-listers to support the club – has gone viral, with more than 2.4million views on X, and a whopping 92,000 views on YouTube.

Well Society members had a starring role in the film, with Junior Steel member Ruairidh McAtamney inviting singer Taylor Swift to “gie’s some dosh” at the end of the 90-second piece.

“We may not have signed Taylor Swift up yet, but it certainly galvanised fans into action,” said Douglas Dickie, co-chair of the Well Society.

“Since the campaign launched on Wednesday 10 January we’ve welcomed almost 100 new members. The vast majority of these are taking out adult membership, and we’ve also seen existing members increase their monthly contribution or restart lapsed memberships.”

Ann and Drew Duncan (pictured) are amongst the new members joining. Drew said: “I’ve been talking about doing this for a long time. The recent promo video was just the push I needed to stop procrastinating and just get it done.”

Dean Russell from Seattle said his boys George and Henry love watching and playing football and joining was a great way to expand their passion for the game.

“They can be excited to be owners of a club – that’s pretty cool,” said Dean. “We also talk about supporting the sport in different ways and keeping clubs local. That is not how clubs are here in the US. When I saw the chance to get them involved in understanding how a local club works in this model, I wanted the chance to get involved.”

Join the Well Society from as little as £5 per month and support the club on and off the pitch.

Call 01698 338009 for more information or email: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk.

It’s December and the countdown to Christmas has already begun. If you’re struggling to think what to get for the Motherwell fan in your life, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Gift membership of the Well Society is back!

Adult membership is available at the discounted price of £50, whilst Junior Steel membership is £25.

Junior Steel membership (0-15 years old)

Sign up your wee one and they’ll receive:

• A Welcome Pack including Junior Steel certificate and keyring
• An ‘I Own MFC’ scarf exclusive to Junior Steel members
• A personalised birthday card
• A personalised Christmas card

All this plus a chance to be a mascot on matchday!

You can purchase a Junior Steel membership online.

Adult membership

Adult members also receive goodies, as well as the knowledge that they’re helping represent the interests of the community in the running of the club. Members are entitled to:

• A Welcome Pack including Certificate of Ownership, keyring and pin badge
• One share in the Well Society, giving you a vote on Well Society issues and a say on some club matters
• An opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the Well Society and the club
• Be added to the weekly newsletter list

Adult membership is available to purchase online.

If you have any queries drop us a line, give us a call on 01698 338009 or contact the Well Society using our contact form.

Gift membership entitles the recipient to one year’s membership of the Well Society, after which they will be invited to renew.

Motherwell Women duo Paul Brownlie and Leanne Crichton have made one of their most important signings – by joining the Well Society, and taking membership past the 3700-mark.

They join thousands of others contributing to keep Motherwell FC in fans’ hands.

Head of Women and Girls at Motherwell FC, Paul said: “The Well Society have been supportive of the journey the women’s set up has been on, with recent funding of £10,000. So we’re delighted to give back a little in return.”

Douglas Dickie, co-chair of the Well Society, said: “Earlier in the year we set a target to get to 3700 members by Hogmanay, so we’ve hit that early. Now we’ll look to get to 4000 people actively supporting the club. Thank you to Paul, Leanne and everyone else who has signed up so far. Your contributions mean we can do so much more, as a fan-owned club, to ensure Motherwell FC thrives.”

Some of that work has been around ensuring football is a sport for everyone. Alongside the Motherwell FC Community Trust, the Society has organised events and opportunities for those interested in girls and women’s football.

The Society are continuing to work with Paul and Leanne to raise the profile of the women’s game. They are looking for events and marketing volunteers to help enhance matchdays and promote bigger crowds. Anyone interested should get in touch or call 01698 338009.

As well as receiving a welcome pack and other benefits, Society members have the opportunity to help shape the future of the club and get involved. Why not join today?

The first of our Junior Steel matches is almost upon us.

With more fun and excitement planned around the Ross County fixture we wanted to introduce you to our lucky mascots. Please give them all a big cheer as tomorrow as they undertake their duties.

Remember, the only way to be in with a chance of leading the team out on the hallowed turf of Fir Park is to join the Junior Steel Club. There’s lots of other perks of being a member, including four FREE tickets per season and the chance to be involved in the match build up and half-time fun.

With the Family Fun Day also taking place from 12noon, we hope you’ll come and visit the Well Society stall in front of the Phil O’Donnell Stand for some stickers and other goodies. Look out for Steelman too!

Three Motherwell fans have been appointed as Supporter Liaison Officers (SLOs) at the club, to help enhance the match day experience for all fans.

Russell Hepburn, Kate Kelter and Graham MacNair will share the UEFA-approved role after the Well Society cast the net for volunteers.

As well as providing a point of contact for any issues on match days, the SLOs will encourage the involvement and engagement of supporters and feed their views into the club decision making process.

Ticketing and travel information for away games will be communicated through a new, dedicated X (formerly Twitter) account: @MotherwellFCSLO. Further information is available on the SLO page of the website.

Tom Feely, co-chair of the Well Society, said: “As a fan-owned club, the SLO role is something we have wanted to develop. We’re looking forward to working alongside Russell, Kate and Graham to ensure better two-way communication, and a good experience – home and away – for all fans.”

Kate’s background in nursing gives her a level-headed, practical approach. She said: “I’m a life-long fan of Motherwell, through thick and thin. I want the very best for fans and club alike. I have years of experience both personally and professionally, and am looking forward to the opportunity to put these skills into practice for the benefit of the club I love.”

Russell is the youngest of the three, but has already notched up experience in the communication sector, acting as a social video journalist and editor.

He said: “I’m confident that my experience, and the fact that I am a normal fan, will ensure I’m approachable for fans to come to with any issues. I’m passionate about getting to know more of our fan-base and to help ensure communication is a two-way process.”

A former senior manager in Financial Services IT for more than 30 years, Edinburgh-based Graham can’t wait to get involved.

He said: “I was born a stone’s throw from Fir Park. I am a life-long supporter and have seen the ‘good, the bad and the ugly’ through the years.

“I try to get to as many away matches as I can, and was one of the founding members of the East of Scotland MFC Supporters Club, and continue to play an active role in the branch three decades on.

“I am well versed in the kinds of issues that fans face when they live far from Fir Park, or when they travel to games, and I look forward to the start of a new initiative to improve communications between fans and the football club.”

The trio will share match day duties across the season, with Kate Kelter on duty at McDiarmid Park in Perth this Saturday as we get back to SPFL league action against St Johnstone.

Three new faces will be on the Well Society Board, alongside three re-elected members, following the Society’s bid to strengthen its board.

New members Sean Baillie, Amber Johnstone and Philip Speedie were elected to the board, with Douglas Dickie, Maureen Downie and Jay Henderson returned. They will join sitting members Tom Feely, Markus Schieren and Derek Watson to make up a board of nine elected members.

Amber Johnstone works in human resources and anticipates helping the Society progress its business aims. She said: “I am excited and grateful to have been selected to serve as a board member and look forward to the opportunity to work closely with the other members to continually improve our wee club.”

Project manager Philip Speedie has been involved with the club for the past 10 years as matchday host. He said: “I am delighted to have been elected to the board of the Well Society. It is particularly exciting to have the opportunity to work alongside board members and the wider membership to drive forward fan ownership of our club. Thank you to all those who lent me their vote; I will do all I can to repay your support.”

Sean Baillie is a regional organiser at GMB Scotland, responsible for growing and supporting over 6000 members employed by Glasgow City Council. He said: “Thank you to everyone who voted. I am looking forward to being able to play a larger part in the next phase of fan ownership. By continuing to improve our structures off the park, we are building on the foundations for success on it.”

Following the election, Society co-chair Tom Feely said: “Part of our role is to encourage and promote the principle of supporter representation on the board. The process attracted a number of strong candidates for the elected spots, which was a great position to be in. There were a number of high-quality individuals in the running and we want to thank them all for putting themselves forward.

“Thanks to everyone who voted. One area where we can perhaps improve is on encouraging a greater turnout, and we will look at what can be learned from this election for the future.

“We will welcome our new colleagues at the next board meeting on Monday 23^rd October, where there will be plenty on the agenda for everyone to get their teeth into.”

Doug Inglis, one of the longest-serving members on the board, will step down. Douglas Dickie said: “Doug has been a source of encouragement, positivity and drive on the board. His contribution to the Society and to the club as a whole is much appreciated and we wish him all the best.”

The new trio will join Douglas, Maureen and Jay, all returned to the board.

Douglas has been on the Well Society board since 2015, currently acting as co-chair, and vice chair of the club board. Jay, a policy and public affairs officer for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, has served on the board for the past six years alongside Maureen, whose background is in account management and training.

The Well Society Board is now up to full strength in terms of elected members, with nine in post to help shape the future direction of the Society.

The next Well Society Board meeting is Monday 23^rd October.

Motherwell Women will receive a significant financial contribution following a £10,000 funding increase from the Well Society.

The club maintain aspirations of establishing Motherwell Women as a competitive outfit in the top-half of the SWPL, and that prospect was strengthened this week, as the side will receive a cash injection that will provide access to elite coaching and support staff for players from academy level through to the first-team.

“The journey we are on here at Motherwell is all about creating a pathway for young players and creating as professional an environment as we can,” Head of Women and Girls Football, Paul Brownlie, said.

“This funding will ensure players can maintain access to high level coaching, quality facilities and support staff – such as sports scientists – who can help our teams maximise their performance.

“On behalf of the players and the staff, we’d like to say thank you to members of the Well Society for this funding, and for their encouragement and support for our women and girls throughout the season.”

Motherwell Women currently sit eighth in the top-flight of Scottish women’s football with ambitions of progressing into regular top-six finishes. Paul and assistant coach Leanne Crichton, who are both undertaking their UEFA Pro Licence – the highest UEFA coaching certificate available – together strive for continuous improvement both on and off the pitch.

Motherwell FC Girls’ Academy has maintained an Elite Level status within the Scottish FA’s National Academy Programme, which governs the development of the game for those aged between 14-18. National Academy Programme status considers performance in areas such as coaching qualifications, sports science and medical setups, as well as domestic and international appearances for home-grown players. Maintaining this quality approach is vital to the club.

“Paul and his team are driving the women’s game forward,” Tom Feely, co-chair of the Well Society, explained.

“The Society believes that football is a sport for everyone, and when one part of the club flourishes, it impacts the whole club.

“They’ve built a terrific pathway and are striving to make the women’s team as competitive as they can be. We wanted to help by providing funding, but also practical support, to enhance match day experiences and promote the women’s game.”

The first-team squad will return home to K-Park this weekend, with Dundee United the visitors on Sunday 15th October. Kick off is 4pm.

“We’d love to see as many fans at that game as possible, to drive the team on in what is an important league encounter for us,” Paul added.

As well as featuring the women’s team on Junior Steel materials, and promoting games and initiatives, the Society is also seeking to recruit event and marketing volunteers to assist on match days. If you’d be interested in this role, please get in touch.