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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.

The Well Society this week invited its members to play their part in shaping the direction of the organisation, as it seeks to strengthen its Board.

As the majority shareholder of Motherwell FC, the Society has provision for nine elected members and three co-opted members. With three members currently in post and four members up for re-election or election, they’re hoping to attract a number of strong candidates for the elected spots.

A spokesperson for the Society said: “Our Rules of Association state that part of our role is to encourage and promote the principle of supporter representation on the board. This is an opportunity for all adult members to take an active role in the Society, either by putting themselves forward to serve on the Well Society Board, or casting their vote when the time comes.

“We have recently looked at what our priorities should be, considering what skills and perspectives are currently missing around the table, and placing a particular focus on the need to increase diversity of representation on the Board. We would therefore particularly encourage nominations from women, young people, disabled people and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.”

Paid up members of the Society aged 18 or over, are eligible to put themselves forward. For more information, or to note interest in serving on the board, please email: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk by noon on Monday 18 September.

GOT A QUESTION?

For more information, or to discuss the role informally, please get in touch with us this week by email or by calling 01698 338009.

FURTHER INFORMATION

You can download the Well Society’s Rules of Association or check out the current Society Board set up.

Your opinion matters – join our focus group.

Well Society members often ask if they can have input into kit designs. Now they can!

Shirts are one of the elements of football you can touch. Just seeing that claret band, or petrol blue can stimulate your brain and trigger memories. The design and style of the shirt is important – from the colour scheme, the placement of logos and sponsorships, to the overall aesthetic appeal of the shirt. This is no different at Motherwell, and who better to influence our future uniform than the Fir Park Faithful?

Interested?

In order to fully represent the views of our club’s diverse fan base, and to stimulate engagement with the club, The Well Society will oversee a consultation with members regarding their thoughts, ideas and opinions on what makes the perfect Motherwell kit. The feedback will be collated, and any prevalent themes, ideas or opinions will be passed to the designers at Macron to influence our Home and Away kits for the 2024/25 season. Whilst we’re at it, why not send us your thoughts on a third kit?

The Well Society will be holding two focus groups at Fir Park on Wednesday 6 September​ from 6pm-7pm and from 7.15pm-8.15pm.

If you would like to apply to be on the focus group panel, please send an email to well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk with your full contact details and your preferred time slot by 5pm on Thursday 31 August. Please note this event is open to adult members of the Society only, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For those unable to attend in person, you can download Macron’s kit design app – My Macron Kit – to build your dream kit.

Junior Steel Members can also let their imagination run wild by sending us drawings of what they would like to see their heroes in. Email finished drawings to us or hand in their design to the Society at the Chapman Building.

Your design can be anything you like. However, please bear in mind the constraints the kit supplier may have in creating the kit, therefore anything too detailed or unrealistic may not be put forward for selection. Save and share your designs with us by emailing them to: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk

Whilst this input will be considered, it is not in the form of a competition, and not binding in terms of the final design.

We look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Want to join the Well Society? Sign up here.

Motherwell FC interim CEO Derek Weir will be the speaker at August’s Business Breakfast.

Tickets for the event, which takes place on Wednesday 16th August, are now on sale.

As well as being a Motherwell fan and former Vice Chairman of the football club, Derek has held leadership positions with some of the UK’s best-known banking institutions (Barclays Bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Cooperative Bank) and has a keen interest in urban regeneration. He has chaired a number of private companies and personally invested in seven start-ups. He has a wealth of business experience to share.

Derek will also give attendees a “behind the scenes” look at the challenges and joys of being in the hot-seat at Fir Park.

Doug Inglis of the Well Society said: “The Business Breakfast offers the opportunity for people to get together over a coffee and take away some knowledge or top tips to put into practice in their own line of work. We’re looking forward to learning from Derek’s rich business experience, and to seeing friends old and new on the 16^th August.”

Join us from 8.30am. Tickets are £10, are available on the website (please remember to sign in to your account if you have one).

Alternatively, please contact Sally Hall on 01698 338009 or email sally.hall@motherwellfc.co.uk to secure your place.

Membership of the Well Society has now passed the 3600-mark, with newcomers signing up from afar afield as Nashville, Tennessee.

American radio host Chris Chilvers has been watching the Well and couldn’t wait to become part of the club’s story. He said: “I’ve been taking in the games via the Paramount Streaming services that made the games available over the pond. I just fell in love with Motherwell.”

Chris is one of 20 members living in the US. He’s looking forward to receiving his welcome pack and hanging his Well Society certificate up in the radio booth. He’ll help get the message across the airwaves to his listeners too, boosting the overseas contingent of members.

Sisters Anna and Thea were our newest Junior Steel members to join up. They love MFC, enjoy the games and want a shot at being match day mascots, a chance all Junior Steel members have through our regular draw.

As well as receiving a welcome pack and other benefits, Society members have the opportunity to help shape the club and get involved.

Tom Feely, co-chair of the Society, said: “I’m delighted to reach this number, now we set the next target of another 100 members by the end of the year. Collectively we can do so much more. Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute and welcome to all the new members on board.”

Find out more about membership by contacting the Well Society.

Join here.

More information of Junior Steel membership is here.

On the day when Motherwell Football Club honoured legendary manager Tommy McLean, with the official celebration of the stand named in his honour, another story was being written which will live in the annals of history for years to come.

Kevin van Veen’s five-minute-strike made it 14 goals in 11 consecutive games for the Dutchman, a post war record, and one which broke the club milestone held by the prolific Hughie Ferguson. Ferguson scored 16 goals in season 1919-20, scoring in every one of the first 10 games. In modern times the Dutchman has overtaken Mark Viduka who scored 10 games on the trot.

Watching in the stands on Sunday, as the 103-club record was surpassed, was Hughie’s grandson, his namesake, Hugh.

A season ticket holder, the 66-year-old fan has cheered on the boys in claret and amber all his life and this season has watched as the Dutchman edged closer and closer to the family record.

“My feelings on breaking the record set by my grandfather were, to be honest, quite mixed,” said Hugh.

“As a family we are all extremely proud of Hughie’s achievements both at Motherwell and at Cardiff City FC, and it would be nice in an ideal world if all his records could have stayed intact. However, when Kevin scored I was on my feet cheering alongside every other Well fan in Fir Park!”

The Well Society arranged for Hugh, and daughter Louise (32), to catch up with the man of the moment following the victory over Dundee United. When they were pitchside Hugh handed over a Ferguson family crest, the motto of which reads: ‘Sweeter after difficulties.’

Hugh added: “I had made my mind up if he equalled or beat Hughie’s record I would like to be able to personally shake his hand and congratulate him on behalf of the family on a fantastic achievement.”

After a season of thrills and majestic moments on the pitch the big striker had one more move up his sleeve – by reciting back to Hugh his grandfather’s achievements.

“I know all about him,” Kevin told Hugh, “I read all his stats and the history and everything. Amazing!”

Hugh said he was “surprised” van Veen was fully aware of his grandfather’s many achievements.

He explained: “He said he was very impressed by all Hughie achieved in his career back in the day. He came across to me and my daughter as one of life’s good guys!

“I congratulated him on breaking the record and wished him well for the remainder of his playing career. He laughed and apologised for breaking the record. But I’m sure he was joking!”

Inspirational speaker John Carnochan will tackle the importance of relationships and the value of ‘being human’ when he addresses the audience at our forthcoming Business Breakfast.

A former Detective Chief Superintendent with Strathclyde Police, John is best known for helping establish the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in 2005. Tackling violence as a public health issue, this preventative approach ultimately saw the rates of violence across Scotland fall.

“Trouble happens when we are disconnected,” says John, “We’ll look at how we can build better relationships – with the people we work with, the people we serve and the community we live in.”

To book tickets for the event on Friday 31 March 2023, between 8.30am and 10am:

Book online by clicking here. (please remember to sign in or create an account)
Email us well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk with your name, company and contact number and we’ll get back to you
– call us on 01698 338009
See you there!

A fundraising ‘Well Society Day’ will be held at Fir Park as Motherwell FC take on fellow fan-owned club Heart of Midlothian FC on Sunday 19 February 2023. 

The day has been planned as a celebration of “fan-power” to remind supporters of the difference they make to their respective clubs.

“We want to show our fans the massive part they play in Motherwell FC,” said Douglas Dickie, Co-Chair of the Society, “and what better way than to have a whole day dedicated to them?”

The Society will have a visible presence prior to and during the match, which kicks off at noon, to answer member’s questions and hand out goodies. They will also highlight recent achievements, such as the U17s Foyle Cup win, and demonstrate how the Society has brought people together through football.

As well as giving fans the chance to win a hospitality package for 10, a number of children from the Junior Steel club and the Foundation of Hearts will take to the field as mascots.

The Society will also be hoping for a fundraising boost via a bucket collection on the day, and to add to their 3500-membership base.

Douglas added: “We’re a club who punch above our weight on so many levels, and this is made possible through the generosity of our members. They are a crucial cog in our long-term vision of a fully integrated club. Anything we can do to make them feel valued is worth it.”

And whilst competition will be fierce on the park, off it there will be a chance for colleagues from the Well Society and the Foundation of Hearts – the majority shareholders in each club – to catch up.

“Fan ownership is a journey and we’ve helped each other out along the way,” said Douglas, “we’ll look forward to continuing this relationship.”

For more information, and to enter the hospitality draw, contact The Well Society on 01698 338009 or email: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk.

One of the best things about Motherwell FC is that any fan can become an owner of the club they love.

Gift membership of the Well Society is on offer with adult membership 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 (or fast-growing teen) 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
• Discounted access to Well Society events at Fir Park and beyond

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.