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The women of steel brought their pre-season campaign to an emphatic conclusion, placing three past English FA National league Division One North side, Halifax Women at the Bumblebee Stadium on Sunday. 

Carla Boyce continued her exceptional goalscoring form, converting twice from distance, as Trialist rattled home a third in the early stages of the second-half. 

Head Coach, Iain Robinson named four trialists in his starting XI, with Rebeca Cameron, Jenna Penman, Chelsie Watson, Tegan Browning, Shannon leishman, Hannah Cairns and Carla Boyce completing the starting team. 

The dominant scoreline failed to accurately represent the intense start to the contest, with Halifax producing the first opportunity of the afternoon within the opening minute. A well-worked counter-attack left the Motherwell backline scrambling to recover. After passing Hannah Cairns, the overlapping run soon took Shannon Leishman out of position, and Rebecca Cameron had to react sharply to parry beyond her near post. 

Three-minutes later, Halifax produced another strike onto the Motherwell goal. Cameron again being called into action to divert a long-range strike over the crossbar. 

Cameron made her third save of the afternoon by the fifth-minute, tipping a close-range header onto the crossbar before clearing the rebound. 

By the half-hour mark, Motherwell had regrouped, and continued to pressurise the Halifax goal. Carla Boyce finally broke the deadlock seconds later perfectly-weighting a chipped effort from distance over the head of the visiting goalkeeper. 

On the stroke of half-time, Boyce replicated her opener, catching the Halifax goalkeeper considerably far from her goalline – and the experienced striker calmly placed her strike beyond the goalkeeper. 

In the latter stages of the second-half, Motherwell sealed the victory. Trialists delivery from the right-flank ricocheted through several players before falling to the feet of trialist at the edge of the box, who brilliantly caught the ball sweetly on the half-volley, with the ball nestling comfortably into the bottom-left corner. 

Iain Robinson’s side will now turn their attention to their Sky Sports League Cup opener next weekend after concluding their pre-season campaign with back-to-back victories. 

The women of steel continued to ramp up their pre-season preparations, after comfortably defeating Queens Park in a behind closed doors friendly at the Excelsior Stadium on Wednesday. 

Mason Clark racked up four-goals, with academy graduate and second-half substitute, Lia Young, completing her second-half hat-trick. Carla Boyce completed the goals for Motherwell, with the visitors netting a late consolation. 

Head Coach, Iain Robinson named four trialists in his starting XI, with Rebeca Cameron, Jenna Penman, Chelsie Watson, Tegan Browning, Shannon leishman, Mason Clark and Carla Boyce completing the starting team. 

Motherwell’s imposed their top-flight experience from the outset, pressurising the visiting squad into trading possession deep into their own third. 

Carla Boyce produced the first opportunity of the half, finding space on the left-hand side of the visiting penalty area, but her shot failed to trouble the keeper. 

Mason Clark almost created the opener less than two-minutes later. The young forward carefully worked her way to the right byline before clipping a delicate pass across the face of goal, with trialist connecting on the half-volley, but her effort was comfortably parried clear. 

The opening goal soon followed. Mason Clark again causing the visitors problems, latching onto an enticing through ball, and Clark calmly placed her strike past the keeper to break the deadlock. 

The second came only three-minutes later. A precise through ball from Trialist left Carla Boyce bearing down on goal, and the striker elected to take aim from distance, brilliantly chipping the visiting goalkeeper from 30-yards to double the advantage. 

Jenna Penman almost made it three minutes later. Trialists delivery across the face of goal escaped the grasp of the goalkeeper, leaving Penman free to strike at the back post, but the defenders effort smashed into the outstretched leg of the keeper. 

The same opportunity replicated itself almost immediately. Trialists low delivery from the left-flank fell into the path of Clark, who from three-yards out, fired home the third. 

Rebecca Cameron was called into action for the first time moments before the break. A long-range strike bounced awkwardly before the shot-stopper, but Cameron was able to react sharply to parry clear. 

The reaction to Motherwell’s intense press, and Queens Park’s intention to continually build from the goalkeeper soon prevailed. The Glasgow-side intended to play their way around the press, but Clark intuitively intercepted, and following a clever one-two with Boyce, Clark coolly slotted home into the bottom-right corner. 4-0. 

The fifth and final goal of the first-half came three-minutes from the break. Trialists driving run on the right allowed her to cut the ball back to Clark at the edge of the box, and the midfielder brilliantly curled a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner. 5-0. 

As the second-half resumed, both sides played a refreshed squad mixing experience and youth. Motherwell’s academy soon linked up for the sixth. Hannah Cairns’ chased the ball to the byline before lashing a low cross to Lia Young. Her initial attempt was blocked, but she made no mistake with the rebound. 

Young had her second and Motherwell’s seventh 10-minutes later, curling a precise finish  past the Queens Park shot-stopper. 7-0. 

The visitors instantly pulled one back from the restart. A delivery from the right isn’t dealt with, and the striker prodded home from a yard out. 

Young secured her hat-trick and Motherwell’s eighth in the latter stages, as Motherwell secured a comfortable 8-1 victory. 

Midfielder Mia McArthur has completed a loan deal from Rangers until the end of the season, subject to SFA clearance. 

The youngster will rejoin the women of steel after impressing on-loan last campaign. 

McArthur cemented her place alongside Lucy Ronald in the Motherwell midfield last season, gaining a wealth of senior experience after regularly featuring for Scottish Power Women’s Premier League 2 side, Gartcairn across the first-half of the 2025/26 campaign. 

“I’m really pleased to be back here at Motherwell,” McArthur said. 

“The squad welcomed me with open arms last season, and there was a really great feeling in the dressing room. Iain gave me my senior debut in the top-flight, and I felt that it was still the perfect environment for me to develop as a player. 

“I can’t wait to meet up with the squad again.” 

The 19-year-old’s performances on the domestic footballing scene have continued to catch the eye internationally, with McArthur regularly selected to represent the Scotland under-19 squad. 

“We’re really pleased to welcome Mia back to the club,” Robinson noted. 

“She is a very exciting young player, and you could see that from her performances last season. She was very composed, competed well and created valuable competition for places. 

“We are looking forward to continuing her development this season.” 

Highly-rated midfielder, Saoirse Coyle-Morrow has joined the club on a season-long loan deal from Rangers, subject to SFA clearance. 

The exciting 16-year-old talent broke through the ranks at Celtic before crossing the Glasgow divide at only 12-years-old. She rose sharply through the ranks at Ibrox before making her senior debut at 15-years-old in the Sky Sports Cup Quarter-Final victory over partick Thistle. 

Her first senior goal soon followed, with Coyle-Morrow bending home an unstoppable free-kick to secure a dominant 8-0 victory over Renfrew Ladies in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup. 

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“We are delighted to have secured Saoirse for the forthcoming Eason,” Head Coach Iain Robinson said. 

“Saoirse is an extremely talented young midfielder, who has been a target for a number of clubs. It’s a huge positive for us that she has really bought into our vision for the club, and recognised our recent record at developing young players in the Scottish top-flight.” 

“We look forward to welcoming her into the squad, and supporting her development this season.”

The women of steel continued to ramp up their preparations ahead of the forthcoming domestic campaign, as they narrowly succumbed to hosts Livingston under the West Lothian sunshine at Almondvale on Sunday.

The hosts cruised to a two-goal advantage, before Mason Clark narrowed the deficit in the latter stages of the game. Motherwell pressurised the Livingston goal, but despite hitting the bar on numerous occasions, Motherwell couldn’t find the eventual equaliser.

The opener came after a quarter of an hour, with a floated corner kick sailing across the six-yard-box, and despite ricocheting through a number of jerseys, the final touch re-directed into the bottom-right corner.

Motherwell sought to respond, and almost found the leveller on the half-hour mark. Kodie Hay’s whipped delivery from the right-flank fell into the path of Jenna Penman in the box, but the defenders headed effort fell wide of the target.

Hay continued to threaten, with the forward’s chipped through ball finding Mason Clark, who adjusted her position before teeing up Lucy Ronald at the edge of the box, but the midfielders low strike failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

The hosts had the ball in the back of the net for a second time moments before the break. A quick counter-attack left the visitors scrambling to regain their shape. A perfectly-weighted through ball across the face of goal penetrated the Motherwell backline, before being coolly dispatched beyond Rebecca Cameron.

The celebrations were quickly brought to a conclusion, as the referee adjudicated the striker to have strayed offside.

Motherwell again came agonisingly close to restoring the scoreline shortly before the half-time break, with Hannah Cairns striking the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Closing out the first-half with a one-goal deficit, Motherwell had the first opportunity of the second-half. Mason Clark swiftly worked her way to the edge of the Livingston penalty area before dragging her shot wide of the near post.

One of the women of steel’s several matchday trialists came close to the equaliser minutes later. Using her pace to smartly escape the second to last defender, she soon found herself bearing down on goal, but the final recovering defender reacted promptly to make a smart interception.

Despite Motherwell’s countless opportunities in the final third, the hosts soon doubled their advantage. An exceptional strike from 30-yards out curled beyond the reach of Cameron before bursting the top-right corner of the Motherwell net.

Frustrated, Motherwell almost immediately responded. Shannon Leishman’s mis-hit delivery from the right by-line looped aggressively over the head of the Livingston goalkeeper before hitting the bar, and then the left post.

Substitute, Carla Boyce almost accepted a gift presented by the Lions defence in her first moment of the game. The home shot-stoppers mis-placed pass was promptly intercepted by Boyce on the six-yard line, but the goalkeeper reacted sharply to close down the angle and deny the experienced forward.

The chances on-goal continued to evade the women of steel, with Trialists free-kick from the edge of the box falling kindly to Boyce a few yards out, but the striker couldn’t generate any power on the snapshot, allowing the goalkeeper to easily gather.

Motherwell soon received a late consolation, with Mason Clark adding her name to the scoresheet. Clark’s solo driving run from the right-flank led the midfielder to the edge of the box, and Clark composed herself before drilling a left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner.

In the final minute of the game, Boyce almost earned the visitors a draw, with a whipped corner-kick sailing invitingly into the strikers path, but the forward could only strike the bar with her unorthodox standing overhead kick.

Bailley Collins has departed the club to join Rangers on a permanent basis.

Joining the women of steel from Aberdeen in July 2023, Collins made 32 appearances during her maiden campaign in the SPWPL and was nominated for the club’s Women’s Player of the Year award after impressing in claret and amber.

“Goodbyes are always tough,” Collins said.

“Luckily, thank you’s are not. I’d like to thank everyone (past and present) who has been part of my Motherwell journey. To the players… I leave saying goodbye to not just my teammates, but my friends.

“To the coaching staff… thank you for trusting in me and helping me grow as a player and especially as a person.

“To the fans… thank you for the unwavering support and turning up week in, week out to cheer on the team. It truly is appreciated.

“To those behind the scenes… the unsung heroes, I thank you.

“At Motherwell I have created many special memories with many special people. I will miss every single one of you.

“Best of luck for the season ahead. See you all soon.”

Collins became an integral part of the Motherwell forward line, supporting the club to the Scottish Cup Semi-Final at Hampden Park, and an historic top-six finish in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League.

“It’s always tough to lose a player with Bailley’s quality,” Head Coach, Iain Robinson added.

“However, we understand that he opportunity of full-time football is something that simply cannot be turned down. Bailley has worked exceptionally hard during her time at Motherwell, and she deserves to open that next chapter in her career.

“Thank you Bailley.”

As the first-team squad continue their pre-season preparations in Denmark, our Under 19s and Women’s Teams have also returned from their summer break ahead of the 26/27 season.

First-Team

Supporters will have their first chance to watch the Alfred Johansson era live on Sunday 5 July, as the Steelmen take on Danish champions AGF Aarhus. The kick-off is at 1pm UK time (2pm local time).

A guide on how to watch the match will be communicated shortly.

The squad return to Scotland on Monday 6 July, as they step up training ahead of Johansson’s first Fir Park match on Friday 17 July against Genk. Kick off is 7pm against the Belgian side, and you are able to buy tickets now by CLICKING HERE.

European football returns to ML1 for the first time since 2022 on Thursday 23 July, when Havnar Bóltfelag visits Fir Park in the UEFA Conference League. The second leg takes place seven days later in the Faroe Islands.

Tickets for both legs are on sale and can be purchased now. Purchase tickets for the home leg by CLICKING HERE.

Buy tickets for the second leg by CLICKING HERE.

Under 19s

Our Under-19s squad are also getting back up to speed following the summer break. The young team have a number of friendlies lined up for the month.

A match against Bellshill Athletic that was previously advertised has been cancelled. Their first friendly match will be against Millwall on Tuesday 7 July, before facing Queen of the South on Friday 10 July.

The squad continue their schedule with a match against Cork City on Wednesday 15 July and then travel to nearby Thorniewood United on Saturday 18 July. Kick off is at 1pm.

On Thursday 23 July they take on English side Walsall before they kick off their CAS Elite Under 19 League campaign against Hearts on Saturday 28 July at the Oriam. Kick-off time is TBC for the opening league match.

Women’s

Iain Robinson’s squad returned to training last week ahead of their SWPL campaign but have a comprehensive pre-season schedule to get match fitness ahead of the league action kicking off in August.

Their first pre-season friendly comes against St Johnstone on Sunday 5 July, before taking on Livingston seven days later. They then host Robinson’s former side Queen’s Park on Wednesday 15 July, before taking on Halifax Town on Sunday 19 July.

Despite being behind closed doors, supporters can follow the matchday coverage on the Motherwell FC Women’s social media channels. Live match updates will be available via the Motherwell FC Women’s X (formerly Twitter) account, with post-match reaction to follow.

Notable Dates

The draw for the third qualifying round in the UEFA Conference League takes place on Monday 20 July ahead of our tie against Havnar Bóltfelag. We are unseeded in the draw.

You will be able to watch the draw take place on the UEFA Conference League website.

Motherwell will face Hibernian on the opening day of the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League season following the publication of the fixture list this morning.

Iain Robinson’s side will open their campaign against the Edinburgh-side before crossing the city divide to face defending champions Heart of Midlothian in our first home fixture.

• Round 1 – Hibernian (A) 16/08/2026
• Round 2 – Heart of Midlothian (H) 23/08/2026
• Round 3 – Montrose (A) 30/08/2026
• Round 4 – Rangers (H) 06/09/2026
• Round 5 – Celtic (A) 20/09/2026
• Round 6 – Spartans (H) 27/09/2026
• Round 7 – Aberdeen (H) 04/10/2026
• Round 8 – Glasgow City (A) 18/10/2026
• Round 9 – Partick Thistle (H) 21/10/2026
• Round 10 – Rangers (A) 25/10/ 2026
• Round 11 – Celtic (H) 08/11/2026
• Round 12 – Aberdeen (A) 15/11/2026
• Round 13 – Glasgow City (H) 13/12/2026
• Round 14 – Partick Thistle (A) 20/12/2026
• Round 15 – Hibernian (H) 17/01/2027
• Round 16 – Spartans (A) 24/01/2027
• Round 17 – Heart of Midlothian (A) 07/02/2027
• Round 18 – Montrose (H) 21/02/2027

Ticketing details will be confirmed in due course.

The still calmness of the summer break will subside this week, as the women of steel return from their travels across the globe to begin their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Motherwell will face four behind closed door pre-season friendlies before opening their Sky Sports League Cup Round One Group Stage next month. Iain Robinson’s side will face St. Johnstone, Livingston, and Queens Park before facing English outfit Halifax Women.

Schedule

• 5^th July 2026 – St. Johnstone (A)
• 12^th July 2026 – Livingston (A)
• 15^th July 2026 – Queens Park (H)
• 19^th July 2026 – Halifax Women (H)

All kick-off times are to be confirmed and potentially subject to change. All match information will be communicated in due course.

Despite being behind closed doors, supporters can follow the matchday coverage on the Motherwell FC social media channels. Live match updates will be available via the Motherwell FC X (formerly Twitter) account, with post-match reaction to follow.

The final captivating pages turned, the unfolded drama to remember, and memories to be celebrated in an enthralling finale to the 2025/26 campaign.

Whether suntanning on the Spanish coast, sandboarding on the Moroccan desert or taking in the sights of the Empire State building – our squad have been well rested, as the return to the training pitch emerges closer every day.

From the beaches of Santa Ponsa, we caught up with defender Shannon Leishman, who reflected on her summer break, and the opportunity to recharge ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

“It was great to have that week or two, where I could fully switch my mind off of football, at least as much as I could anyway, with the World Cup on every TV-screen,” Leishman joked.

“I’m just back from holiday with my family in Santa Ponsa. I think it’s important once you finish the season, you can use that opportunity to rest and recharge before getting back into the routine of training and playing week to week.

“Pre-season preparations are probably the few weeks every footballer dreads, but I’m obviously looking forward to meeting back up with the squad and the staff again, before getting back into some running and gym sessions.

After significant changes in the team throughout last year, there was a sense that rebuilding was needed. Rival relegations, post-split dominance, and heart-breaking farewell’s soon followed, as the 2025/26 Scottish Power Women’s Premier League campaign left much to remember for the women of steel.

As the imminent sound of pre-season echoes firmly in the not-so-distant future, defender Shannon Leishman reflected on the final chapter of a campaign to remember.

“It was a difficult season overall, but we ended the season on a real high,” Leishman professed.

“At times it was difficult, we ended up in the bottom-four which became a bit stop and start. We’d play a game one week, then we’d be off for two-weeks.

“Although we had a lot of players leave in January, and a transition period with a new manager where we had to rebuild, I felt as we reached the end of the season; we ended on a real high.

“We didn’t lose in six-games, we finished top of the bottom-four, and we can really understand and are buying into how Iain wants us to play. It was a difficult start, but we ended it strong. And I think you could see a lot of the girls were playing for each other; we were wanting to go out and win games… and just playing the game how we want to play the game.

“It’s a real positive going forward which we can hopefully continue to build momentum heading onto next season.”

Despite a difficult initial transition period, with an expected change to the playing squad, the women of steel successfully adapted to a new coaching staff, their style of play, and what they envisioned for the club.

Leishman has committed to Motherwell for the forthcoming season, and the former Hibernian captain detailed that the connection to playing consistently and gaining confidence is a personal drive for her to remain in ML1, as well as the strong connection she feels from coaching staff as a major reason she wished to return for the forthcoming season.

“Playing consistently allows you to gain and develop more confidence within yourself,” Leishman emphasised.

“When there’s trust built from managers to players, there is that element of respect. Iain allows you to play the way you want to play, and express ourselves.

“I feel right now, playing game time is what I need as a player, and towards the end of the season, I was playing every week, and I feel that is what I need right now within my career.”

As the squad begin preparations this week ahead of their pre-season campaign, Leishman reiterated the demand for returning to the top-six of the Premier League.

“We’re hoping to progress, and do better than we did last season,” Leishman noted.

“We want to achieve top-six. Anyone playing within the league, that’s what their expectations would be to be playing against the top-sides in the league. That should be any clubs ambition, and as players, you should be wanting to challenge yourself to be playing against these teams week in week out.

“We need to continue the run we were on, and I think with a good pre-season and league cup behind us, that’ll allow us to build a steady pace for the season coming. For us as a team, we have been there before, and we can do it again. We need to set those standards as high as we can.”