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Young defender Barry Maguire is the first winner of the inaugural Hutchison Award.

Majority Shareholder Les Hutchison, who is currently in negotiations with the ‘Well Society to transfer his controlling interest, put up a trophy and a £5,000 prize to the most improved Under 20 player who has also given back to the community.

A committee of Mark McGhee, Alan Burrows and Stephen Craigan unanimously choose Barry after a terrific second half to last season and his conscientious approach to his day-to-day professional career, as well as his work with the Community Trust.

Commenting on the award, Les said: “I was and am keen to make sure all players at Motherwell FC follow the lead of our fantastic first team squad, who play with passion, but remember those in the community who are less fortunate.

[pullquote]Barry is a great example to his teammates and with this being the first of an annual award, the hope is we can drive up standards on and off the pitch and help make not only better footballers, but also better people.”[/pullquote]

“This award aims to pull together the key elements of player development and community involvement, which are cornerstones of the club’s strategy.”

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan added: “Barry epitomises everything you look for in a young player.

“He works extremely hard in everything he does, is disciplined and strives to improve each and every single day; he sets the attitude and tone in his dressing room.”

18-year old Barry commented: “I was absolutely delighted to be told I had won the award, I couldn’t believe it actually.

“I am hugely appreciative to Mr Hutchison for putting this great award up for the Under 20s team to compete for and to the voting panel who selected me.”

Motherwell Football Club requires matchday staff within our supporter catering kiosks.

Ideally you’ll have some experience in a service environment with catering preferred.

It can be a very busy setting so you’ll be best suited if you are confident, able to perform and work quickly under pressure. We want to give our supporters the best service possible so you should be friendly and customer focused.

You must have good numeracy and written skills as cash handling, stock taking and working a cash register will be required.

Matchday shift range from 3 to 5 hours, we pay an hourly rate of £7 net.

You must be aged 16 or over and have a national insurance number and be able to work most match days throughout the season.

If you are interested then contact the club at stacey.callaghan@motherwellfc.co.uk with your details, which should include your age, any experience, mobile number or email address. Full training will be given.

NOTE: Must be 16 or over and have national insurance number.

Fans should note a change of kick-off to Saturday’s game with Dumbarton.

Due to a parade taking place near the stadium on Saturday at 5pm, both clubs have agreed to bring the kick-off forward to 12.30pm.

The rest of the pre-season schedule is now as follows:

vs Cowdenbeath | AWAY | Tuesday 5th July – 7.30pm kick-off

• Concessions are listed as Over 65s and Under 16s

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vs Dumbarton | AWAY | Saturday 9th July –  12.30pm kick-off

• Concessions are listed as Under 16s, Over 65s and FT Students with a valid matriculation card

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vs Hibernian | AWAY | Sunday 10th July  – 3.00pm kick-off

• Concessions are listed as Over 65s and under 16s

‘Well boss Mark McGhee was pleased to give some youngsters a run-out in the second fixture of pre-season, as his side lost 1-0 away to Arbroath.

Despite a generally quiet Sunday afternoon at Gayfield, the manager looked at the positives of the game.

As the final whistle blew, the average age of the Motherwell starting eleven was 18, and McGhee was happy with the game time they experienced.

He said: “It’s good [for the youngsters] because they’re playing against boys who play for their livelihood.”

But he added: “We had enough players out there with Lionel, Kieran, Joe and Cadden who have first team experience, so generally I’m a little disappointed.

“This is just the second game of our pre-season though so it was always going to be a weaker team.

“The only thing I can really take from it is we’ve got game time and you need seven or eight games before you’re really up to top speed.”

New signing Dean Brill played the full 90 minutes, and the boss said he has settled in well at the club, but didn’t have much to do on his debut.

McGhee said: “He did fine today, he was a little exposed for the goal but he didn’t really have much to do. Anything he was asked to do he was neat and tidy enough and he kicked well enough.”

The club face Cowdenbeath in their third pre-season fixture on Tuesday.

Highlights from Gayfield as a young Motherwell side lose 1-0 to Arbroath.

A trip north for Mark McGhee’s men resulted in a 1-0 defeat in their second pre-season fixture.

In windy conditions on the coast, a large number of youngsters got a run out, with the average age of the starting eleven that ended the game just 18.

Teenager Jack McMillan was the only unchanged player for the Fir Parkers and new signing Dean Brill made his Motherwell debut and put in a good display in front of the travelling fans.

In the opening exchanges, Ainsworth broke down the right but his attempted ball was cut out by the back tracking defence.

Brill was called into action after three minutes, but Hester’s effort from outside the box never looked to trouble the debutant, who gathered comfortably.

The home side won the ball in midfield in the fifth minute and Omar Kader broke down the right, but his dinked effort dropped well over the bar.

Some neat football down the left for the Fir Parkers culminated in a good challenge on Mackin on the edge of the area.

Ainsworth curled an accurate cross into the area in the 15^th minute, but the Arbroath stopper Robbie Mutch gathered it well.

Both sides were looking to get the ball on the deck and play good football, with the Steelmen enjoying some great spells of possession, but generally hadn’t tested the Arbroath keeper too much in the opening quarter of an hour.

In the 20^th minute, Brill was quick to rush off his line to gather an over-hit ball over the top, as the new signing settled in quickly.

Switching to the left, Ainsworth tormented the opposition right-back as he worked his way to the by-line, putting in a fine cross that was well defended and cleared by the home side.

Lionel Ainsworth looked to be the greatest threat in the opening 25 minutes, as the winger put in another fine cross, but on the stretch, Mackin headed over.

Just before the half-hour mark, Arbroath had their first real chance of the afternoon, but Wilson’s shot was collected easily by Brill.

A corner straight off the training ground resulted in a flick at goal from Moore after Kennedy headed Turnbull’s deep cross back across goal.

A fizzing cross into the box from the right looked destined to be headed home by the onrushing Ainsworth, but a slight head on the cross took it out of the midfielder’s path.

In a quiet first half, neither keeper had too much to do as the two sides went in to the break goalless.

Mark McGhee made just the one change at half-time, as Allan Campbell replaced Dylan Mackin.

The Fir Parkers won a corner early in the half, after a neat ball from Kennedy was picked up by Ainsworth, who’s cross was deflected behind.

The manager made his second change of the day on the 50^th minute, as youngster Josh Stachini replaced Jack McMillan.

And immediately after the substitution, ‘Well broke on the counter, as Ainsworth collected the ball just inside the opposition half and drove into the box, but his low driven shot was blocked behind for a corner.

On the 60^th minute, a Motherwell corner was headed behind and from the following set-play, Arbroath broke away on the counter, but the danger was quelled by the recovering defence.

Another change on the hour mark saw Craig Moore make way for 15-year-old striker James Scott.

And five minutes later, McGhee brought on Luke Watt for David Ferguson.

A short header from Kieran Kennedy was picked up by Arbroath substitute Junior Oder and the best opportunity of the game led to nothing, as the shot past Brill failed to hit the target.

But the visitors responded well, as Cadden broke forward but his effort on goal lacked the desired power and was saved.

In the 70^th minute, the home support thought they had taken the lead.

A fierce strike on goal from Wilson rippled the side netting, with a few cheers cut short by the referee’s whistle indicating a goal kick for the Fir Parkers.

And after that chance, Motherwell made another change, with Ainsworth departing for Jake Hastie.

On the 77^th minute the deadlock was nearly broken. MacLean’s loose pass was collected by Doris, who watched on as his speculative effort from 25 yards came crashing back off the crossbar.

With six minutes remaining, a scramble in the box following a corner wasn’t cleared by the ‘Well and a good effort on goal from Hamilton forced a brilliant reaction save from debutant Brill, who tipped it over the bar and saw his clean sheet remain intact.

The manager then made another substitution, as youngster Jordan Armstrong replaced Davie Turnbull.

But with just minutes to go, the home side took the lead on an afternoon of few chances.

Doris was allowed too much time at the back post, and he curled a neat finish past Brill into the far corner.

Arbroath’s confidence grew and it could have been two for the hosts, as Oder fired a shot over the bar in the dying seconds.

But it remained 1-0 as the final whistle went at Gayfield. It was a quiet afternoon for the fans in Arbroath, but as the pre-season preparations carry on, there was a lot of positives for Mark McGhee and the squad to take from their trip north.

Highlights from Cliftonhill as Motherwell open their pre-season friendly schedule with a 1-3 win over Albion Rovers.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee was pleased with the attitude and work rate of his players as his side ran out 3-1 winners in their opening pre-season fixture against Albion Rovers.

Pre-season is not always plain sailing and hiccups can be easy to come-by, but after a comfortable victory at Cliftonhill, the 59-year old was full of praise for his team.

Debuts were handed to Ben Heneghan and Jacob Blyth, and youngsters Jack McMillan and Allan Campbell started for the Fir Parkers on a wet and windy afternoon that resulted in a lot of positives for the Steelmen.

McGhee said: “I’ve been manager of a lot of teams that have lost games like this. All round I think we had a little bit of energy and a lot of people got a run-out – some more than I intended, Lasley went the 90 minutes for instance – but generally speaking, yes, we’ve scored three goals and we’ve won the game.

[pullquote]We’ve introduced one or two of the new players to the crowd and to each other in a game, so yes a lot of positives.[/pullquote]

Despite falling a goal behind, the Fir Parkers showed great fighting spirit to turn the game around convincingly – something the manager highlighted towards the attitude of his team.

The boss said: “I wasn’t concerned if we’d won or lost the game, I’d be more concerned about attitude and all those sorts of things, but there was nothing wrong with that. Right from the first minute, even in the preparation, the boys looked as if they were at it.”

He added: “It was obviously disappointing to lose that first goal but that’s what we’re here for, to iron out the wrinkles and hopefully improve on that.

“They went on and showed a lot of resolve and a lot of energy and won the game deservedly.”