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Leanne Crichton has signed up for Motherwell for the forthcoming 2021/22 SWPL1 campaign.

The Scotland midfielder has been recruited as both a player and as assistant to new boss Paul Brownlie.

“I’m delighted to have signed with Motherwell,” said Crichton.

“I have worked with Paul previously and this was an opportunity that I couldn’t refuse.

“I believe this is the beginning of something really exciting and hope together we can bring success to this football club.”

Crichton amassed 72 international caps in her career in dark blue, as well as playing at club level for Celtic, Hibernian, Notts County and most notably Glasgow City.

It was with the perennial champions she lifted multiple league titles and featured in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

“I’m thrilled to have Leanne here at Motherwell,” head coach Paul Brownlie said of his signing.

“It’s a massive statement to bring someone with the level of experience Leanne has.

“She is an incredible professional both on and off the pitch, with a real winning mentality.

“Leanne will also join the coaching staff as the assistant manager. I know the standards Leanne sets and that’s why I worked so hard to bring her here to Motherwell.”

The Motherwell FC home kit for the 2021/22 season is now available to pre-order.

This year’s strip will mark our homecoming to Fir Park, after spending the last campaign without fans in the stadium.

You can pre-order your 2021/22 kit now. Pre-order deliveries will arrive in mid-July.

This kit is all about the detail.

We know how important our colours are. Now it’s emblazoned on the inside of the neck too, with our necktape stating “claret and amber colours true”.

A new rubberised silicon badge allows for a sharper design, colour and increased comfort. Plus there’s claret and amber flashes throughout our kit on the collar and cuffs.

We return to claret shorts, with an amber side panel with white trim. The socks also have our claret, amber and white detail, with a claret top and amber bottom.

Not-for-profit health cash plan provider Paycare again sponsor our kit, while we continue to raise awareness of the importance of the anti-suicide message on our sleeve through North Lanarkshire Suicide Prevention. Glen’s Vodka also feature once again on the back of the neck.

Our squad numbers for the 2021/22 season have been set.

Notable changes include the moves to number five for Bevis Mugabi and six for Barry Maguire, as well as Steven Lawless taking the number 11 jersey and Stephen O’Donnell switching to number two.

New signings Kaiyne Woolery, Justin Amaluzor and Connor Shields take seven, 17 and 29 respectively.

Motherwell 2021/22 squad numbers

We are recruiting for a number of matchday hospitality roles to join our team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our fast-paced and friendly workforce.

We are looking for passionate and enthusiastic individuals who are committed to providing a high level of service on a matchday and at functions.

Positions available include:

• Kitchen cook/kitchen assistant
• Bar staff (over 18s only)
• Waiting staff
• Front of house/room manager

Apply by sending your CV to commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Twelve players have graduated from our youth academy to sign professional terms with the club.

At the back, 17-year-old New Zealand-born goalkeeper Lawton Green is joined by left-back Ewan Wilson and central defenders Sam Campbell, Logan Dunachie and Ali Gould.

In midfield, Adam MacDonald, Kian Speirs and Daniel Hunter all make the step up after rising through from the early age groups.

Forwards Corey O’Donnell and Cody McLeod featured for the first team in the friendly at Dumbarton on Saturday, and turn professional this summer alongside fellow attackers Muhammad Adam and Richard Tambwe.

“We’re delighted for all the boys stepping up and signing professional terms,” Motherwell’s academy director Steven Hammell said.

“We’re excited to see what they have to offer. Every single one of them have plenty of motivation as how their careers can now progress at this club.

“It’s over to them now to continue their development. With the coaching on offer and the people around them who can help them succeed, we’re hopeful they will now show the attitude and application to take their chance.”

The first week back for pre-season is always a challenging one.

The breaks are getting shorter, meaning players come back in a far better physical condition than in years gone by. Nevertheless, the first re-introduction to training is a physically demanding one.

With a Yo-Yo/beep test on day one, and plenty of running in amongst the ball work thereafter, the team are quickly getting up to speed ahead of the first competitive match on 14 July.

“We came back on Monday the 21st,” experienced midfielder Mark O’Hara explains. “It had obviously been four or five weeks off.

“On Monday we came in and we did the Yo-Yo test. Then we trained, after getting the legs back.

“Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday have been very tough football sessions with gym sessions in the morning.”

A pre-season encounter with Dumbarton followed on Saturday past, with a mix of 24 first-team players, youngsters and trialists all getting minutes.

“I think now it’s about getting as many minutes as we can into the legs,” added O’Hara.

“I think that will be six weeks without a game, so we’ll definitely relish that challenge.”

It has been a summer of change at Fir Park, with many players leaving as manager Graham Alexander looks to reshape his squad in his first full transfer window in charge.

Despite first arriving at the club on loan in September 2019, before making his move permanent a year later, O’Hara is now one of the more familiar faces at the club.

“I find myself as one of the longest-serving here,” he added. “It’s obviously a big change, a big turnover this summer.

“But it’s something that everyone is excited about and we’re looking forward to the future.”

Motherwell started early preparations for the season with a high-energy encounter at Dumbarton.

Despite a raft of chances in either half, the first fixture ended in a 1-0 loss, but with plenty gained in terms of fitness at the end of the first week of pre-season training.

Manager Graham Alexander fielded two separate XIs in either half, with 24 players getting minutes as a number of trialists and young prospects got the chance to impress.

Skipper for the first half Watt had the first of the early chances. Maguire beat two in midfield before slipping the striker in the box, but he dragged his shot inches wide of the right-hand post.

‘Well’s front three were heavily involved in the first 15, with Watt winning a number of flick-ons, Woolery causing problems down the right and young Corey O’Donnell linking up well on the left.

Motherwell should have been ahead with 25 minutes played.

O’Donnell drew applause after showing great skill to beat two opponents in the middle of the park, before feeding a perfectly-weighted ball through for the onrushing Woolery.

The new signing bore down on goal but saw his run ended by an alert home goalkeeper.

Watt saw a header from a corner sail over and Maguire saw a half-volley on the turn from 12 yards also end up skywards as the visitors went in at the break with plenty chances created, but no goals scored.

A complete change in personnel at the break gave more opportunities to players but it was the hosts who could have had the lead within three minutes.

A towering header from a corner saw substitute Scott Fox get down brilliantly to his left to tip the ball wide.

Motherwell soon settled, with the trialist striker causing problems with his hold-up play and endeavour in the box, and also firing narrowly wide early on.

With 15 minutes left, the trialist striker could have made a goalscoring impact. Played through by Lawless one-on-one, his attempt at a dinked finish over the onrushing goalkeeper was blocked.

Fox was again at the rescue late on to deny a Dumbarton trialist at feet, but the hosts would then grab the winner with three minutes to go.

Duthie got free down the left, advancing into the box before sending a driven ball to the back post to find Hopkirk who steered home from point-blank range.

Motherwell team (new youth intake marked as Y)

First half: Trialist, Johnston, Trialist, McGinley, Wilson (Y), Cornelius, Trialist, Maguire, Woolery, Watt, C O’Donnell (Y).

Second half: Fox, Trialist, Devine (Trialist), Dunachie (Y), Carroll, Trialist, Crawford, O’Hara (McLeod (Y)), Lawless, Trialist, Shields.

Subs not used: Morrison, Tambwe (Y).

Motherwell will start their 2021/22 pre-season programme with a trip to face Dumbarton.

The game on Saturday 26 June will be behind closed doors at the Rock, due to another event taking place at the stadium. Kick-off is at 12pm.

Graham Alexander’s men will then take on Millwall in a behind closed doors match at their training base at Oriam on 10 July respectively.

A further game is likely to be arranged for 3 July, with details available shortly.

Motherwell FC 2021/22 pre-season programme

Kaiyne Woolery is the latest acquisition ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The forward has signed on a three-year deal, joining after leaving Tranmere Rovers. The move is subject to international clearance.

“Kaiyne is a player I’ve admired for a few years now,” manager Graham Alexander said of his new acquisition.

“He’s always caused my teams problems with his pace and goal threat. I’m very happy to bring him to Motherwell.

“I believe his best years are ahead of him and we all look forward to working with him. I know he will help us improve our attacking threat.”

Wollery was a key figure in Tranmere’s play-off finish in League Two last season, netting 11 in 52 matches.

He previously was with Swindon Town, where he moved for a six-figure fee from Wigan Athletic.

The 26-year-old made his first professional appearances at Bolton Wanderers, and has also spent time on loan with Forest Green Rovers, Notts County and Tamworth.

Justin Amaluzor is our second summer signing.

The forward, who was last with Maidstone United in the National League, has put pen to paper on a one-year deal.

Amaluzor is already familiar with Fir Park, having spent time training with the squad in the latter stages of the 2020/21 campaign.

“Justin came in to train with us last season and immediately impressed us all with his enthusiasm and attacking ability,” manager Graham Alexander said of his new recruit.

“He’s hungry to succeed and we’re delighted to bring him in.

“We’re sure he’ll take this opportunity and be a valuable asset to our team.”

The 24-year-old netted seven goals in 23 league matches in 2019/20, as well as finding the net twice in 10 starts in the abandoned 2020/21 season.

Prior to his spell with Maidstone United, he featured for Braintree Town, Bognor Regis Town and Barnet.