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Three of the seven loanees saw action this weekend.

Max Johnston

Off the back of his Scotland Under-21s debut on Thursday, Max played the full 90 in Cove’s 2-1 defeat at home to high-flying Morton.

Cove looked to be on course for a point after Leighton McIntosh equalised late on but former Motherwell man Robbie Crawford secured all three points for Ton who sit a point off the top of the Championship.

Scott Fox

Fox was an unused sub as Queen of the South thrashed Montrose 4-0 at home.

Robbie Mahon

Table-topping Dunfermline continued their fine form with a 0-2 win away to Peterhead

Robbie Mahon was an unused sub as he watched his teammates go seven points clear at the top.

Ewan Wilson

A clean sheet and three points for the young full-back.

Wilson completed 90 minutes as Albion Rovers saw off Stranraer with a 1-0 win.  The win creates a bit of breathing space for Rovers,  who sit four points off bottom.

Corey O’Donnell

O’Donnell was not involved in the squad at the weekend as Bonnyrigg Rose picked up a point against Stenhousemuir.

Logan Dunachie

The towering centre back got 90 minutes under his belt and a clean sheet as East Kilbride beat Abbey Vale FC in the third round of the South Challenge Cup.

Kilby go into the hat and take on Ross Vale in the fourth round.

Daniel Hunter

Hunter was left with no action this weekend as Cumbernauld Colts’ game against Berwick Rangers was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Motherwell take on Aberdeen on Sunday 20 November at K-Park in SWPL. 

Kick-off is 4pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the game cost £8 for an adult, with children and concession tickets costing £3.

Card and cash payments are accepted at the ground. There is no option to buy tickets before the match.

Story of the match

Motherwell have had a two week layoff since their last outing against Partick Thistle.

The women of steel came up short on that occasion, losing 1-0. The ‘Well’s last victory came back at the start of October against Dundee United.

Aberdeen have had a tricky start to their season and sit 11th in the table.

They picked up their first win of the season in their last match against Glasgow Women at Pittodrie.

Make it a December to remember!

We are delighted to unveil its amazing festive programme for 2022, bigger and better than before!

Whether you are catching up with friends, family or colleagues, celebrate in style in the Centenary Suite at Fir Park.  Combining your favourite Christmas classics with dance floor fillers, and bringing a live saxophone to the party, this will be a Christmas party your guests will never forget.

Our party nights are now open to book and run from 7pm – 1am.

Available dates are as follows:

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

• Saturday 3rd December – Pink / Gaga Tribute Act with resident DJ – £52
• Friday 9th December – Resident DJ and live saxophone set – £48
• Saturday 10th December – SOLD OUT
• Friday 16th December – Resident DJ and live saxophone set – £48
• Saturday 17th December – Resident DJ and live saxophone set – £48

We also have an earlier option, with our Boozy Brunch.

• Glass of fizz on arrival, 3 drink tokens, Festive buffet, Resident DJ
• Davie Cooper Suite
• Saturday 10th December, 1-5pm
• £40pp

Enjoy a shot on arrival and a delicious 3-course meal in addition to the live entertainment listed above.

Tickets can be secured with a £10 deposit at the time of booking.

Call our events team on 01698 338003 to book or for more information.

Our party nights are for over 18’s only!
Our events are non refundable & non transferable.

Legendary ‘Ancell Babe’ winger Willie Hunter is the final name to be inducted in the 2022 Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

Hunter, or Billy to his friends and family, would become the darling of every Motherwell fan of a certain generation.

Following a few years of typical Motherwell Football Club inconsistency a major decision was taken between the boardroom and the manager’s chair during the summer of 1956.

After a year in the Fir Park hotseat, Bobby Ancell implemented a policy of no longer signing ready made “seasoned” football players from other clubs, and going back to pursuing a strategy of developing talented youngsters from Scotland’s central belt in true Motherwell tradition.

That close season would see the first moves to support the new thinking at Fir Park. Youngsters Bert McCann, William Cowie, Pat Holton and ‘keeper Alan Wylie all arrived from Queens’ Park, Kilsyth Rangers, Hamilton Accies and Penicuik respectively.

Whilst the named four signings went on to contribute to a decent season for the Fir Parkers, it was probably the youngster who had signed on from Edinburgh Norton a year later that would go on to make his name in claret and amber shine more brightly than most others.

That man was the aforementioned Willie Hunter.

Within months it had became clear that the manager had snapped up a dazzling footballer who was both a brilliant ball player and a determined performer. Willie began his Motherwell career playing, and starring, for the Fir Park reserves alongside fellow teenager Ian St. John.

He was brought into the first team at Dens Park in mid-October 1957. Although the result didn’t go to the liking of the travelling ‘Well fans, they had taken some solace from the performance of the young Edinburgh lad who had made the jump from amateur football to top division action within a couple of months with ease.

His first appearance on Fir Park came a fortnight later when Falkirk visited and left with the points following a 5-2 defeat of the hosts. Despite the loss, the name of Willie Hunter was on the lips of every Motherwell fan as they made their way home the wet Saturday evening.

His first goal came at Parkhead in April when netted the opener in a thrilling 2-2 draw between the teams. Eleven appearances for Motherwell was a good debut season for Hunter, as he tried to earn a berth in a terrific developing Fir Park squad under the guidance of Ancell.

When the team was announced for the opening day of the new season at home to Partick Thistle, Hunter’s name was included. Although it was goals from Ian St. John, twice, and Jim Forrest which won the game, it was Hunter who was man of the match having produced a sublime display.

The start of the season had been promising, with only one defeat in the first six fixtures before Third Lanark arrived in North Lanarkshire. The team that day would always be remembered as a typical Ancell Babes XI: Hastie Weir, McSeveney, Holton, Aitken, Martis, McCann, Hunter, Sammy Reid, St. John, Quinn and Andy Weir.

The Babes were on fire that afternoon, winning 8-1 as the Fir Park crowd began to realise their favourites were developing into something very special indeed.

The young inside forward Hunter only missed four games in that season, scoring 13 goals, which saw Motherwell narrowly miss out on the league title.

International honours were also on their way, with eight players being recognised in various squads, including Hunter who was capped for the Scottish league.

Willie had become a forward of uncommon grace, which had won over the Motherwell fans with performances that could not be measured merely in goals and assists, but that glistened with the flair of an artist who could deceive defenders with a subtle touch or shimmy.

Whilst these seasons were extremely entertaining for the Fir Park faithful, it was arguably two glamour friendlies that summed up that Ancell side.

18,000 punters clicked through the Fir Park turnstiles to see Athletic Bilbao despite torrential rain hammering down throughout the 90 minutes. A delightful Willie Hunter goal put Motherwell two goals up after just 25 minutes, before the visitors stunned the large crowd by levelling before the interval.

However, an Ian St. John shot two minutes into the second period was enough to give the home side a deserved win.

A couple of weeks later, it was Brazilian giants Flamengo who turned up at Fir Park on the back of an impressive 5-0 win over Manchester United. After the visitors opened the scoring six minutes in, the 25,000 crowd were saluting a wonderful goal by Hunter which seemed to inspire the Steelmen.

A St. John hat trick and a Pat Quinn penalty were soon forgotten when Hunter produced a sublime finish to leave the Fir Parkers 6-1 up, and thoroughly entertaining a by now ecstatic home support.

Another hat trick by St. John left the Brazilians shell-shocked as Motherwell trooped of the pitch having trounced the tourists 9-2. At the end of that season there was a definite air of disappointment that such a talented outfit could only finish fifth despite many memorable displays throughout the campaign.

Always amongst the goals for Motherwell, Hunter had in fact laid on far more than he had scored, which was a proud claim since he bagged more than 50 competitive goals for the Steelmen.

Whilst at Fir Park he won three full Scotland caps, four Under 23 caps and four appearances for the Scottish League. He managed 301 appearances for our club all in, scoring 61 goals.

He finally left North Lanarkshire in 1967, when Detroit Cougars paid £14,000 for his signature as the inaugural North American Soccer League was about to kick off. He went on to feature for his boyhood club Hibs before two more spells overseas at Hellenic and Cape Town City.

Following a coaching stint as Ian St John’s assistant at Portsmouth, he then had two brief spells as manager, firstly at Queen of the South then Inverness Caledonian in the Highland League.

Willie was a inside forward who played on the left hand side, with the experience and knowledge of playing as a winger; a real craftsman, skilled in ball control and distribution.

He had a brilliant football career in what was undoubtedly a tough school. His generous gifts to the game gave him little financial rewards, yet he continued to give to the game and his colleagues afterwards He was a man of substance and opinions, who was the subject of much praise from those who played with, against, or indeed, watched him.

This magical footballer was one of the most complete ever to pull our famous colours over his head, and is someone this club is proud to have played a large part in his life.

Willie Hunter is the twentieth entrant to the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

Our highly-anticipated Hall of Fame dinner will welcome its fourth batch of inductees later this Friday.

The event, launched in 2019, has already paid special tribute to the legendary names of the club’s long and distinguished history.

For the first time, the dinner will take place at Dalziel Park Hotel this Friday, 18 November, with host Tam Cowan inducted five new names, with Willie joining the already-announced Keith Lasley, Willie MacFadyen, Tommy Coyne and Bobby Graham.

There are only a handful of tickets left priced at £64 for adults and £30 for children aged under 12.

You can buy tickets for the dinner online here now or contact the commercial department on 01698 338 011.

The five legends inducted this year will join:

* Please note that some of the colourful language on the night may not be appropriate for young children or those easily offended.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of former forward Jimmy O’Rourke this morning.

Born in Edinburgh on the 18th September 1946, Jimmy is perhaps better know for his association with Hibernian. Plucked straight from schools football in 1962, he made his Hibs debut at the age of 16 setting a new record for the youngest player to represent the Easter Road club, a record which he kept for over four decades.

A bustling forward, he flourished under the guidance of Eddie Turnbull.

Despite suffering the disappointment of losing the 1972 Scottish Cup Final, when the Hibee’s fell to a 6-1 defeat by Celtic, he did enjoy a degree of revenge as he scored in the League Cup Final later in the year as both clubs met again, this time Hibs came out on top.

The former Scotland youth international was somewhat controversially sold to St Johnstone for a fee of just £15,000, essentially he had to make way for Joe Harper who arrived at the club for a significant sum from Everton.

At Muirton Park he helped the Saints win promotion, In July 1979 it was Willie McLean who brought him to Fir Park in a deal which saw Ian Taylor head to Perth.

Jimmy was comfortable playing at either centre and inside forward and had a tremendous eye for goal. He enjoyed a fruitful league debut for the Steelmen as he scored twice against Ayr United in a 4-1 win.

O’Rourke was a player of quality but the then 29 year old would only manage two seasons at Fir Park due to frustrations with injuries. There were some high points across those two seasons – a hat-trick in the exciting 5-4 win over Kilmarnock and the winner against Celtic at Celtic Park in a new year fixture. He would make over 50 appearances in claret and amber, scoring 16 goals.

After his departure from Lanarkshire he would hang up his boots and become a coach at Hibernian where he was reunited with his old mentor Eddie Turnbull.

Jimmy died surrounded by his family at his home in Edinburgh aged 76.

Everyone at Motherwell Football Club would like to express our sympathy and condolences to the O’Rourke family at this sad time.

Career words: MotherwellNet

It’s time to vote for your Paycare player of the month for November. 

Up for nomination is, Blair Spittal, Sean Goss, Ricki Lamie and Matt Penney.

Games played this month

• Hearts 3-2 Motherwell
• Motherwell 1-2 Celtic
• St Johnstone 1-1 Motherwell

Blair Spittal

Racking up his second and third Motherwell goals this month, Blair Spittal finished strong.

The midfielder netted cooly to level the game at Tynecastle from Stuart McKinstry’s through ball. He also scored our only goal of the game in Perth to level the match from a free kick just outside the box.

Sean Goss

Reaching 50 games at Motherwell in Perth, Sean Goss has been a consistent performer in the middle of the pitch.

He was involved in the build up to both goals at Tynecastle, playing the outside of foot pass to Penney prior to Moult being fouled. The midfielder also took the quick free kick that led to Ross Tierney’s goal against Celtic.

Goss was fouled on the edge of the box for the free kick that Blair Spittal went onto score. He has played every minute of every match since he came off against Celtic at Parkhead back on 1 October.

Ricki Lamie

Yet another nomination for vice captain Ricki Lamie for player of the month.

The commanding centre half has played every minute in what has been a hectic run of games. Commanding in the air and a threat going forward, Lamie has made vital defensive blocks and tackles that could have led to clear cut chances for the opposition.

Matt Penney

Nominated every month for player of the month since he arrived from Ipswich on loan in the summer and narrowly missing oout on the last award, Matt Penney has continued his fine run of form.

He setup Louis Moult at Tynecastle, where the striker was brought down in the area by goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The full-back has played every minute since his debut against Inverness in August and continues to impress the ‘Well support.

Lanarkshire women are being offered free places on a football coaching course – even if they’ve never kicked a ball! 

Motherwell FC Community Trust and the Well Society have teamed up to offer the places in the hope that local women will step forward learn new skills, increase their confidence and make an impact on young lives.

“We’ve seen a huge interest in the women’s game, and the girls development centre at Motherwell FC Community Trust is going from strength to strength,” said Andy Thomson, Football Development Manager at the Trust.

“But we routinely see young girls drop out of teams because of a lack of female role models, and we want to address that. We want to change perceptions that football coaching is for men only.”

“The football will take care of itself,” Andy continued, “What we’re looking for is women who can adapt and grow, and who want to make a difference in their community, as well as their own lives. We want to give them the opportunity to be part of a team and help coach young female players, regardless of their own footballing ability.”

The Well Society have covered the costs of five spaces on the Scottish FA’s Level 1.1 Introduction to coaching course. Along with practical support from the Trust, individuals will learn aspects like being responsible, organised and disciplined – qualities which can prepare them for any area of life.

Douglas Dickie, co-chair of the Society said: “When people in the community take ownership of their future, it can have a profound effect, which goes beyond sport. We would encourage anyone who is thinking about a change, or a challenge, or who needs to take on this type of role for career development to get in touch.”

Women aged 16 or over in the local area who are interested in finding out more should contact Andrew.Thomson@motherwellfc.co.uk

As Motherwell rounded off their league campaign prior to the 2022 Fifa World Cup, they played their third match in six days against St Johnstone in Perth. 

With an ever growing injury list for Steven Hammell to deal with, the five week break couldn’t have came at a better time.

In a match of very few chances, it was St Johnstone who got their noses in front through Drey Wright after 26 minutes.

Despite the hectic fixture schedule of the last six weeks, Motherwell dug deep and got level just before half time through Blair Spittal’s free kick.

In the second half, there were very few chances and the game ended in a draw, something that the Steelmen haven’t done enough of thus far this season.