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There will be significant improvements to the Motherwell Football Club Community Trust facility after a Regeneration Capital Grant Fund was granted. 

£215,000 was made available through the RCGF, which will be match funded to just over £500,000.

This will convert the sports pitch into a recreation area and community base to support groups at particular risk of suicide.

RCGF funding applications are invited annually from all 32 local authorities and Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company, as part of a two-stage process.

The grant supports locally developed place based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and deliver inclusive growth in deprived, disadvantaged and fragile remote communities across Scotland.

These projects are supporting or creating jobs, refurbishing and bringing back into use a number of historic and landmark buildings, creating business space, and supporting numerous community facilities and services across Scotland.

Using this grant, a number of developments and upgrades will be made to the Community Trust facility.

After 12 years, there will be a replacement of the existing synthetic pitch.

Around the pitch, high ball stop nets will be placed to ensure balls will not enter private gardens, car park or school areas surrounding the Community Trust astroturf.

Two, brand new, storage containers will be placed at the far end of the facility. One will be converted into a fully functioning gym with modernised and safe equipment.

Another will be used a ‘Well Hub’ facility where a number of programmes can be delivered.

With the Community Trust being based on the third floor of the David Cooper stand at Fir Park, 52 steps up, access can be difficult and limits personnel who can attend various activities the Community Trust run.

The astroturf and new storage containers will be easily accessible for all, including wheelchairs.

A new terrace will be built to allow for spectators to come and watch from the side of the pitch. This enables people to feel welcome at the venue.

“Over the last few years in particular, we have seen a rise in suicide in the local area,” general manager Dawn Middleton said.

“With lockdown and Covid-19, people have locked themselves away and have found it hard to become socially active as they were pre pandemic.

“This facility allows us to provide even more support for the local community, show people the way out and make it as easily accessible as possible.

“We provide football sessions, financial support, heat hubs, all of which are free at source.

“The community are here for us, when the team play on a Saturday, supporting them home and away so it’s our duty to help them in return.

“We encourage people to better themselves, be active, whilst taking the stigma away of needing that helping hand.”

Matt Penney has returned to his parent club Ipswich Town following the expiry of his loan deal.

The 24-year-old joined Motherwell late in the summer on a six month loan from the League One side and went on to start 18 times for the Steelmen.

Winning two player of the month awards in his time at the club, Penney started every game after his debut against Inverness in the Premier Sports cup.

“Matt has now went back to Ipswich, however we remain in dialogue with them with regards to Matt,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“Although discussions are ongoing, we are constantly looking at viable alternatives in the transfer market.”

“Matt has been an outstanding addition to the team this season and should he not return to the club, I want thank him for his effort in his time at Motherwell.”

We kick-off our Scottish Cup campaign away to Arbroath on Saturday 21 January.

Kick-off is 3.00pm.

Tickets

A reminder that there will be no cash turnstiles on the day and tickets must be purchased online directly from Arbroath.

You can buy your tickets online.

Ticket Prices

• Concessions are under 18, over 65, student and Disabled
• Wheelchair and ambulant bookings for the Coelbrew stand must be made through the Arbroath ticket office on 0124187215
  

Buses

We are running buses to the game.

The Cooper Suite will open at 11am with the buses departing from outside the Suite at 12pm at a cost of £20pp.

You can buy your seat online, over the telephone on 01698 338012 or in person at the office.

The Story of the Match

Both teams go into this one on similar runs of form.

The home side have lost heavily in their last three home games and Motherwell haven’t won in their last four away games.

The two sides last met way back in 2000, where Motherwell needed a replay to see off The Red Lichties.

Horrendous winds meant the first attempt at playing the game got abandoned at half-time. When it was finally played, Don Goodman opened the scoring but it was cancelled out by 40-year-old veteran Tommy Bryce. In the replay, goals from Don Goodman and Lee McCulloch saw the Steelmen eventually through to the fourth round, avoiding a banana-skin against a part-time team.

Match Officials

• Referee: Willie Collum
• AR1: David Roome
• AR2: Michael Banks

The games keep coming for Motherwell as they are back in action on Wednesday night against Celtic. 

Kick-off is 7.45pm at Excelsior Stadium.

How to follow the match

Tickets for the match can be purchased online.

An adult ticket costs £8, while under 16s cost £4.

Story of the match

Celtic are in a fine run of form, with their last defeat coming at the end of October.

The Celts have scored 24 goals in their last three game, most recently putting eight past Glasgow Women on Sunday.

Motherwell were unlucky not to get anything out of the game against Hibernian but ultimately went down 2-0.

The women of steel have struggled against Celtic in recent times, with them last taking points back in March 2019 in a draw.

With Ross County currently bottom of the cinch Premiership, the pressure was on for Motherwell to eliminate their poor run of form at Fir Park this season by collecting three vital points.

The Staggies were limited in the first half, with Motherwell controlling possession and creating most of the chances. Stuart McKinstry continued to impress, striking the post and forcing a good save from Ross Laidlaw.

At 0-0, Liam Kelly was called into action in the second half but Motherwell eventually got their noses in front through McKinstry’s strike.

With ten minutes to go, Ross County levelled the game through super sub Hiwula who made it 1-1 after a defensive error from Motherwell.

The game ended in a draw, a result which pleased the visitors more than the hosts.

Motherwell were unable to continue their unbeaten run as Hibernian claimed three points at K-Park on Sunday. 

The Hibees came away with a 2-0 victory with second half goals from Shannon McGregor and Katie Lockwood securing Hibernian’s win of the year.

Motherwell would have the first opening of the game. With a well worked short corner, an opening was created for Katie Rice who seen her shot well saved by the Hibernian keeper.

On the stroke of ten minutes, Hibs had their first shot on target that was stopped by Emily Mutch from a pull back.

Rice lined up a free kick from 25 yards which was saved initially by the keeper, but she couldn’t hold onto the effort and Carla Boyce almost got on the follow up however the keeper eventually gathered at the second attempt.

In a back and forth game, Hibernian looked through on goal on 40 minutes and destined to score, however Emma Lawton slid in at the last second to block the strike and keep the score level going into the half time interval.

As the second half got underway, it was Motherwell who started the brighter. Chelsie Watson’s header went narrowly wide from Rice’s delivery into the box.

Rice again looked to threaten but her long range effort was slightly off target.

With missed chances, Motherwell were made to pay and conceded from the second phase of a Hibernian corner on 65 minutes. Mutch parried the initial corner but the ball fell to McGregor who fired low, past a crowd of Motherwell players to find the bottom corner.

Hibernian made sure of the points with 10 minutes to go, Katie Lockwood finished past Mutch cooly to make it 2-0.

Gill Inglis would take an arm to the face which would spark a reaction on the Hibernian dugout, ending in both managers receiving yellow cards each. The game ended 2-0 with very few chances created towards the latter stages of the game.

“We’re standing here, again, talking about what should have been.

“We should have seen that game out and we should have won.”

In a game billed as a six pointer, both teams had to settle for a point in their respective fight to get away from the foot of the cinch Premiership table.

On a miserable afternoon for the players and 4500 fans, Stuart McKinstry’s goal midway through the second half raised hopes of ‘Well collecting a long overdue three points.

However, Jordy Hiwula Mayifuila’s equaliser eight minutes form time earned the Highlanders a point they probably deserved.

The Fir Park fans remained faithful and optimistic with a resounding applause to encourage the Steelmen as they lined up for the kick-off in the face of a heavy rain and wind.

By the full-time whistle, the weather and an arduous 90 minutes had produced only a miserable stalemate as ‘Well’s dismal run of home games without a win extended to eight games.

Although the dreadful conditions played a part, despite the introduction of new recruits, the Steelmen were restricted to a handful of chances as County bravely fought to avoid defeat.

Steven Hammell made three changes to his starting line-up for this crucial bottom of the table clash. After coming off the substitutes bench last Sunday, both Max Johnston and Stuart McKinstry retained their places from the start.

Midweek loan signing from Stockport Olly Crankshaw, made his debut on the right side of Kevin van Veen, while the club’s latest signing, Mikael Mandron had to be content with delaying his debut until the second half.

McKinstry started where he left off last week. After 10 minutes the Leeds on-loan teenager cut in from the left before firing a right foot shot across Ross Laidlaw’s goal only to rebound from the ‘keeper’s left hand post.

As the wind playing havoc with the flight of the ball both McKinstry and County’s Owura Edwards were eager to fire crosses into the box and test both sets of defenders.

In the 17th minutes McKinstry decided to take the direct route and after working the ball onto his left foot, his rising drive from a tight angle was turned over the bar by Laidlaw.

A tussle between Sean Goss and Ross Callachan earned both a yellow card as the game became punctuated by clumsy challenges.

VAR was called into action after 22 minutes. Ricki Lamie’s header back towards his own goal was held up in the wind. As Kelly raced from his goal Edwards nicked the ball from the ‘keeper before tumbling inside the box. As County claimed a penalty the referee’s decision to award a goal kick was upheld.

Kelly then had a routine first save when he comfortably gathered a low shot from former ‘Well striker Jordan White.

With Paul McGinn covering for the overlapping Johnston, the ‘Well teenager fired over a cross which McKinstry could only nod over the crossbar.

An over enthusiastic challenge on George Harmon earned Crankshaw a yellow card on his debut.

A minute from half time the tall winger almost set up ‘Well’s opener. Nodding on Matt Perry’s long ball it found Johnston racing towards the County box. Unmarked he set himself up before hammering a left foot shot which was heading under the bar until Laidlaw pushed it over this cross bar to leave the sides level at the end of first half spoiled by the weather.

If there was any advantage from the wind and rain, the Fir Park men had it at their backs for the second forty-five.

It was the home goal, though, that had a couple of early escapes as White glanced a header inches wide before Yan Dhanda had an effort blocked on the line by Kelly.

At the other end, Johnston always keen to get down the right flank, curled another tempting cross into the box which County only partially cleared before conceding a corner.

An inswinger from Goss, assisted by the wind, curled low towards a packed six-yard box where McGinn stooped only to nod ball over the bar.

Penny then worked a quick exchange with McKinstry before rifling the ball into the side netting.

Malky Mackay’s men still remained threatening on the break and in the 62nd minute Dhanda was again denied the opening goal when his dipping shot from 20 yards was soundly beaten away by Kelly.

Two minutes later Ross Tierney replaced Goss and within minutes there was an outburst of relief in the Fir Park stands as ‘Well opened the scoring.

Once again McKinstry demonstrated his eye for a goal when form around 20 yards he fired a low shot towards Laidlaw’s right-hand corner. And although the ‘keeper got his right hand to the ball he couldn’t prevent it trundling over his line for the opener.

That injected much needed confidence in the home ranks as they started to pepper the visitor’s goal with crosses.

With just over quarter of an hour left Hammell injected new life into the side bringing on Barry Maguire and the towering French striker Mandron.

The County boss also rang the changes and with ten minutes remaining the Highlander’s grabbed an equaliser.

Substitute Mayifuila had barely been on the pitch when he raced through unchallenged to poke the ball through Kelly’s legs to set up a nervous finish.

Two minutes later ‘Well had strong appeals for a penalty turned away when Edwards’ outstretched arm send Penny tumbling inside the box.

Despite a couple of moments of danger in either box in the closing minutes, the sides had to settle for a point apiece

Mikaël Mandron becomes our third January signing from Gillingham until the end of season subject to international clearance.  

Starting his career at Sunderland, the 6ft 3in striker has made 33 appearances this season for league two Gillingham.

With three appearances in the Premier League for Sunderland, has since gone on to turn out for Eastleigh, Wigan Atheltic and Crewe respectively.

He finished as joint top goalscorer for Crewe in the 2021/22 season, alongside former Motherwell man Chris Long.

“From the moment I spoke to Mikaël on the phone, it was clear he wanted to come,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“As soon as we established that this move could happen, Mikaël travelled off his own back to get to Fir Park as quickly as possible.

“He offers competition and help for Kevin van Veen, whilst also opening new possibilities to the structure of the team.

“I’m really happy to get this over the line as I feel it’s an area of the pitch we needed additions.”

The 28-year-old will wear the number 21 shirt for the remainder of the season.

He scored Gillingham’s goal against Premier League side Brentford in the Carabao Cup in November when the League Two side shocked Brentford in London by knocking them out in the cup.

He leaves Gillingham on a permanent deal to Motherwell until the end of the season initially.

Should clearance be granted prior to tomorrow’s match with Ross County, Mandron would be available for selection. Without this being approved, he is ineligible.

With the news that Chief Executive Alan Burrows would be stepping down from his position at the club, manager Steven Hammell says he will be a big miss for the club with his hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for the job.

Ahead of the cinch Premiership match with Ross County, Hammell remains confident in his own ability to do his job but insists his side need to cut out the individual errors within matches and build on the basics.