Latest News

Chairman Jim McMahon offers the following update. 

Following the announcement of Alan’s departure as CEO last month, several clubs made contact with him about a potential new role.

Alan entered into discussions with a number of those, but ultimately decided to take up an offer from Aberdeen FC.

We all very much wish him well with that. However, in order to be fair to all parties, including Motherwell FC, and to stop any potential awkwardness or issues, it was agreed to expedite that exit process.

The board had already commissioned a recruitment agent to lead on the identification of a suitable replacement, and we intend to conclude that process as soon as possible.

In the meantime, Alan will continue to work as hard as he always does, alongside the experienced and talented senior management team across the various departments. My fellow Directors and I stand ready and will, if required, be on hand to assist in any aspect during this transition period.

It has been a tough time of late for the club, of that there is no doubt and I want to thank you all for your patience, understanding and backing.

We will get through this and back to better days, particularly if we all stick together.

Please give Steven and the players as much support as you normally do and let’s roar the team on to a strong finish to the 22/23 season.

Jim McMahon

It was a case of job done for Motherwell as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Glasgow Women on Tuesday night at the John Cumming stadium. 

A Carla Boyce double was enough to see the women of steel climb into the top six, albeit playing a game more than the other teams in the league.

Kayla Jardine and Louisa Boyes were handed their first starts with new signing Tiree Burchill named on the bench after signing just two hours prior to kick off.

It would only take 13 minutes for Motherwell to break the deadlock. Georgie Rafferty played a high ball into the danger area, Boyce controlled on her chest before finishing into the bottom left hand corner.

15 minutes later, it was nearly two. Kodie Hay this time with some neat work on the wing before firing a cross into the box, her cross would come off the woodwork and Boyce fired over from the rebound.

Motherwell frustrations would grow as they were unable to extend their lead but their patience would pay off on 56 minutes. Jardine with some quick feet to cut inside and drive a cross into the box, the ball eventually fell to Boyce who could tap home to make it 2.

Birthday girl Chelsie Watson nearly made it a day to remember as her header went just wide of the post from a Leanne Crichton corner.

It would be Crichton who would go close on 78 minutes. Emma Lawton beat the defender to the byline and crossed into the former Scotland international, who managed to keep her shot down and on target but the effort was well saved.

In the end, 2-0 would be how it would finish with the women of the steel climbing the table into the top six.

Motherwell have made another addition with the signing of Tiree Burchill on loan from Celtic. 

The former Hamilton midfielder joins until the end of the season.

Making her debut for the Celtic first-team in June 2021 and has made the step into Fran Alonso’s first team this season after a successful loan spell with Accies last season.

Scoring in her most recent Scotland Under 17s match last year against Azerbaijan, Burchill has represented her country from Under 15 to Under 17 level.

“I’m delighted to be joining Motherwell for the rest of the season,” Burchill said.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for me to play games and develop as a player. I’m looking forward to learning from Paul, Leanne and the rest of the staff and with hard work hopefully we can have a successful end to the season.”

Burchill will wear the number 20 shirt.

“I’m extremely pleased to get Tiree to Motherwell, another fantastic addition to the squad to add more quality middle to front,” head coach Paul Brownlie added. 

“Our recruitment during the window has been excellent and I’m delighted Tiree has chosen Motherwell to further aid her development.”

We return to Scottish Cup action this weekend, taking on Raith Rovers at Starks Park.

Kick-off is 3pm on Saturday 11th February.

Tickets

Supporters will be in the North Stand with Motherwell fans able to purchase their tickets online.

Tickets can be purchased online ONLY. There is no pay-at-the-gate facility at Starks Park.

Prices

• • Under 12 tickets can only be purchased with an Adult or Senior Citizen ticket, limited to a maximum of 3 per Adult
  • Tickets can be purchased right up until kick-off (3pm on Saturday 11th February 2023) – subject to availability – online via the “Buy Now” button, and scanned at the turnstiles either from your smartphone screen or by printing off the pdf ticket emailed to you.
  • Disabled tickets (with carer free of charge subject to eligibility) are priced as per age group above, and can be purchased by calling the Main Ticket Office on 01592 263514.
  • These tickets must then be collected on the day from the Main Ticket Office at Stark’s Park once proof of eligibility has been provided.

The Story of the Match

Last month’s 0-2 win over Arbroath sets up this fifth round clash with Raith Rovers.

Championship side Raith reached the fifth round with wins over Auchinleck Talbot and Linlithgow Rose and have yet to concede in the competition.

Saturday’s opponents are in good form and have only tasted defeat once in eleven games.

You’d have to go back to August of 1999 to find the last time Motherwell played competitively at Starks Park.

Goals from Paul Browne and Stephen Halliday had Motherwell two-up with 15 minutes to play but Alex Burns and Craig Dargo forced extra-time and eventually penalties where the Steelmen came out on top 5-4.

Match Officials

• Referee: Nick Walsh
• AR1: Alan Mulvanny
• AR2: David Doig
• AR2: Calum Scott

Kerri Halpin has joined Kilmarnock on loan until the end of the season.

Kilmarnock are currently third in the SWPL2 table and Halpin joins as she continues her development towards a regular first-team player.

Halpin made her debut this season from the bench for Motherwell.

“Kerri has been going from strength to strength this season,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“We have a number of players who play in Kerri’s position so we can’t guarantee that she gets the game time that we would like in the first team at the moment.

“This move should provide her those minutes and hopefully she comes back all the better for it.”

We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of former goalkeeper Billy Thomson. 

Thomson made 59 appearances for Motherwell from 1991-1994.

Prior to joining Motherwell, Thomson was part of the fondly remembered Dundee United side who defeated Terry Venables’ Barcelona side home and away in the quarter finals of the 1986/87 UEFA Cup before they were defeated in the final by Gothenburg.

Popular goalkeeper Ally Maxwell would be leaving Motherwell in 1991, with the club searching for a replacement between the sticks.

Thomson signed from Dundee United for a fee of £50,000 as he battled it out with Sieb Dijkstra for the number one jersey at the club.

Capped seven times for his country, he would move onto pastures new with Rangers in 1994 becoming the back up keeper behind the late, great Andy Goram.

Finishing his playing days at Dundee, he would move into coaching becoming the goalkeeping coach at Rangers and Kilmarnock.

He joined Stranraer in the summer of 2021 as their goalkeeping coach, where he has been working with young Motherwell stopper Matty Connelly who is at loan with the League Two side.

The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Motherwell FC are with Billy’s family and close friends at this very sad time.

It’s a quick turnaround for Motherwell as they take on Glasgow Women in SWPL on Tuesday 7 February at the John Cumming Stadium. 

Kick off is 8pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the game can be paid on the gate.

Adult tickets cost £6, with Under 16s tickets costing £3.

Under 12s go for free.

Story of the match

Motherwell have faced a tough run of games, coming up against three of the top four in their last five matches.

Draws in their last two games against Hearts and Spartans, has Motherwell sitting eighth in the table on 18 points, two points off the top six.

Glasgow Women remain bottom of the league after 17 games.

A 7-0 defeat to Hibs in their most recent game sees them yet to pick up a point.

This is the second meeting between the two sides, with the last one ending in a 4-0 win for Motherwell back in September. Carla Boyce got a double that day, with Lori Gardner and Amy Anderson also grabbing a goal each.

It was another point gained in SWPL as Motherwell remained eighth in table after a 1-1 draw with Hearts.

Lauren Doran-Barr got Motherwell in front before Monica Forsyth pulled the Jambos level in the second half.

The away side had the first big chance of the game. Jenna Penman charged down the line before flashing a ball across goal, but there was nobody in Maroon who could knock it in the back of the net.

After 16 minutes, Motherwell were ahead. Lauren Doran-Barr, from left-back, applied continuous pressure on the Hearts defender and goalkeeper Charlotte Parker-Smith, dispossessed the keeper before finishing from a tight angle with her left foot. 1-0.

It was almost 2-0 on the stroke of half time. A kick out from the Hearts keeper fell to Kaela McDonald-Nguah, whose audacious chipped effort over the keeper came crashing off the underside of the bar.

After three changes at the break, Hearts found the equaliser.

The initial phase of play was only half cleared by the women of steel and Forsyth finished into the bottom left corner past Emily Mutch.

Louisa Boyes and Kayla Jardine made their Motherwell debuts from the bench to provide a much needed boost of energy going into the latter stages of the game.

Leanne Crichton inch perfect delivery from a corner was perfect for Chelsie Watson to head towards goal, but it was blocked on the line and with the second phase, Lori Gardner acrobatically backheeled the ball in the six yard box off the post with seconds left to play.

Both sides will feel they could’ve had more out of the game but it’s another point gained for Paul Brownlie’s side as they look to climb the SWPL table.

Motherwell suffered another disappointing defeat at Pittodrie.

A Kevin van Veen penalty proved too little too late as the Steelmen lost 3-1 to Aberdeen

Steven Hammell made five changes from the side that lost 0-2 to St Johnstone midweek.

In came Max Johnston, Dean Cornelius, Blair Spittal, Jon Obika and James Furlong, replacing Shane Blaney, Olly Crankshaw, Kevin van Veen, Riku Danzaki and Callum Slattery.

Aberdeen had a good chance to take the lead after eight minutes when Duk turned O’Donnell in the box and forced a good save from the feet of Liam Kelly.

The Dons had two further chances to take the lead – MacDonald headed just wide from a corner and Ramadani forced another save from Kelly.

The home side took the lead two minutes before the break. Jonny Hayes hung up a cross to the back post and an unmarked Duk was on hand to head it into the net.

Motherwell came out in the second half and still couldn’t find a way through the Aberdeen defence and were two goals behind just after the hour mark.

Ramadani robbed Callum Slattery and played in Miovski who cooly chipped the ball over the onrushing Liam Kelly to give the Dons a comfortable lead.

That lead was extended minutes later when Miovski got his brace, tapping in Clarkson’s through ball.

Kevin van Veen got a consolation goal from the penalty spot after Matty Kennedy handled Danzaki’s shot in the box but it proved to be too little, too late for Motherwell who must pick themselves up for a big cup game next weekend against Raith Rovers.

“We didn’t create enough. When we get those big moments in the game, we need to be better.”