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Morgan Cross has extended her stay at the club after agreeing a contract extension.

Striker Morgan Cross will remain with the women of steel for a second consecutive season after initially agreeing to sign for the club following her departure from Coventry United last summer.

“We are delighted to have Morgan confirmed for next season,” Head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“We worked hard to get Morgan in last season and despite an early injury setback, Morgan returned and became one of our highest goal scorers.

“It was valuable to get this completed prior to the start of pre-season, as Morgan was a late summer arrival and struggled initially with a recurring injury. Having a full pre-season this time around will be an important step for Morgan to continue her exceptional run of form from last season.”

Cross became a vital component in the clinical goalscoring partnership with Rangers-loanee Laura Berry, with Cross netting six times across the 2023/24 SWPL campaign. The forward played a pivotal role in sustaining the women of steel’s exceptional 11-game unbeaten run.

“I’m really excited to stay at the club,” Cross said.

“Since returning from injury, I feel I’ve really hit the standards that I set for myself and have settled into the club.

“I am looking forward to the season ahead and am ready to continue the positive run of form that we built heading into the summer break.”

Goalkeeper Matty Connelly has penned a one-year extension with the club, keeping him at Fir Park until the summer of 2025.

Connelly made the step up from our youth academy in 2019 and has been on loan with East Kilbride, Falkirk, Gretna and Stranraer in that time.

“I’m really happy to remain at Motherwell,” Connelly said.

“Neil Alexander is great to work with and pushes me everyday. I feel I can continue to grow and progress here and even learn from my fellow keepers Krisztian and Aston.

“We are tight knit group and we bounce off each other well.”

Eight players have graduated from our youth academy, signing professional deals with the club.

Between the posts, we have goalkeeper Jack McConnell alongside centre backs Jay Gillies and Jon-Joe Friel. Full back Andrew Arnott also signs.

In midfield, we have Scotland under 16 international Zander McAllister alongside Rocco McColm.

At the top end of the pitch, strikers Nathan Lawson and Harry McLean join the roster.

“It’s an exciting time for all eight individuals,” academy director David Clarkson said.

“They have put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, which is commendable. But now it’s time to go up another level.

“At Motherwell, we have excellent staff and equipment that can aid these young players and help them reach their potential.

“We believe we can give a young player the best chance of having a successful career and look forward to working with all eight players every day.”

Shane Blaney was here this time last year when recruitment was slow and the squad was low on numbers. Fast forward 12 months and the Irish defender has seen a difference. 

He is pleased that the new players have had time to integrate themselves into their new surroundings ahead of the new season.

Stuart Kettlewell spoke to the media this morning for the first time this season and provided an update on players’ fitness. 

He confirmed that progress is being made in Paul McGinn’s and Ross Callachan’s recovery but new signing Johnny Koutroumbis will be missing for a couple of months.

“Zach Robinson didn’t play last Saturday but he got a few minutes the other night,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“We’re hoping to get Ross Callachan and Paul McGinn back running today. There’s a few steps and stages they need to go through before they can play but it’ll be more positive to get them back out running.

“Johnny [Koutroumbis] is going to be out for a couple of months, a problem with his calf. Was really innocuous, just coming to the end of a session. Sometimes that can happen in football.”

Motherwell kick off their competitive 2024/25 season against Edinburgh City on Saturday at Fir Park in the Premier Sports Cup. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

If you have a Season Ticket, an adult ticket will cost £10, with all concessions costing £5.

If you don’t have a Season Ticket, adults will be £12 and concessions will be £6.

Motherwell season ticket holders will have until the 11^th July at 5pm  to secure their own seat for the match, with the ticket being added to their season card and until 25^th July at 5pm for the Partick Thistle match.

Tickets for Motherwell fans are now available to buy online. To buy tickets, click here.

Cooper Bar will be open from 12 noon serving food and drink.

The Centenary bar will also be open from 1pm (for drinks only).

The club is delighted to be working with local business Tom, Dick and Harry’s Diner.  The company operates cafes in Carluke and Overtown and will be providing the catering in the Cooper Bar this season on a match day, commencing at the Edinburgh City cup match.

Come along and try the new menu and have a refreshment before the game.

Our 2024/25 season gets underway this weekend – and you can stream the Premier Sports Cup opener vs Edinburgh City live on Premier Sports this Saturday!

Premier Sports will be broadcasting over 75 live games in total from the William Hill Premiership, Scottish Cup and the Premier Sports Cup, featuring exclusive Motherwell games including the following Premier Sports Cup Group stage games, with more to follow:

• Motherwell v Edinburgh City (3pm on 13 July – streamed live)

• Montrose v Motherwell (7.45pm on 16 July – streamed live)

• Clyde v Motherwell (3pm on 20 July – streamed live)

• Motherwell v Partick Thistle (3pm on 28 July – TV game – live on Premier Sports 1)

Motherwell fans can watch these exclusive games on Premier Sports – who are offering a special, limited-time annual offer of £99 for an entire year of Premier Sports by using promo code FITBA99, saving you £92 on the regular annual price – almost 50%!

To begin, head to the Premier Sports website.

Simply select the ‘Pre-Paid Annual’ option on the subscribe now page, and enter the promo code FITBA99 to avail of this special, limited time offer.

This will give you live and on-demand access to all 75 Scottish football games and all other channel content including LALIGA, United Rugby Championship and much more. This offer is applicable only to Sky and Premier Sports streaming service platforms.

This Saturday’s game will be live on the Premier Sports streaming service only, which is available to Sky customers at no extra cost.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be commentary only.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury update

Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson, Ross Callachan, Paul McGinn and Johnny Koutroumbis will all be missing for this match.

Liam Gordon is a doubt.

Motherwell Fortunes

It’s been a busy summer and a successful pre-season schedule for Stuart Kettlewell’s side. Four friendly matches have been played, with three wins and a draw registered.

The main takeaway has been the scintillating form of striker Moses Ebiye, who has scored in every game. The Nigerian has scored seven goals from the four games and will be looking to replicate that sort of form in the league this season.

Injuries and setbacks have also played a part in preparations with five players missing already.

Opposition Report

Edinburgh City seen a difficult campaign last year end in relegation to League Two. They registered just three wins in the league and finished bottom of the pile on eight points.

Having put that tricky season behind them, manager Michael McIndoe has started the re-build at Meadowbank for 2024/25.

They took on Dalkeith on Wednesday night in their final friendly, where goals from Innes Lawson and Robbie Walker seen them win the match 2-1. They suffered defeats against East Kilbride and Hibernian in their other pre-season outings, but drew with Gala Fairydean Rovers also.

With the Premier Sports Cup starting on Saturday against Edinburgh City, Stuart Kettlewell reflects on where his squad is at. Pleased with summer business so far, the manager says that more incomings should be expected. 

Theo Bair’s participation in Copa America is also discussed, as well as Lennon Miller’s progression.

Stuart Kettlewell gives his thoughts after Motherwell’s 4-2 win over Linlithgow Rose.

Goals from Lennon Miller, Moses Ebiye and Harry Paton meant the Steelmen rounded off pre-season undefeated.

Motherwell rounded off pre-season with an 4-2 win away to Linlithgow Rose.

Lennon Miller, Moses Ebiye and Harry Paton scored the goals that gave Motherwell the win in Gary Thom’s testimonial match.

The Steelmen controlled the opening stages and were first to offer a threat on goal. Davor Zdravkovski collected the ball from McDermott down the right but his cross was inches away from Tom Sparrow.

Minutes later Shane Blaney advanced forward as the Rose defence sat in. The shot was a decent option but it flashed inches wide of the target.

Rose had their first threat on the Motherwell goal after 15 minutes as Dylan Paterson twisted and turned on the edge of the box but his effort on goal was high and wide.

Motherwell were handed a chance to open the scoring after 20 minutes as Filip Stuparevic burst through and was fouled in the box. Teenage midfielder stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

It was very nearly a second moments later as Seddon’s deep cross into the box found the head of Kofi Balmer who rose highest but saw his header brilliantly saved by Cammy Binnie.

Chances were coming thick and fast as Filip Stuparevic, with his back to goal, turned his man and aimed to curl his shot into the far corner but again Binnie was on hand and palmed his effort off the post.

Ten minutes before the break it should have been two after great play from Miller in the middle of the park released Ferrie but his shot went narrowly past with Sparrow inches away from converting at the back post.

The second half started in the same vein as Motherwell continued to dominate and create chances.

Stuparevic was again involved, seeing his shot parried away by Binnie and then threading in O’Donnell whose cross was converted by Ferrie but the linesman’s flag went up.

Rose drew level against the run of play with fifteen left to play as Kofi Balmer fouled his man. Substitute Alan Sneddon converted from the spot but a minute later, the Steelmen were back ahead.

Good play down the left from Paton created some space and his low cross found Ebiye who applied a fine first-time finish – the Nigerian has now scored in all four pre-season games.

Rose then drew level again with five minutes left – McGiff pouncing on a loose ball in the area – but incredibly they were again behind a minute later.

A ball through the defence from Halliday found Ebiye and he cooly faked his way inside the box and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

The win was cemented a minute from time when academy graduate Dylan Wells burst into the left side of the box and laid it on a plate for Harry Paton to slot home.

Focus now turns to Saturday, as we return to competitive action, taking on Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup.

Rachel Todd is our third signing of the summer.

The former Dundee United and St. Johnstone captain will trade the city of Discovery for North Lanarkshire after three seasons at Foundation Park.

Capable of operating between the back four and forward line, Todd primarily played on the left flank whilst featuring throughout the entirety of the Tangerines 2023/24 SWPL campaign. Todd netted eight times across the previous campaign and captained the side to a closely-fought SWPL playoff victory over Kilmarnock to retain United’s Premier League status ahead of the forthcoming season.

“I’m delighted to have joined the club,” Todd noted.

“Paul and Leanne really expressed their interest in bringing me to the club early over the summer and their vision for the future really attracted me to Motherwell.

“I am excited to get started and can’t wait for the season ahead.”

Despite a tough SWPL campaign with United, Todd guided her side to Premier League survival after defeating promotion-hopeful’s Kilmarnock through a one-legged playoff-final at the Falkirk Stadium.

“I am delighted to bring Rachel to the club,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“We identified Rachel as a key target during the previous season and have been working to get this over the line for many months.

“Earning the captaincy at both Dundee United and St. Johnstone emphasises how important Rachel has been to both her previous clubs. A natural leader, Rachel will really develop our squad for the season ahead.”