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Stuart Kettlewell speaks after Motherwell’s 3-0 win over Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup opener.

The life of a footballer is one of consistently training at least four times a week, a match at the weekend, very few days off and a series of high and low emotions.

So, when the end of the season arrives, it’s imperative that they make the most of some time off. Defender Dan Casey did that as the Irish centre-back jetted off to Portugal days after the final game of the season against St Johnstone.

Holidays with his girlfriend, friends and family all in the space of a few weeks meant it was a busy but enjoyable summer. In 2024, and in the world of Sports Science, a summer schedule has changed for the professional footballer. Gone are the days of consistent nights out and blowing up in size.

It’s now about enjoying the thrills of life but with a taste of fitness alongside.

“We didn’t get a lot of time off,” Dan Casey laughed.

“But we got enough to just relax and refresh. It’s a long and stressful season, with lots of highs and lows along the way so you have to re-charge the batteries.

“You get two weeks to relax and let the body recover but then you’re straight back into it.

“We got told before we left that there was a standard expected for when we returned and that we had a time that we had to make for the pre-season running tests.

“There’s no hiding place. If you don’t do the work, you’re going to get left behind. Credit to everyone, we all came back and did well. Everyone made the time.”

The first day of pre-season is well documented. A day of no footballs and intense testing.

But it’s what sets the precedent for the rest of the season, a base line for the coaching staff to work with. And despite the time in the sun, Casey was rather pleased with how he came back.

“When I came back, I felt good,” Casey stated.

“There was room for improvement, of course there was, but the starting point was good and I think that showed quite early on.

“We had one or two injuries but they’re more football related. It was a tough first week but we got through it together. I made the requested testing time by five seconds. That’ll do me.

“Long distance running isn’t for big men like me, it’s for the skinny midfielders!”

The initial slog of testing can make or break your season. And to get through it, everyone needs to stick together and encourage each other. That’s why it makes the perfect opportunity for all the new boys to embed themselves in their new dressing room.

It’s been a busy start to summer business, with Stuart Kettlewell bringing nine new faces into the team. Once upon a time, Dan Casey was in that position. Stepping off the plane from America as he arrived in North Lanarkshire for the first time.

That was over 18 months ago and as a result, the 26-year-old is one of the more experienced faces in the dressing room.

“I’ve played over 200 games now,” he said.

“I love being here, the people are brilliant and the longer you’re here, the more you get to know the people around the club.

“Now that I’ve been here a while, I need to help the new lads. I know what it’s like coming in as a new boy and it can be hard and daunting at first.

“With the team spirit we have, it’s easy for new players. We just hope they can get comfortable as quickly as possible as that’ll show on the pitch going forward.

“I’ve been impressed with the new signings. It’s been a big turnaround in players and that comes with it’s own challenges. But going away has made that easier, spending so much time in each other’s company. You get familiar with everyone very quickly.

“There’s been a few who are confident, everyone will see soon enough who the loud ones are, I’ll not ruin the surprise.”

But as Motherwell rounded off their pre-season schedule with a 4-2 win over Linlithgow Rose, the focus quickly turned to the competitive action in the Premier Sports Cup. In his first season at Fir Park, Stuart Kettlewell made it clear how much he wanted to win the group and that mentality has remained for this time round.

That approach trickles down to the players and Casey is looking forward to getting started.

“We have things to work on but every team has that at this stage,” Casey added.

“We’re going in the right direction, everyone has bought into what the gaffer and the coaching staff are trying to implement. Edinburgh City are going to be up for it, it’s a competitive fixture so we can’t not be up for it.

“We want a professional approach and performance, a winning start and hopefully we can kick on for the remainder of the group. “There’s a target on your back for being in the top division, all these teams are good and can punish you.

“We won’t let that happen and are focused on not getting distracted or carried away. It’s up to us.”

That target on the back has been a driving factor in Casey’s continuous drive for improvement. The work in the off-season will stand him in good stead but now he just wants to do the talking on the pitch.

“I’m excited to get going, I’m yet to find a player who enjoys pre-season,” he laughed.

“I just want a good season for the team. Everyone has ambitions and my biggest one is, as a team, can we push on from last year?

“You always want to better your previous season, so if I can improve and the team can improve, I’ll be happy. You don’t want to get caught up in the games ahead. That’s when focus can slip on the task at hand. I’ll take everything that comes my way and fingers crossed we can have a good year.”

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.