| 2 | Celtic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 3 | Rangers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Dundee | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Dundee United | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
Manager Stuart Kettlewell says all injured players are currently on track for their initial scheduled returns. Filip Stuparevic is back in training ahead of Sunday’s match.
Kettlewell discusses the recent study which showed Motherwell have given homegrown talent the highest number of minutes last season in the league. Despite Hearts’ recent European match, Kettlewell has no doubt the Jambos will be coming to ML1 looking for maximum points and will be fully focused on the game.
Our home match against Hearts will be shown live on our pay-per-view streaming service.
The match will be available for £11.99.
You will be able to purchase online.
Kick off is 3pm on Sunday 25 August.
The women of steel return to East Kilbride this weekend looking to retain their unbeaten league start at K-Park, as Motherwell prepare to face fellow unbeaten side Hibernian.
The Tale of the Tape
Motherwell
Motherwell swiftly return to competitive action keen to bounce back from the midweek defeat to defending champions Celtic. Morgan Cross netted her third consecutive goal after finding the target against Montrose and Spartans across the previous fortnight, but couldn’t prevent the hosts from coasting to a comfortable five-goal victory at the Albert Bartlett stadium.
Summer acquisitions Sienna McGoldrick and Amy Sharkey will both return to the matchday squad after being unavailable midweek against their parent club. Bailey Collins continued her goalscoring form after netting the opener against Spartans on the opening day of the 2024/25 SWPL campaign before finding the breakthrough against Montrose the following weekend.
The versatile defender will be looking to continue to build on her goalscoring pedigree this weekend, with Paul Brownlie’s side sitting three points behind the Hibees in third.
Hibernian
The Edinburgh-side have started the new campaign in fine form, placing seven past Aberdeen and six past Dundee United whilst overcoming Patrick Thistle on the opening day to cruise to three successive league victories this season. Motherwell can maintain some optimism, as Hibs failed to secure three points in seven consecutive away fixtures during the post-split last season whilst the women of steel remain six-games unbeaten at K-Park, earning six back-to-back victories.
Ticket information
Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.
How to follow the action
Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match. Kick-off from K-Park at 4PM.
The manager discussed the fitness of the squad ahead of Sunday’s match against Hearts.
“We’re much the same as where we were last week,” Stuart Kettlewell said.
“There’s been a couple of football sessions for Filip Stuparevic. On top of that, it’s been another good week for us. Filip is the only real change. He still has some work to do to get back up to speed.
“Everyone is where they should be, there’s been no dramatic setbacks. We know where everybody is, they’re pretty much on schedule. Everyone is on point with the medical staff about where they need to be.”
When asked about when we would expect to see any of the current injured players featuring, the manager provided further insight.
“I’m not so certain that will be this week or next with any of the rest of them,” he added.
“That’ll be beyond the international break and thereafter.”
We are looking to add players within our girls academy.
Our girls academy are looking to add players born between 2011 and 2012 to play for the club’s development squad.
Any interested players would be required to be free agents.
If you are interested and require further details, please contact Head Coach Paul Brownlie.
Paul.Brownlie@motherwellfc.co.uk
Steve Seddon couldn’t have imagined he would have came to Scotland a couple years ago but having made the switch in the summer, the full-back is thoroughly enjoying his stay north of the border and has enjoyed the variety of games he’s featured in.
The Englishman says he may be one of the louder voices in the dressing room, but the team are ego free and everyone is working together to improve on the pitch.
The women of steel braved the conditions at a rainswept Albert Bartlett stadium, but despite an admirable performance, Celtic’s goalscoring pedigree shone through, as the hosts coasted to a comfortable five-goal victory.
Saoirse Noonan, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford, Amy Gallacher, Murphy Agnew and Maria McAneny all netted for the hosts, with Morgan Cross converting a second-half consolation.
Head coach Paul Brownlie made one change to the starting XI from last weekend’s narrow victory over Montrose at K-Park. Celtic loanee Sienna McGoldrick missed out against her parent club, with Laura McCartney returning to the starting XI. Striker Amy Sharkey also missed out on a place in the matchday squad after signing on-loan from Celtic in the summer window.
The defending champions firmly picked up from where they left off after defeating Glasgow City on Sunday. Noonan broke the deadlock only three-minutes into the game, with the Ireland international prodding the ball home from a few yards out after a goaline scramble following a dangerous delivery across the face of goal.
The second followed soon after with Ashworth-Clifford cutting inside from the left before curling a precise effort into the top-right corner.
Ashworth-Clifford soon turned provider moments later, teeing up Gallacher, who coolly slotted a side-footed effort into the bottom-corner of the net.
Down but net yet out at half-time, Motherwell persisted as the second-half resumed, applying pressure to the Celtic backline, with Morgan Cross skilfully working her way from the halfway-line before cutting inside on her opponent and dispatching a low-drilled strike into the bottom-left corner.
Despite the scoreline, Motherwell continued to control proceedings in the second-half, but couldn’t find the vital second-goal.
Celtic took advantage and netted twice against the run of play to secure the three points under the lights.
Tom Sparrow’s footballing journey started at the age of nine when he was with Wrexham. His local club provided strong and efficient coaching to help assist the midfielder in his early days.
Playing there for three years helped Sparrow grow and flourish from a young age alongside some other local players.
At the age of 12, he had a number of trials as he began to take the next step on the ladder. That next step would be with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“I spent three years at Wolves,” Sparrow said.
“It was great but it was a big step up. Wrexham was only 15 minutes from my house, so I was now commuting three or four times a week. I was sometimes in the accommodation at the age of 12 and 13, that was good for me.
“I remember my mum sitting me down and asking if I was serious about all this football stuff because I was missing school two or three times a week. If I wasn’t going to be a football player, I’d have been in trouble!
“But it was a big commitment for her too; she was driving me about all the time.”
Further progression was made within the ranks at Wolves and Sparrow then eyed up his next move after three years there.
“We were going to play Stoke and my agent had said beforehand that they were watching me,” Sparrow explained.
“They offered me a scholarship. I was 15 at the time, so that would last until I was 18. I was buzzing; it was closer to home, and they were in the Premier League at the time. Ironically, when I moved, Stoke and Wolves switched. Wolves went to the Premier League and Stoke dropped down. It didn’t matter to me; Stoke were brilliant.
“I went in at 15 and did a couple years of a standard programme where I would train after school. I started to play for the Under 23s in the Premier League 2 in my second year.
“The coaches had a ranking system where it was As, Bs and Cs and I was never an A, which is where players are pushing to get into the first team.
“I just worked hard and the full-time training changed me; it developed me physically.”
After years of working hard under the radar at Academy level, the time eventually came for Sparrow to get a taste of first-team football.
“Telford was my first loan move,” he stated.
“I was training under Michael O’Neill, who liked me. The loan manager knew the Telford manager at the time and was asking to see if anyone would like the move. I said I’d go and O’Neill liked that. I only played six or seven games but it was seen as a good thing.
“When I went back to Stoke, O’Neill said I had a good chance of playing. I made my first-team debut against Coventry. It was the best feeling ever. I had worked since the age of nine for that moment.
“The left-wing back for Coventry was Ian Maatsen. Callum O’Hare was playing too. I was right-back, so it was a nice, easy afternoon as you can imagine! Thankfully I had Phil Jagielka alongside me, he was smiling and laughing before the game, so that calmed me down.”
That was Sparrow’s first of four appearances for the Potters and with the debut in the bag, he went away with his national setup for some summer work, which he thought put him in a prime position for the following season.
“That summer I just wanted to stay fit,” Sparrow said.
“I knew I’d have a chance of playing and when I came back for pre-season, I’d only had a week off, so I was ready to play.
I played more games but then the manager moved on.
“We then signed Dujon Sterling, and that was kind of the end for me there. It was frustrating because the other manager believed in me and I was going to play. If I knew I wasn’t going to play, I’d have gotten a loan move. It meant I was stuck until Christmas. which is risky. I could fall out of the team or something.
“Alex Neil was ex-Hamilton, so he said a move there would be good for me in January. They were struggling and I went up on my own. We were fighting relegation, so it wasn’t always a nice dressing room. We were 11 points adrift initially but clawed it back and lost in the playoff.
“It was a good experience and a first test in a different dressing room. When I made my debut at Stoke, I was buzzing and thought this was easy. Then, the nine months after that showed me how difficult it can be.”
Learning the trade and the range of emotions that come with it, Sparrow was maturing at a fast rate despite his young age and the next hurdle that he had to overcome would come shortly after.
“I was 21, and I knew I wasn’t going to play games,” the midfielder explained.
“So, I agreed with Stoke that I would go. They were brilliant with me and I made some great friends. I said to them that I wanted to play under 21s so people could see me play.
“I backed myself. My thinking was, if I was going to play, people would like what they saw. It would be a better environment for me to play rather than going on loan.
“We played Arsenal in an Under-21s match and Stuart Kettlewell was watching. We had a Zoom call after and I knew I wanted the move straight away. It’s a good level but I wanted a manager that believed in me.”
From then on, terms were agreed and by the start of the summer, Sparrow had started to move into the local area.
“It was good to get here early,” Sparrow added.
“I met everyone on the first day, and it meant that because other boys came in after me, I wasn’t the new player for very long. Pre-season was good and I feel fit now.
“The dressing room is brilliant; some of the best lads I’ve been with. Nobody hammers anyone for mistakes, it’s just about trying to gel and play the best we can.
“We showed against Rangers that we can compete with anyone despite the injuries. It was brilliant to play at Hampden, it was a massive crowd and a big pitch. Hopefully we do well in the cup and can find ourselves back there again.
“At Under 18s, we got to the Premier League Cup Final. We played Manchester City, who had Palmer, Delap and McAtee. We got pumped!
“But we beat Chelsea on the route to that final. It was a tiny taste of how good a cup run can be. I’m really keen to experience that again, but on a bigger level. The fans would love a cup run with some special moments, so we’ll be working to try and deliver that.”
Our quarter-final tie against Dundee United will take place on Friday 20 September at Fir Park.
Kick off is 7.45pm.
The match will be streamed live on the Premier Sports website.
Premier Sports will broadcast exclusive live coverage of all 4 Premier Sports Cup Quarter Final games.
Motherwell fans can use promocode FITBA99 to access Premier Sports for £99 annual fee – a saving of almost 50% – offer expires 8 September.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online.
| All Stands | |
| Adults | £20 |
| Concessions (over 65, Students and Young Adults (14-17) | £10 |
| Juveniles (13 and under, must be accompanied by an adult) | £5 |
Watch the game in style with exceptional and great value hospitality at Fir Park.
Price: £45
Kids Price: £22 (13 and under)
Price: £42pp
Dress code for all areas is smart. No jeans, trainers or colours permitted.
To book, please phone our hospitality team on 01698 338003 or email: hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk
Motherwell welcome Hearts to Fir Park on Sunday 25 August in the William Hill Premiership.
Kick off is 3pm.
| Hunter Stand | O’Donnell, Cooper, McLean Stand | |
| Adults | £24 | £26 |
| Concessions | £19 | £19 |
| Young Adults | £12 | £12 |
| Juniors | £6 | £6 |
Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.
Ticket Office open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.
If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.
Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.
SSPCA will be on hand collecting money for a bucket collection.
SSPCA are Scotland’s only all animal rescue service and they aim to provide the best place for animals to live. They rescue hundreds of animals every day. They lead the way for better animal welfare, improvement of animal related laws, maintaining the animal-human bond within society and improving protection of animals.
Bars
The Cooper Bar will be open from 12 noon serving food and drink. The bar will re-open for one-hour following the match.
Our popular Beer Garden will open from 12.30 for drinks and hot rolls, weather permitting (home fans only).
Hospitality
You can watch the match by purchasing one of our popular hospitality packages.
Season ticket holders can upgrade to hospitality for as little as £49pp. There is limited availability in the Centenary Suite so don’t delay and contact the hospitality department at hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk or call 01698 338011 to book of for details on all our packages.
Ticket Office
The ticket office will open from 11am until kick-off.
We will be wearing our home kit for this match.
Callum Slattery, Harry Paton, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson, Shane Blaney and Johnny Koutroumbis remain out for this game.
Filip Stuparevic is a doubt.
The Steelmen booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock last Sunday at Fir Park. Moses Ebiye scored his fourth Motherwell goal in the first-half of extra-time, converting from debutant Tawanda Maswanhise’s impressive cross.
Stuart Kettlewell’s side have registered a draw and defeat in their Premiership campaign thus far. A 0-0 draw on the opening day against Ross County was followed by a 2-1 defeat to title chasers Rangers at Hampden.
Injuries may have hamstrung manager Kettlewell’s options but performances have been largely impressive going into match day three.
Hearts crashed out of the Premier Sports Cup at the hands of Championship side Falkirk on Saturday. A 2-0 defeat was not ideal preparation for their trip to Czech Republic on Thursday night as they face FC Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa League playoff.
That was back-to-back defeats for the Jambos as they lost out 3-1 to Dundee at Dens Park a week prior.
Despite a slower start in the league, the Hearts squad is stacked with quality. Former Motherwell man Blair Spittal joined in the summer, with ex Ross County man Yan Dhanda also making the switch.
Liam Boyce is back fit following his injury layoff last season as he looks to form a bond on the pitch with top goalscorer Lawrence Shankland.
