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It’s a well-known fact that Motherwell have a track record of successful academy graduates who have come through the pathway in place, went to first-team level, and moved on to have successful careers.

That pathway that exists has been crucial for the club’s continued stay in Scotland’s top flight. Looking back on the likes of James McFadden, Allan Campbell, Jake Hastie, David Turnbull, and Jamie Murphy in recent times, but going even further back, club legends like Ian St John, Gary McAllister, and Phil O’Donnell are all players who have worked their way through the ranks at Motherwell.

With a proven track record of nurturing young talent, the baton has now been passed to former Motherwell starlet himself David Clarkson to carry the responsibility of producing the next talents that are made in Motherwell. Bursting onto the scene in 2003, scoring his first goal just nine minutes into his first start, he quickly established himself as a first-team player and went on to have a mouth-watering career, which included representing his country at senior level, moving for substantial six-figure fees, and setting new goalscoring records.

Having been appointed as Academy Director in 2023, he has now been in the role for a full two years, where he has watched talents such as Lennon Miller, Ewan Wilson, Luca Ross, and Dylan Wells all go on to make their debuts for the club. That is something that is important to Clarkson and a key marker for where the academy is at.

“It has been a positive experience so far,” David Clarkson stated.

“Despite being at this club for so long, I’ve been able to learn different aspects about what the job can throw at you. The opportunities the boys have had and how well they’ve done in the first team have been excellent to see.

“It shows the opportunities are there, and the process the coaches and players go through encourages that. To see the outcomes of those processes is brilliant for the academy, the coaches, and me.”

Having been in the role for just over two years, Clarkson can reflect with fondness at what the academy has achieved in that time. Going into the job, he had short-, medium-, and long-term ambitions that he wanted to accomplish.

As he reviews the accomplishments of the past two years, it’s clear that Clarkson’s vision is taking shape, but he remains driven by the desire to achieve even more. His commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement ensures that the academy will continue to thrive under his leadership. The journey is far from over, and Clarkson’s passion for education remains as strong as ever.

“My short-term goals were just to get a hands-on approach in place when it came to the culture here,” he added.

“I wanted to make sure the staff are creating a good environment for the players to come and thrive; that is the most important thing.

“From there, you just try and build up. The end goal is to get players into the first-team which, with Lennon [Miller] and Ewan [Wilson], has happened. That’s always the target.

“With any academy, you want to try and produce first-team players. Year-to-year that can change. It could be one player is good enough, sometimes two, three, or four, or sometimes none.

“It just depends on who comes through, what manager is in place, and what the club sees. At the moment, it’s great to have that level of availability of the academy. I just want to make sure we create an environment for the boys to come in, enjoy themselves, and thrive. If they do that, it gives them the opportunity to go far.

“If you’re enjoying your time, you’ll develop more. If you’re coming and you’re not happy, whether that be with the coaching or environment, you won’t get the best out of yourself.

“That can be said for the coaches too. I’ve always tried to ensure the coaches feel wanted and welcome. The managers in place have been a part of it too, getting to youth games as much as they can, which shows a real connection to the academy. As a player, you thrive off that.”

It’s clear to see the club is on the right trajectory once again when it comes to nurturing the next crop of talent.

Earlier in the season, statistics showed that Motherwell were top of the tree in comparison to their fellow Premiership sides when it came to the percentage of minutes given to Scottish Under 21s in the league.

Sitting proudly at the top of the tree by some distance, Wilson and Miller are perfect examples of players being given the opportunity and platform needed to take the next steps in their careers. But while that may be success for those individuals, what does success look like for the younger age groups within the academy setup?

“It’s just about how much you see them develop and learn,” Clarkson explained.

“There’s boys in there who are young and need to be kids at times. There’s not a big emphasis on winning and making sure you’re living your life like a professional footballer 24/7; these are 11- and 12-year-old kids who are still learning and going through different development processes.

“The emphasis, as they gradually get older, is about giving them information that can help them go to the next stage. You look at them and see if they’re developing in the areas that we want, and that’s individually but also collectively as a team.

“Some boys will do it quicker than others, and it’s important we give them the opportunity to be the best they can be. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out. Players can fall away; players don’t develop as much as they or we want, but I still feel within that we give every player a chance.

“Anyone that does leave leaves with better aspects within their life and better development than what they came in with. I meet boys who haven’t made the grade, whether that’s at Under 11s level or Under 18s, and they still speak away, as do the parents. That’s important to me, that they have that relationship and connection no matter the outcome of their journey within the academy.”

Context and managing expectations is part of the job for Clarkson. Not every player will make the grade; that’s just a fact.

On top of this, there’s also the issue of those who do make the grade. Or are way beyond the grade. Because not before long, the bigger clubs will come fishing and will look to take the player away.

“You’re just going to have that,” Clarkson added.

“That becomes a bit of a credit to the academy itself, especially for the coaches who put the time and effort in. They are developing players to the class where they’re attracting clubs from England or abroad.

“But on the flip side, our aim is to get them to play for Motherwell, so it’s an issue, but again, if you’re getting that success with young players, you’ll get the big teams looking. If we continue to produce players, they’ll keep an eye out for the next one coming through.

“It then comes down to the player, and they ask themselves what opportunities will you get away from Motherwell? The stats show we’re up there, if not the best, in the country for giving young players opportunities, and I think that’s massive.”

Motherwell fans have watched plenty of academy players come through and play on the Fir Park turf on a Saturday over their years of supporting the club. One thing they all had in common was having a manager who trusted them.

That’s another crucial part of the process for Clarkson, ensuring the manager is fully aware of how players are getting on.

“Between me and Richard Foster, that’s our job,” he explained.

“We make sure we’re in the manager’s ear about boys developing. As I’ve said, managers have been to the Under 18s and Under 16s games, so they’re aware of the progress being made and who is doing well.

“But at the same time, that’s his call to give that opportunity and game time. It may depend on where the team is in the league, the position the manager is in, or recent form. All these things matter.

“Regardless, I’m not doing my job if I’m not in the gaffer’s ear saying how this boy is doing well because the only way we’ll know if he’s actually up to the standard is by throwing him in.

“I don’t think anyone can tell you if they’re ready or not; it’s just giving them the chance to develop in a first-team environment that will show what they’re made of. A lot of our boys have been involved with first-team training, which has been a massive step for us, and although the players might not be playing in matches, they’ve been in or around the squad, which is great.”

It’s always a fan’s ambition to see their own flourish within a first-team setup. Everyone loves the fairytale story and chanting ‘one of our own.’

And at Motherwell, there is almost an expectation of the next young prodigy in the pipeline being close to bursting through. That just comes from past exploits and reputation. And for the man heading up that process, there is pressure involved.

“I think I put pressure on myself,” Clarkson noted.

“I don’t think there is pressure from anywhere else. I think it comes down to personal pride and pressure from being involved with this club for so long and coming through the academy myself.

“I want to make sure I’m giving my best and seeing the outcomes of that. I want to make sure I keep developing and the coaches keep developing because it will benefit the players at the end of the day.

“I put pressure on myself to make sure I give everything I can and give them the opportunity. That’s what it’s all about, giving them the platform. While some will go and make it all the way, some won’t. But it’s my role first and foremost, along with the coaches, to give them the best possible chance.”

Being an academy graduate himself has allowed Clarkson to pass down experiences and provide advice to players who are in the position he was in at the start of his career.

“Although things in football have changed, the football environment and football pathway remain similar,” he added.

“I try and pass that experience onto the players and coaches because we all need to learn and develop together. They can take my own experiences that I’ve had with different managers and coaches from boys football to the first-team and use them to their advantage. I understand what some players go through; I can understand the periods of development they’re going through.

“As a result, I can help them by chatting with them or getting them on the pitch to discuss things. It benefits them personally, and I’m fortunate to have that background.

“There’s a lot of stuff, especially when you get older, with development and challenges that will come to each individual. They go through different stages of their growth; there’s friends, girlfriends, challenges with school, day-to-day life, and weekend stuff.

“Lots of things stand in their way, and there are a lot of decisions to make. People will make the choice they think is best for them, and for me, it’s just about giving them all the information they need to make that choice.

“We can’t make decisions for them, but we can help them. How to conduct yourself off the pitch, what they do away from football, applying themselves in the gym, and nutrition. Even behaving properly over the weekend, stuff like that comes into play when they get older.

“The younger boys still need to be kids. We let them play with their school team, let them go out with their pals, and enjoy life away from football. It’s important they don’t isolate themselves.”

Lennon Miller and Ewan Wilson have been roaring successes on the pitch this season. Both have featured heavily for the first-team, with the former even becoming the club’s youngest ever captain.

But the thirst for more young talent to represent the badge will never dry up. It’s David Clarkson’s job, and all his coaches, to ensure the pathway stays open and development continues.

“You’re always excited for the next chapter,” he laughs.

“Year-to-year, you see boys come and go. Things are always changing, but there’s always an excitement there for myself and the coaches in terms of the next story. Who’s going to be the next one to step up?

“You just hope they get the opportunity because you can provide everything for them, but getting the chance is something outwith my control. The players are still young, however.

“They’re only 17 or 18 years old. Lennon Miller could be considered generational; a lot of the time players will be 20 before they break into the first-team. It’s important they realise that it’s not as soon as you join the academy or reach the Under 18s that suddenly you’ll play on a Saturday.

“I always wanted to be a footballer. But you need to realise that there are things that can help or hinder you along the way. I have to manage the expectations of everyone, the player and parents, because they see other success stories.

“It might be when you’re older that you make the jump, but even if you don’t, there are still opportunities there. When or if you leave Motherwell, players still go on to have careers in the game from Lowland League all the way up to Championship.

“There’s different pathways for different players. While you’re here, we hope you develop as a player and as a person, but we want this journey to provide you with opportunities outside just Motherwell Football Club. That could be when you’re getting a job, general life experience, or anything else life throws at you.

“We hope the time here has helped you develop in all aspects of life, not just football. Because at the end of the day, that’s our job.”

We are proud to announce our partnership with the Scottish Government’s mental health campaign Mind to Mind, an initiative encouraging individuals to look after their mental wellbeing.

Hosted on NHS Inform, the website, found here, offers a library of over 30 bitesize videos featuring individuals sharing their own mental wellbeing challenges, covering a wide spectrum of topics, including managing anxiety and panic, addressing financial worries, stress management, elevating mood, and navigating grief.

These stories aim to help other people who may be going through something similar. Contributors offer practical advice drawn from their own experiences and additionally the website provides clear signposts to direct individuals toward further help and support.

“Our mental wellbeing, like other aspects of health and fitness, is something we need to think about regularly,” Dr Alastair Cook Scottish Government’s Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health said.

“There are lots of things we can do to improve our mental wellbeing, whether it’s doing things that make you happy, making lifestyle changes, moving more, connecting with others or making time to get out in the fresh air. If you’re finding things difficult, it’s important to remember support is available.”

“Mental health is something that we talk about far more openly and frequently now,” club captain Paul McGinn said.

“Being open and honest about how you’re feeling is not a sign of weakness. It’s so important that we talk to each other about how we’re feeling. It’s great that there are accessible tools available online for people to go on and read about.

“We all go through difficulties on a daily basis, and that isn’t something we should be ashamed of. Hopefully this initiative will support people who need that helping hand.”

As a club, we’re encouraging all of our supporters to take care of their mental wellbeing by visiting the website with all the details here.

Motherwell have a number of players out on loan at present. Below, we take a look at how they got on in the last four weeks. 

Matty Connelly

Matty Connelly has had a disrupted period on loan with East Kilbride. The young shot stopper has had to return to Motherwell briefly to cover injuries within the goalkeeping department.

However, he has since made two appearances for Kilby, taking his season tally to 24. In the one league match, Connelly helped his side win 4-2 against Bo’ness United. East Kilbride remain in pole position to finish top, with two points separating them from Celtic B in second, who have played three games more.

In his other appearance, Connelly’s side faced Queen’s Park in the semi-final of the SPFL Trust Trophy. Despite going behind in the early stages, East Kilbride scored twice to take the game to extra-time, but lost out 6-2 in the end.

Max Ross

There’s only been one game since our last report for Albion Rovers, which was against Bo’ness United. M.Ross started, as he has done in every game since he signed for Rovers, with his side unfortunately falling to a 1-0 defeat in the Lowland League Cup.

They will play their first league match since the end of December this weekend against Stirling University.

Brannan McDermott

Brannan McDermott and Broomhill have only been in action once in 2025 due to multiple matches being postponed. That match took place midweek in the Lowland League Cup, where Broomhill produced an upset, knocking Berwick Rangers out of the competition thanks to a 3-1 win.

McDermott, who played the full 90 minutes, helped his side get off to an excellent start, providing an assist for the first goal of the night.

Olly Whyte

Cowdenbeath have had two games since the last loan report, with Olly Whyte starting both matches. They beat Stirling University 2-1, pushing them further away from the wrong end of the table.

They then went to penalties against Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Lowland League Cup. Whyte was substituted on in the second-half having been named initially on the bench. Cowdenbeath exited the competition, losing 5-3 on penalties.

Dylan Wells

After recovering from injury, Dylan Wells has been back in action for Edinburgh City, as the Citizens continue their push for a promotion playoff spot.

Wells made his return to action as a second-half substitute against East Fife at the end of January. He came on in the 70th minute, with City losing out 4-1.

He then came off the bench again on the hour mark against Stirling Albion. In what was a frantic game, Michael McIndoe’s side came away with all three points thanks to a 4-3 win.

Edinburgh have opened up a four-point gap to fifth-placed Spartans and are only 11 points off top spot.

Filip Stuparevic

Morton went almost a month without playing a game and only played their first match of 2025 on 25 January against Queen’s Park at Hampden.

The wait was worth it, with Morton winning 2-1, where Stuparevic played 65 minutes. He then followed that up with a goal against Partick Thistle at Firhill in a 2-2 draw, finishing from close range. That was his sixth goal in Morton colours as the race of the promotion play off spots heating up in the Championship.

Luca Ross

L.Ross and Annan Athletic have won one, drawn one, and lost one since the last loan report. He played the full 90 minutes in the draw with Montrose and defeat against Inverness. In the 89th minute against Montrose, L.Ross burst down the line before setting up Tommy Muir to draw Annan level.

He then came off the bench with 5 minutes to go in a 3-1 win over Kelty Hearts. That result was huge for Annan, as it kept them two points clear of the relegation playoff. It also closed the gap to Montrose in seventh to just a point.

The youngster is now up to 14 appearances in all competitions for Annan this season.

Mark Ferrie

Bonnyrigg Ross had lost three prior to our last report, but since then, they have found sustained form in League Two. They’ve played five matches, winning two and drawing one.

Ferrie has been an ever-present in the side, starting each of their last three matches. In the other two, he has come off the bench to feature, taking his number of appearances to 17 for the Rose.

Rose have moved up to seventh in the table on 25 points, with only six points separating fifth to ninth.

Zander McAllister is the latest Motherwell Academy player to be called up for international duty. 

McAllister has been named in Brian McLaughlin’s 20-man squad to travel to Turkey later this month.

The Under 17 group head East to take on Austria in a double-header. Both matches are friendlies are will be used for preparation for Under-17s Round Two (League B) matches that will take place later in the year.

• Austria v Scotland
• Monday 17 February 2025
• 1pm Kick Off
• Arslan Zeki Demirci Sport Complex, Turkey

• Scotland v Austria
• Thursday 20 February 2025
• 9am Kick Off 
• Emir Hotels Ilica Stadium, Turkey

Motherwell duo Aaron Thomson and Jack Dalziel have been included in the Scotland Under 16 squad.

Stephen Clarke has put together a squad of 20 that will travel to Cyprus later this month for their first matches in 2025. The young group are taking part in three friendlies, as part of a tournament.

The first match is against the host nation on Wednesday 19 February, before they take on Romania on Friday 21 February. They will round off their time away with a match against Northern Ireland on Monday 24 February.

• Cyprus v Scotland
• Wednesday 19 February 2025 
• 12:30pm Kick Off 
• Pafiako Stadium, Cyprus 

• Romania v Scotland
• Friday 21 February 2025
• 9am Kick Off  
• Geroskipou Municipality Stadium, Cyprus 

• Scotland v Northern Ireland
• Monday 24 February 2025 
• 9am Kick Off 
• Geroskipou Municipality Stadium, Cyprus 

Refreshed from their Scottish Cup triumph over Bonnyrigg Rose in the ScottishGas Scottish Cup, Motherwell turn their attention back to the league campaign, when they welcome Spartans to K-Park on Sunday.

The women of steel booked their place in the quarter-final’s of the Scottish Cup in fine form, placing six-goals past the Rose to tee up an enticing contest against Boroughmuir Thistle, with a place in the Semi-Final at stake. Striker Amy Sharkey celebrated her 17th birthday and first match in claret and amber since signing permanently from Celtic last week, scoring an impressive hat-trick, with Louisa Boyes, Sophie Black and Jenna Penman also adding to the tally.

Paul Brownlie’s side will refocus their priorities towards the league campaign, with victory over Spartans this weekend putting the women of steel within touching distance of a top-six finish this season.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell 

Motherwell remain five-points clear of closest-rivals Partick Thistle, having already played an extra game, as both sides remain firmly in the chase for a top-six finish this season. Motherwell are in control of their own destiny, with victory in their next two-games potentially securing their top-six place if results elsewhere are favourable.

The women of steel are unbeaten in their last four domestic encounters, holding high-flying Hearts to a goalless stalemate, before defeating Dundee United, Montrose and Bonnyrigg Rose last weekend. Motherwell will have to contend without top-goalscorer Laura Berry, who returned to Rangers on deadline day after being recalled by the Glasgow-side.

Motherwell bolstered their squad ahead of a vital run of fixtures, with Rangers loanee Eilidh Austin, and experienced defender Shannon Leishman both joining the ranks at K-Park.

Spartans 

The capital-based club remain ninth in the SWPL table, three-points ahead of the relegation-places after a difficult fixture list against five of the top-six sides. Spartans are without a league victory since November, defeating Montrose by three-goals to nil before encountering five defeats and one draw. The Edinburgh side also secured their place in the quarter-final’s of the Scottish Cup, racking up six-goals against SWPL2 side Kilmarnock.

Ticket Information

Supporters can purchase their ticket on the day, with pay-at-the-gate in operation. Both cash and card payments will be available.

Adult – £8.

Concession – £3.

Under 11’s – Free to enter.

Midfielder Mason Clark has been selected to represent Scotland Under-19 squad in a double-header of friendlies against Iceland later this month.

The 19-player squad will face two matches at Broadwood Stadium, with the first talking place on Thursday 20th and the second on Sunday 23rd February.

“I’m delighted to be in the squad,” Clark said.

“It’s always a real honour and a privilege to represent your national team, and I’m really looking forward to the games ahead.”

Calum Ward is the latest signing for Motherwell, subject to international clearance. 

The 24-year-old arrives on a deal until the end of the season.

The goalkeeper came through at Bournemouth and had a number of loan spells with Totton & Eling, Bashley, Thatcham Town, Weymouth and Finish side HIFK.

He then made a permanent switch to HIFK in 2021 before joining fellow Finnish outfit AC Oulu later that year.

Ward has played over 150 games in his career to date and will enhance competition for the number one spot between the sticks.

“It’s great to get this over the line,” Calum Ward said.

“I feel I can add serious competition, which I think is a good thing for everyone here. I’ve already met the players and they have all been very welcoming and friendly, I feel integrated already.

“From what I have been told, this is a great football club and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”