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Representatives from the Club and Well Society Board paid tribute to former Motherwell player and Hall of Famer Davie Cooper, 30 years on from his passing.

Cooper sadly passed away on 23 March 1995 at the age of just 39.

There was representation from all of Cooper’s former clubs, including Clydebank and Rangers, alongside representation from the Scottish FA.

After a short speech at his memorial in Hamilton, all wreaths were laid, and a moment of silence took place to remember the late, great Cooper.

“Davie Cooper was one of the all-time Scottish greats,” Brian Caldwell said.

“Everyone remembers the sheer class and entertainment he brought on a football pitch, but he was also a gentleman off it. He was taken far too soon, and this commemorative gathering 30 years on from his passing is an excellent opportunity to stop and remember him.

“It was excellent to see such a wonderful turnout from his former clubs and country, with his former teammates coming together to pay tribute.”

Born in Hamilton on 25 February 1956, it is fair to say Davie Cooper would become one of the most popular post-war Scottish football players ever.

He joined Motherwell in 1989 for £50,000, having lost his place at Rangers amid the bankrolled Graeme Souness era, and seemingly near the end of a most successful career. It was not to be and in his twilight years at Fir Park, he revealed himself to be a quite extraordinary player, whose guile and skill more than made up for his advancing years.

The then-Motherwell manager Tommy McLean signed the prodigious and obvious talent for a relatively small fee, which history will tell you now was a stroke of genius. McLean had chased Cooper for some time, knowing fine that he would be the cherry on top of the workmanlike squad he had built to maintain the clubs’ status in the top flight of Scottish football.

Those who thought Cooper was going to North Lanarkshire merely to play out his years were proved spectacularly wrong as he arguably produced some of the best football of his entire career whilst at Fir Park.

All the wizardry and accuracy that characterised his time at Ibrox seemed undiminished by his veteran status. He was still the master of the dribble and, even more so, the weighted pass. Subtle tricky and endearing, he was a player fans of both sides could warm to.

His debut in claret and amber came at Rugby Park in a midweek League Cup tie in August 1989. His performance was as good any he would produce for the club. Motherwell fans were aghast as Cooper set up three of the four goals the Steelmen scored that evening, as Kilmarnock were brushed aside 4-1.

His first game at Fir Park turned out to be equally entertaining. Cooper again was the main man, being the architect of a 3-1 win over St. Mirren with two goals for Nick Cusack, and a clincher from Stevie Kirk.

He continued to inspire those around him. He was the lynchpin of a terrific showing at Fir Park in September when Dundee were swept aside 3-0 with Cooper scoring his first-ever goal for the Steelmen. Attendances began to rise as the Lanarkshire public warmed to the Hamilton man. When Rangers came calling four days after the Dundee match, that warming grew into unconditional love for the winger.

The big-spending Glasgow giants were humbled as the Steelmen went top of the league, as Cooper combined with another former Ger, Bobby Russell, to create and score the winner on a memorable night under the Fir Park lights.

October saw another Cooper masterclass when Dundee United were defeated in a five-goal thriller. The national press began to speculate on whether Davie should be included in the Scotland squad for a vital upcoming World Cup qualifier against Norway. As it happens, he was included and produced a man of the match performance as the Scots won 3-1 to secure a place at Italia 90.

Domestically, he would score seven times in his first season, a couple of which secured a draw at home to Aberdeen in another pulsating affair as Ne’erday approached. Motherwell finished a comfortable mid-table in a 10-team division, which most fans were happy with, hoping it would be a springboard to success in campaign 1990/91.

Davie was integral to everything Motherwell produced that following season, missing only two league games, scoring another five times as the Steelmen replicated the previous year’s performance with a similar position in the final league table. Where the league form could be labelled workmanlike, the Scottish Cup seemed to spark the players into life.

Cooper inspired a cup run that will never be forgotten around Lanarkshire. He was integral to the exciting victories over Aberdeen, Falkirk and Morton before being suspended for the two semi-final ties against Celtic, largely due to his inability to button his lip with match officials.

Of course, he was back in the side come that wonderful day in May 1991.

His presence and experience undoubtedly gave the confidence to his teammates and the belief that they could lift the Scottish Cup for the first time in 39 years.

That belief turned to reality as goals from Ian Ferguson, Phil O’Donnell, Ian Angus and Stevie Kirk brought joy, not only to the 35,000 Motherwell fans on the slopes of Hampden Park but those with claret and amber in their hearts watching from afar.

Despite approaching his mid-30s, Davie only missed five games of the 50 Motherwell played the following season, scoring five times. Two of these came in a great 2-0 win over St. Mirren at Love Street in early November. He, of course, was also part of the first-ever Motherwell side to take part in European competition on 18 September 1991 in Poland against GKS Katowice. The 2-0 defeat that day was witnessed by a sizeable support from Scotland and would’ve been bigger, had two supporter buses not missed all but ten minutes of the tie.

The second leg witnessed a sublime display from Cooper as he dazzled under the Fir Park floodlights. Over 10,000 fans roared the home side on from the kickoff as the Steelmen looked to overturn the first-leg deficit.

After incessant pressure, the visitors fell behind when a sumptuous pass from Cooper set Kirk up, who finished with aplomb. Early into the second half though, the Steelmen were caught with a breakaway and Katowice equalised on the night briefly silencing the home support.

Back ‘Well roared back with Cooper at the helm, as he crossed first for Nick Cusack to score, and then minutes later for Stevie Kirk to notch his second of the evening. Despite the atmosphere reaching fever pitch, Motherwell failed to score for a fourth time, and we were eliminated on the dreaded away goals rule.

Davie’s final full season at the club was the 1992/93 campaign. However, it proved to be something of a disappointment for the fans, again allowed Coop to display his talents time after time. Incredibly for his age, and position he played, Cooper was the only ever-present Motherwell player that season, turning out in all 46 competitive matches. Indeed, his final goal in our colours came in the April of that season at Fir Park against Celtic, in a memorable 2-0 win over the Glasgow side.

After the summer of 1993, it became apparent that Cooper’s appearances for the club would be mostly from the bench. Indeed, his final sighting in a Motherwell kit was as a substitute in mid-December, contributing to a terrific 3-2 win at Tynecastle Park over an excellent Hearts team, with goals from Tommy Coyne, twice, and Rab McKinnon.

With his chances of regular football at Fir Park diminishing somewhat, Davie decided to continue playing, and more significantly perhaps contributing, to football matches, and returned to serve his first club, Clydebank.

Many had assumed that Cooper’s move to Fir Park would see him treating the move as a form of early retirement. But Davie proved he was bigger and better than that by not only winning a Scottish Cup winner’s medal with Motherwell but also resurrecting his International career. In fact, had he not gone over on his ankle as he ran through Strathclyde Park shortly before the squad was announced, Cooper would’ve been the first-ever Motherwell player to play on the World Cup Finals stage in Italia ’90.

In the 15 months since Davie had left Fir Park, life had been good with Motherwell narrowly losing out in a title fight with Rangers in 1994 and going toe to toe again with the Light Blues the following season eventually finishing runners-up.

However, everything was put into perspective when news broke of Cooper collapsing at Broadwood Stadium in March 1995 whilst filming a television show and coaching youngsters.

The following day as the Motherwell squad and fans were travelling through to Easter Road to take on Hibs in a vital league match, it was confirmed that Davie had passed away of a brain haemorrhage aged just 39.

Given the impact he had had during his time in North Lanarkshire, quite understandably, neither the players nor the fans seemed capable getting themselves up for the game, and the home side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. It is no exaggeration to say that the whole Scottish nation was both stunned and deeply saddened by his untimely death, as floral tributes were left at Ibrox, Fir Park and Kilbowie in abundance.

The Motherwell FC board decided to name the newly constructed North Stand after him.

Davie Cooper inspired a team of footballers and supporters of this club, giving everything he had for the cause. 165 appearances and 17 goals for Motherwell may be the facts and figures of his time at Fir Park, but they barely scratch the surface of his life and times at the club.

His range of ball skills and sheer entertainment value made him instantly recognisable. Cooper was clearly a match-winner, a skilled craftsman and an almost unique talent. He had a cultured left foot, amazing dribbling skills, precision crosses and truly stunning dead-ball accuracy. He was a player that literally had you off your seat when on the ball, dictating play to his preferences, and his teams’ advantage.

Motherwell has been fortunate to have a list of quite outstanding left wingers throughout history. From Bobby Ferrier, Johnny Aitkenhead and Pat Quinn are just some of the big names to have played in that position through the years.

Cooper rightly deserves his position near the top of such a list for the way he almost single-handedly raised the spirits of the area and the perception of Motherwell Football Club within the game that his contribution is hard to measure subjectively.

Off the pitch, he was a terrific ambassador for the football club and the wider community, contrary to the perceived “Moody Blue” persona which was portrayed during his time at Rangers.

History will dictate that Davie Cooper’s legend is more famed for his stint at Ibrox and although his time with us may have been relatively short, no one could ever question the effect, nor the passion he had for this our club. A modern-day footballing genius and a man who inspired a group to achieve immortality.

Former Motherwell first-team performance therapist Callum Davidson will be running the Birmingham half-marathon to raise money for both the Motherwell FC & Wigan Athletic Community Trust.

A lecturer in sports therapy at Birmingham City University, Davidson will be running the Birmingham half-marathon to raise awareness of his own mental health journey whilst giving back to the communities and mental health projects that supported him at both community trusts.

Davidson hopes that the funds raised will support both providing a safe and supportive network to help people understand and tackle their mental health issues.

“I needed to challenge myself both physically and mentally,” Davidson outlined.

“Through my mental health challenges, I simultaneously neglected my physical health, and I knew I had to break the cycle and challenge both aspects of my physical and mental health.

“I wanted to tell my story and raise awareness about the realities of coping with mental health issues. I was incredibly nervous and apprehensive about sharing my story, but I kept reminding myself that hopefully someone might resonate with my experiences and could encourage them to reach out and talk.

“I was keen to try and create a support network, with the aim and hope of helping people realise and understand that they are not alone. We are in this together.”

Callum bravely opened up about his lifelong mental health journey, from an initial 18-year-old navigating life’s challenges and enduring the natural stresses of academia and university to the isolation and pressures of working within full-time football. Working his way through his first full-time role in professional football, Callum joined Hartlepool United as he began his route into the professional game.

Whilst embracing every moment of his early career in football, the intensity of a consistent seven-day working week, isolation due to a tough work-life balance and a limited support network continued to take its toll. Like so many people across the globe, Callum lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic but soon returned to football with Salford City whilst simultaneously studying for his MSc degree in Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford.

Amongst the variety of stress-inducing factors of full-time football and higher education, Callum sadly lost his mom to cancer in May 2021. Struggling to open up about his internal struggles, Callum turned to excessive drinking to numb those feelings.

“It was an incredibly difficult time,” Callum added.

“I found myself significantly more emotional, with a noticeable change in my character. I told myself that this was a normal reaction to the emotional trauma I had experienced, but things continued to get progressively worse. I was incredibly embarrassed, scared and conflicted about reaching out for help. I felt guilty, as people have a significantly harder life than what I do, but I could not understand why I felt this way, and how could I expect anyone else to?

“I was soon given a really special opportunity to work within Scottish football at Premiership club Motherwell FC. A lot of my immediate family are from Glasgow, and I have always had a deep connection to my Scottish roots. This opportunity meant a lot to me, being in Scotland, embracing my family heritage and especially joining a club of Motherwell’s stature.

“I felt like I had pulled through and taken back control of my life. I was thoroughly enjoying my job, had completed my MSc and was embracing everything about Scotland – I felt like myself again.

“However, things began to rapidly spiral beyond imagination; I didn’t understand why. Despite loving everything about Scotland and my job, I felt lost, isolated, conflicted and was suffering. After months of battling daily internal conflicts in my head, I turned up every day to work trying to maintain a perception that nothing was wrong. I tried to immerse myself in my work as a distraction, but I was putting up a façade, and I was emotionally exhausted; I had nothing left.

“I could not escape the seemingly never-ending pain and torment. Every day, I felt like I was battling life, and I had nothing left to give. I lost my passion, my drive and my identity. It was made worse, as I did not understand why I felt this way, and I eventually got to the point where I was contemplating taking my own life.”

After months of withholding his emotions, Callum made the brave decision to open up to then Motherwell FC Chief Executive Alan Burrows. A significant moment in his mental health journey.

“The night before I spoke to Alan, I had contemplated taking my own life,” Callum explained.

“After years of pain, internal conflict and suffering, I felt I had nothing left to give. I was physically and emotionally exhausted, and I just wanted it to end, but I was very fortunate to have had a moment of clarity which swamped me. I had never been so low; I was scared.

“I came into work the next day, putting on a façade that became a normality for years – pretending that everything was okay, but after my experience the previous night, I knew something was different. I had a very good relationship with Alan – he is a great guy – and for whatever reason, instead of walking to the physio room that day, my body just took me towards his office. I hadn’t planned to speak to him; I had no idea what I was going to say. The only way I could describe it was like I was stuck on autopilot.

“I knocked on his door; he invited me in, and I sat down and just forced out the words, ‘I need help.’ I was absolutely overwhelmed with eight years’ worth of pain and emotion flooding to the surface. Without hesitation, Alan offered support, and I cannot thank him enough for that. It felt like a significant weight had been lifted, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was going to be okay. I truly believe that conversation saved my life.

“Over the next few months, Alan had arranged for me to speak to a specialist. I was incredibly nervous; I really do not like talking about my emotions, but I knew it was something I had to do. Through talking, I started to understand myself more, and I started to appreciate potential causes and triggers. There was still a significant amount I did not understand; however, I developed a newfound ability to talk to people and open up. This was instrumental to my recovery.

“Despite some personal difficulties, I thoroughly enjoyed my year-and-a-half at the club. The people, the fans and the experiences were incredible, and I will cherish my time at the club for all my days. Motherwell holds a very special place in my heart, and it always will. I am very proud to say that I had the opportunity to work for such a special club; I miss it every day.”

After his time in Scotland, Callum felt that he needed a fresh start. He soon joined English giants Wigan Athletic after making the incredibly difficult decision to leave a place that he called home.

Despite feeling excited and optimistic about the following months, Callum’s mental health issues persisted to a level lower than ever before. Unable to rationalise and understand his feelings, Callum became caught in a vicious cycle of poor mental health.

After his previous experiences, he sought to get control of this feeling quickly, by speaking to Wigan Athletic Club Doctor, Jonathan Tobin.

“Doc was another significant figure in my life, who I am very grateful and thankful for. We discussed things at length, and he offered me support, but for whatever reason; I felt I was spiralling out of control to the point where I had enough.

“I couldn’t see a resolution. I had written a letter, sorted my affairs, and attempted to take my own life. I am extremely fortunate that this attempt failed.

“That day, I called Doc, and we had decided that I needed to control the controllable’s and learn about why I felt the way I did.

“I still face difficult episodes of mental health-related issues; however, I am in a much better place to tackle them. I have found that talking is such a powerful tool. I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore. I am someone who hated the idea of talking about my emotions, and I still find it incredibly difficult now; however, I also recognise how powerful a tool it is.”

The 30-year-old has already raised over £1400 of his initial £1000 target in just nine days for both the Motherwell FC and Wigan Athletic Community Trusts, as he looks to give back to the communities that have supported him through his journey.

“It’s incredibly difficult for people to open up about mental health, particularly men,” Callum said.

“Unfortunately, there still seems to be social stigma against men being able to freely open up. Having said that, society has made some very positive strides to challenge that stigma; there is a significantly greater awareness and understanding regarding mental health compared to several years ago.

“I think football can play an instrumental part in challenging that narrative and promoting greater awareness and support. Football goes beyond what happens on the pitch; football is for everyone in every capacity, player or fan. Football is an escape for people; it provides purpose, memories, and relationships. It’s a sense of community and belonging that gives people hope, commonality and a support network.

“The communities are the heart of these clubs. It truly is a beautiful game that brings people together, with the clubs and their respective Community Trusts being the epitome of this. Both charities engage in fantastic projects to support their communities, particularly surrounding mental health, and their work is instrumental to improving people’s lives.

“I have seen first-hand the amazing work of both trusts and the positive impact their mental health-related projects can have on their local communities. The projects provide a safe and supportive network to help people understand and tackle their mental health issues whilst providing the foundations for a new beginning. Their work is incredibly important.

“The impact both communities had on me can’t be understated, and I wanted to give something back. Therefore, the decision to donate to both the Community Trusts of Motherwell FC and Wigan Athletic was an easy one.”

With just over a month to go until Callum takes to the streets of Birmingham, preparations have continued to ramp up, as he looks to complete his goal next month.

“I am truly overwhelmed by everyone’s kind words, messages and incredible support,” Callum expressed.

“Through sharing the GoFundMe page and my own personal story, it has already sparked some positive conversations with others, and I am extremely grateful for all the donations and generosity so far. I initially started with a target of £1000, but after everyone’s unbelievable support and generous contributions, I realised that we would quickly surpass that goal. I check it every day, so it’s brilliant to see it increasing. I have so much gratitude for the support I have received so far.

“It’s been a challenge, but an enjoyable one. Although I am not sure my body is thanking me for it! I work with athletes to help optimise their performance and recovery from injuries; I think I need to take my own advice sometimes to make the process a little easier. It has been great to have a challenge again; I have missed that competitiveness ever since I stepped away from football. I am just enjoying the process and excited for the day itself.

“There are so many people that I want to thank. A big part of my support network was talking to some of my closest friends, and I cannot thank them enough for all their love and support. My dad has supported me in every way possible; he is the epitome of what a dad should be. His selflessness and endless support are something I cannot thank him enough for. I also want to thank Alan Burrows and Doc Jonathan Tobin. I do not have the words to express my admiration and gratitude for them. They both played a significant part in my recovery and offered unwavering support, and without them, the outcome could have been very different.”

You can read the entirety of Callum’s story or support his efforts at the Birmingham half-marathon by visiting his GoFundMe page HERE.

Luke Armstrong arrived in North Lanarkshire in January on loan from Carlisle, in a move that looked on paper to be the best for both parties involved.

Motherwell would get a much-needed forward man who would help with their injury troubles, and Armstrong would get back to playing the game he loved.

It wasn’t his first experience of crossing the border to Scotland, however, with the 28-year-old having previously turned out for Cowdenbeath almost a decade ago. Not many players would make the move from Birmingham to the Blue Brazil, but at the time, the move made sense to Armstrong.

“Sometimes you’re just struggling to get a club, and that was the position I was in,” Armstrong explained.

“I wanted to go somewhere to try and play games. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out in the end. I think all my league appearances came from off the bench.

“When you’re a young lad, you just want to play games. My dad has contacts in football, so they [Cowdenbeath] got in touch with him to see if I fancied it. I wanted to see what it was like up here.

“It was part-time; I’d only have to travel up once for training during the week. The lads would train on a Tuesday and a Thursday and then play the game on a Saturday. If we had a midweek game, I’d come up on the Tuesday and then at the weekend.

“I drove up to training, and if it was a game, I’d get the train. It was costing me a fortune on travel expenses!”

With just eight appearances to his name by the end of the season with Cowdenbeath, Armstrong began the search for his new club. By this point, he had come through the ranks at Middlesbrough and was rueing his missed opportunity to break into the first-team there.

Fuelled by ambition and determination, it would eventually come about that he would sign for Northern Premier League side Blyth Spartans.

But in a short space of time, this move would become the springboard he needed for his career.

“I originally signed under the manager Tom Wade,” he said.

“He was getting a fair bit of stick at that point, and he’d got in touch with my dad about coming in as assistant manager, with the aim of becoming the manager in the future. As soon as my dad came in and signed, Wade packed it in, so he got moved straight into the position as gaffer. He was thrown into the deep end!

“We had a really successful season, and I got my move to Middlesbrough after that. It was exactly what I needed; if anyone was going to believe in you, it’s going to be your old man.

“I went from strength to strength and improved a lot. My dad worked closely with me; he actually probably showed a bit of bias towards the forwards, but he was trying to get us to excel, and we did. I got my move, and this time, I wasn’t going to take it for granted like I did previously. I wanted to work harder than ever to get into the first-team.

“When my dad became the manager, I did think about how it was going to work. It was more about how the lads would take to it and if they were still going to be ok with me. To be fair to them all, they were.

“I think what helped was I was only there for one season, and we had a great year. We didn’t lose many games; I think we actually went on an 11-game winning streak. It was about the best you could have hoped for.

“We didn’t have many clashes because we were winning and I was scoring goals. When we lost a couple of games, the whole house was depressed. It’s always been the case that the house would be split emotionally after the games. Sometimes my dad would be happy because he won, or vice versa. But we’d both come in and be in moods together.”

Having scored over 20 goals and secured his move back to Middlesbrough, life was about to change for Armstrong. For one, he was going back into full-time football, something that he had moved away from a few years prior.

“At Blyth, I was training to become a personal trainer,” he stated.

“That’s what I was going to go into. My dad had a five-a-side football centre which had a gym inside, so I was wanting to start my personal training in there. I’ve been very fortunate with the things my dad has been involved with!

“I qualified just as I moved back to Middlesbrough, so I haven’t used much of that stuff. I do think a lot about what I’m going to do after football, but there’s no point. Too many things can change.

“You just never know what can happen, but it’s nice to know I’ve got that if I wanted to go down that road. My family owns a café back home, so there’s always that too. That would keep me going for sure.”

The rumour mill had been turning with regards to Armstrong and some of his hobbies away from football. One of which was that he was an avid baker!

Thankfully, he was able to shed some light on this.

“I can confirm the rumour is true,” he laughed.

“I haven’t done much baking since having my baby; there’s not much time to bake. It’s a hobby of mine that I enjoy doing, and when I was living back at home, I used to bake cakes for the café, but I’m now too far away to be doing that. I’m still trying to master the basics, really.

“You’ve got to have a hobby. It’s hard having a footballing family and trying to get away from the sport. Everyone wants to speak about football all the time, so it’s nice to have something that can take your mind away.”

Although he’s tasted success, he’s also experienced anguish in football, and when what would have been the biggest move of his career, a deal to Wrexham, fell at the final hurdle on deadline day, Armstrong became even more motivated.

“I was able to see what my hard work could get,” he noted.

“I would never have thought during my career that I would get a move like that or get the interest from other clubs that I did that summer.

“Going to Carlisle, things haven’t worked out. There are a lot of factors involved in that, but just moving here, I wanted to prove to myself again.

“I know the player I can be, and I feel like I’m getting back to that playing here. I’m playing in a style that suits me. My first thought after the Wrexham stuff was to try harder to get that move again or see if I could get something better.”

And after landing in ML1 a couple of months ago, it didn’t take long for people to sit up and take notice of Armstrong.

It may not have been because of anything football-related; however, it was more because of his antics in front of the camera, which involved a rather unique goal celebration.

“My pal Jack Diamond and I spent a lot of the time in the gym together, and we used to do daft dances,” Armstrong laughed.

“When it came to doing our goal gifs at Carlisle in the summer, that was the result, and we just went with it. I haven’t managed to do it on the pitch yet; there hasn’t been the right time to do it. Hopefully it can come out when we’re two or three nil up in a game.

“Jack doesn’t even do it; he just leaves me to be the clown.”

Although the celebration hasn’t materialised on the pitch, there is plenty to be optimistic about from Armstrong’s performances in a Motherwell shirt thus far.

Two goals, one against Rangers and one against Celtic, and plenty of minutes have given him a strong building block for the season run-in. With the arrival of Michael Wimmer as boss, he has clarity on what is expected of him.

“He’s been brilliant,” the 28-year-old said.

“He’s come in and got his ideas across. Especially with the language barrier, he’s done brilliantly. We all know what’s expected of us, and he’s really drilling his ideas into us. You can see how quickly we’ve progressed as a team.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with him so far. He’ll speak collectively before a game, so everyone knows what jobs we need to do. He’ll speak individually also, especially if there’s something he wants us to work on.

“He’s been a breath of fresh air for the club, and we’ve all taken on board what he wants. You can have targets, but it’s a bit different here because of when I joined. But I’ve always said throughout a season that you want to hit double figures in terms of goals.

“Getting close to 15 or 20 is the dream as a striker, but for now, I want to play as many games as I can and experience as much of the game in Scotland.”

Motherwell FC Community Trust are actively recruiting keen and enthusiastic players to join their adult PAN Disability team. 

Ever dreamt of playing under the Motherwell badge or taking to the pitch in the historic claret and amber colours?

Our PAN Disability adult community squad are all actively looking for new players to feature in their side.

Training sessions will take place at Fir Park Astro located behind the East Stand at Fir Park Stadium, two nights per week, with match days taking place at the weekend.

If you are interested in finding out more and would require additional details, please contact community coach:

Christopher.Macfarlane@Motherwellfc.co.uk

Motherwell’s long-awaited first matchday in the top six of the Scottish Women’s Premier League failed to live up to aspirations, as the women of steel were dismantled by title-chasers Rangers in East Kilbride last weekend. 

Motherwell battled relentlessly till the final whistle in their maiden top-six encounter, but the part-time side ultimately couldn’t sustain their defence against the rampant Rangers frontline, as the visitors secured a comfortable victory at K-Park. A Katie Wilkinson hat-trick, braces from Camille Lafaix and Kirsty Howat, with a single-goal from Rio hardy secured a harsh victory for Rangers.

Defender Chelsie Watson acknowledged the frustrations of their opening post-split match, but remained adamant that the squad are capable of competing with the best in the country.

“We let ourselves down in that game,” Watson acknowledged.

“We have earned our place in the top-six and our status as the best part-time team in the country, but we want to continue to progress. We don’t want to just accept just being in the top-six as our ceiling, and struggle through to the end of the season.

“Facing full-time teams will always be a tough daunting task, but we have previously proven our standards against Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and Glasgow City – achieving some huge results during that time. Playing these teams on a weekly basis within the top-six is where we want to be as a squad. We want to be competing with the best, and continually developing our performances on the pitch.

“We have earned the right to call ourselves a top-six team, but we have to now kick-on and be competitive in that environment. Ultimately, with four teams chasing the title, every point and goal can be the difference maker, so we understand that everyone will be on their finest game, but we have an opportunity to demonstrate what we’re capable of.”

It has already been a historic campaign for the women of steel, with Paul Brownlie’s side achieving their first-ever place in the top-six of the SWPL whilst returning to Hampden Park for the first-time since 2022, as the women of steel achieved another place in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final, but Watson remained adamant that the squad aren’t there to make up numbers.

“We have come a long way this season,” Watson explained.

“Earning a place in the top-six was an incredible achievement in itself, but to also have our day at Hampden Park next month is immensely special to the entirety of the squad. We’re not there just to enjoy the occasion though, we are there to ultimately compete within the top-six and reach our first major cup final since 2018.

“We can’t and we won’t just accept our position and look to just make up the numbers. We have to head into these final few months with the mentality that we can be the best, and take the game to each team that we face.

“We want the top-six to be a regular occurrence for the squad, and we need to be consistent to achieve this. To be consistent, you have to perform against the full-time teams and we want to showcase what we’re capable of when we return to face Hibs in over a weeks time.”

Motherwell will face another lengthy break before returning to domestic action against Hibernian on the 30 March, and Watson explained how the squad will utilise their additional time on the training pitch ahead of their next top-six tie in East Kilbride.

“Hibs will always be a difficult test,” Watson added.

“They have really built and cemented their status over the past few months, as genuine title and Sky Sports League Cup contenders, so we recognise the challenges we will face at K-Park. They are top of SWPL for a reason and will obviously be a difficult test, but we have players in the squad capable of causing them problems, and we are continuing to work as hard as we can on the training pitch to prepare and craft our gameplan accordingly.

“We will be ready for the game against Hibs, and we can’t wait to see you all in the stands supporting us throughout the full 90-minutes.”

Motherwell FC Community trust are actively recruiting keen and enthusiastic players across a variety of ages for both their boys and girls programmes. 

Ever dreamt of playing under the Motherwell badge or taking to the pitch in the historic claret and amber colours?

Our boys (2012 & 2013-born), girls (2014-born), and girls (2015 & 2016-born) community squads are all actively looking for new players to feature in their side.

Training sessions will take place at Fir Park Astro located behind the East Stand at Fir Park Stadium, two nights per week, with match days taking place at the weekend.

If you are interested in finding out more and would require additional details, please contact community coach:

Nathan.Wallace@Motherwellfc.co.uk

Details for the squad waiting list are available 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

The race for the Lowland League title is heating up as it enters the final stages of the season. Currently, Matty Connelly and East Kilbride remain top of the table, with two games in hand on Celtic B and Caledonian Braves.

Those games in hand may be crucial when it comes to deciding who wins the title, with just seven points separating the top three sides.

For Connelly, he has remained the number one keeper at Kilby and is currently on 32 appearances for the season in all competitions. Since our last report, they have played seven league games in total. They won five out of seven; however, the two defeats came against their title challengers, Braves and Celtic B.

Connelly started six of those games and was a half-time substitute in the one other. Their win over Albion Rovers on Tuesday night has opened up a gap to Celtic B in second place.

Away from the league action, East Kilbride also advanced to the final of the South Challenge Cup with a 4-2 win over Musselburgh Athletic. Connelly played the full match.

Max Ross

Albion Rovers have been playing catch-up on postponed games since our last report, with seven games taking place. It should have been eight games, but their fixture against Linlithgow Rose was postponed.

M.Ross has started four of those games and was a substitute in one other. It’s been one win, one draw and three defeats for the 18-year-old in the games he took part in, which included an excellent 3-1 win over title chasers Caledonian Braves.

With games in hand over teams above them, Rovers are in seventh place and will be hoping to close the gap to the top-six.

Brannan McDermott

Broomhill have been in action eight times since our last loan report, with Brannan McDermott starting in six matches and playing 90 minutes in five of them.

The young defender has won two, drawn one and lost three of those six matches. Broomhill currently find themselves second bottom of the standings on 24 points but are well in touch with teams above. Just five points separate the bottom four teams.

Olly Whyte

Olly Whyte hasn’t played a match for Cowdenbeath since our last report due to injury. He has missed the last seven matches, where the Blue Brazil have won three and drawn two.

Dylan Wells

Edinburgh City and Dylan Wells have been flying of late, with City manager Michael McIndoe winning the manager of the month award for the third time this season in February.

Wells is now up to 12 appearances for the Citizens, starting four of the last six matches and coming on as a sub in one other.

Edinburgh have won four matches that Wells was involved in, losing one game to Stranraer, where Wells wasn’t involved, and one other to Peterhead, where he played 75 minutes.

The fine run of results has boosted them into the playoff spots, where they currently sit third. If the strong run can continue, it’s not impossible for City to close the gap to East Fife and Peterhead in top spot. They are currently seven points off the top of the table but will be full of confidence going into the season run-in.

Filip Stuparevic

Filip Stuparevic was on 18 appearances for Morton following their 2-0 win over Hamilton. That was following an assist against Airdrie one week prior.

However, an ACL injury against Hamilton meant the Serbian had to come off, and his loan at Morton would be over. It’s expected Stuparevic will be missing long-term, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Luca Ross

L.Ross has worked his way into Annan Athletic’s starting 11 and is now a regular on the team sheet. He has made it up to 20 appearances this season for Annan, making six of those since our last report.

He has started and played the full match in three of those appearances and was a substitute in the other three.

Back-to-back wins over Kelty Hearts and Dumbarton at the start of February were followed up with four defeats on the spin, but a crucial 1-0 victory over Inverness on Saturday closed the gap to safety for Annan.

Although bottom side Dumbarton have been cut adrift, the relegation playoff is looming for Annan, with Inverness overtaking them in the standings to go two points clear. But the result on Saturday will give them a boost of confidence going into the closing stages of the season.

Mark Ferrie

Mark Ferrie has made a further six appearances for Bonnyrigg Rose since the last loan report, starting in three of those games.

A half-time substitute in one, and introduced into the action with half an hour left to play against Spartans and Stirling Albion, has ensured Ferrie is getting plenty of minutes on the pitch.

He found the back of the net against Peterhead at the start of February, which is his second goal for the club. However, Rose have been struggling to find form and hasn’t won a game since 1 February.

That has meant they have slid down the table and are currently second bottom of League Two. There is still scope for them to get out of the danger zone, as they are three points from eighth. Rose have still to play both Forfar and Clyde, where the outcomes of those games could determine their season.

We have six players away representing their nation this month. Here’s what’s ahead of the them.

Lennon Miller

It was a momentous occasion when Lennon Miller received his first senior international call-up for Scotland earlier this month. The 18-year-old joins up with the squad ahead of a crucial double header against Greece, which will determine what League Scotland will play in the next Nations League competition.

The winner over the two legs will remain in League A. Greece only lost one game in their Group, only narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to League A. There only defeat came against England, although they did win at Wembley in the reverse fixture.

Should Miller earn his first cap, he would become the youngest ever Motherwell player to earn a senior international cap.

• Greece v Scotland 
• Thursday 20 March
• 7:45pm Kick Off 
• Georgios Karaiskakis Football Stadium, Greece

• Scotland v Greece 
• Sunday 23 March
• 5pm Kick Off
• Hampden Park, Scotland 

Kai Andrews

Kai Andrews has also made his first step up to senior international football, with manager Craig Bellamy including the 18-year-old in his squad that will kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Wales are in Group J alongside Belgium, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan and North Macedonia. They face the latter two sides over the next 10 ten days.

• Wales v Kazakhstan 
• 7:45pm Kick Off
• Saturday 22 March
• Cardiff City Stadium, Wales 

• North Macedonia v Wales 
• 7:45pm Kick Off 
• Tuesday 25 March
• Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje

Tawanda Maswanhise

Tawanda Maswanhise and Zimbabwe are also in World Cup qualifying action, however they have four games in. Currently, The Warriors are at the foot of Group C. They take on Benin and Nigeria during this international window.

Rwanda, South Africa and Benin are all currently on seven points, with Lesotho on five and Nigeria on three.

Having found the back of the net during the November international games, Maswanhise and Zimbabwe remain on a high having qualified for AFCON as a result of their previous two matches. They will hoping to carry on that good feeling in these crucial two matches.

• Zimbabwe v Benin 
• Thursday 20 March
• Kick Off 4pm
• Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa

• Nigeria v Zimbabwe 
• Tuesday 25 March
• Kick Off 4pm
• Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Nigeria

Ewan Wilson

Ewan Wilson retained his spot in Scotland’s Under 21 squad ahead of two friendly matches later this week. The young Scots travel to Spain to take on Republic of Ireland and Iceland.

This is a new Under-21 cycle, where there a number of new, young faces in the squad. These two matches will be key to Scotland’s preparations for their upcoming EURO 2027 qualifying campaign, which gets underway later in the year.

• Scotland v Republic of Ireland 
• Friday 21 March 
• 7pm Kick Off 
• Pinatar Football Arena, Murcia, Spain

• Scotland v Iceland
• Tuesday 25 March  
• 1pm Kick Off
• Pinatar Football Arena, Murcia, Spain

Kofi Balmer

Kofi Balmer received a late call-up for Northern Ireland duty ahead of their two friendly matches this month. Looking for his first senior cap, Balmer will travel back home for a home match against Switzerland first, before travelling to Sweden.

Northern Ireland secured promotion to League B of the Nations League in November and these matches will help preparations for their World Cup qualifying adventure.

• Northern Ireland v Switzerland 
• 7:45pm Kick Off 
• Friday 21 March 
• Windsor Park, Belfast

• Sweden v Northern Ireland 
• 6pm Kick Off
• Tuesday 25 March 
• Friends Arena, Stockholm

Zander McAllister

Zander McAllister is in the Scotland Under 17 squad once again, with the young side in action three times over the next ten days.

Head coach Brian McLaughlin has named a squad of 20 for the crucial upcoming UEFA League B Round 2 matches against North Macedonia, Romania and Liechtenstein.

All the games are taking place at Broadwood Stadium. Scotland are aiming to secure top spot in the group, and with it, a return to League A.

• Scotland v North Macedonia
• Wednesday 19 March 2025 
• 3:30pm Kick Off
• Broadwood Stadium, Scotland

• Scotland v Romania
• Saturday 22 March 2025
• 7:30pm kick off
• Broadwood Stadium, Scotland

• Scotland v Liechtenstein
• Tuesday 25 March 2025
• 3pm kick off
• Broadwood Stadium, Scotland

A key partner of the Motherwell FC Community Trust, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) have continued to support our women’s recreational football sessions. 

On International Women’s Day, Scottish FA partner CHSS CEO Jane-Claire Judson spoke about the importance of empowering women’s equality in sport.

Jane-Claire has been dedicated to driving and fostering vital change through CHSS to ensure that every woman can receive the best possible care, free from bias or inequality.

“I want to thank all the incredible women who make our work possible,” Jean Claire stated.

“Our staff, volunteers, supporters, and those with lived experience of our conditions who drive us forward. At Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, we are committed to ensuring every woman gets the support she needs, when she needs it. But it is also a reminder that breaking down women’s health inequalities isn’t just a one-day conversation – it’s a call for change we advocate for every day.

“For too long, women’s health has been overlooked, leading to misdiagnosis, unequal treatment and a lack of awareness around the risks women face. Through our Women’s Health Action Plan, we are addressing these issues – improving access to care, delivering vital services, and campaigning for better recognition of women’s experiences in healthcare. The Third Sector has a crucial role to play, and we will continue to push for lasting change. No woman should be left behind when it comes to her health, and we won’t stop until every woman receives the support she needs to live life to the fullest.

“Together, we are building a future where women’s health is no longer overlooked.”

Visit the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland women’s health page to find out more.

Callum Slattery and Stephen O’Donnell will remain in the claret and amber for the 2025/26 season.

“This is great news for everyone,” Michael Wimmer stated.

“Both players are true professionals, and I have loved working with both of them. They have both had different journeys but give everything for the badge. We are trying to get the foundations in place for next season, which is great because after four weeks of being here, I have a better picture of everything.

“Callum has been excellent since I arrived and is a real spark in the team. He suits the style we want to implement here and has shown a great attitude.

“He has done so well to get back to full fitness, and I still think he has room to develop. Hopefully we can achieve that together.

“Stephen is a great character. He trains excellently and is a role model for younger players. He sets an example by his work ethic, and it’s great to know he’ll be here next season. His application and determination for success are what we want and need.

“He is a leader, and it’s great news that he will be here next season.”

The club have exercised their option to extend Slattery’s contract by 12 months, after the 26-year-old recovered from a serious knee injury at the turn of the year.

Slattery joined the club back in the summer of 2021 and has gone on to make 102 appearances for the club so far. Although missing for 11 months due to an ACL rupture, he has worked his way back to full fitness and has re-discovered his pre-injury form.

Scoring in just his second match since returning, Slattery has featured eight times this season and most recently scored a double against St Mirren. In that time, he also reached 100 games for the club, a key milestone in his career.

“When I signed my contract last summer, I didn’t know what would lie ahead for me,” Callum Slattery said.

“The club showed faith and trust in me, and my mission has been to get back fully fit so I can thank them for that. It’s been so good to be back on the pitch, scoring goals and creating new memories.

“None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the support I have received from my loved ones, the club staff and all the fans.

“This place has been my home for the last four years, and I’ve gotten really used to being here. I hope we can finish this season strongly and have a successful campaign next season.”

A special video was made which shows Slattery’s journey from the bottom back to the top and can be viewed here.

Stephen O’Donnell will be here for his sixth season at Fir Park, having triggered a 12-month extension in his contract.

Since joining in 2020, the Scotland international has represented the club on 175 occasions. He signed a new deal last summer, which would see him remain for at least one year. Since then, he has triggered a 12-month extension and will be here for his sixth season.

“I’m proud to be a Motherwell player,” Stephen O’Donnell added.

“This is my local area, and I’ve always given 100% to the cause. The community feeling is prevalent, and it’s an exciting time to be here.

“I’ll never take for granted playing for this wonderful football club. There’s a real togetherness here at the minute, and I think there’s optimism for what’s to come under the new management team. This season has had it’s difficulties with injury but I’ve still managed to play plenty games.

“As ever, I’ll give it everything. Not just in matches, but during the week. I want the very best for everyone here and will do my utmost best to deliver that.”