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On Thursday of this week, we will begin significant development works at the stadium with the installation of a new hybrid pitch at Fir Park. 

We have selected industry-experts SIS Pitches, who will work in partnership with AllGrass, to rebuild the pitch literally from the ground up.

That will see the clearing of the current pitch, and the previous one that still exists beneath the current surface, the installation of an enhanced drainage system, a new irrigation system and new undersoil heating piping.

When the pitch construction is concluded and seed is in the ground, around five week’s worth of work, SIS will then complete the process of ‘stitching’ the new surface.

Hybrid football pitches consist of 95% natural grass which is reinforced with synthetic stitched fibres. That allows greater durability, enhanced drainage and longer playing time with the feel of real grass.

When complete, Motherwell will be the fourth Scottish Premiership club to have a hybrid pitch following Celtic, Hearts and Rangers’ installations in recent years.

“For the last decade or more, the club has spent considerable cash, each summer, patching up the pitch to try and get us through the following season,” Chief Executive Alan Burrows said.

“Owing almost exclusively to the skill and talent of Paul Matthew, our current Head Groundsman, and his deputies, we have seen a marked improvement over the last few years, albeit the root problems continue to persist under the surface and maintaining a reliable, stable pitch is becoming increasingly more challenging, particularly through the winter months.

“We are throwing away good money every year by not fully fixing this issue.

“So the Board have decided to do just that, which will not only provide an enhanced and reliable playing surface, but will also materially reduce the annual maintenance costs and allow us to further commercialise the pitch and the stadium, much like we have done in the past, but have been unable to in recent times because of the poor pitch construction.

“As a part of that rebuilding process, we also plan to reduce the slope of the pitch, which runs from the Cooper/Hunter Stand corner at its highest point, to the McLean/O’Donnell Stand corner at its lowest, by half of what it is now.

“That will improve the playability of the pitch for players, whilst significantly enhancing the sight lines in both the Cooper and McLean stands lower corners.”

Vice-captain Liam Kelly says Motherwell are well aware that they are in control of whether they will qualify for the Europa Conference League.

A win would secure a European spot and the Scotland international is prepared for a tight game with Hearts but knows they are more than capable of getting the job done.

Manager Graham Alexander appreciates the following from Motherwell supporters and reckons that their incredible following could help his side get the win against Hearts.

He says his side have been mentally strong to get themselves into the position they are in and wants his side to dig even deeper to secure European football next season.

Motherwell will round off their 2021/22 SWPL1 campaign against Aberdeen on Sunday. 

Kick off is 4:10 at Alliance Park.

Come and Watch

There will be no tickets sold before the match.

Entry is £5 for adults while children go free.

Tale of the Tape

Motherwell and Aberdeen have had two previous encounters this season in SWPL1, with each side winning their home games.

Most recently Aberdeen beat Motherwell 5-1 at Balmoral Stadium in February while the women of steel got the 4-3 win at Alliance Park in November. Carla Boyce got a hat-trick in the process.

Form Guide

Motherwell come into this game after winning two games out of the last three.

Aberdeen were beaten 4-1 by Hibernian last Sunday and have won one game out of the last six.

Hearts are the opposition in our final home game of the 2021/22 season on Wednesday night.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Ticket information

Tickets are now available to buy online or from the Fir Park ticket office. Hearts fans are asked to buy directly from their club.

Pay at the gate is not available. Alternatively, call 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Ticket prices are:

– Concessions are listed as Over 60s, 16-18 year olds and full-time students with a valid matriculation card.
– Juveniles are listed as 15 and under.

Watch live online

In the UK and Ireland, you can buy a pay-per-view pass for £12. To buy, go to ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk.

If you’re based abroad, you can watch via subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Form guide

Motherwell have been struggling for form, after a great first half of the season. Recent wins over St Mirren and Ross County have shown shoots of recovery but Graham Alexander’s men still have work to do to secure a European spot.

Hearts have been in fine form; the weekend’s defeat to Celtic was their first defeat in 11 games.

Tale of the tape

This is the fourth meeting of the two sides this season and all of them have ended 2-0 to the side playing at home.

The Steelmen will be buoyed by a great three points over Ross County at the weekend as the race for Europe comes to a conclusion.

Hearts have comfortably secured third place and have a Scottish Cup final to look forward to in just under a fortnight.

Motherwell kept their top-six hopes alive after defeating Hearts 1-0 to record a vital three points in a crucial encounter at Park Alliance Park.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s second half strike proved to be the difference in what was a thoroughly deserved three points for the women of steel.

Following last weekend’s narrow 2-1 defeat to league leaders Rangers, Paul Brownlie made two changes from the previous outing, with Khym Ramsay and London Pollard replacing Ciara Duff and Jordan McLintock who dropped to the bench.

Looking for redemption after their previous meeting, Motherwell started on the front foot and almost netted the opener after two minutes.

Katie Rice’s strike from the edge of the box had Parker-Smith scrambling in the Hearts goal, but the keepers late reaction save kept the scoreline intact.

The women of steel’ continued to pile on the pressure and almost found the breakthrough midway through the first half.

London Pollard effortlessly worked her way into the box before curling an audacious attempt from distance, but her looping effort sailed wide of the target.

Minutes later, Amy Anderson did exceptionally well to shrug off her opponents with a delightful piece of skill before teeing up McDonald-Nguah at the edge of the box, but the strikers drilled effort flashed across the face of goal.

As the second half resumed, Motherwell pressed high, frustrating the visiting defence who looked to play out from the back.

Lori Gardner brilliantly read her opponents pass deep into Hearts’ final third, but the winger couldn’t capitalise, as she sent her effort high over the bar.

The hosts continued to dominate possession, and deservedly broke the deadlock midway through the second half.

Gill Inglis’ enticing delivery was superbly flicked on by Chelsie Watson into the path of McDonald-Nguah, who coolly converted from a few yards out.

Paul Brownlie’s side held on in the final few minutes to record a valuable three points which narrows the gap to Spartans in sixth, before facing Aberdeen on the final day of the season, with a top six finish at stake.

“We had everyone behind us and we gave the fans something to shout about. We’ve now given ourselves a chance.”

Kevin van Veen climbed out of his sick bed to put Motherwell a step closer to Europe with victory at Ross County.

The Dutchman won and netted the decisive penalty just four minutes after entering the park in Dingwall, netting the only goal of the game to lift ‘Well into the UEFA Europa Conference League spots with two games to go.

A squad decimated with illness saw 18 travel to Dingwall, but with Slattery and Van Veen only able to start proceedings from the bench.

Academy graduate Sam Campbell  – a central defender – also made his first appearance amongst the substitutes.

County started on the front foot, dominating the early proceedings and carving out the better chances.

First, Randall stung Kelly’s palms with a long-range drive that the ‘keeper did well to hold.

Shortly after, Cancola found himself completely unmarked 25 yards out from a corner, but sent his dipping effort over.

The hosts had all the possession and control until around the half-hour mark, when Motherwell started to find their feet.

The returning O’Donnell showed his international pedigree getting forward down the right and his cross to the back post was perfect for Efford, only for Randall to nick in and clear at the last.

Goss saw a 30-yard drive charged down and O’Hara had a left-footed shot go wide, while County responded with a free-flowing passing move at the other end which saw Charles-Cook fire over.

The two best chances though would fall Motherwell’s way as the half wore on.

First Efford found himself in behind on the left but saw his shot well parried wide by Laidlaw.

From the resulting corner, O’Hara sent it deep and Donnelly headed it back across goal towards the waiting crowd.

Shields rose highest between the bodies, but sent his header over the bar from 10 yards.

The second half took time to spark to life, although both sides had early chances.

Cancola again had room to shoot from distance early on, but sent his dipping shot past the post.

At the other end, Goss’ shot from 25 yards saw shouts for handball on the block in the box waved away.

Van Veen and Slattery were introduced just as County had a hat-trick of glorious chances to take the lead.

First, White was played in behind but snatched at his shot with Kelly racing out to gather.

The goalkeeper then pulled off a world-class save to tip over Spittal’s goalbound effort, shortly before White again got free but saw a shot sail over.

With 23 minutes to go and with Van Veen only just on the park, the game turned on its head.

The Dutchman was felled in the area by a lazy tackle, leaving referee David Munro clear in pointing to the spot.

Van Veen stepped up and cooly dispatched the penalty to send the large away following wild and starting to sing of going on a European tour.

The game roared on, with ‘Well sitting in and absorbing the pressure while also trying to hit on the counter.

Five minutes were found in stoppages and Kelly was again to the rescue midway through them, pulling off a miracle save unsighted to tip a goalbound effort round the post at the last second.

But it wasn’t enough for County to get back in it and Motherwell headed back down the road with three points and European dreams.

Graham Alexander says the criticism that his team have received has been deserved but believes his side can use that to push them forward.

Motherwell are currently one point behind Ross County in the cinch Premiership and the manager insists his side have the ability and the right mentality to finish in a European spot despite a poor run of form.

Sensory bags will be available for Motherwell’s fixture with Hearts on Wednesday 11 May at Fir Park. 

Bags must be pre-ordered before collection.

Each bag contains a lanyard, fidget spinner, ear defenders, stadium map and a sensory fan.

If interested, the bags can be collected from outside the Davie Cooper stand between 1845 and 1915. They must returned after the match to the same point.

These bags, which are aimed at under 16s, are only available if pre-ordered here.