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With a playing style as distinctive as his flowing locks, fan-favourite Benito Kemble spent two seasons as a Steelman around the turn of the millennium. 

After succeeding Harri Kampman, Billy Davies achieved his initial goal of securing the club’s place in the top flight for season 1999’00. To help him do so, chairman John Boyle had sanctioned a full rebuild of the squad as he sought to make Motherwell the “third force” in Scottish football.

Committed to playing exciting, attacking football, Davies primary focus in the close season had been to provide the ammunition required to supply the likes of Spencer, Goodman and McCulloch; and indeed the goals flowed.

As the season developed however, it became clear that he now required to turn his attention to his backline which was conceding a broadly similar number to those being scored at the other end of the park.

In the aftermath of an incredible 6-5 loss to Aberdeen, Davies moved to bring Kemble to Motherwell from EVV Eindhoven in Holland.

Benni made his ‘Well debut three days after the Aberdeen loss on 23^rd October 1999 and helped the Steelmen to their first clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 win over Dundee Utd at Tannadice.

It would be the first of three successive clean sheets, one of which included a remarkable 1-0 success over Celtic at Parkhead where Kemble demonstrated his defensive qualities to the full as Motherwell played the last hour of the game with only ten men. The crunching tackles and last gasp blocks he produced that evening inspired his team-mates and immediately endeared him to the Motherwell support.

It would become a feature of his time at Fir Park that the Surinamer would often rise to the occasion and he appeared to enjoy nothing more than challenging himself against high profile strikers in matches against either half of the Old Firm.

Motherwell took the battle for a European place to the final game of the season, but despite beating Champions Rangers 2-0 it wasn’t enough to overcome third placed Hearts. Who knows, had Benni arrived even just a week or two earlier, it might well have been enough to see ‘Well qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Benni’s second season was altogether more difficult for both player and club. Injury meant Kemble was unable to play any more than five successive games at any one time and being regularly shorn of his talents did little to help a Motherwell side struggling to match the previous season’s achievements.

As John Boyle re-assessed his business model for the club, team-mates such as Spencer, McCulloch, Brannan, McMillan and Goodman began to move on.

Upon the conclusion of his contract in 2001, it was with some regret on both his and club’s part that a parting of the ways was required as the restructuring of the club’s finances continued.

Benni spent a final season in Scotland with St Johnstone but seemed ill at ease in Perth and failed to replicate the form he produced at Motherwell.

Three young ‘Well fans couldn’t contain their excitement for the new season as they picked up their Junior season tickets at Fir Park.

Father of three Raymond Lawrie bought his daughters their first season tickets for just £20 each, and admitted it was too good an offer to miss.

Now Jessica, 8, Macy, 6, and Carys, 3, will get to watch the Steelmen take to the pitch in Lanarkshire for the 2017/18 campaign, even if their dad can’t make it to the match.

Raymond said: “Due to my work commitments I can’t make every game, but this is the first time that they are at an age where all three of them will enjoy going to the games.

[pullquote]For me, it’s ideal. My daughters can enjoy the football and it also means that they are getting full use of their season tickets if I can’t be there – making it a no brainer really.[/pullquote]

“The youngest, Carys, is 3-years old and is starting to really get in to it – and the older two are football daft, so it’s worth every penny.”

He added: “My uncle and cousins come along every week so we got the girls season tickets next to them. “For me, it’s ideal. My daughters can enjoy the football and it also means that they are getting full use of their season tickets if I can’t be there – making it a no brainer really.”

8-year-old Jessica, who is a big fan of star striker Louis Moult, said: “Me and my sisters can’t wait to come along when the season starts, we all love Motherwell.”

Don’t miss your chance to make the most of our fantastic season ticket offers.

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Motherwell FC will open the 2017/18 campaign with a trip to Hampden Park against Queens Park on Saturday July 15th in the Betfred Cup.

The full fixture list for the group stages were revealed this afternoon, and the Steelmen will travel to the home of the Spiders before hosting the first home match of the season against Greenock Morton.

The ‘Well are competing in Group F alongside Greenock Morton, Queen’s Park, Edinburgh City and Berwick Rangers.

The full fixture list is as follows:

• Saturday 15th July – Queen’s Park (A)
• Saturday 22nd July – Morton (H)
• Tuesday 25th July – Edinburgh City (A)
• Saturday 29th July – Berwick Rangers (H)

Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Trevor Carson from Hartlepool for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year old stopper, born in Downpatrick, south of Belfast in County Down, has penned a three-year deal at the Steelmen.

Trevor, who has numerous Youth International caps as well as being named in several senior squads without gaining his first cap, came through the ranks at the then Premiership side Sunderland, eventually making it into the matchday squad as number two.

During his six-year professional career with the Black Cats, he also enjoyed several stints out on loan including Chesterfield, Bury, Brentford and Hull City.

And when his contract expired at the Stadium of Light, it was one of those clubs, Bury, who snapped him up. He spent two years at Gigg Lane, and also had a very successful loan spell at Portsmouth.

A short stay at Cheltenham followed before a return to the North East when he signed for Hartlepool in June 2016. His first campaign at Victoria Park was a successful one, rewarded with both the fans and players Player of the Year.

His second season was unfortunately punctured by injury though and despite recovering in time for the last few games, it wasn’t enough to save Pools’ from the drop.

Speaking exclusively to MFC TV, Trevor said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get it done finally, it’s been ongoing for a couple of weeks now, it’s been on and off but to get up here, get the medical done and everything signed is great and I’m delighted.”

He added: “As long as the deal is ongoing you can never switch off from football, it’s always in the back of your mind and now to get it done means I can go away for a week, switch my phone off and relax before coming back recharged to start pre-season.”

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “He’s a terrific signing for us, he’s 29-years old and I have high hopes for him looking forward – he’s a very good addition to the goalkeeping department.

“I’ve been chasing Trevor all summer so to get it over the line is fantastic, our chief scout Martin Foyle has been brilliant and we look forward to working with him.”

Motherwell Football Club and McEwan Fraser Legal are today pleased to announce a partnership which sees the award-winning solicitors & estate agents become the Fir Park club’s new main sponsor.

McEwan Fraser Legal have agreed an initial one year partnership which will complement existing club sponsorship agreements with Dundee, Dundee United & Inverness.

McEwan Fraser Legal will adorn the front of the club’s new home, away and goalkeeper shirts, with the new kit due to be released soon.

Having built a strong reputation for fan-focused engagement with existing sponsored clubs, McEwan Fraser Legal will be again be championing supporters with its challenge to, “think differently.”

It will use the rights available via the sponsorship to create unique campaigns, featuring many ideas which have never been seen before in Scottish football.

Last season, McEwan Fraser Legal campaigns with existing clubs included #HomeRun, where players personally delivered the new home kit to supporters’ homes; #HomeAlone at which former players joined supporters who couldn’t make a big away game for a night in front of the box; and #HomeAdvantage which created memorable experiences for all those involved, not least double amputee Tommy McKay who stunned Scottish football with his 40-yard wonder strike!

Motherwell will be represented on McEwan Fraser Legal’s www.mcewanfraserlegal.co.uk/football microsite, whilst Well supporters will be able to get involved from the off on twitter, with a new official twitter account, @MFC_MFL now online, offering one supporter a chance to win a pair of 2017-18 season tickets.

McEwan Fraser Legal chief executive Ken McEwan said: “We’re delighted to add Motherwell FC to the group of club’s we’re proudly supporting next season. Being a supporter-owned club was a key factor in our decision to support the Steelmen.

“Motherwell, like ourselves, are committed to thinking differently. In our case that means extended hours until midnight, multi-lingual staff, and an entirely different approach to marketing properties.

“For Motherwell, it’s about building a sustainable future with the club in the safe hands of supporters, and that’s something we are delighted to support.”

Motherwell FC head of commercial & marketing Suzanne Reid added: “It’s great news that McEwan Fraser Legal have joined us at Motherwell as our new club sponsor.

“We’ve been hugely impressed at the way they have engaged with the supporters of other clubs, and so it’s exciting that they are coming on board at Fir Park, with many exciting plans ahead.

“This agreement is undoubtedly testament to the ownership of the club under the stewardship of The Well Society, something McEwan Fraser Legal made clear during this process.”

Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm the signing of attacking midfielder Craig Tanner on a two-year deal.

The attacker is the Steelmen’s third signing of the summer window as the manager looks to rebuild his squad for the 2017/18 campaign.

The 22-year-old, who plays in behind the striker or on the wing, joins from Reading after an already promising career so far.

Tanner joined the Royals’ youth academy back in 2003 and spent 14-years with the club to date, making five appearances for the first-team including scoring on his debut against Newport.

However, the vast majority of his playing time career has been spent on loan at Plymouth Argyle, where the Englishman scored twelve goals in forty-one starts from deep across two spells at Home Park.

Speaking exclusively to MFC TV, Tanner said: “I’m delighted to have joined, having good talks about the club with Stephen Robinson and Martin Foyle. It’s a good day for me.

“I have a really positive feeling about the club and feel they are really building for the future.”

The new arrival provides Stephen Robinson with an exciting, creative, attacking option in midfield, which is something manager Robinson was keen to recruit to give his side a variety of options.

The ‘Well boss added: “Craig is a good signing for us and gives us something different again.

“He can unlock doors, playing in little pockets across the front three, left side/right side or in behind the striker.

“He is a really good signing for the club”

The Ticket office is open today (Saturday) between 10am – 1pm for fans wishing to buy or renew their 2017/18 Season Ticket.

Pre Early Bird Season Ticket sales are almost 15% on the same period last year and we want to continue that push throughout the summer.

*Please note, concessions are applicable to over 60s, full-time students with a valid matriculation card and 16 to 18 year olds.. ‘Junior’ age of Under 16 is applicable as at 1st August 2016.

Motherwell have been drawn together with Morton, Edinburgh City, Berwick Rangers and Queen’s Park in Group F of the Betfred Cup.

Stephen Robinson’s men face a tough test against Play-off participants Morton as well as a first competitive meeting with Edinburgh City.

Each team will face four group matches, two at home and two away. The usual 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw applies but there is the addition of a penalty shootout for a bonus point if the score is level after 90 minutes.

Eight group winners automatically qualify, alongside the four best runners-up, which is how the Steelmen progressed last year after finishing behind Rangers.

The pencilled dates for matches are the 15th July, 19th July, 22nd July, 26th July and 29th July. Details of exact fixtures should be published next week, with ticketing information to follow shortly after.

The Steelmen have also confirmed three of our four pre-season friendly fixtures, with games against Stirling (A) on the 1st July, Livingston (A) on the 4th July. That will be followed by a game away to English side Gateshead on the 8th July with one match still to be confirmed on Tue/Wed 11th and 12th July.

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson spoke of his delight at securing his first two new recruits of the summer.

Inverness Caley’s top-scorer Alex Fisher and Coventry City’s Player of the Year Gaël Bigirimana have both signed on two-year deals.

Both rejected lucrative offers from elsewhere, instead opting to join the Steelmen for the new 2017/18 campaign.

And the former Northern Irish National team assistant was quick to heap praise on both: “We aren’t able to offer the best wages about, but what we did is sell a vision of what we want to do and the togetherness we want to bring to the football club.”

Expanding on Alex Fisher, the Fir Park gaffer said: “His stats in terms of how he finished the season, 8 goals in 9 games, Speaks for itself.

“However, what impressed me very much was the different type of goals that he scored. He’s played in the Scottish Premiership, so is familiar with the league and will give us height and strength in attack.

[pullquote]“We aren’t able to offer the best wages about, but what we did is sell a vision of what we want to do and the togetherness we want to bring to the football club.”[/pullquote]

“He is someone we identified early and did our homework on. I watched all of his games and he really impressed me. I’ve also spoke to a number of people in the game about him and they couldn’t speak higher of him. He’s a great lad and will be a good addition to our dressing room.”

And on the capture of the Burundi International, the 42-year old said: “He’s another who we have had several attempts at recruiting; it’s a big, big coup for us to get Gael here.

“He brings a real composure to the midfield, something that perhaps we’ve missed, someone to dictate and run the game.

“He certainly provide that, but he also bring energy and a vast amount of experience at a good level for such a young guy.

“He’s showed a real hunger and desire to come and play with us and I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Motherwell FC can confirm James McFadden has left his role as Assistant Manager after his contract expired this week.

The 48-times capped former Scotland front man was appointed by Mark McGhee as his number two earlier in the season, on a deal until the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The 34-year old was retained by Stephen Robinson after a managerial change back in February, but both have amicably agreed to part following the conclusion to the season.

Robinson said: “James and I have worked together over the last few months, but I feel a change and something a bit different will be beneficial to the squad at this moment in time.

“It’s a tough call because James is a top lad and he’s done so much for the club.

“We both had a good, open and honest chat after the game at Inverness; James is at the start of his coaching pathway, still doing his badges and qualifications, and I have no doubt he will make a very good manager one day.

“We’ve left each other on good terms.”

[pullquote]James and I have worked together over the last few months, but I feel a change and something a bit different will be beneficial to the squad at this moment in time.[/pullquote]

McFadden himself said: “I’ve enjoyed my time as Assistant at the club. I was asked to stay on when the manager changed earlier this year and I agreed to do that because the club was and is the most important thing.

“I spoke with the manager at length after the last game and we talked about where I see myself now and what my aspirations are going forward, so I will take the summer to weigh everything up.

“I’d like to thank the club, and Mark McGhee, for the opportunity and wish Stephen, the players and everyone at Fir Park all the best for the future.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to sincerely thank James for all his hard work across his most recent spell at Fir Park and wish him all the very best in his future career.