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If you gamble, it is vital you do so responsibly.

Gambling is a form of entertainment that you pay for. The difference between gambling and any other form of entertainment is that you are playing games of chance for money.

But if you start with that as a goal, you will likely be disappointed time and again. If you were assured of a prize every time, you wouldn’t be gambling, you’d simply be purchasing a product or service. Chance is what makes gambling fun, but it is also what makes it a risk.

This week is Responsible Gambling Week. When we talk about responsible gambling, we’re talking about being able to gamble without putting yourself or others at risk of harm.

Part of gambling more safely and responsibly is understanding the odds of the game you are playing, what the rules are, and accepting that losing is just as much a part of gambling as winning.

There is information and help available to help you stay in control, or quit completely, if that is what you would prefer.

If you would like information or need to talk through what’s on offer, you can contact GamCare for free and confidential information, advice and support by visiting  gamcare.org.uk, by calling the freeNational Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.

It’s National Stress Awareness Day.

We’ve turned to our official health and wellbeing partner, Paycare, for insight on what stress is, how you can identify when stress becomes too much, and what to do if it’s playing a bigger role in life than it should.

Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare, explains.

Stress is essentially our body’s response to pressures from a certain situation or life event and is needed to trigger the flight or fight response.

Many of us experience completely healthy levels of stress everyday. For example, quickly moving out of the way from a ball heading towards your face at full speed is down to the stress hormones kicking in and protecting us from harm.

But experiencing too much stress can lead to people feeling overwhelmed, which in turn can lead to mental health problems or make existing problems even worse. Unlike physical injuries or illnesses, stress is faceless, and can impact everyday life and how we act, from confidence and self-esteem, to concentration and motivation.

Prolonged periods of stress can have its mark on us physically too, causing or worsening cardiovascular disease including heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke, as well as increasing our risk of diseases such as cancer and weakening our immune systems. Too much is not good.

Despite the wide-ranging health risks, it’s still a huge problem nationally, with 74% of Scottish adults having felt so stressed at some point over the last year that they felt overwhelmed and unable to cope.

National Stress Awareness Day continues to raise awareness of the impact of stress on our minds and bodies, and break down barriers so that people experiencing pressure can talk openly and without stigma.

As the health and wellbeing partner of the fantastic Steelmen, we’re passionate about ensuring fans take care of their health and wellbeing, and in terms of stress, providing resources to help you deal and manage it effectively.

The Signs of Stress

You may notice physical, emotional, and mental signs that you’re experiencing high levels of stress — understanding your own response will help you to recognise it and put measures in place to manage it. These signs might include fast heartbeats, trouble sleeping, eating too much or too little, finding decisions difficult, being irritable, having headaches, and sweating.

Deep Breathing

Luckily, we breathe on autopilot, but when we’re stressed we can forget to breathe meaningfully and deeply, which can actually lower our heart rate and help us to feel calmer.

One tactic that we learned from our lifestyle intervention consultant, Laura Butler, was to breathe in for seven seconds, hold for five seconds, and breathe out for seven seconds. It’s simple, but hugely effective.

Meditation

Studies have found that mindfulness can help reduce stress and improve your mood, so it’s worth giving this a try if you’ve never done it before. There are loads of free meditation apps to choose from out there.

Time Management

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list and taking on more than you can handle can cause you to feel stressed. Take some time to prioritise your workload or schedule, and split out your time to work through things one by one. Try to keep distractions to a minimum too. Remember, if you can’t do it all, you can always ask for help.

Nutrition

Some stress can be attributed to our diets, so it’s important to review what we’re consuming and make sure that we’re getting all the basics we need, including plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fruit and veg.

Talk About It

Talking to others about how you’re feeling can also be useful and help to ease the weight on your shoulders. If you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable talking to, there are many organisations that can help.

If you’re a Paycare Policyholder, please remember that our confidential counselling service is designed specifically to provide support.

It can be used for a wide range of things —whether it be financial worry, physical pain or discomfort, or grief, depression and anxiety — just visit your Paycare log in area to find out more.

For more help and advice

Mental Health Foundation

Improving the lives of those with mental health problems or learning difficulties.
020 7803 1101

Anxiety UK

Works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services, including one-to-one therapy.
08444 775 774

Together

Supports people through mental health services.
020 7780 7300

The Centre for Mental Health

Working to improve the quality of life for people with mental health problems.
020 7827 8300

PANDAS Foundation

PANDAS Foundation vision is to support every individual with pre (antenatal), postnatal depression or postnatal psychosis in England, Wales and Scotland. They campaign to raise awareness and remove the stigma. We provide our PANDAS Help Line, Support Groups offer online advice to all and much more.
0843 28 98 401 (every day from 9am-8pm)

If you liked this post and think someone you know would appreciate it, please do share. Don’t forget to follow the Paycare team on Twitter @MyPaycare, on Facebook, or visit paycare.org for further information.

Legendary player and manager George Stevenson is the third inductee into the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

Stevenson was signed by John Hunter from local Junior side Kilbirnie Ladeside in May 1923 with the then Steelmen boss having seen something in “the young man’s ability to pick and pass and link play.”

Although he was signed with an eye to the future, Stevenson quickly broke into the first-team squad and made his debut against Third Lanark at Cathkin Park in December of the same year.

The 4,000 punters in attendance on that misty, dank afternoon could not have envisaged the part this young man would play in shaping Motherwell Football Club over the coming thirty years.

His introduction to the team would coincide with a period of unparalleled league success for the claret and amber men, who would not finish outside the top five for the next 13 years, which of course included the famous 1932 league winning exploits.

Such was Stevenson’s influence, that only six years into his Motherwell career and at the age of just 24, he was awarded the first ever official benefit game by the club against Huddersfield Town in September 1929.

To the Motherwell fans that idolised him, George became known as “The Prince of Inside Forwards.” The press admired his abilities too, with one famous hack gushing “George Stevenson is a magnificent close dribbler, a perceptive finisher and, above all, a man totally integrated with his wing partner Bob Ferrier”.

‘Stevie’ played his final game for the club 16 years after arriving in Lanarkshire, on 26 August 1939 in a 3-2 defeat away to Alloa, a week before the outbreak of World War II.

In total, he played 511 league games for Motherwell, scoring 170 goals from midfield. In his cabinet, he won three Scottish Cup runners-up medals and a Scottish league winners badge. He’d also earned 10 Scottish League caps and made 12 Scottish international appearances, which still stand as a record for Scots at the club to this day.

The reintroduction of league football after the war kicked off in season 1946/47. Like most clubs at the time, Motherwell began with a completely new playing squad and bossed by a new manager – George Stevenson.

Stevie’s nine-year stint in charge at Fir Park, although fairly mixed in league terms, would be defined by terrific performances in domestic cups. Season 1950/51 saw Motherwell face Hibernian at Hampden in the final of the League Cup and goals from Kelly, Forrest and Watters secured Motherwell the trophy for the first and only time.

Stevenson’s Motherwell would also reach the Scottish Cup final that same season, when 132,000 fans saw the Steelmen unluckily edged out by Celtic 1-0 in the final.

However, Motherwell’s time in the Hampden sun would only be 12 months away. Forfar, St Mirren, Dunfermline, Rangers and Hearts were all dispatched before Dundee were thrashed 4-0 in the final, taking the Scottish Cup back to Fir Park for the first time.

Despite reaching the League Cup final once again, the run-of-the-mill league games, although entertaining, didn’t bring the rewards they should have, and he resigned as manager in 1955.

George reign as Motherwell manager saw the club reach three cup semi-finals and four finals, winning twice, and a Division Two title in his nine years in charge. Coupling his managerial efforts with his achievements as a player, Stevenson, who sadly passed away in 1990 aged 80, is without doubt one of the most decorated Steelmen of all time.

He will be posthumously inducted by his members of his family at a dinner at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday, 23 November, along with Willie Pettigrew, Ally Maxwell and two others.

Hosted by Tam Cowan, our event is now sold out. You can still choose who you want to see in the Hall of Fame through our public vote. Click here to cast your vote.

Leanne Thomas has stepped down from her role on the board of directors of Motherwell Football Club.

Leanne became a director in January 2015, at the same time as her father Les Hutchison purchased the club from John Boyle.

Following the repayment of the outstanding debt owed to Les last week, Leanne has now stepped back from her role.

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to sincerely thank Leanne for her unstinting contribution at Fir Park over the last four-and-a-half years. We wish her well for the future.

Motherwell Football Club is delighted to announce that it has repaid its debts to former owners John Boyle and Les Hutchison.

Following the transition to the current fan-ownership model in October 2016, the club has been able to repay both parties through effective player trading.

The final outstanding balances have been settled with both. In total, over £1,500,000 has been paid back over the period.

The repayment to both individuals marks a significant milestone in the club’s move towards long-term viability.

The only external debt now owed by the club is to five Motherwell-supporting individuals. It totals around £80,000, with extremely favourable repayment terms that the club anticipates will be cleared soon.

“From the moment the Well Society took over the majority interest in Motherwell Football Club, our collective energy has been firmly focused on ensuring the club is sustainable on a medium to long-term basis,” Motherwell FC chairman Jim McMahon said.

“A key part of that has been eliminating the debt we inherited and we have now almost achieved that. For the club to have paid back such a significant amount in just over two years is a remarkable feat.

“I want to thank those who have worked so hard to help us achieve that, including chief executive Alan Burrows, the management, coaching and recruitment staff, the current board of directors at the club, as well as the Well Society board, members and Motherwell supporters.

“I also thank John Boyle and Les Hutchison for their support over the years.

“It has been a collective effort, helped enormously by everyone working together, on and off the park, towards the same common goal. I would also like to thank the individuals who continue to support the club with the small amount left to repay in soft loans.”

Douglas Dickie, joint-chair of the Well Society added: “It has been an excellent achievement by all involved to get to this stage where both John Boyle and Les Hutchison are no longer owed any money by our club. The Well Society and its members have played a big part in that.

“This is an opportunity for the Society now, as the owners of Motherwell FC, to re-evaluate our goals and plan the way forward.

“It is as important as ever now for our members and all Motherwell supporters to get behind what the Well Society are doing, to ensure we can continue to support and improve the club.”

Ally Maxwell is the second inductee to the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

Having come through the ranks at the club, the goalkeeper made 153 appearances over eight years and was a member of the 1991 Scottish Cup winning squad.

His performance in that final was vital in the team claiming silverware, soldiering on after a heavy collision with John Clark which was later discovered to have caused a ruptured spleen.

Joining the club in 1981 from Fir Park Boys Club, he was given his first taste of top team action by Bobby Watson in April 1984.

He played every minute in the run to the final in 1991, before leaving the club in 1992 for Rangers, via a short loan spell at Bolton Wanderers.

He will be formally inducted at a dinner at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday, 23 November, along with Willie Pettigrew and three others.

Hosted by Tam Cowan, limited tickets for the event are now on sale online. Adult tickets are £45, with kids tickets £22.

You can still choose who you want to see in the Hall of Fame through our public vote. Click here to cast your vote.

There’s still time to secure one of our great hospitality deals for our forthcoming Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures with Kilmarnock and Livingston.

You can buy online right now for Kilmarnock on Wednesday, 30 October, and Livingston on Saturday, 2 November. Alternatively, phone our hospitality team on 01698 338012.

Centenary Suite

A two-course meal with half-time refreshments served within our Centenary Suite with main stand seating and a pay bar for £80 per person, or £45 per person for season ticket holders. A fully-inclusive bar is also available for £120 per person.

South Stand Boxes

Inclusive bar with two-course meal and half-time snacks with indoor seating for £70 per person for our beer and wine package, or £90 for our spirits, beer and wine package.

Davie Cooper Boxes

View the match from the comfort of one of our boxes at the top of the Davie Cooper Stand. With access to the Cooper Bar before and after the match, and half-time refreshments, tea, coffee, pies and cakes, our deal is available for £50 per person.

If you’re a season ticket holder, you can upgrade for £40 per person.

Millennium Suite

Enjoy hot snacks with half-time refreshments with main stand seating for £75 per person, with an inclusive bar one hour before and one hour following the match. We also have an offer for Under 18s priced at £30.

The dress code for all areas is smart, with no jeans, trainers or colours. To book, please phone our hospitality team on 01698 338012 or book online at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk.

There’s still time to have your Christmas party night with us at Fir Park.

Our party night packages are hugely popular and are selling fast.

This year’s Christmas party nights will be held at Fir Park on 30 November, as well as 6, 7, 13 and 14 December.

Priced at £35 per person, our fantastic package includes a three course meal and live DJ.

There is also a VIP package on request which will be priced at £80, which includes complimentary beer, wine and spirits (gin, vodka and whisky only).

For more information or to book, get in touch with our hospitality team today on events@motherwellfc.co.uk or call 01698 333333.

Our £35 nights on 7 and 14 December are sold out, so don’t miss out on our other available dates.

SPECIAL 80S THEME CHRISTMAS NIGHT

In addition, we’ve also got three special 80s theme nights on 30 November, as well as 7 and 14 December.

Due to demand, we’ve increased the number of dates.

Priced at £25 per person, you’ll get a hot buffet, welcome drink and be able to dance away with a live DJ.

For more information or to book, get in touch with our hospitality team today on events@motherwellfc.co.uk or call 01698 333333.

You can now vote for who you want to be inducted into the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

With Willie Pettigrew already named as our first member, you can now choose who else you think should join him.

To vote, just head to our voting page and enter the name of who you want to see included.

Our Hall of Fame members formally inducted at a dinner at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel on Saturday, 23 November, along with four others.

Hosted by Tam Cowan, tickets for the event are now on sale online. Adult tickets are £45, with kids tickets £22.

Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows has been recognised as the SPFL’s CEO of the Year at the prestigious Football Business Awards.

A chief executive from the four English senior leagues, and the Scottish top flight, have all been recognised and are all now in contention to win the overall CEO of the Year prize.

The other finalists for this year’s awards are Peter Moore (Liverpool FC), Mark Ashton (Bristol City FC), Gary Sweet (Luton Town) and Carolyn Radford (Mansfield Town).

Burrows has been recognised by industry publication fcbusiness for his leadership throughout the 2018/19 season. He will receive his award at a ceremony on 28 November at City Central at the HAC in London.

Recognising the valuable contribution of the game’s executives in the UK has seen fcbusiness present the CEO of the Year Award each year since 2012, with previous winners including Ian Ayre (Liverpool), David Baldwin (Burnley FC), Daniel Levy (Tottenham Hotspur), Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal), Karren Brady (West Ham United), Mark Catlin, (Portsmouth) and Tony Scholes (Stoke City) to name a few.

Speaking of the nominations, fcbusiness editor and Football Business Awards judge, Aaron Gourley, said: “This year’s CEO of the Year sponsored by Reznor represents the very best in football business.

“The five divisional winners are without doubt the best in their leagues and have shown outstanding leadership over the course of the 2018/19 season.

“The pressure on football clubs each year to improve both on and off the pitch calls for leadership of the highest level and these five nominees represent that.

“The CEO of the Year award is one of the most prized in football and through their hard work and dedication each of the nominees has led their respective clubs to achieve outstanding performances both on and off the pitch.”

Speaking of his award, the Motherwell chief executive added: “I am exceptionally honoured to win this award.

“It was a great but welcome surprise, and I am thankful to those at fcbusiness and the Football Business Awards for the recognition.”

Richard Leese, Managing Director UK & Belgium for CEO of the Year sponsor, Reznor, said: “Reznor are proud to sponsor the CEO of the Year awards, celebrating the very best of football, recognising their commitment and dedication on and off the pitch.

Simon Burton, founder of the Football Business Awards, added: “Football clubs aren’t just businesses – they are global brands and community assets. It takes a special type of leadership to steer them and we are delighted to celebrate these wonderful CEO’s at the Football Business Awards.”