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With Motherwell Makes Music starting on Friday night, the players go head to head with the coaches in a game of name that tune.

The event returns for a second year with more than 30 bands performing in the town from March 16 to 18.

Organised by Derek Watson from The Banter Thiefs, the event has attracted bands from all over the country, as well as big crowds.

Tickets are available to buy here, as well as on the door each night.

The legend of Robert Ferrier began in Sheffield when he was born to a father who himself was a football icon of the local “Wednesday” football club.

His dad had previously turned out for his local side Dumbarton at a time when the Sons were operating at the very top of Scottish football, winning the title twice in successive seasons, before being transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1894.

Ferrier senior, “Rabbie”, spent 12 years in South Yorkshire appearing 329 times for the side, who at that time, played at Owlerton Park. The Scot played his part in helping the Owls gain promotion to the top division in England, and then, securing two league titles in 1903 and 1904.

Rabbie it seems, was a fine wing half who to this day is revered at Hillsborough, where he can still be seen on the walls of the stadium with his team mates complete with, ankle high football boots, knee length shorts and excellent moustaches. Three weeks after his birth, young Robert was brought back to Dumbarton, and lived there for the rest of his life.

Ferrier’s career at Motherwell, his only club, was incredible not only in its length and quality, but in its achievement. For eight seasons in the period between 1926 and 1934, Motherwell were never out of the top three in Scotland. When the Steelmen won the championship in 1932, they were the only team outside the Old Firm to do so in 44 years.

Even then, Scottish football was dominated by the two large Glasgow clubs. Ferrier was captain of the title winning side and always maintained that they were the greatest team he ever played with, although he rated the Motherwell side of the early 20s, including stars like Willie Rankin, Davie Thackeray and Hughie Ferguson, almost as highly.

The Motherwell championship winning team was a side of moulded talents allied with a supreme elegance and style. That season 66 points were won from a possible 76, with 119 goals being scored in 38 matches, with legendary striker Willie McFadyen netting 52 times.

Bobby Ferrier had a long, lazy and deceptive stride which allowed him to float past defenders with ease. He could flick, clip and back heel in the air, balls any other player could not reach. His was a game of spaces and angles played with infinite grace, and his control of a ball through the air was often quite exquisite. He could float, chip, hook or slice crosses to his liking with a left foot which many commentators claimed was akin to a magic wand.

That left peg also possessed enough strength to allow him on occasion to the drill a ball into an opponents net with accuracy and power. In 1929-30 Ferrier scored 32 goals from 37 games playing in his favoured left wing position, often scoring from the touchline, beating goalkeepers at both the near post, and drifting a cross by them, and nestling the ball inside the far post.

Ferrier was a cultured footballer in an era where many hard men were playing the game. Players like Meiklejohn and McPhail of Rangers, with McGrory and McGonagle at Celtic, would rejoice in repeatedly going in heavy on Ferrier, but the Motherwell man would routinely get up dust himself down and continue his task of mesmerising full backs.

It all began for Bobby as the Great War was nearing a conclusion in December 1917, when he signed as a teenager for Motherwell from Junior outfit Petershill.

He would go on to be an integral part of the football club for an incredible 22 seasons. His first two goals for the club came almost a year later on a cold crisp day down at Rugby Park, with the visitors earning a good 2-0 win in front of 4,000 hardy punters.

A week later Bobby would open the scoring at Fir Park against champions-elect, Celtic, as the Glasgow hoops were swept aside with ease by the Steelmen. His final goal of his debut season came on Ne’erday at Douglas Park, as 10,000 excited Lanarkshire folk witnessed a terrific derby.

Hughie Ferguson had netted twice for the ‘Well before the Accies pulled one back. As the second half wore on, and the game raged from end to end, Ferrier broke free and fired home to send the Motherwell fans back across the Clyde wishing all and sundry a Happy New 1919.

That first full season for Ferrier saw the club finish a very respectable fifth in an 18-team top division, with Bobby appearing 16 times. The following few years saw him firmly establish himself in “Sailor” Hunters’ first XI, as Motherwell became a major threat in domestic competitions.

However in season 1924/25, injuries impacted greatly on the manager’s ability to put a consistent team on the park, resulting in a disappointing campaign. One of the few highlights of that season came in January with a 1-0 win at Parkhead, as the Fir Parkers produced a sparkling performance to beat Celtic.

The decisive winner came after Ferrier had weaved his way through the home defence and fired in a fierce drive, which the Celtic ‘keeper could only parry into the path of Hughie Ferguson. The prolific Motherwell centre forward then gleefully swept the ball home in front of the 12,000 crowd.

At the end of that season there was a shock for the Motherwell fans when Bobby turned down the terms offered by the club in a new contract, and was promptly placed on the transfer list with a fee of £100 on his head. Happily by the time the squad had reported back for pre-season, the left winger had signed on again, and he could continue his career where he belonged, at Fir Park.

In March 1926, as per terms of his new contract, Bobby was given the gate money from the league game at Fir Park against Celtic. This was seen as a benefit for his years of great service to the club, and was made captain for the day. As far as we know, this was the first time that a Motherwell player had been awarded a benefit or testimonial of any kind.

Happily, it would turn out to be a victorious occasion for Ferrier and his teammates. Dick Little had fired a free kick passed the Celtic ‘keeper, before Tennant latched onto a Ferrier pass and buried an accurate drive passed the helpless visiting custodian to secure a 2-1 win in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

By the summer of 1927, Motherwell were keen to exploit the world’s developing love of Scottish football by arranging lucrative tours during the close season. That summer, Spain and France were the destinations, where eight games were arranged for a Motherwell squad now captained by Ferrier.

The captain had a very productive time of it on tour with goals against both Swansea City and Real Madrid, a double against Celta Vigo and a hat-trick in Paris against Red Star Olympique. Six games were won, with only one loss, and scoring 23 goals in the process.

This successful tour, combined with the excellent season that had gone before, had set Motherwell up for an unprecedented run of success over the next decade, as they put up a sustained challenge to the two Glasgow clubs who had dominated league football in Scotland since the game had turned professional in the late 18th century.

A cracking start to the following season by the Steelmen meant that there was a great deal of anticipation for the visit of Rangers to Fir Park in September. The club had announced that it would be bringing in “horses to help cart ashes to extend the capacity of the ground.” As it turned out, the game drew 30,000 fans who witnessed a rather tame 1-1 draw.

‘Well captain Ferrier had put Motherwell into the lead before a penalty, which was converted, brought parity.

By the time the 1929-30 season kicked off, Motherwell fans had every reason to be upbeat, as they had an astute set of directors, a visionary manager, a much improved ground with a group of loyal and talented players who were seen as second to none in the country.

The ground improvements had seen over £1,000 spent on a new concrete wall around the pitch, a “state of the art” drainage system installed, and work done to extend the playing surface to 100 yards by 70 yards. These improvements allowed the capacity of Fir Park to be increased to 35,000 with plans in place to extend that further to 40,000.  The season itself was tremendous, with the club finishing runners up, five points behind Rangers.

A trip to Celtic Park in March gives us a flavour of how the Steelmen were performing. It was reported that Motherwell produced a stunning exhibition of football to overcome the Glasgow club 4-0, thanks to a Dowall hat trick and a Ferrier strike.

On Christmas Day 1930, manager Hunter left out centre forward Dowall at Firhill against Partick Thistle. In came Willie McFadyen, and for the first time Motherwell’s “Famous Five” forward line played together in a 3-0 win, in which three of them scored.

For the next few years the names of Murdoch, McMenemy, McFadyen, Stevenson and Ferrier, were on the lips of every Motherwell fan.

By April 1932 the Fir Parkers were on the verge of achieving something special, with captain Ferrier only having missed one game in all competitions, and scoring 16 times in that campaign. With three league games to go Motherwell, travelled to Firhill looking to confirm themselves as champions with a win, and as a result a huge army of fans headed through from the Steel Town to the north side of Glasgow in anticipation of a wonderful occasion.

The 32,000 crowd, including legendary entertainer Harry Lauder, were largely disappointed with the dull 0-0 draw which left Motherwell still looking for a point from the last two games.

A 3-0 win at home to Cowdenbeath, in which Ferrier opened the scoring, left a chasing Rangers outfit with no margin for error. That margin was lost the following midweek when the Ibrox club could only draw leaving Motherwell as champions of Scotland by the time they took the field for the final game of the season at Fir Park against Clyde.

The title triumph was dedicated by the players to manager Sailor Hunter, who had spent years developing a squad and a way of coaching which was years ahead if its time.

In an interview shortly after the success, John Hunter explained his strategy. “I give the players a square deal, make sure they are happy and have harmony in the dressing room,” he said.

“As an old player, I am conversant with the ups and downs of the players. Make your ambition theirs, get their confidence, exercise discipline reasonably and the best that is in them will emerge spontaneously.”

The following season saw a spirited defence of the title which fell tantalisingly short, finishing narrowly behind Rangers.

That championship was ultimately decided in an action packed February afternoon at Fir Park. The Steelmen had taken the lead with a typical Ferrier dribble and shot. Shortly after the visitors had equalised, an incident saw Rangers forward, Sam English deliberately charge into ‘Well ‘keeper, Alan McClory, who retaliated and was sent off on the advice of the linesman.

Bobby donned the gloves, but was beaten by the resultant penalty and the Light Blues held on for a controversial and decisive victory.

April 1937 saw the great man’s final goals for Motherwell, a brace in a 6-0 demolition at Fir Park against Dunfermline, whilst his final season registered as a player was 1937/38. After the summer of 1938, Bobby, with his boots hung up, was appointed Motherwell’s first ever assistant manager. This meant the break-up of one of the greatest wing partnerships the game had ever seen, lasting almost 15 years.

Much of Motherwell’s success can be laid at the feet of the partnership of George Stevenson and Ferrier, and the club’s refusal to sell them on. This, despite the number of blank cheques offered by other clubs to remove this golden partnership from Fir Park. During his Motherwell career, Bobby played 697 games, scoring a grand total of 345 goals, 262 of which were in the league.

The adulation he experienced in Lanarkshire from the Motherwell fans would surely have been replicated throughout the country had he been eligible to play for Scotland. Having been born in England, something he always cursed, and stayed only for a matter of weeks, it was enough to stop Bobby from representing “his” country.

Bobby Ferrier was without question Motherwell FC’s greatest ever outside left. He had all the qualities that a winger requires: great skill, peerless dribbling and pin point crossing. Of course, he also made innumerable opportunities for others with a vision and a passing ability second to none. With a knack of shooting with power and accuracy, he was also a prolific scorer in his own right, notching close to 350 career goals, an astonishing return for a wide man.

Robert “Bobby” Ferrier died in April 1971, aged 71, and is buried in Dumbarton. Revered in his time by Motherwell fans, he should still be revered by Motherwell fans today, because if ever we had a truly world class footballer at our club that we should celebrate, then Bobby Ferrier is that man.

Eddie Ferguson

Motherwell host league leaders Celtic on Sunday looking to keep themselves in the race for a top six finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The reigning champions were so nearly toppled on their last visit to Fir Park, with the Steelmen coming within two minutes of a famous win before being denied by a last-gasp penalty.

Stephen Robinson’s men are still in the chase to cement a top half place ahead of the league split and your support could be the key to spurring the team on to a huge win.

Tickets are available at the Fir Park ticket office or by calling 01698 333333.

Celtic supporters should contact their club for ticket information.

Kick off at Fir Park on Sunday is at 2.15pm.

Admission prices are as follows:

Concessions are applicable to 60 and over and full time students with a valid matriculation card. Juveniles are applicable to aged 15 and under. The cheaper price is for the John Hunter stand.

Motherwell fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Brian Davidson on 07428 225254 or tickets@mfcdsa.com. Fans must contact Brian by Wednesday night before the match.

The players lead the coaches 2-0 going into the third round of our players against coaches challenge.

In the third instalment, we headed to the training ground for a penalty shootout challenge… with a twist.

Instead of facing Trevor Carson or Russell Griffiths, the heroics were instead left to Steelman as the coaches look to get themselves back in the game.

Born in Bo’ness on September 10, 1921, John Johnston had been watched by John Hunter and the Motherwell chairman in the Scottish Junior Cup final as his Armadale Thistle side drew with Glasgow Perthshire at Firhill.

He must have suitably impressed the duo from Fir Park because during the following week they visited the player at his home in Bo’ness and offered him terms.

John was reluctant to sign before the season was completed with his local club, and it was two weeks later on May 13, 1941 that John joined Motherwell, in the midst of World War II.

He had previously played within his own community having starred with his local Academy and Winchburgh Albion. Indeed, he had been a provisional signing with Rangers when he was only 16, and turned out several times for the reserves without ever being called up to the first team squad.

Johnston would become a stalwart Motherwell ‘keeper of the mid 40s and early 50s who frequently had his name incorrectly spelt with an “e” at the end, much to his annoyance. Johnny’s first five seasons at Fir Park were over shadowed by the hostilities taking place in Europe and beyond, as Motherwell competed in “unofficial” competitions, namely the Southern District League, Southern League Cup and latterly the Summer Cup.

John was an important member of the Summer Cup winning side of July 1944, a memorable occasion as it saw Motherwell smash their long standing Hampden Park cup final jinx. Johnston had been an ever present in the cup run as the Steelmen beat St. Mirren, then edged out Falkirk 3-2 in the semi final.

The Steelmen then defeated Clyde 1-0 in the final, with right winger Gibson the goal hero, in front of 40,000 fans, a pretty impressive attendance considering the country was still at war.

Johnston was to win other medals and enjoy further Hampden occasions. Indeed, less than a year later, he was back between the sticks in Mount Florida as the Steelmen lined up against Rangers in the final of the Southern League Cup, which the Light Blues edged 2-1 in an reportedly exciting tussle.

In 1947, John played against Hibernian in a Scottish Cup semi final at Hampden Park which lasted until the 152nd minute, when the Easter Road outfit hit the winning golden goal.

The Steelmen acquitted themselves very well in the 16 team league during this period. The club finished fourth, fourth, fifth and third, before ending in sixth position after the victory season in 1946, all with Johnston the favoured Motherwell custodian.

When Rangers visited in the opening game of the 1946/47 campaign it saw the official introduction of a number of players who were to become legends at Fir Park, including names such as Willie Kilmarnock, Archie “Baldy” Shaw, Andy Paton, Willie Redpath and of course John Johnston. In front of a vociferous audience, Rangers ran out 4-2 winners, with Brown scoring a double for Motherwell.

Johnston had a very good season playing in all 42 matches the club played in, achieving eight clean sheets, no mean feat in an era where football was all about scoring goals rather than preventing them. The following year, the club claimed a second consecutive eighth place finish as John once again gained ever present status playing 40 matches with 12 shutouts.

Seasin 1948/49 saw Motherwell struggle a little with injuries to important players taking its toll on results. Despite this, Johnston once again was an ever present, appearing 38 times and keeping the opposition at bay on nine occasions. On one notable occasion that season, John saved two penalties against Hibernian at Easter Road. Sadly, the duo of stops mattered little, as the Hibs had already romped to a 5-1 lead.

As the new season, which would take the club into the 50s, was appearing over the horizon, John was the only player to have played in all 120 competitive matches the club had taken part in since the ending of the war.

He kept that run going in all the six league cup sectional ties from which Motherwell narrowly failed to progress against Partick Thistle, Dundee and Clyde.

They missed out despite only losing once and Johnston posting two shut outs. As the league campaign kicked off with a 2-2 draw at Fir Park against Falkirk, followed by a tough looking away fixture to Third Lanark.

John Johnston took to the field in Motherwell colours for the 128th match on the bounce that day, and nobody could have foreseen what was about to happen. Johnny was badly injured in the 3-3 draw at Cathkin Park, to such an extent that he wouldn’t turn out again for another seven months after totting up more than 180 consecutive appearances stretching back into October 1943 and the “unofficial” competitions played during the war years.

John returned to his goal line, replacing his more than able deputy, the admirable Dick Hamilton, just in time for the last game of that season against East Fife, much to the delight of everyone with Motherwell at heart.

Unfortunately it was to be no glory return for John as he couldn’t prevent the visitors winning 4-3 at Fir Park despite two goals for Johnny Aitkenhead and a late effort by Archie Kelly.

This was an era in which Motherwell were recognised as a solid mid-table side, who could be dangerous opponents at any given time. This would certainly prove to be the case over seasons 1950/51 and 1951/52. During the former campaign, John missed a dozen games which was unusual for him due to a variety of reasons, with Hamilton once again proving an able back up.

Johnston played 35 games, two of which were Hampden Park cup finals. In the League Cup version against Hibernian, John had been drafted in for the final after an injury to Dick Hamilton, and as is often the case, the player coming into these situations was tremendous.

Johnston was a stand out with a confident display as part of a well organised Fir Park defence against an attacked blessed with pace, trickery and deadly accuracy. Three second half goals by Motherwell’s Kelly, Forrest and Watters allowed Johnston and his team mates to lift the silverware much to the delight of the travelling Motherwell fans in the 64,000 crowd.

Five of the victorious players that afternoon – Willie Kilmarnock, Archie Shaw, Andy Paton, Jimmy Watson along with Johnny – had all taken part in the League Cup final of 1945, when they had lost 2-1 to Rangers, so it must’ve been so much sweeter for these guys to finally lay the club’s cup bogey to rest.

Following the 3-0 victory, the team headed back to the Steel Town on a high to meet a welcoming committee of over 8,000 fans waiting at Motherwell Cross desperate to catch a glimpse of the first major cup bedecked in our famous colours.

The Scottish League Cup, if you include the Southern League Cup, was to be a favourite competition for Johnston, who played in a quite remarkable 71 League Cup ties. The winning of the trophy was recognised by Motherwell Town Council with a civic reception at the town hall two months later.

Four months after the reception, Johnny and his team mates were back at Mount Florida attempting to win the cup double against Celtic in the Scottish. Despite Motherwell dominating much of the final and playing the better football, the Steelmen narrowly missed out on what would have been a unique achievement for this club.

The normally deadly forwards Kelly, Humphries and Aitkenhead all spurned great opportunities before Celtic’s McPhail shot beyond John to send the Celtic fans in the 132,000 crowd home happy, leaving the Motherwell supporters to reflect on what might have been.

The following season of course, as every ‘Well fan should tell you, ended in Scottish Cup glory for the extremely talented Fir Park squad in which John Johnston was integral. The defence of the League Cup was going well for Motherwell with Stirling Albion, Hibernian and Partick Thistle all defeated by the Fir Parkers lining up a quarter final two legged affair against St. Johnstone. On the face of it, the tie was won in the first leg at Muirton Park, but the 4-0 score line for Motherwell masked the important part played by Johnny.

After Jimmy Watson had fired the visitors ahead, Johnston pulled off a terrific penalty save after Willie Kilmarnock had handled in the box. Two more spectacular saves were recorded before the interval allowing for the Steelmen to score two more goals in classic breakaway fashion to pretty much wrap up the tie in the first 45 minutes.

Sadly for the club, when the defence of the trophy finally ended it was with a whimper, being hammered 5-1 in the semi final at Ibrox against Dundee.

Of course, the Scottish Cup final would see Motherwell try to lift the silverware for the first time in their history at the fifth attempt, while looking to gain revenge on the Dark Blues.

John Johnston probably had his finest 90 minutes in a Motherwell shirt in front of almost 137,000 paying punters. Time and again he denied the Dundee attackers, particularly in the first half facing a stiff wind, building the platform for two sets of quick fire goals by Watson, Redpath, Humphries and Kelly. Johnny had also made a terrific point blank save from Dundee inside forward Pattillo midway through the second half to keep his clean sheet intact.

On the way from Hampden to Fir Park, John was part of the party which edged slowly through vast crowds in Viewpark and Bellshill before inching through Motherwell Cross once again, with an estimated 25,000 cheering fans acclaiming their heroes as they headed for a celebration dinner at Robb’s Restaurant.

John was back to being the undisputed number one around these parts, turning out in 48 of the 49 competitive matches played by the Steelmen, only missing out on a 2-1 home win over East Fife in January.

In September 1952, a 31-year-old policeman was shot and killed as he approached a suspect of a bank robbery. PC John MacLeod left a wife and young son as a result of this awful incident, and a fund was quickly set up, the centre of which was a football match with the proceeds hopefully boosting the monies significantly.

The league champions, Hibernian were to take on the Scottish Cup holders Motherwell for the Lord Provost Trophy at Firhill in Glasgow, 18 days after the tragedy. Johnny and his teammates turned in a scintillating display, routing the champions by five goals to one. As superb as the performance was, and as memorable as the victory turned out to be, it was a bittersweet night for the ‘Well fans in the ground given the sad circumstances surrounding the occasion.

John’s last ever game for Motherwell at Fir Park was a 2-1 win over Arbroath in April 1954 as Motherwell wrapped up the Second Division title and returned to the top flight of Scottish football. Johnston was an ever present in the championship winning side playing 43 games, earning 12 shut outs.

His final appearance for the club came at Pittodrie in January 1955 in a 4-1 loss to Aberdeen. He finally left Motherwell later that year as the much younger Hastie Weir, recruited from Queen’s Park in August 1954, established himself as the new first choice.

John Johnston was a popular man with his team mates and amongst the Motherwell support in an era where the club had had decent success and lifted trophies.

His was a long and interesting career and perhaps suffered less than most from the impact of the war. John died in Law Hospital on January 21, 1989, just one day after the death of his former team mate and cup final winning legend Willie Redpath.

John Johnston played 323 times for the Steelmen, a legendary Motherwell goalkeeper who delighted in collecting cross balls and enjoying the physical challenges of his position in the 40s and 50s. He spent a season across the river with Hamilton Accies, playing five games before hanging up his gloves – had he worn any.

Agile, brave and a wonderful shot stopper, he was very highly respected within the Scottish game and had only that one notable absence in his 14-year career at Fir Park. A player of stature, integrity, consistency and quality, there is little doubt that John Johnston not only has a claim to be a legend of this football club, but also to be the finest goalkeeper ever to represent it.

Motherwell’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi final against either Aberdeen or Kilmarnock will be played on Saturday, April 14.

The match, which will be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow, will kick off at 12.15pm.

The fixture is also being broadcast live on Sky Sports and BBC Scotland.

Ticket information for the match is as follows:

North and William Hill South Stand

£30 Adult / £15 Concessions

East & West Stands

£20 Adult / £10 Concessions

Concessions are regarded as those aged under 16 and those aged 65 and over.

The Scottish FA haven’t as yet been able to give the competing clubs a confirmed date as to when the tickets are likely to be available. When they do, the club will announce when the tickets will go on sale and the planned sale arrangements.

Getting to Hampden

The club are operating a bus from the Cooper Bar on the day of the game. The bar will be open before departure for food and drink.

The bus, which will take supporters to and from Hampden Park, will cost £8. Supporters can buy by calling 01698 333333 or visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.

Semi final hospitality

Come and enjoy the day in style with our pre and post-match hospitality here at Fir Park.

For just £80, you can get:

• Your match ticket
• Hot breakfast roll
• Match programme
• Official bus to and from Hampden Park
• Pay bar facility at Fir Park
• Hot buffet served at Fir Park on your return

Motherwell are on a high as they prepare to face Hamilton Academical in the Lanarkshire derby.

The Steelmen travel to face their rivals in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday, March 10 and fans are encouraged to buy early to guarantee their seat.

To help you get your ticket early, you can now buy online for this fixture.

Adult tickets cost £22, while over 65s and under 18s can get in for £12.

The trip to Hamilton represents another huge game for Stephen Robinson’s side in their push to make the top six in the Ladbrokes Premiership. Let’s fill the stand and give the team as big a backing as possible.

It’s a huge fixture on Sunday as Hearts come calling in the quarter finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Motherwell are just one game away from yet another trip to Hampden Park this season and a place in the last four of the competition.

Having reached one cup final this season, your support could help push us a step closer towards another as we strive for new cup heroes.

Tickets can be purchased in advance and, if you’re a season ticket holder, your seat has been reserved for you to purchase. Just pop by the Fir Park ticket office to secure yours. Please note the ticket office is closed on Thursday due to the adverse weather conditions.

Cash gates will also be in operation but we encourage all fans to try and buy in advance to minimise delays on the day.

Hearts supporters should contact their club for ticket information.

Kick off at Fir Park on Sunday is at 2.15pm.

Admission prices are as follows:

Concessions are applicable to 60 and over and full time students with a valid matriculation card. Juveniles are applicable to aged 15 and under.

It’s a big week for Motherwell on both league and cup fronts as Stephen Robinson’s men take on Aberdeen and Hearts at Fir Park.

The Dons are the first visitors on Wednesday, February 28. Kick off in the Ladbrokes Premiership match is at 7.45pm.

The Steelmen are still in the race for a top six spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership and, with five games to go before the split, are just one point behind Kilmarnock in sixth and three behind Hearts in fifth spot.

A win against the Dons would go a long way towards trying to leapfrog either side, with our team having already claimed victories in two of the three encounters against Derek McInnes’ side this season.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from the office at Fir Park or you can pay at the gate on the night. Get yourself along and let’s try and recapture the atmosphere of our 3-o Betfred Cup win against Aberdeen last year.

Admission prices are as follows:

The cheaper price is for the John Hunter stand. Concessions are applicable to 60 and over and full time students with a valid matriculation card. Juveniles are applicable to aged 15 and under.

Away fans will be housed in the McEwan Fraser Legal South Stand. Cash gates are in operation.

Then on Sunday, it’s another huge fixture as Hearts come calling in the quarter finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Motherwell are just one game away from yet another trip to Hampden Park this season and a place in the last four of the competition.

Having reached one cup final this season, your support could help push us a step closer towards another as we strive for new cup heroes.

Tickets can be purchased in advance and, if you’re a season ticket holder, your seat has been reserved for you to purchase. Just pop by the Fir Park ticket office to secure yours. Cash gates will also be in operation but we encourage all fans to try and buy in advance to minimise delays on the day.

Hearts supporters should contact their club for ticket information.

Kick off at Fir Park on Sunday is at 2.15pm.

Admission prices are as follows:

Concessions are applicable to 60 and over and full time students with a valid matriculation card. Juveniles are applicable to aged 15 and under.

Motherwell fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Brian Davidson on 07428 225254 or tickets@mfcdsa.com. Fans must contact Brian by Wednesday night before the match.

Brian McLaughlin was born in Grangemouth on October 7, 1954, and snapped up by Celtic at the age of 16, joining the Parkhead side from schools football, becoming professional in 1971.

Brian starred in the reserve team alongside Kenny Dalglish and Lou Macari that were christened the “Quality Street Kids” by an attentive press. He eventually made his first team debut in September 1972 against Clydebank, and by the following year he had established himself as a regular. No less of an opinion than Jock Stein noted that McLaughlin was the most naturally talented player he had ever signed.

Disaster struck for Brian after 14 successive appearances when he was badly injured by a tackle from Clyde centre half, Willie McVie. The resultant cruciate ligament damage removed him from the game for two years and although he fought back gamely, he lacked the previous mobility and was released to join Ayr United in November 1977.

Manager Ally MacLeod gave Brian a platform to display his talent on a consistent basis, and the midfielder certainly repaid Ally’s faith in him and, much more besides, blossoming into a midfield maestro of great quality. Those who had considered Brian to be finished misjudged the young mans’ great determination.

He went on to have an incredibly good two seasons with the Honest Men, even managing to score the winner against Celtic on Hogmanay 1977 in a famous 2-1 win for Ayr. Such was the quality of his play at Somerset Park, he was rewarded with the Players’ First Division Player of the Year award in 1979.

Meanwhile, 40 minutes up the road and following relegation from the Premier League, Motherwell had made a poor start to the season being knocked out the League Cup by Queen’s Park and failing to win any of their first five league matches.

In September 1979, Ally signed Brian McLaughlin once again, this time for Motherwell where his skills ensured that he would go on to be a firm favourite of the fans on the east terracing.

The manager had been trying to sign Brian since that summer, but Ayr weren’t for letting him go. However, when Motherwell offered £100,000, United accepted and the deal was finally done.

It didn’t take McLaughlin long to make his mark for the Steelmen, scoring on his debut at Douglas Park, but couldn’t prevent a 3-2 defeat for the club. Four days later, despite scoring again, Motherwell were humbled 5-2 by Raith Rovers at Starks Park as pressure began to increase on the manager from the fans.

The following midweek saw Hearts visit Fir Park under the light of the silvery moon, and for the third time on the bounce the new signing was on target again as he finally picked up his first win bonus in North Lanarkshire as the Jambos were humbled 4-2 on a memorable night under the Fir Park lights.

After another three straight wins over Clyde, Dumbarton and St Johnstone it seemed Motherwell were on a roll. However, as is often the case around these parts, the wheels came off. One win in the next eight, a 1-0 victory over Stirling Albion at home, sealed with a McLaughlin pile driver, pretty much ended any promotion hopes that the Steelmen and their fans had harboured.

Although things did pick up after the arrival of Albert Kidd and Joe Carson from Arbroath, the Fir Parkers were always playing catch up with Hearts and Airdrieonians, who both had established a good lead at the top of the table.

Despite ten wins after New Year in the league, Motherwell never really got into contention at the top and finished a rather disappointing sixth, eight points behind Airdrie who, along with winners Hearts, both went up to the Premier League.

After his arrival, Brian was an ever present in the Motherwell line up, playing 35 times and scoring a very respectable ten goals. McLaughlin’s promptings initially lifted Motherwell, flirting with the leaders, but try as he might the Steelmen slipped back down the table, leaving the ‘Well fans feeling frustrated with the form of the side in a division that they were expected to win rather easily.

His first full campaign at Fir Park was 1980/81, which opened brightly for Brian with a hat trick in the second leg of the League Cup first round tie against Stenhousemuir.

The league campaign kicked off disastrously however, hammered 5-0 by a rampant Ayr United side down at Somerset Park. In what was a tough division in this year, Motherwell suffered from our old failing: inconsistency.

Despite recording decisive, good wins against Falkirk, Dundee, Dunfermline and Hibernian there was always a shock scoreline around the corner, like defeats to Berwick Rangers and Stirling Albion. Come New Year’s Day, it felt like the club absolutely had to beat the Accies at Fir Park. Despite Brian scoring, the visitors finished comfortable 3-1 winners, to pretty much end once again our promotion hopes.

After the Ne’erday defeat the Steelmen went on a 15-game unbeaten run in the league, which left the club a hugely disappointing fifth in the final league table of the season. There had been a little flirtation with silverware when 3,000 ‘Well fans headed to Tannadice for a Scottish Cup quarter final against the all conquering Dundee United, after a battle cry from Ally MacLeod. The manager had caught the imagination of everyone claiming that Motherwell were definite contenders to lift the old trophy despite being mid table in the second tier of Scottish Football.

Sadly, by half time, Motherwell were 4-1 down and out of the competition. By the end of the campaign, Ally MacLeod was somewhat under pressure from sections of the Motherwell support, as the club reluctantly looked forward to a third season out with the top flight of Scottish football.

The board decided that there had been enough positives in the last 15 matches of the campaign to remain firmly behind the manager in his attempt to finally secure a berth back in amongst the big guns. Brian had played in 42 games that season, the most he had every managed, scoring nine goals. It wasn’t long into the new season that the Motherwell board did lose its confidence in Ally MacLeod and he left his position which was quickly filled by his assistant, David Hay.

Hay’s first game in charge was a disappointing defeat down at Rugby Park, but a single Willie Irvine goal beat Queen’s Park at Fir Park a week later in front of a paltry crowd of less than 2,000 fans, which did spark an upturn in fortunes.

Brian McLaughlin scored nine times in six of the next seven matches as the Steelmen beat St Johnstone, Falkirk, Dumbarton, Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic and East Stirlingshire, after finishing level with Hamilton Accies in an enthralling 2-2 draw.

That impressive run took the Fir Parkers to the top of the table as confidence began to build within the ranks. The transformation in the Steelmen from the early season under McLeod, to the quality of play produced by the team under Hay just a few weeks later, was remarkable without adding anyone to the squad.

As October arrived, Motherwell went from strength to strength as McLaughlin opened the scoring when East Stirlingshire were defeated away at Fir Park 3-0, before two weeks later producing a memorable display at Kilbowie against Clydebank.

The home side were ripped apart in a vintage performance by the Steelmen in a 7-1 rout. The man of the match that day be a country mile was Brian McLaughlin, who dictated the pace and control of the game in a manner I have rarely seen.

Incredibly, Brian didn’t find the net that afternoon, but had a hand in five of the seven goals Motherwell scored, as belief that the title might be heading our way began to spread throughout the claret and amber support.

As promotion got closer, Brian continued to have a major influence on those around him, while still scoring vital goals in important games for the club. He shot Motherwell ahead in the Lanarkshire derby against the Accies in March, before setting up both Bruce Clelland and Willie Irvine to score in a 3-2 win.

Two further single goal victories over Kilmarnock at Fir Park and away at Raith Rovers, both scored by McLaughlin took Motherwell to the brink of the Championship.

Four days later the title was clinched, after one of the poorest performances from the Steelmen in what had been a terrific campaign, at home to Clydebank in front of the BBC TV cameras. It finished goalless, before the Motherwell fans swarmed onto the pitch in celebration at the final whistle to mob the players, signalling the end of the club’s three-year exile from the Premier Division.

The season had been a triumph for David Hay as he saw his side romp away with the title, scoring 92 times to create a First Division record for goal scoring. Quite amazingly, three players claimed 56 of them, Willie Irvine, along with Brian netting 20 goals apiece and Bruce Clelland contributing 16.

An indication of how much McLaughlin had an effect on the championship win is the fact that 11 of his goals opened the scoring for Motherwell in matches in which only two points were dropped by the Steelmen.

In a Motherwell squad that was packed with very good footballers, it was evident to everyone who watched them play that season that Brian McLaughlin was the talismanic figure in which Davie Hay had built his successful side around.

Brian played 43 times in that memorable season. Only Steve McLelland, John Gahagan and Willie Irvine played more as he made a mockery of the injury prone tag often attached to him.

Back in the big time, Brian had the stage he had been craving for: an opportunity to display his talents and show everyone that he could dictate matches at the highest level in this country.

However, new manager Jock Wallace didn’t share Brian’s vision for the future. After starting the first two fixtures against Rangers and Dundee, he left both Brian and record goal scorer, Willie Irvine on the substitute bench for the visit of a Charlie Nicholas inspired Celtic. The game ended in a heavy defeat and Brian was rarely seen again in claret and amber.

Midway through the Premier League campaign, and after being unfairly treated by Wallace, Brian was allowed to leave for pastures new, which he did, joining Hamilton Accies back in the First Division. He then served his local side Falkirk, before a brief spell in Australia and then back to Ayr United before hanging up his boots, ending a career that had promised so much.

In August 2009, Brian died as a result of an accident in tragic circumstances, being found in the Union Canal near his home in Falkirk. He was only 54 years old.

Brian McLaughlin played for Motherwell 131 times, scoring 41 goals from midfield and was the architect and focal point of one of the most entertaining squads ever witnessed. It would be stretching it a little to suggest that Brian had this football club in his heart, but his contribution in just over three years cannot be understated.

The pressure everyone at Fir Park were under as they tried to win promotion at the third attempt, reportedly the last throw of the dice for Motherwell before going part time, cannot be underestimated.

Had Brian not produced the stats and the goods he did in the championship winning season, there is every chance we would be watching the Steelmen this afternoon in lower league football lining up against our peers of the 80s such as Morton, Ayr United, Airdrie and Clyde.

They say success and failure in football is all about fine margins. If that’s the case, then we all should be grateful that when Brian joined Motherwell, the odds shifted distinctly in our favour.