| 2 | Aberdeen | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 34 |
| 3 | Rangers | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 32 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | -1 | 25 |
| 5 | Dundee United | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | -5 | 24 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | -6 | 21 |
Motherwell players signed off from their mid-season break in Tenerife with a win over Ostersunds FK on Saturday.
But before they departed, they also took the time to take part in a crossbar challenge, with the competitive streak in the squad again showing.
Who hit the bar? Watch our video to find out.
In the first in a new series, Liam Grimshaw takes up a second career as a chat show host to find out the things you never knew about his fellow Motherwell team-mates.
In ‘Grimmy Grills’, the Englishman speaks first to French defender Cédric Kipré to find out his favourite team, favourite food, his thoughts on the Irn Bru recipe change… and also encourages him to sing the song the fans have for him.
The trip to Tenerife has been a lot of hard work for the players, but there’s also been the chance for some team bonding and relaxing time.
With that in mind, we got new signing Nadir Ciftci together with Gael Bigirimana and Charles Dunne to play a fun game of Heads Up, where each player had to guess the word they couldn’t see, relying only on their team-mates’ descriptions to help.
Steven Hammell is to retire from professional football to become Motherwell Football Club’s new Academy Director.
The 35-year-old will take on the important role as the club embarks upon its involvement in the Scottish FA’s new Project Brave youth development programme.
Having played 582 games in claret and amber, Hammell is Motherwell’s record post-war appearance holder.
The club legend will see out January as a player before officially taking up his new post at the start of February.
“It’s been almost 20 years to the day that I joined here straight out of school,” he said. “Between then and now, there have been a lot of good memories made that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
[pullquote]It’s been a real highlight playing so many times for this club, the club I love.[/pullquote]
Hammell started his professional career at Fir Park in January 1998, he made his debut in 2000, starting in a Scottish Premier League match against Aberdeen.
He won full international recognition back in 2004, when the late Tommy Burns capped him in a friendly match against Sweden at Easter Road.
In 2006, he departed for a short spell in England with Southend United, spending 18 months south of the border before returning to Motherwell in January 2008.
Hammell was rewarded for his service with a testimonial against Everton in 2012.
“Steven Hammell has been a great servant and model professional for the club over the years,” Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson said of his decision.
“We are glad he is staying on at the club in his new role. The job of bringing young players through here is crucial for our ongoing success.”
Motherwell were recently named among the eight clubs chosen by the Scottish FA to head up the Elite level of its new Project Brave initiative.
Chief Operating Officer Alan Burrows added: “When the board sat to discuss who the new Academy Director would be, one name shone above all the others.
“Not only has Steven been a terrific player for this club, more importantly, we feel he is exactly what we require for the post. He is an extremely popular and respected figure at the academy, where he has worked for several years.
“He is not only qualified to do the role, but his experience working with younger players and coaches can be an inspiration for any youth player at Motherwell, given he himself came through our ranks to break records.
“We are delighted to be working with him and look forward to see some of his exciting and positive plans bearing fruit over the next few years.”
As ‘Well legend Stevie Hammell prepares to hang up his boots, the defender is looking ahead to the next chapter in his football career.
Nearly 20 years in claret and amber have seen Hammell become the club’s post-war record appearance holder, pulling on the shirt 582 times.
And it’s a career that the 35-year-old looks back on with undoubted pride.
“It’s been almost 20 years to the day that I joined here,” he said. “I came straight out of school and between then and now there’s been a lot of good memories made that I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.
“Playing so many times for this club, a club that I love, and playing in so many European games as well as for the national team are some real highlights. I’ve made so many lifelong friends in staff members and team-mates.”
Whilst there is a element of pride and excitement for the next chapter of the experienced defender’s career, there is also a slight air of sadness to draw the curtain on such his remarkable playing days.
“I think as a young boy and when you start getting older and hit 30, then that magic 35 number comes your way, you want to be remembered. When you stop playing and hang the boots up, you want to be remembered fondly.
“It would be nice to be remembered as a player who gave his all whenever given his chance. The fans have been magnificent to me, there’s no denying that, I just hope I’ve repaid them by giving my all when I had the strip on.”
The transition may have come slightly earlier than he had planned, but Hammell admits he has been preparing for life after playing, and that this opportunity is one he will relish.
He said: “This is something I’ve prepared for for a number of years – it’s not just something that has fallen on my lap. I’m hugely honoured to have been sought out to do the job, but it’s something I’ve also prepared for.
“Over the last ten years I’ve done nearly every coaching badge or course – I’ve been to everything. It may have come a little earlier than I expected but it’s something I’ve got real confidence I can do well at.”
Ticket prices have been agreed for our William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round tie with Hamilton Academical.
The Steelmen host the Accies on Saturday, January 20 and, following agreement with our visitors, adult prices will be capped at £15.
Admission prices are as follows:
| ADULTS | £15 |
| CONCESSION | £10 |
| JUVENILES | £5 |
Concessions are for ages 16 to 18, over 60s and full-time students who can provide a valid matriculation card. Juveniles are classed as children 15 and under.
Tickets can be purchased in advance from the ticket office at Fir Park or supporters can pay at the gate on the day. Kick off is at 3pm.
Hospitality
Upgrade to a special cup hospitality deal for just £45 for season ticket holders or £50 for non-season ticket holders.
Our package consists of:
To book, call our events team on 01698 333333.
It’s been a memorable first half of the campaign for Motherwell, and now you can show your support for the rest of the 2017/18 season by purchasing a Flexi Ticket.
Supporters can save money by buying a five or 10-match package, rather than paying for games individually.
Having reached the final of the Betfred Cup, and with the team in contention for a top six finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership, an exciting second half of the campaign lies ahead.
As manager Stephen Robinson said after the cup final: Our season doesn’t end here. Buy a Flexi Ticket and get behind the players as they strive to make it even more of a season to remember.
How does it work?
When buying either package, you will receive a voucher printed with a barcode which, when scanned at our ticket office, will entitle you to receive the match tickets you require.
If you already know which games you want to attend when buying the package, you can take home the tickets right there and then.
Alternatively, on the day of each game, simply pop into our ticket office to have your voucher scanned and receive your match day ticket.
Flexi Ticket packages are available from the Fir Park ticket office right now, so call 01698 338 002 to make the most of this fantastic offer.
Please note that Flexi Ticket vouchers can only be redeemed at the ticket office. Please collect your ticket 30 minutes before kick off at the very latest.
The Flexi Tickets allow you to take advantage of all of Motherwell’s remaining 2017/18 Ladbrokes Premiership home matches. Tickets for other fixtures can be bought separately.
Prices are as follows:
| PHIL O’DONNELL STAND | 10 Game Package | Five Game Package |
| Adult | £222 | £111 |
| Concessions* | £126 | £63 |
| Juvenile (15 and under) | £10 | £5 |
| DAVIE COOPER STAND | 10 Game Package | Five Game Package |
| Adult | £182 | £91 |
| Concessions* | £108 | £54 |
| Juvenile (15 and under) | £10 | £5 |
| JOHN HUNTER STAND | 10 Game Package | Five Game Package |
| Adult | £172 | £86 |
| Concessions* | £95 | £47.50 |
| Juvenile (15 and under) | £10 | £5 |
*Please note, concessions are applicable to over 60s, full-time students with a valid matriculation card and 16 to 18 year olds. The Juvenile age of 15 and under is applicable as at August 1, 2017.
It is ten years to the day since Phil O’Donnell was taken from us, in the prime of his life, during a Motherwell match at Fir Park.
Many tributes have been paid by his family and former teammates as we mark this anniversary.
Phil O’Donnell was a fantastic captain, a fantastic role model and a fantastic man. His passing was both untimely and tragic.
As a club, we will always feel fortunate to have enjoyed his company and his talent. He remains an important part of our daily lives, with his memory and legacy displayed on the walls at the stadium to remind us of him.
Our thoughts are very much with his family and friends today. Please join us in a minute’s applause before the match on Saturday to celebrate his life.
You can read further tributes to Phil here on our website from:
