“Today was a real showcase of what we are trying to become.
“That was a big three points today but I’m really thinking about where we can go in the next four games and how that sets us up moving into the summer and beyond.”
News
Latest News
-
First team
Stuart Kettlewell reacts to convincing win over Kilmarnock
Saturday 06 May 2023 -
First team
Motherwell 2-0 Kilmarnock
Saturday 06 May 2023
A hard fought win over Kilmarnock hoisted Motherwell to the 40 point mark and almost certainly removed the spectre of relegation or even the play-offs.
Blair Spittal’s goal within the first five minutes should have set the home side up for a comfortable win over a Killie side languishing second bottom of the league table. But in a drab first half noted for a lengthy VAR check and little cohesive play from either side, the Steelmen failed to get into their free flowing and passing game.
Despite creating a handful of good openings in the second half, it took until the final minutes for Kevin van Veen to grab his 21st league goal of the season and erase any fears of the Ayrshire side grabbing a point.
Stuart Kettlewell made one change from the side which earned a fabulous point at Celtic Park. And following that resounding performance it was a tactical change for the Steelmen as Harry Paton made way for Mikael Mandron to join Kevin van Veen in attack.
There was a terrific atmosphere prior to the kick-off especially from the 1800 Killie fans crammed in the Tommy McLean stand.
However, after a five minute delay while referee Kevin Clancy sorted out his faulty communication system, the away support behind fans behind Sam Walker’s goal were quickly silenced as ‘Well opened the scoring.
In a swift move upfield Sean Goss found the overlapping James Furlong. He picked out Spittal with his cut back and after taking a touch the former Ross County man slammed the ball across the ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net.
That was the perfect start against a nervous looking Killie and Spittal came close to a second when his shot was deflected wide of goal. From his corner Callum Slattery’s shot from the edge of the box took a similar touch from a defender before whizzing narrowly past Walker’s other post.
A clumsy challenge from Callum Butcher 24 yards in front of Liam Kelly gave the Ayrshire side its first glimpse of goal. With the ‘Well ‘keeper rooted to his line Danny Armstrong’s free kick clipped the outside of the Kelly’s right-hand post.
Another break at speed from the home side after 16 minutes finished with ‘Well claiming a second goal. However, Goss’ pass to Mandron found him in an offside position before his ball inside was convincingly hammered into the net by Van Veen.
To be fair the Dutch striker’s reaction suggested that his attempt would be disallowed although it took VAR four minutes to run its check.
That delay and a series of fouls from both sides made the first half a real stop – start affair with little goal mouth action as the first 50 minutes came to a close.
Before the break, though, van Veen had a chance to add to his impressive goal haul. Slattery held off a couple of challenges in the middle of the park before finding van Veen in the box but after side stepping Joe Wright his powerful drive was battered away by Walker.
The second half just had to be an improvement.
And the Fir Park men immediately looked to atone for that first half showing.
Another great ball from Slattery found van Veen racing to the left of the visitor’s box. With Wright in pursuit his cute backheeler set up Spittal who cut into the middle before hammering the ball off Walker’s legs when he should have finished off a sublime move with a second goal.
Ten minutes into the half and with his side needing to take something from the game, Derek McInnes made a double substitution. That gave Liam Polworth the opportunity to emulate his fantastic equaliser on his return to Fir Park in December.
It was van Veen, though, who came close to extending the home side’s lead. Fastening on to another long ball towards the visitor’s box the ‘Well striker cut inside Wright before his low shot was curling inside the ‘keeper’s left-hand post only for Walker at full stretch to push it wide.
A minute later Dan Casey, from just beyond the corner of the six-yard box, attempted to lob the ball over Walker but the Killie ‘keeper stood his ground to make an easy catch.
With 15 minutes remaining and only trailing by a single goal and feeling that his side still had the chance to grab an equaliser McInnes made another double substation to go with four players up front.
That put real pressure on the ‘Well defence for the first time, as the Killie fans behind Kelly’s goal urged the Ayrshire men to press forward in numbers.
With six minutes remaining Mandron made way for Stephen O’Donnell as Stuart Kettlewell decided to reinforce his defensive options and see out the game.
Ironically, three minutes from time, it was a ‘Well defender who came within a couple of inches of settling the game.
Spittal’s corner caused a bit of mayhem in the six-yard area and when the ball found its way to Paul McGinn, he stroked it goalwards only to watch the ball rebound off the post and along the line to a relieved Walker.
The killer second goal was only delayed a couple of minutes as van Veen finally found the net for the 25th time this season.
Yet again a long ball, this time direct from Kelly gave the Dutchman the chance to turn Taylor at the edge of the box. And this time van Veen didn’t pass up the chance as he calmly side footed the ball to Walker’s left and into the net for the seventh consecutive game.
-
First team
Maturing with your boyhood club
Saturday 06 May 2023
It has been a season of ups and downs for Dean Cornelius, but he is loving life firmly in the Motherwell spotlight.
In his fourth season as a professional at his boyhood club, the midfielder has started all but one of the games he has been available for selection for under new boss Stuart Kettlewell, who has tasked the 22-year-old with being the legs in his midfield system.
Spots on the bench were not what Cornelius was after as he was desperate to be making his impact from the off, but a sit down with the boss helped fill him with confidence that he could bring his combative strengths to the fore on a regular basis.
And now he is getting his chances, he is keen to take them and cement his place as a Motherwell regular, with the squad keen to not let up and let good progress under new management fade away in 2022/23’s dying embers.
“Football at the moment is something I have really been enjoying since the new manager came in,” explained Cornelius. “He has put his faith in me and played me a lot. All I want to be doing is playing games and that is what has been happening.
“So it is brilliant. He pulled me in when he first came in and spoke to me one on one and highlighted the importance of the role I do. He understands that sometimes it can be overlooked as you need to do the grafting bit of the game and you need to be a team player.
“I feel like the role he has given me suits me and you can see I am playing with more confidence and enjoying my football because of it. I didn’t play as much as I would have liked at the start of the season but it is just part of the process and learning curve.
“As a young boy you can’t beat yourself up as it is not going to get you anywhere is it? All you can do is keep working away and working your way into the team, which once you get that, it is about doing your best.”
The one match the battler wasn’t involved in was the most recent clash away at Celtic, where Ketllewell’s men put in an enormous effort to become the first side to take points off Ange Postecoglou’s side in Glasgow’s east end this term courtesy of a 1-1 draw.
Such a result would have been laughed off as reality by sceptics in the winter months the club lurked around the Premiership’s lower reaches. But Cornelius reckons it points to the progression the team has made to lift dropzone fears.
And the afternoon came with an added twist for the number 18. He was in amongst the punters again as he sat the match out with injury, and it provided him a personal moment to remember and a reminder of how long his journey has been since his days as a diehard.
“The boys put in some shift at Celtic,” the 22-year-old beamed.
“I wasn’t playing but I was at it, and it shows how much we have come on as a team together and as a unit. The team as both a starting XI and the boys on the bench, we are all together now and you can really see everyone has bought into what the manager has said and we are starting to get the results that we want.
“I was stuck behind the pillar in the away end so you miss half the game, but it is better than nothing. Being in with the fans again is a reminder of how far you have come so it is nice.
“Obviously I was one of them, in the crowd and going to all the Motherwell games home and away. To be back there makes you appreciate how far you have come on. It’s a proud feeling.
“When you are younger and going to the games you obviously don’t know all the boys, whereas now I regard all my team-mates as my mates on and off the field so when they score, it is a strange feeling as you are with them all the time. But it was good.”
While perhaps after more starts in the first half of this campaign, Cornelius is left in no doubt that this has been his biggest season to date at Fir Park. There have been 30 run outs made overall with five more still to potentially be made.
That’s a big increase on the 17 last term and a solitary 10 minutes in a league clash with Dundee United in the 2020/21 campaign. It’s been a slow-burner journey since his debut on the final day of the 2018/19 season against Livingston but he will likely crash through 50 appearances in claret and amber by the time this campaign is done.
And he believes it has equipped him well for all the challenges and highs football will bring him throughout the rest of his career.
“This has been a more successful season for me at Motherwell as I feel it has been one where I have fully broken through and played a lot more games compared to any other year,” he commented.
“I feel it has really developed me as a player, and I feel a lot more composed and mature.
“The main thing for me is confidence. With a manager that has confidence in you, it really reflects onto the pitch and I feel like it has helped me a lot in my development.
“I think the boys need the credit for the position we are in now. We did get in a mess but we took ownership of that and we have managed to turn things around. We are starting to see a lot more progress.
“With it being a young squad, every game is a learning curve for us and I think everybody would agree with that, not just me being young as I am. Whether it is one of the older pros or one of us, I think everyone would agree.
“We are in it together so hopefully the experiences we have had this season are used going into next season and you can only get better from there.”
For the first time in Cornelius’ career too, there has been lingering transfer chat over what comes next for him. His contract at Fir Park is currently due to expire at the end of the season and while it is something new, it’s not something the Lanarkshire lad is too fussed about.
With plenty of work ahead in the remainder of the Premiership term, it’s still a case of working hard and gaining results.
“It is something I am not used to but the main thing for me and my family who I have spoken to about it, is that you need to keep both feet on the ground, “ said Cornelius.
“You need to block it out as at the end of the day, Motherwell is my club at the moment.
“All I want to do is give it my 100% wherever I am. I’m currently at Motherwell and I want to focus on the present. I don’t want to look ahead as I don’t want it impacting my performances. We have five massive games so I want to win them.
“I feel the big difference is I have matured on the pitch and am playing with a lot more confidence. As a young boy breaking through, it is hard mentally to perform week in and week out and when you do get thrown in, it’s completely different, a man’s game.
“It is a lot more physical and when you are coming through as a youth, it is not quite the same as when you are actually in a competitive league where boys have got their livelihoods on the line and you want to win three points.”
It’s not just a personal mantra of keep pushing on that Cornelius has. With safety almost secured, he insists that heading into the final five post-split matches there is still much to be won and lost.
“There’s still enough for us to play for,” he added. “Mathematically we are not safe yet so we can’t take our foot off the gas as we want to have a strong finish to the season and if you do finish strong, you can take that confidence into the next season.
“You can’t get too comfortable and you still want to win every game you can. No footballer you ever speak to will say they will go into a game and you are not bothered about winning. Every game you are wanting to win those three points.
“Whether your motivation is money towards end of season bonuses, pride, wanting to get a move, everybody has their own motivations and everyone is trying hard to get three points. It’s a lot more intense but I relish it.”
-
First team
Kevin van Veen named April cinch Premiership player of the month
Friday 05 May 2023
Kevin van Veen has been named April’s cinch Premiership player of the month.
Scoring six goals in four games, Van Veen was already named Motherwell’s player of the month last week.
The number nine is the first player to scoop the award since Jake Hastie won the accolade back in February 2019.
“I am honoured to win this award,” Van Veen said.
“This is an individual award but more importantly, the month of April was a really successful one for the team and the club.
“We wanted to reward the supporters for their support this season, even when things weren’t going great, and I’m glad that we have picked up more points.
“Even though it’s my name on the trophy, I couldn’t have won it without my teammates and for that, I want to thank them.”
Kicking off the month of April with a brace against Hibernian, he scored two against Livingston, one against Dundee United and rounded off the month with a neat solo effort against Celtic at Parkhead.
With 24 goals to his name already this season, the month of April has assisted Van Veen as he aims to break Michael Higdon’s record of 27 goals in a single season.
Scoring in six consecutive games in the process, he has been pivotal in Stuart Kettlewell’s game plan since the manager’s arrival back in February.
-
Archive
Mandron: “We’ve got five games to finish strongly”
Friday 05 May 2023Mikael Mandron says he is excited for Saturday’s cinch Premiership match against Kilmarnock.
The Frenchman hit the ground running at Motherwell, when he hit a double on his debut against Arbroath, but has been battling back to full fitness after picking up a fluke injury a week later.
With his future still undecided, Mandron is remaining focused on the task at hand, which is helping Motherwell gather as many points as possible, with the hope of adding a few more goals to his tally also.
-
Archive
Stuart Kettlewell ahead of Kilmarnock
Friday 05 May 2023
Stuart Kettlewell says Motherwell have used the last two weeks to try and get some players back to full fitness.
Reflecting on his time in charge thus far, the manager reckons the biggest factor in their turnaround in fortunes is down to the players and their buy in to his plans.
When asked about contracts renewals for next season, Kettlewell says he is relaxed as the club have been proactive in negotiations with a number of players .
-
Reserves & Under 18s
Lennon Miller named in Under 17s EURO 2023 squad
Thursday 04 May 2023
Lennon Miller has been named in Scotland’s Under 17 squad Euro 2023 squad.
The young Scottish contingent qualified for the tournament for the second year running, after reaching the finals in Isreal last year.
Scotland are in Group C alongside Portugal, France and Germany as they go up against some of Europe’s finest young talent.
Scotland v France
Wednesday 17 May – 4.30pm K.O
Nagyerdei Stadium, DebrecenPortugal v Scotland
Saturday 20 May 3pm K.O
DEAC Stadium, DebrecenGermany v Scotland
Tuesday 23 May – 3pm K.O
DEAC Stadium, Debrecen -
First team
Vote for 2022/23 goal of the season
Thursday 04 May 2023It’s time to vote for your Motherwell FC goal of the season for 2022/23.
The choices are viewable on the video above, and are as follows:
- SLATTERY v Ross County
- MCKINSTRY v Rangers
- SPITTAL v Hearts
- TIERNEY v Celtic
- VAN VEEN v Kilmarnock
- JOHNSTON v St Mirren
- SLATTERY v Kilmarnock
- VAN VEEN v Ross County
- GOSS v Hibernian
- VAN VEEN v Hibernian
- VAN VEEN v Livingston
Choose yours by voting in our poll here.
Tickets for the event are still available online.
-
Archive
Next up: Kilmarnock
Monday 01 May 2023
We return to action, taking on Kilmarnock at Fir Park in the first game after the split.
Kick-off is 3pm.
Tickets
Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.
Ticket Office open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility
Ticket Prices
Hunter Stand O’Donnell, Cooper, McLean Stand Adults £21 £25 Concessions £17 £18 Young Adults £10 £10 Juniors £4 £4 Family £26 £30 – Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under.
– Family tickets would be one adult / senior citizen concession and x2 juveniles.Hospitality
There are still hospitality places available for this match in the Centenary Suite. Watch the game in style with prices starting from just £39pp.
Call 01698 338008 or book online.
Cooper Bar
We’re open from 12 noon on the first floor of our Cooper stand. Fans and children of both clubs are welcome to join us for food and drink with a visit from a player.How to follow game online
If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.
Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.
The Story of the Match
The first match after the split and it’s a big one.
Motherwell take on Kilmarnock who sit in the play-off spot, level on points with Dundee United. A win for either side would be vital, with the Steelmen only six points above Saturday’s opponents.
Stuart Kettlewell’s men will take confidence from their last game, taking a point from Celtic Park, while Killie will be buoyed by their first away win of the season last week, beating top-six finishing St Mirren.
The previous two matches between the two side have ended as a draw, with Kilmarnock coming from two goals down the last time out at Fir Park.
-
Archive
2023/24 Season Tickets now on sale
Friday 28 April 2023Season tickets for the 2023/24 campaign are now on sale.
You are able to renew or purchase your season ticket for the upcoming campaign here.
2022/23 saw 4807 of you commit to getting behind the team and committing to a season ticket. The club are hugely appreciative of your support.
Our Early Bird discount will end on Friday 2 June 2023.
GET YOUR 2023/24 SEASON TICKET NOW
If renewing, login to your ticketing account.
You should then have a notification to ‘renew now’ on your profile.
Then select ‘add to basket’ and follow the on screen instructions to complete the transaction.
It’s easy to buy new. Head here to our online ticketing platform and then press ‘season tickets’.
You’ll then be given the option to choose where in the stadium you would like to sit. From there, you can create yourself an account and then buy your season ticket for the 2023/24 campaign.
Alternatively, call us on 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR
We’ve made a few changes this year, including a minor change to our Wellevate Scheme.
Any Adult or Over 65 Concession ticket can claim one free Junior ticket in the Davie Cooper Stand.
For a full paying Adult or Over 65 in the John Hunter and Phil O’Donnell stands, a Junior ticket can be purchased at the reduced price of £15.
Across all stands, our prices have had to rise for the second time in five years.
With the price of running a match day increasing, we have had to reluctantly increase prices by a small percentage.
Our Well In Scheme will be replaced this year.
Motherwell FC Community Trust will continue to issue free tickets to local schools through its Partner Schools’ initiative.
The Trust works with schools across Lanarkshire to support young people to experience match day at Fir Park.
Tickets are also issued to participants in wider community programmes such as teams, football centres and holiday camps. In addition to this, tickets are issued discretely to people in projects and to our charity partners.
This season, we are offering season ticket holders discounted hospitality packages.
Season Ticket holders can upgrade to hospitality.
In the Centenary Suite, hospitality will be available for £44 per person for category B matches.
For category A matches, it will be £70 per person.
There is also the option to purchase hospitality in the 91 Lounge.
Alongside a complimentary drinks package, the price will be £77 per person, while category A matches will be £102 per person.
Finally, we’re offering a spot in our Davie Cooper boxes, for the first time, which will be available for category B matches next season at £48.
There is also the opportunity for a first-team player to deliver your season ticket card personally this year.
The first 50 people to apply for their season ticket will automatically be entered into a draw for the prize.
Also beginning this year, season ticket holders will get discounted entry to women’s first-team matches.
Details of next season’s SWPL matches will be made available in due course.
PRICES
For those renewing their season ticket from 2023/24, concession tickets are for anyone aged 60 and over. For those buying new in 2023/24, it’s 65 and over.
In addition, concession prices also apply to full time students with a valid matriculation card.
The Early Bird discount will end on Monday 22 May 2023.
READ OUR BROCHURE
Read our 2023/24 season ticket brochure here.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER
With our 2022/23 campaign almost at an end, I am full of excitement and optimism for next season.
Although I have only been in charge since February, I am well aware of the tricky times and tough moments that have occurred this past year.
When I first came in, I sat down with every player and member of staff. I simply stated, ‘if anyone in here isn’t with me or won’t give me everything they’ve got, put your hand up now.’ Everyone kept their hands down.
I think the full team was on a lull due to previous results and they felt they had let people down. However, since that moment, what the players have given me is nothing short of incredible. They’ve shown resilience and tried to right a few wrongs.
That goes for you too, the supporters, who have demonstrated remarkable levels of support, resilience, colour and noise since I arrived.
A moment that sticks out for me, is Kilmarnock away. It was my first game as permanent manager and, as I’m sure you’ll all remember, Callum Slattery knocked in a free-kick in stoppage time to earn us a valuable point.
Although the goal was a special moment, what stood out to me more was, almost a third of our season ticket holders were in that away stand, backing the team, even when we went a goal down. To have those kind of numbers travelling on the road, is outstanding.
I can only thank every single one of you, who have supported from within the stadium, or from afar, as I know that backing seriously helps the players on a match day.
That’s why your support has been so important, it has been a major factor in us picking up valuable points at home and on the road.
Although results and performances have improved, in my eyes, we haven’t achieved anything yet. The staff here are tirelessly working behind the scenes to build a successful future for this club and we need you with us to help us reach our goals and aspirations.
If we work hard and show ourselves in the correct fashion on the pitch, I know you will get behind us. I speak to the players constantly about being together, but one thing that’s for sure, you are on this journey with us.
I want to offer my profound thanks to everyone and I hope you can continue to back the lads next season as we look to push on to a successful campaign together.
Stuart Kettlewell
Manager
PAY BY STANDING ORDER
We are offering the option of paying your season ticket through a standing order payment each month.
There is the option to pay your season ticket over a maximum of six standing order payments directly to the club, with no interest payments or fees, providing full payment is made by December 2023.
To set this standing order up, you must contact us directly and complete a form.
Please call into the Ticket Office to arrange.
ACTIVATING YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNT
If you haven’t already registered online and are a season ticket holder, you must activate your account.
If you’re a season ticket holder looking to renew your season tickets and/or buy cup game tickets, you must activate your account before you can buy.
To activate your account, select ‘sign in’ from the top right corner of the ticket page.
Look for Have an existing account? Activate it now.
Input your customer number and surname, then press ‘Find my account’.
Verify your contact details, including an email you have access to, and create a password. Then, save your details. You’re in.
I AM RENEWING
If you wish to renew your season ticket, all you have to do is login to your online ticketing profile at the top right-hand side of the page.
Once you have logged in, you should then have a notification to ‘renew now’.
Then select ‘add to basket’ and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the transaction.
I DIDN’T HAVE A 2022/23 SEASON TICKET AND I WANT TO BUY ONE
It’s easy to do this. Head here and then press the profile icon in the top right.
From here, select ‘create an account’ and fill out your personal details.
Once completed, you will be sent an email with your customer number.
You will be taken back to the homepage of the website where you then select ‘season tickets’.
You’ll then be given the option to choose where in the stadium you would like to sit.
Alternatively, call us on 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.
FAQ
Where can I find my customer number?– Your customer number is at bottom of your season card on the left-hand side under your seat details.I can only see my season ticket renewal, but I have others with me. How do I buy their seat(s)?There is a guide here on how to add other season ticket holders to your network – https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/tickets/how-to-use-our-online-ticketing-platform/#addtonetworkWhat if I would like to move seat or stand?– Please renew your current seat and then contact the club on Monday 12th June to be relocated.Do I need a new season card?– If your price class and seat details remain the same, you will use the same 22/23 season card. If your price class changes, for example Young Adult to an Adult ticket, or a change of seat, you will be issued with a new season card prior to the new season.NEED HELP?
If you need assistance with using our online ticketing website, a guide can be found here.
Alternatively, call us on 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.
