Latest News

Young striker Lee Erwin has been named in the Scotland squad for their Under-18 International Challenge Match with Serbia.

Ricky Sbragia has named a 19-man squad for two International Challenge Matches later this month.

The games will serve as preparation for the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round which will be hosted by Scotland (area and stadiums to be confirmed) in October this year.

Scotland are in Group 9 for the qualifying round and will take on Switzerland, Armenia and Romania.

The top two teams progress to the elite round stage which will be staged in spring 2013 with the 8-team finals tournament taking place in Lithuania that summer.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers

Philip Anderson (Dundee United), Jack Hamilton (Heart of Midlothian)

Defenders

Joseph Chalmers (Celtic), Marcus Fraser (Celtic), Ross Gilmour (Dundee United), Jack Grimmer (Fulham), Stephen Kingsley (Falkirk), Michael Miller (Celtic), Jason Naismith (St Mirren)

Midfielders

Jay Fulton (Falkirk), John Herron (Celtic), Lewis MacLeod (Rangers), Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian), Samuel Stanton (Hibernian)

Forwards

Lee Erwin (Motherwell), Matthew Kennedy (Kilmarnock), Barrie McKay (Rangers), Declan McManus (Aberdeen), Thomas Reilly (St Mirren)

Motherwell will make the journey east along the M8 to face Hibernian at Easter Road this Sunday lunchtime.

Tickets for the match are available from the Easter Road Ticket Office (South Stand) on the day of the match, or on the gate priced at the following:

• Concessions are listed as Over 60s, Under 18s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 01555 870122 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.

SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION COACHES

WISHAW BRANCH

The bus to Easter Road on Sunday 8th April will leave from Kenilworth Avenue, Wishaw at 10.45am. To book seats please call Anne on 01698384050 or email andysim2@sky.com.

CENTRAL BRANCH

The bus will leave the Bentley Hotel at 10.30am on Sunday 8 April.

To book a seat email christopher_hutton@btinternet.com or give Jim a call on 01698 299650

BELLSHILL & DISTRICT BRANCH

The Hibernian bus will pick up at the Carousel Bar, Bellshill at 10.10am, then the Fir Park Club, Motherwell at 10.20am and finally the Holytown War Monument at 10.30am. To book seats, contact Brian Worton on 07763 061821 or after 6pm on (01698) 747644.

TRAVEL

BY CAR

The stadium is located to the East of the city and is one of the more difficult grounds to find in the SPL.

Follow the M8 until its end and then take the A720 South, joining the A701 towards the city centre. Upon reaching the city centre, head left on to the A900 (signposted Leith), leaving at the junction with the B1350 to turn right on to London Road.

Then take the fourth left at the crossroads on to Easter Road, followed by the fourth right on to Albion Road. The stadium will be clearly visible ahead.

If travelling from the South, follow the A1 into Edinburgh before turning right on to the B1350 (London Road). Then turn right at the crossroads on to Easter Road, followed by the fourth right on to Albion Road.

Street parking is available on numerous streets around the ground.

BY BUS

Several operators run buses to Edinburgh, departing every hour from Buchanan Station in Glasgow city centre.

Further information and timetables are available online at www.citylink.co.uk.

BY TRAIN

Waverley station is served by trains from Glasgow and is within walking distance of the ground.

Upon leaving the station, cross Princes Street and head for Leith Walk, which is directly opposite the exit. Follow the road for approximately 1/4 mile and turn right on to the B1350 (London Road). Then turn left on to Easter Road and take the fourth right on to Albion Road. The stadium will be clearly visible ahead.

Further information and timetables are available online at www.scotrail.co.uk.

MAP

[mappress]

Motherwell’s post-split fixtures have been announced by the SPL this afternoon.

Stuart McCall’s men will start with Celtic on Sunday 22nd April at Fir Park. We will then face St Johnstone at home before away trips to Hearts and Rangers.

The Steelmen will finish with Dundee Utd at Fir Park on Sunday 13th May 2012.

Fixtures:

• Sunday 22nd April – vs Celtic at Fir Park (2pm KO) Live on Sky Sports
• Saturday 28th April – vs St Johnstone at Fir Park (3pm KO)
• Tuesday 1st May – vs Hearts at Tynecastle (7.45pm KO) Live Sky Sports
• Saturday 5th May – vs Rangers at Ibrox (12.45pm KO) Live on Sky Sports
• Sunday 13th May – vs Dundee Utd at Fir Park (12.30pm KO)

Chief Exec Leeann Dempster tonight spoke of her pride that the first hurdle of the ‘Well Society had been surpassed.

The club today announced that almost 1,000 members had joined, raising £335,375 so far which smashed the initial target of collecting £250,000 by 31st March 2012.

And Leeann, who along with her fellow board members started the process last summer, couldn’t her delight when she spoke to MFC TV this afternoon.

“I’m absolutely delighted we have managed to meet our initial target with more than a bit to spare,” she smiled.

“But I’ve said this to others, and it is worth reiterating many times over, this is merely the beginning. That being said, it’s worth celebrating that even although economic times are tough, that we launched over Christmas and pitched this in probably the most difficult three months of the year, we have managed to achieve our initial target.

“It’s great credit to Motherwell supporters, who have put their hard-earned money up early as opposed to sitting back to see if the whole thing takes off. We should be proud of each one of them.

“But the Society is for everyone. We understand people might not be in a position to contribute right at this very moment. My message is clear; this is an on-going process. We will be looking to recruit new members each and every day. Together, fans and the club, we can make this into something really special.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Referee for this Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hibernian at Easter Road will be Stevie O’Reilly.

It will be Stevie’s third Motherwell match of the season having previously overseen the 1-0 win over Hearts in August. Both teams ended the match with ten men; Keith Lasley ordered off for the home side with Ian Black taking an early bath for the visitors.

His other match was the 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice in January. The Arabs had taken the lead via a Stephen Craigan OG but a late leveler from Michael Higdon gave ‘Well a point.

O’Reilly, promoted to the Category 1 list over five years ago, will be a familiar face to Motherwell fans having overseen five games last term.

After previously handling the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Fir Park back last September, the 1-2 home defeat by Hearts in December, the New Years Day 0-0 draw with Hamilton at New Douglas Park and the 1-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock in early February, the last SPL Motherwell appointment came in early April as the Steelmen ran out 2-1 winners over Saturday’s opponents Dundee United at Fir Park.

He also had the honour of being the fourth official at the Scottish Cup Final last May when McCall’s men took on Celtic.

O’Reilly’s overall record in charge of the ‘Well is a bit of a mixed bag. Of the nine games has officiated, Motherwell have won three, drawn two and lost four.

Twelve goals have been scored and eleven conceded. Seventeen players have been cautioned in those nine games; five were wearing Claret and Amber with two sent off, Steve Jennings in the game against Hearts back in December of 2010 and the aforementioned Keith Lasley one against the same side earlier this season.

Stevie will be ably assisted by Raymond White and Francis Andrews with Steven McLean on fourth official duties.

The board of Motherwell FC is delighted to announce that by the close of business on Saturday 31st March the membership of the society stood at 927 members including 263 Junior Steelmen and 664 full voting members. The funds raised to date are £335,375.

This means that the initial target for the society has been hurdled and the vision of fan ownership can become a reality.

The next steps will be the formal constitution of the society and the organisation by its membership of its affairs, supported by the club’s staff. The society will also now have a right to elect two new members of the board.

The board also announced the next set of goals for the society project:

The society must organise itself well and conduct an orderly election of two people of ability and integrity who can pass all ‘fit and proper’ tests to be a director of a company and this great football club.

Once the above hurdle is met the next target will be to attract over 1000 voting members.  At this point the board will consider further director elections and further enhancements to the society’s balance of control of the club’s decision making.

The board reiterate that the overall financial target for the club remains financial sustainability anchored by a ‘Strategic Reserve’ of £1.5 million, a total which the board will keep under review given the prevailing trading and strategic position of the club and the league.

The trustees of John Boyle’s equity stake (Jim McMahon, Derek Weir, Andrew Wilson and Leeann Dempster) will remain directors as the transition period proceeds. The first task of the Board with its new members will be to consider the election of a new Chairman to replace John Boyle at the appropriate time.

Commenting on the success to date, Motherwell’s Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said,

“The supporters of Motherwell Football Club have stepped up and shown they have the passion, desire and self belief to make Motherwell a successful, sustainable fan-owned club. The support for the Society idea has overwhelmed us and we are hugely proud of the success to date.

“But it is only stage one. We need to emphasise to everyone that we need to keep recruiting and keep raising funds. Crucially, every fan will also agree that we must demonstrate an exemplary ability to run orderly elections to the board and to bring forward candidates of ability and integrity that can be entrusted with the future of the club.

“We have come a long way however and our optimism as a board remains. It is a tough trading environment but our club is improving its position. We have complete belief in this idea but will retain a laser focus in ensuring it is implemented in a way that will secure Motherwell’s best future.”

If you would like more information on the ‘Well Society then CLICK HERE.

Despite going ahead through Henrik Ojamaa, Motherwell lost 2-1 to Rangers courtesy of goals from Steven Whittaker and former ‘Well striker Lee McCulloch.

-WATCH THE GOALS ON MFC TV-

Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph admits he got lucky after catching Sone Aluko inside the box midway through the first-half.

With the game poised a 1-1, Aluko burst into the box and appeared to be caught by the leg of the former Charlton stopper.

Referee Brines waved away the claim though and cautioned the Nigerian for simulation.

“I was very fortunate,” he admitted.

“Even people in the stand heard me kick his shin-pad. I thought I was gone and was waiting to see the red card but it never came and I just got on with it.

“If players have been involved in an incident before where he was deemed to have dived it can stick with him and if the referee is not sure, he’ll go with what happened in the past. If the referee thinks it was a little theatrical then sometimes they don’t give it.

“In terms of the game, I thought we were unfortunate. We played well and deserved at least a draw but they got a bit of fortune with the goal. I was waiting for a whistle when Clancy was pushed but it never came and we were punished.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall was left disappointed as a brave Steelmen side went down after a late, late Lee McCulloch goal.

Motherwell played well throughout and took the lead early on when Henrik Ojamaa tucked home a Chris Humphrey cutback.

Rangers equalised when Steven Whittaker curled him a long-range effort before former ‘Well striker McCulloch netted the winner.

McCall looked visibly deflated afterwards but was proud of his troops and challenged them to repeat their performance in the last six games of the season.

“I’m gutted to lose the game,” he said “There’s different ways to lose football games, as I’ve said before, but that hurt.

“The performances against Rangers this season certainly haven’t been good enough but we asked for a performance today and I think we got that. We certainly didn’t get what we deserved and I thought it was really harsh on the players and the fans and everyone at the club that we’ve not taken something out of that game.

“I thought our lads were terrific and we matched them toe-to-toe and if it hadn’t been for McGregor pulling off a world class save from Higdon, we could have won the game

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got six games left and if we produce that level of performance I’m sure we’ll get enough points to get where we want to be.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 2-1 defeat by Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

[svgallery name=”rangers310312″]