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Members of the clubs’ youth team will be out in force tomorrow night as the club begin the next phase of fundraising for the elevator in the Cooper Stand.

For years, the Cooper Stand has been almost inaccessible for wheelchair users and, with the recent upgrading of the facilities; the club is keen to make it more accessible for everyone.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “We’re expecting a big crowd here tomorrow and we hope fans can give generously to what we believe is an excellent cause.

“There has been so much redevelopment of the Cooper in both the suites and the community learning centres on the top floor. We are trying various different methods to fundraise for a lift, starting tomorrow night.

“So if you see one of our younger lads outside the ground with his club tracksuit on, then please give all you can.”

The 106th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Motherwell Football & Athletic Club Ltd will take place this Thursday, 23rd February.

Any shareholder of the company is entitled to attend and vote at the AGM or is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company in his/her place.

Shareholders appointing proxies must be lodged at Fir Park Stadium at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting.

ORDINARY BUSINESS

1. To received audited accounts of the Company and the Directors and Auditors reports thereon for the year ended 31 May 2011.

2. To re-appoint the Auditors, Baker Tilly, Chartered Accountants (formerly Charlton Williamson) and to authorise the Directors to fix their remuneration.

3. To propose the reappointment of the following Directors:

Leeann Dempster
Derek Weir

4. To approve the reappointment of Mr John Chapman as Honorary President.

5. To transact any other competent business of which due notices may have been given.

By order of the Board of Directors

The Cash Converters Player of the Month for January is our Estonian star Henrik Ojamaa.

Henrik has been in fantastic form having scored three goals in six appearances for the Steelmen and this fine form saw him given the SPL Young Player of the Month award as well as the Cash Converters coveted Player of the Month trophy.

The 20-year said, “I am delighted to win this award as it was voted for by the Motherwell fans. I must also thank the sponsors for arranging the trophy; with the likes of Jenno (Steve Jennings), Las (Keith Lasley) and Lawsy (Nicky Law) winning it already, it’s an honour for me.”

‘Well fan, Christopher McInally, won the privilege of presenting the trophy by voting for Henrik at Cash Converter’s SPL page.

For your chance to present the February award, all you need to do is vote for which Motherwell player you think has been our stand-out performer over the last four weeks, and, if you are correct, you could be chosen from all entries received to congratulate our star man in person.

To cast your vote, go to Cash Converters SPL page or CLICK HERE.

Referee for Wednesday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hibernian at Fir Park will be Steven McLean.

McLean, brother of former ‘Well defender Brian, will be handling his third ‘Well game of the current campaign having previously taking charge of the league opener against Inverness Caley back in July and the 3-1 win over Dundee United in September.

The 30-year old will be a familiar face to ‘Well fans having overseen three matches during the 2010/11 campaign too.

His first was his Motherwell ‘debut’ – a 2-1 win over Saturday’s opponents United at Fir Park one year ago. A couple of own goals gave The Steelmen the points despite David Goodwillie slamming home a penalty after McLean had adjudged skipper Stephen Craigan to have handled inside the area.

His next was at Pittodrie when Motherwell took on Aberdeen for the first time since Craig Brown’s departure. A scintillating display from Stuart McCall’s men gave the Steelmen all three points after coming from behind to win 2-1. It was a difficult game for McLean to handle but, despite howls of protest from the home stands, the young official had an excellent evening and showed composure in the face of difficult circumstances.

Finally, he was the man in the middle for another clash against Aberdeen, this time at Fir Park. A game more remembered for things that happened off the park after the final whistle; on the park the Steelmen won 2-1 again thanks to goals from Chris Humphrey and Shaun Hutchinson.

McLean began his refereeing career back in 1997, aged just 16, but had to wait six years before being promoted to the SFA Senior List. It took him a further four years (June 2007) to get promoted to a Category 1 where he has spent the last three years handling SFL and ALBA Challenge Cup games as well as gaining experience as a fourth official at SPL matches.

He eventually made his bow in Scotland’s top league when he took charge of Aberdeen’s 1-0 away win at McDiarmid Park over two years ago.  A late Darren Mackie goal was enough to give the Dons all three points and McLean had a good afternoon, booking five players in a competitive contest.

McLean has been exceptionally busy this season too – handling 13 SPL games. The most recent was Celtic’s controversial 1-0 win over Inverness CT a week or so ago. The whistler sent two players off during the match with the league-leaders Daniel Majstorovic having his card rescinded following an appeal.

He also had the distinction of being the man in charge of Sweden’s 5-0 demolition of San Marino in the Euro 2012 qualifier.

McLean will be ably assisted by Martin Cryans and John Gilmour with Des Roache on fourth official duties.

Motherwell face a massive match with Hibs on Wednesday and you could enjoy it from the comfort of one of fantastic hospitality suites.

Matchday host Stevie Kirk will meet and greet you at the door before showing you to your table. Expect a visit from first-team players and of course our photographer will be on hand to snap a lasting memory of your day. 

Catch some of Stevie’s pre-match banter and hear any team news first and don’t forget to visit our other resident Motherwell legend, Dougie Arnott, at the bar.

Prices start from just £55. If you are a Season Ticket holder, you can book your meal from as little as £25.

For more information or to book your table, phone 01698 338008 or email commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Jamie Murphy was delighted with his headed goal which puts him top of the Steelmen scoring charts.

The former Scotland U21 ace has been utalised in midfield for the majority of the season but has still managed to pitch in with an impressive eleven goals.

And after his bullet header put 10-man Motherwell on the way to victory, he admits he is already looking to add more to his tally between now and the end of the campaign.

“It feels great to score,” he told MFC TV. “My target was to score more than I did last year and I’ve done that.

“The target now is to see how many goals I can score between now and the end of the season and hopefully help us win. That’s what we’re here to do

“It was a good performance all-round and you can see we’re playing well right now and hopefully we can keep that going. The gaffer said it was the biggest game of our season during the week and to come out and play like that I thought we fully deserved the three nil win, even after Las went off we didn’t look like conceding.

“We’ve got an important game during the week against Hibs so if we can get three points there we’ll look forward to the rest of the season.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall was full of praise for his side after a terrific 3-0 win over Hearts at Fir Park this afternoon.

The Steelmen roared into a 2-0 half-time lead – Keith Lasley and Jamie Murphy getting themselves amongst the goals.

‘Well were reduced to ten men when Lasley was harshly ordered off for a second bookable offence. However, if anything, Motherwell looked even better despite being a man down and added a third through Nicky Law following sensational build-up play by Henrik Ojamaa.

McCall was delighted and told MFC TV, “I said before the game how much we were up for it; we needed to be.

“From the first minute we created a few chances early on, we started the game really well.

Hearts, as they’re a good side, came into it without really causing us too many problems.

I know Henrik will get a lot of plaudits and rightly so for his second half performance as some of the stuff he did was outstanding, but I thought throughout the match everyone to a man, the commitment, the effort, the football; everything about it was a pleasure to watch.

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 3-0 win over Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at motherwellPICS.

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[tab:Match report]

Andy Ross at Fir Park

Motherwell hammered Hearts 3-0 to move nine points clear in third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
 
Keith Lasley’s powerful strike was turned into his own net by Andy Webster before Jamie Murphy doubled ‘Well’s advantage four minutes before half time.
 
Lasley was dismissed for a second booking five minutes into the second half but the Steelmen continued to dominate proceedings and Nicky Law capped an excellent performance by adding the third goal.
 
Motherwell created the first clear-cut chance of the match after four minutes.
 
Henrik Ojamaa forced Jamie MacDonald into a smart stop after latching on to Tom Hateley’s cross and the Hearts keeper then produced a point-black save to deny Nicky Law.
 
The visitors managed their first attempt on goal after 10 minutes when Darren Randolph comfortably gathered David Obua’s long-range shot.
 
Keith Lasley received the first booking of the match when he clumsily hacked down Ian Black.
 
David Templeton shot high and wide just after the half-hour mark, before Motherwell came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
 
Jamie Murphy combined with Ojamaa and the Estonian’s fizzing cross evaded all inside the area with the goal gaping.
 
Ryan McGowan passed up a good opportunity when he dragged his shot wide after out-pacing Steven Hammell and ‘Well responded as Lasley’s shot was deflected wide by Andy Webster.
 
Webster went from hero to villain as Motherwell grabbed the opening goal from the resulting corner.
 
The Hearts defence failed to deal with Hateley’s dangerous corner and Webster turned Lasley’s powerful drive into his own net.
 
Templeton limped off to be replaced by Rudi Skacel following the ‘Well opener and things went from bad to worse for the visitors within four minutes of the Czech’s introduction.
 
Lasley’s sublime cross was met by Murphy who looped a header over MacDonald and high into the net.
 
After matching Motherwell for the majority of the first half, Hearts appeared to be shell-shocked and but for a brave save at the feet of Ojamaa, they could have found themselves three behind at the break.
 
Ojamaa and then Law both came close after a defensive error from Webster as Motherwell quickly picked up where they left off at the beginning of the second half.
 
They were dealt a blow on 50 minutes, however, as Lasley received a second booking for another lunge on Black.
 
Despite losing their captain, ‘Well continued to boss proceedings and Law chipped inches over the bar after MacDonald had raced from his goal to stop Murphy’s driving run.
 
The former Rotherham midfielder came even closer three minutes later when he rattled the frame of the Hearts goal with an excellent curling effort from the edge of the box.
 
Law wasn’t to be denied his goal though and after 65 minutes he hammered a shot beyond MacDonald after superb work from Ojamaa.
 
Hearts had offered little in the way of attacking threat as Motherwell powered ahead and Skacel’s wild effort was their first effort on Randolph’s goal in the second half.
 
Hateley fired a free-kick over the bar as Motherwell comfortably played out the closing stages of the match.
 
Michael Higdon should have added a fourth but somehow failed to connect with Ojamaa’s cutback.
 
Ojamaa and Hammell were both booked in the closing minutes of the match and Stuart McCall reacted by replacing the outstanding Estonian with Omar Daley.
 
The home side comfortably retained possession during three minutes of added time, ensuring a famous victory was also marked with a clean-sheet.

[tab:As it happened]

Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

FULL TIME: Motherwell 3-0 Hearts. Jubilant scenes amongst the Fir Park faithful.

90mins: 3 minutes added on.

WELL SUB: It’s Omar Daley on for that man Ojamaa.

85mins: Oh…..should have been 4. Higdon only has to tap it in but the ball swerves mysteriously away from his boot.

84mins: And Henrik Ojamaa is named as today’s man of the match. What a shift…again!

83mins: Taouil mazes through the defence but his shot is somewhat laughable and trundles harmlessly past.

78mins: Hateley goes close with a free kick on the edge of the box. Narrowly over the bar.

76mins: ‘Well fans in the East seem aggrieved after an apparent gesture from Zaliukas…..

75mins: 15 minutes left and ‘Well are looking strong despite the man down.

67mins: HEARTS SUB: Black off (to a chorus of boo’s), Taouil on.

65mins: Great great goal. Ojamaa down the left with the tricks, lays in Murphy who then slots in Law who converts from the angle in off the post.

65mins: Na na na na na na na Nicky law, Nicky Law, Nicky Nicky Law!

GOOAAALLLLLLLL. LAW! It’s 3!

63mins: Black finds his way into the ref’s book after an ill-timed lunge on Ojamaa.

61mins: Hammells effort floats harmlessly wide.

61mins: Chance here….free-kick to ‘Well just outside the box.

Terribly unlucky. If that goes in it’s a contender for goal of the season.

55mins: Law smacks a 20 yarder off the junction!

53mins: Great chance to kill the game. MacDonald with a poor clearance straight to Law. His chipped effort towards the open goal flies just over

50mins: RED CARD: Keith lasley sent off for a second bookable offence

46mins: Ball over the top and somehow the ball breaks to Ojamaa. He reacts quickly but his poked effort is aimed straight at MacDonald.

HEARTS SUB: Driver off, Robinson on. Second half just underway.

Well fan Marcus slots home the £100 ball and promptly produces the guns. Hearts fan misses…

Cash converters challenge time. If you’re bored, tweet in your pics of you at the game.

And that half time whistle has now blown. Great stuff so far.

45mins:1 minute added on…as Jamie MacDonald goes down with a headknock.

42mins: 2-0 Lovely stuff from Lasley. His dinked cross is met by Murphy whose looping header goes in off the bar.

GOOOAALLLL: Jamie Murphy!

39mins: HEARTS SUB: Templeton off, Skacel On.

37mins – 1-0! Corner floated in and after a stramash the ball falls to Keith Lasley who smashes it in off a defender.

GOAL! LASLEYYYYYY!

37mins: And up the other end, Lasley see’s his shot deflected over the bar for a corner.

36mins: Chance for Hearts. McGowan out runs Hammell and fortunately his shot powers just wide of the post.

35mins: Boo’s ringing out around the stadium as Ojamaa appeared to have his shirt pulled as he raced clean through. Nothing given!

32mins. Neat play from Murphy who slide in Ojamaa. His cross is blazed across the face of goal but with no takers.

24mins: Lasley booked for a hard challenge on Black. Looked a sore one.

20mins: In my opinion, we’re on top. No clear cut chances quite yet but I can sense a goal coming soon…

19mins: Good exchange of passing involving Law, Ojamaa and Higdon ends with Hateley. His cross is deep is a fraction too deep for Ojamaa.

16mins: Free kick 30 yards out……chipped into box by Hateley but Hutchys boot finds nothing but fresh air.

12mins: Great vocal backing from the ‘Well fans as usual. Warm welcome to the group of Aalesunds fans who have made the trip over.

11mins: Not a lot of noteworthy incidents so far.We’re looking dangerous down the left through Hammell and Law,

2mins: ‘Well go close! Ojamaa’s shot is parried out to Law but the covering hearts players scramble it clear. Encouraging start.

1min: Motherwell kick-off

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“On Friday we were looking at the two home games against the Edinburgh clubs. Hibs come here fighting for their lives on Wednesday for our game in hand.

“If – and it’s a big if – we can win that, then we will go 12 points clear of Hearts and that will be a huge gap at this stage of the season. So we will concentrate on each game.

“We can’t get carried away because we lost three games on the bounce not so long ago and it looked as if the wheels came off. But the way we have turned the home form around and the goals we are scoring, the confidence we are playing with, we just have to look to each game.

“All a manager can ask is to keep playing like that and if it brings us the points to edge close to Rangers then great.”

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio:

“For the first goal, I was not happy with lack of decision. We had three chances to get the ball out the box but couldn’t do it and that is the easiest thing to do in football.

“For the second goal, Lasley was all alone with the ball with a player three metres from him. It wasn’t a dangerous cross but it was an easy goal for Motherwell. That made it very hard for us.

“We were playing against 10 men for a lot of the second half, but they did their job very well, closing the space, so congratulations to them.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Motherwell fans are again reminded of the ticking arrangements for the rearranged SPL clash with Hibs on Wednesday 22nd February.

• Season Tickets will enter the ground using Special Voucher H from the back of the book.
• Non Season Ticket holders who were given a Match Abandoned voucher can exchange it for a ticket from the Fir Park Ticket office between now and the match (including at our home matches versus Hearts this Saturday).
• Hibernian fans that already have a Match Abandoned voucher can enter the South Stand with the voucher.
• Fans that don’t have a Season Ticket or a Match Abandoned voucher can still buy a ticket for the match with admission as follows:

*Concessions are listed as Over 60s and a Full Time Students
*Juveniles are listed as Under 16s
*This is an all ticket match – tickets available for purchase from the ticket office.