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Seven Motherwell academy graduates will play in Stephen McManus’ under 18s side in the 2018/19 season.

The club’s involvement in the elite level of Project Brave will see a full time under 18s team, headed by the former Scotland captain.

Robbie Hemfrey is a goalkeeper who has represented Scotland at youth international level.

Centre back Yusuf Hussain and full back Jack Brown are defenders, while Stuart McKinstry is an industrious midfielder.

Midfielders Adam Kettings and Reece McAlear, along with striker Cole Starrs, are regulars for Scotland at youth level.

Joining the seven graduates who have been promoted is a new arrival from Hibernian. Dean Cornelius arrived in the summer after ‘Well picked him up following his exit from Easter Road.

“This is an important time in youth development in Scottish football with Project Brave being introduced,” academy director Steven Hammell said.

”Motherwell are one of the elite clubs and have made significant investment towards trying to develop the next crop of first team players.

“We are excited by what the seven boys can offer and wish them the very best as they look to progress their careers with us.”

Under 18s coach McManus added: “This is an exciting time for the club as we welcome our first professionals at this age level.

“I’m looking forward to working with all of them and helping them with their ambitions of being first team players at Motherwell and forging a successful career in the game.”

Motherwell FC can confirm the signing of Hartlepool United defender Liam Donnelly.

The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international centre back has signed an initial two-year contract, subject to the usual registration formalities, with the club paying an undisclosed fee for his services.

“As soon as I knew the interest from Motherwell, I was delighted,” Donnelly said.

“It’s a massive club. How well the club did last season was unbelievable and I want to kick on with the lads this year and hopefully improve on it.

“I’ve worked with the manager with Northern Ireland since I was quite young. So there were a lot of factors in why I’ve decided to come here.

“There’s a good bit of aggression involved in my play. But I like to play and have the ball. I defend properly when I need to defend but I can hopefully play a bit as well.”

Donnelly started his career with local side Dungannon Swifts, before earning a move to English side Fulham.

He captained the Cottagers to the 2013/14 FA Youth Cup final, where his side, which included current Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé, lost to Chelsea.

It was around the same time Liam made his full international debut, coming on as a late substitute against Chile in the Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander to win his one and only cap.

Donnelly got his first taste of first team football in England with a brief loan spell with Crawley Town in 2015, before moving to Hartlepool United in the summer of 2016.

He spent two years with Pools, the first playing alongside current ‘Well stopper Trevor Carson, notching over 60 games and scoring on three occasions.

He has continued to play regularly for the Northern Ireland Under 21s, where he now has 20 caps and four goals to his name.

“Liam was a target of ours from when we started our summer recruitment, so we’re delighted to have landed him,” said manager Robinson.

“I’ve worked before with Liam at youth international level with Northern Ireland, so I’ve first hand experience of what we’re getting. He will fit in well here and further strenghten our central defensive options.”

Donnelly will wear shirt number 22 in the forthcoming campaign.

Allan Campbell played 82 minutes as Scotland lost 3-1 to England in the semi final of the 2018 Toulon Tournament.

Having defeated France and South Korea in the group stage, the young Scots advanced to the last four of the prestigious competition and landed a clash with the Auld Enemy.

Celtic’s Mikey Johnston gave Scotland the lead in the first half in France. But England stepped up a gear in the second, turning the game around and running out clear winners.

A fixture against Turkey in the third place playoff will round off Scotland’s campaign on Saturday.

Motherwell will play three public matches as part of their pre-season preparations for the 2018/19 campaign.

Stephen Robinson’s side will start with a trip to face Crusaders in Belfast on 30 June.

The team will travel to take part in the testimonial for Jordan Owens. The 28-year-old striker has been with the club for the last 10 years and is also their leading all-time goal scorer.

Kick off against the team taking part in this year’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers is at 1pm at the Seaview ground.

The team will then be back on their travels with a trip to face Darlington on Sunday, 8 July.

Ryan Bowman and Curtis Main will come up against their former side, who ply their trade in the National League. Kick off at Blackwell Meadows is at 1pm.

A final match with Dunfermline Athletic will then follow on Thursday, 12 July at East End Park with a 7.30pm kick off. Tickets will be available on the gate priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.

A local game will also take place on 3 July but is likely to be played behind closed doors unless a neutral venue can be found. Confirmation will follow shortly.

We are then in competitive action at home to Edinburgh City on Tuesday, 17 July in the Betfred Cup group stage.

MOTHERWELL’S CONFIRMED PRE-SEASON GAMES

Saturday, 30 June: Crusaders (A), Seaview, Belfast. Kick off 1pm

Sunday, 8 July: Darlington (A), Blackwell Meadows. Kick off 2pm

Thursday, 12 July: Dunfermline Athletic (A), East End Park. Kick off 7.30pm.

Motherwell FC have made their first signing of the summer transfer window, agreeing a two-year contract with goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.

The 26-year-old moves to Fir Park from English League One side Walsall, in a career which has also seen him on the books of Newcastle United and Carlisle United.

His move will become official when the Scottish transfer window opens on June 9.

Gillespie, who will wear the number 20 shirt this season, has amassed 205 professional appearances in his career to date and makes the switch north after one season with the Saddlers.

“I’m excited to get going here,” he said. “I spoke to Stephen Robinson, Martin Foyle and Craig Hinchliffe and just got a good feeling about it. They made me feel wanted to be part of the project they’ve got going on here.

“I’m here to work hard, improve and play in good games in a good league.

“The main feedback I’ve got coming here is there is a good spirit in the dressing room, so I want to get involved, be part of the squad and look to push on from what they achieved last season.”

Gillespie was on the books at Newcastle United as a youngster before signing his first professional contract at Carlisle United.

At the age of 18, he became the club’s youngest-ever goalkeeper when he made a substitute appearance against Norwich City.

A loan spell with Blyth Spartans followed, before he started to establish himself in Leagues One and Two with Carlisle.

Gillespie shot to fame with his performance in a League Cup game with Liverpool in 2015, keeping a star-studded Reds side at bay all the way to a penalty shootout, where he saved from Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.

After 180 games with the Cumbrians, he stepped up a division to League One for the 2017/18 season with Walsall, making 25 appearances.

“We are delighted to have landed Mark,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the signing.

“He has played a lot of games at a good level in England, so comes here with a lot of experience and will provide excellent competition in goals.”

Motherwell will start their Betfred Cup campaign with a home match against Edinburgh City on Tuesday, 17 July.

The Steelmen, beaten finalists in the 2017/18 competition, will sit out the first day of group stage action on 14 July.

A trip to Stranraer will follow on Saturday, 21 July, before Queen of the South are visitors to Fir Park on Tuesday, 24 July.

The final match of the group stage away to Clyde on Saturday, 28 July will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

As was the case in the previous two seasons, group stage matches will be played in the traditional format of three points for the winner after 90 minutes.

In the event of a draw, both teams will be awarded a point but a bonus point will be on offer for the winner of a penalty shootout at the end of 90 minutes of play.

The group winners and four best runners up will then progress to the last 16, where they will be joined by Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian and Rangers.

This season’s final will be played on Sunday, 2 December.

BETFRED CUP FIXTURES

Tuesday, 17 July: Edinburgh City (H), 7.45pm

Saturday, 21 July: Stranraer (A), 3pm

Tuesday, 24 July: Queen of the South (H), 7.45pm

Saturday, 28 July: Clyde (A), 3pm, live on BT Sport

PFA Scotland has named Fir Park as the best pitch in the Scottish Premiership for the 2017/18 season.

After a season long study of all 42 of the SPFL’s pitches – a joint venture between the players union PFA Scotland, the Scottish FA and Sports Labs, the leading international experts in sports surface development and testing – Fir Park was named the best surface in the Scottish top league.

Throughout season 2017/18, players at all Premiership clubs were asked to rate the pitch they played on every time they were away from home via a specially commissioned PitchRater APP.

The breakdown saw the Premiership clubs rated:

1st – Motherwell’s Fir Park: 4.26
2nd – Hibernian’s Easter Road: 4.10
3rd – Dundee’s Dens Park: 3.94
4th – Celtic’s Celtic Park: 3.75
5th – Partick Thistle’s Firhill: 3.52
6th – Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium: 3.50
7th – Ross County’s Global Energy Stadium: 3.26
8th – St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park: 3.08
9th – Aberdeen’s Pittodrie: 3.00
10th – Heart of Midlothian’s Tynecastle: 2.96
11th – Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park: 1.70
12th – Hamilton Academical’s New Douglas Park: 1.18

Off the back of the PitchRater study, PFA Scotland, Sports Labs and the Scottish FA will sit down with relevant parties, including groundsmen, to go over the results in more depth and come up with a list of recommendations going forward to improve, and maintain, the condition of pitches across all SPFL clubs.

Fraser Wishart, chief executive of PFA Scotland, said: “Too often players’ views are overlooked within football. In this case alterations are made to pitches and different surfaces laid without any thought of, or consultation with, our members.

“It is often forgotten that the pitch is our members’ place of work and for that reason we are delighted to partner in this groundbreaking research with Sports Labs and the Scottish FA.

“Players are the ones with the intimate knowledge of how a pitch plays, how it feels underfoot and what type of football has to be played therefore it makes perfect sense to ask them for their views.”

Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows added: “I am delighted the hard work, dedication and talent of our head groundsman has been recognised and acknowledged by the professional footballers in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

“There are a number of excellent pitches in the league and to have been named the best by the players is a huge feather in our cap and a validation of our recent hard work to improve the surface at Fir Park, which struggled for a number of years prior to Paul’s arrival.

“We have invested significantly once again this year as we strive to make our surface even better for future seasons.”

Paul Matthew, head groundsman at Motherwell said: “I am pleased Motherwell has been named the best pitch in the Scottish top flight.

“I get fantastic support from the senior management at the club, something I don’t think anyone in my industry will underestimate.

“The industry as a whole is on an upward curve at the moment with a number of extremely talented groundsman in place who have enhance their pitches.

“I look forward to further support from the SPFL to help further protect and improve what is a vital part of the product in this country.”

Motherwell Ladies missed the opportunity to record their 10th successive SWPL2 victory after being held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Aberdeen. ‬

‪The women of steel ended the game with nine players, after Kerry Montgomery and Kirsty McLaughlin both saw red in a fiery second half. ‬

‪It was a hugely contrasting second period to the first, where chances and incidents of note were at a premium.‬

‪Hayley Cunningham twice went close for the visitors, while Susan Murray and Chloe Fitzpatrick both passed up opportunities for Aberdeen.‬

‪It had been a below-par showing from Eddie Wolecki Black’s side, but they responded by making a bright start to the second half. ‬

‪On 49 minutes it took an excellent stop from Emily Mutch to deny Suzanne Mulvey from breaking the deadlock.‬

‪The frantic five minute spell that followed saw the game burst into life.

It began with Montgomery being dismissed for a second yellow card and just 30 seconds later they found themselves behind. Lynne Robertson powered a header beyond Johnstone to put the Dons in front.‬

‪Motherwell have shown themselves to be resilient on numerous occasions so far this season and they replied in the best fashion possible just one minute later.

McLaughlin broke free under pressure from three Aberdeen defenders and unleashed a low shot that found the net over the far post to level the score.

‪After finding the perfect reply, Motherwell continued to press for the goal that would put them ahead, while their opponents with an extra player advantage continued to post a threat too.‬

‪With 14 minutes remaining, Motherwell were reduced to nine when McLaughlin received a second booking. It was a decision that appeared to be harsh on the midfielder and put huge pressure on the league leaders going into the final stages of the match.‬

‪A mixture of brave defending and determination helped ‘Well through a spell of Dons pressure. They could have quite easily have gone on to take a remarkable three points, with Megan Burns and Cunningham both missing good chances.‬

‪The controversy continued after the final whistle, when Niamh Johnston became the third player in claret and amber to see red.

‪Results elsewhere mean that Motherwell retain their eight-point advantage at the top of the table with 10 games remaining.

There are no fixtures next weekend due to the international break, meaning the next match for the ladies comes on 17 June when they host Cumbernauld Colts in the second round of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup.‬

Chris Cadden earned his second Scotland cap on Sunday morning in the team’s 1-0 defeat in Mexico.

The Motherwell man was given a 35-minute run out by manager Alex McLeish, giving him the chance to stake his claim for the forthcoming Nation’s League matches.

Giovani Dos Santos’ strike early in the first half was enough for the hosts in front of 71,000 at the Azteca Stadium.

Cadden had a chance to make it an even more memorable trip with 10 minutes left on the clock, but his shot from outside the area was saved.

Allan Campbell was again in the starting team as Scotland Under 21s recorded a 2-1 win over South Korea at the Toulon Tournament.

The Motherwell midfield regular played his third consecutive match at the tournament as the young Scots followed up their win over France in midweek.

Chelsea’s Billy Gilmour and West Bromwich Albion winger Oliver Burke were on the scoresheet in the victory against the Koreans.

Campbell’s club team mate Chris Cadden will also hope to pull on the dark blue jersey this weekend, as the men’s senior A squad take on Mexico at 1am UK time on Sunday.