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They thought their football glory days were behind them. But this week eight footballers aged between 50 and 70 will step onto the pitch, and represent Motherwell FC in European competition.

The club’s participation in the EFDN Walking Football Tournament, at Leverkusen in Germany, on Thursday 22 September, will see them in the mix with footballing giants such as Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Betis and FC Schalke.

Other UK clubs participating include Newcastle United, Rangers and Greenock Morton.

And it is a dream come true for Steelmen fans Derek Cunningham and Brian Douglas.

Brian said: “I was 13 and living in Glasgow I got my first full Motherwell kit. Joe Wark’s family lived round the corner and when he visited he’d see me, the only Motherwell kit amongst the others, and he’d make a point of chatting to me. The idea I’ll be running about at my tender age with my name on the back of my shirt. I must admit, I’m well made up. I’m excited.”

Despite surgery on both knees, Derek has been attending the Motherwell FC Community Trust activity for the past five years. He says: “Walking football is like a time machine – for an hour on the park you’re suddenly 16 again and we all behave like it!

“Motherwell is my team and any supporter would be proud to pull on the jersey. We’ll do our best. We hope we get the results to do the club proud.”

Walking football is really for anyone whose age or fitness levels would prevent them from playing normal football. The Community Trust team has taken part in many tournaments and competitions, but never one abroad.

Team coach Chris MacFarlane said: “The whole experience of going out as part of a team that’s going out to play for Motherwell, pull on a Motherwell badge, travel in Motherwell kit…that’s something really special for the guys.

“To be on that list with some of those massive clubs within Europe is really exciting.”

The team – comprising eight players and two coaching staff – have been supported to take part in the tournament by sponsors Blue Triangle.

Iain Macfarlane, CEO of Blue Triangle, said: “We are very proud to have done our small part in making some big dreams come true.

“It was a privilege to meet the team and see them presented with their strips and training kit, including an extra bag to bring the trophy home! It’s fantastic to see The Well still in Europe and I’m sure they’ll do us all proud.”

The Well Society have also contributed. Derek Watson, of the Society, said: “The Community Trust does a fantastic job of bringing people from all backgrounds and abilities together through football.

“We’re delighted to be able to support the team to take this step and promote the club, nationally and internationally. It’s a joy to see the pride these guys have in wearing the shirt and the ambition they have to do well for the club and the community it serves.”

Three young Motherwell fans, who used an old mayonnaise tub to create some matchday noise, have drummed up support from Orange Juice star Edwyn Collins.

Jack McGarry, Lyle Fleming and Fraser Johnstone had been using a variety of items as drums at Fir Park, including the seats and an old drawer.

But Collins and partner Grace Maxwell offered to buy them a brand new drum after seeing clips of the boys on social media. They asked the Well Society to put them in touch with the trio. And then invited them to Collin’s gig and sound check at the Kelvingrove bandstand.

“These lads are unstoppable. They show their support at every home game. I’m a Well Society member and a huge fan of the way Motherwell FC is constituted and run,” The singer, famous for hits such as ‘Rip it up and start again’, said.

“It was the greatest pleasure to meet the boys and hand over the tom tom. May they make a good din and boost the Well to great things!”

“The drum will make a massive difference. I feel like if we create enough atmosphere, it’ll get the team up and get results. It could be a good luck charm.” Jack said.

“It’s a lovely gesture. It’s an example of Motherwell fans coming together. As well as the drum they’ve got a carry bag, with drumsticks and beaters,” Derek Watson, who put the boys in touch with Collins, said.

“The kids were delighted, but I don’t know if the fans sitting round about them are going to be so happy!”

Motherwell’s hot prospects for the future will be able to play it cool, thanks to a donation from the Well Society. 

The players were gifted an ice-machine which will help them treat minor injuries and cool off after training at their Braidhurst High School campus.

“Our ice machine broke quite a while back,” head of youth at Motherwell David Clarkson said.

“We reached out to the Well Society and are delighted that they’ve been able to help.

“It means that any minor knocks can be treated quickly as we will have ice to hand. The machine is in the social area and it gives the lads a focal point, as they fill up their water bottles.”

“It’s our role to support and promote the club. Our members are always keen to look after our next generation of players. This is a small gesture which goes a long way in terms of achieving that aim.” Co-chair of the Well Society Douglas Dickie said.

Our players and football management team have joined the Well Society.

The players, together with the coaching staff, decided to collectively join and contribute monthly to the club’s fan ownership group, highlighting their commitment to the cause and to play their part in the continuing health and growth of Motherwell Football Club.

You can follow in their footsteps and join the Well Society by clicking here.

“It was very important to the whole squad that we demonstrated our effort away from just a Saturday afternoon,” club captain Stephen O’Donnell said.

“This is a special club where the supporters and the local community are at the heart of everything we do and stand for.

“The players buy into that and are proud to represent the club, but we also want to play our part by giving something back.

“We are delighted and honoured to be involved.”

‘Well boss Graham Alexander added: “I have said on many occasions that togetherness can help drive a club forward.

“It’s so important that all aspects of a club, from the boardroom to the dressing room, from the terracing to the pitch, are united and working towards the same goal.

“This group, both players and coaches, not only want to make the fans proud of their team when they are on the pitch but want to make them proud when they’re off it too.

“They do that by working hard to understand the ethos, the principles and the character of the supporters and people in this part of Lanarkshire, and what is expected of us as Motherwell players and coaches, which will hopefully transfer onto the pitch on a matchday and drive good performance.”

The Well Society, the vehicle in which the club operates its current fan ownership model, bought Motherwell FC from Les Hutchison in October 2016.

With over 3,000 active members, almost 1,300 of them contributing each month, the Society has supported the club throughout its ten-year existence, investing over one million pounds in working capital.

“We are thrilled to have the first-team squad and coaching staff as part of the Well Society and it clearly demonstrates the spirit and determination of this group,” the Well Society’s co-chair Douglas Dickie said.

“The more fans who are in a position to join the Society and contribute on a monthly basis will only help the club grow and grow.

“As we approach the fifth anniversary of taking a majority ownership in the club, it would be great if we could use this as a launchpad to attract more people to come on board.”

Following a tremendous response over the last seven days, the Well Society now has over 3,000 members.

Reaching this milestone is an incredible achievement for our support, especially during what is a very uncertain time for everyone.

Since our update last week, the Well Society has been overwhelmed by the amount of new pledges and donations received.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

This is a difficult time for all of us and those who contribute to our fan ownership group cannot be thanked enough for their continued support, especially when football may be the furthest thing from minds.

If you haven’t yet done so, here’s how you can support the Well Society and add to the 3,000 who play their part in owning Motherwell Football Club.

New Members

You can pledge by clicking here. Pledges start at just £5 per month.

Existing Members: upping your pledge

We’ve had several existing members increasing their pledge, for example from £5 to £10 per month.

To do this simply click here, set up a new pledge and cancel your existing direct debit.

Alternatively drop an email to wellsociety@motherwellfc.co.uk and we will cancel your existing pledge for you.

One-off Donations

The Well Society also received over £1,500 in one-off donations over the last week.

If you wish to donate you can send payment through Paypal to wellsociety@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Once again thank you for your incredible support and we look forward to seeing you back at Fir Park soon.

The Covid-19 crisis is having a monumental impact across the world and now at home.

It is both a health and economic crisis at the same time which is doubling the anxiety for us all.

In this context sport seems less important than ever before, but we also know that our club and our game are at the centre of our home community and national life. We must play our part in getting our community and country through what lies ahead and to a sustainable future on the other side.

As things stand, we await clarity over what will happen with the 2019/20 season. Until then, it is difficult to state clearly what challenges – if any – lie ahead. As soon as things are made clearer, we will be able to update our members and the entire Motherwell support.

As a club, we will stand by the decisions taken by our governing body and its board. We know that there can be no easy answers. We also know that now is not the time for self-interest. Now is the time to secure the common good. More than ever. Decisions will need to be taken and we will be part of making good what is decided.

Our club is well-managed, well-supervised and well-owned. We are fortunate. But this competence and preparedness does not make us immune from the implications of what is happening. The focus of the board of the club is on supporting all of those who depend on us for their income. This matters enormously. We also want to do everything we can to engage the community as well in all that will need done in the days ahead.

Times are uncertain, and so we are encouraged by supporters who have already contacted us looking to support the Well Society during this time.

We would like to extend a massive thank you to all of our supporters who have recently joined or made a donation to the Well Society, as well as highlighting our gratitude to existing members who continue to support us on a regular basis. The importance of doing this cannot be overstated. Please encourage all your friends that can afford it to do the same. It will be an investment in securing the future of our club.

We would welcome any other fans who have the means to similarly consider contributing to the Society at this time, either by pledging a monthly sum or by making a one-off donation.

Joining or pledging to the Well Society helps to safeguard the future of our club at all times, but in particular your support now helps give comfort as we head towards what will undoubtedly be challenging times.

To become a Well Society member, starting at just £5 per month, you can sign up here. Or, to make a one-off donation, you can click here or donate via Paypal by sending to wellsociety@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Our understanding is that the club will put season tickets on sale in early April, which we encourage all fans who possibly can commit at that early stage to do so.

If you have any issues or worries during this ongoing crisis, even if they are unrelated to the Well Society, Motherwell FC or football in general, and are unsure of where to turn, please contact us by clicking here and we will point you in the right direction for advice, guidance and support.

Again, thank you for all your support. The days ahead will be full of pain, we know that. But our community has demonstrated its resilience through many challenges over the years and this one will be met by the same steel. We will emerge more together, stronger and connected.

Look after yourselves and those around you. We’ll see you at Fir Park on the other side.

The Well Society Board

To thank all of Well Society members for their fantastic support, each member can get a complimentary ticket to the match against Dundee on Saturday, 27 April.

Society members who are season ticket holders or already have a ticket for the match can bring along a friend for free.

To reserve your ticket, simply call us on 01698 338002 or stop into the ticket office by 4pm on Friday, 26 April.

If you haven’t yet joined the Well Society, you can join us from just £5 per month at thewellsociety.co.uk.

Two years ago, Les Hutchison made a generous offer to match every £1 raised through the Well Society by reducing the loan balance due to him by the club up to a maximum of £500,000.

This was originally for a one year period, before being extended for a further year. Motherwell fans responded in tremendous fashion, raising close to £400,000 over the last two years through pledges, donations, share sales and other fundraising events and initiatives.

Mr Hutchison has now generously offered to keep the “Double Your Money” offer open until the end of May 2019, giving us a real chance of hitting that original target and raising £500,000.

“The gesture from Les Hutchison to further extend his offer of Double Your Money to the end of the season is a fantastic one and appreciated by all at the Well Society,” Well Society co-chairman Douglas Dickie said.

“It is a fantastic boost to both the Well Society and in turn our football club. This allows us the chance to take advantage of his original offer of match funding our fundraising to a maximum of £500,000.

“I thank all members who have helped us get so close to this target over a two year period. We are currently standing at just under £400,000 and ask for their continued support to achieve our target and beyond. “

Here is how you can help the Well Society reach its target:

Join the Well Society. If you haven’t yet done so you can join us today from just £5 per month.

Pledge to the Well Society. If you are an existing member but aren’t pledging monthly, you can do so today.

Increase your pledge. Pledging members can increase their pledge to help even more.

Make a one-off donation. If you don’t want to make a monthly commitment, you can make an annual or one-off payment to contribute to the Well Society.

Keep an eye out for our other fundraising initiatives including auctions and events. Thank you for all your support.

Gordon Miller and Derek Watson are the two newly-elected board members with the Well Society.

Both were at Fir Park on Friday to mark their election, ahead of their first board meeting on 27 November.

Derek was previously on the Well Society Board. Having left due to work commitments at the time, had no hesitation in putting himself forward to come back on board and believes he can help ensure the younger fans have more of a say in the running of the club.

“Being a fan owned club means everyone should have a voice regardless of where they sit in the stadium,” he said.

“I stand in the last section of the east stand among some very passionate and creative individuals, I’d like to think that my election to the board will give me the opportunity to make their voices heard.

“I’m also now the youngest member of the board and one of my aims is going to to make the Society engaging and attractive to the younger generations of Well fans.”

Gordon Miller, a season ticket holder in the Phil O’Donnell stand, added: ”It’s a huge honour to join The Well Society board. I was born and raised in Motherwell, and our club is the heart of our community.

“Being a community club is more than a slogan. Iur club is owned and operated by our community. So our success is entirely dependent on us – the fans.

“I’m excited about the future of Motherwell FC and at playing a role at delivering a sustainable and successful fan ownership model that will see our club flourish.”

If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions you’d like to raise ahead of the next Well Society board meeting, please get in touch by emailing well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Last year after consulting with members, the Well Society launched a share issue, giving Motherwell fans the chance to own individual shares in the club.

Having raised over £40,000 on the first go, the owners of our club are now relaunching the share issue scheme, giving supporters another chance to purchase shares.

Running until Friday, 21 December, the scheme will allow the Society the chance to make the most of the offer from former owner Les Hutchison to double every penny raised in 2018.

Shares will be available at a cost of £10 per share, with a minimum purchase of five shares required.

We are again offering the following discounts to Well Society members.

Buying shares allow you to own your own direct part of Motherwell Football Club. Once the share issue is complete, the Well Society will continue to hold the majority shareholding and, therefore, the fan ownership model at the club will not change in any way.

It is also important to state that this share issue in no way impacts existing Well Society memberships. Your pledges and donations are still very much vital to the club. This is a separate initiative which is entirely optional to all members.

To apply to purchase shares, fill out this application form and send it to well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk. This can also be done over the phone by calling 01698 338009 or you can post to The Well Society, Fir Park, Fir Park Street, Motherwell, ML1 2QN.