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Defender Claire Crosbie has left Motherwell after her contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

The centre back, who made 13 appearances this season in claret and amber, scored twice this campaign and leaves after joining the club in the summer. 

The club wishes Claire well for the future.

We’re proud to launch the brand new Motherwell FC girls academy.

After numerous trials over the past four weeks, our foundations are now in place for young players to come through from the academy to first-team level. 

Head of women and girl’s performance Paul Brownlie, who joined the club in May 2021, was hired in a joint role of both coaching our first team and overhauling our pathway for female players.

Having guided his side to fifth place in the SWPL1 table so far this season, his work behind the scenes is now also coming to the fore.

“We are finally in the position to launch the new girls academy at Motherwell Football Club,” Paul Brownlie said. 

“Behind the scenes at Fir Park, we have worked extremely hard to make sure that we had everything in place before the launch.

“All players went through an extensive trial process, making sure we got the right players. With the full support of our Community Trust here at Motherwell, we feel we are now in the best position to move to the next level with the academy.”

The new academy structure will have teams representing at Under 11, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s levels. These five age groups will have teams playing at regional and national performance level. 

“This is a new direction from the football club and one which fully integrates the Girls Academy into the football club,” Brownlie added.  

“Our approach will be to develop elite female players who can represent Motherwell at first-team level.

“Building the right pathway will be crucial to the success we want to build here. Within the pathway, it’s important that standards are maintained across the board. 

“Motherwell’s boys academy has a terrific reputation for developing young players and carrying that success over to the girls equivalent will be paramount to our success of developing players who can compete at the top level.

“It is now the responsibility of the coaches to make sure we develop each player to the best of their ability and that’s a challenge I know the coaches are looking forward to.”

Motherwell defender Georgie Rafferty has joined SWPL2 side Kilmarnock on loan for the remainder of the season. 

The 24-year-old centre half has featured on the bench twice this season since recovering from a cruciate injury she picked up almost two years ago.

“This is an ideal move for Georgie right now,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“With her mostly recovered from her serious injury, it is now time for her to get some game time and build up her match fitness.

“We will be monitoring her progress closely and look forward to see how she gets on.”

From coming through the ranks at boys’ clubs to playing for Scotland, 18-year-old Paige McAllister has come a long way since she first started playing football at the age of five.

McAllister signed for the women of steel in 2021 after an impressive period at Hearts while out on loan from Celtic.

The defender’s defensive efforts with Motherwell haven’t gone unnoticed as she was called up to January’s Scotland training camp, meaning she has now been called up for every national level she has been eligible for apart from the main adult team.

“When I started playing women’s football, I was with Celtic’s under 17s at 14 years old. I was a bit nervous because I was playing and training with the older ones but once I went in for my first trial I felt alright, and over time I became more confident in my ability and myself as a player.

“Once I got accepted by Celtic and I settled into the squad I got my first Scotland call ups. I’ve now been called up for the under 15s, under 16s, under 17s and under 19s, and I received my first call up when I was around 14 or 15.

“Since then, I have been involved with various training camps spanning the different age group. I joined the under 17s team in the Championship and I even got a goal.”

When discussing what it was like to be invited to take part on international duty McAllister added: “It’s always an honour to be called up to play for your country but I wasn’t expecting to be called up to the January training camp. I had picked up a really bad injury and I thought the under 19s campaign was finished.

“It was a brilliant feeling being invited to the camp. It’s a huge honour to be considered and an even bigger one to be invited away.

“It’s great being away with the girls, it lets you meet and talk to players you may not have had the chance to engage with before, especially if there are new faces in the squad because it lets you form some good friendships and create memories.

“This year it was a bit different because of Covid, you had to stay in your hotel rooms when you weren’t training, and we had to make sure we were social distancing and keeping to the Covid protocols in place but those bonds you make on the pitch stick with you.

“I never take it for granted, I never expect it, so every time feels just as good as the first.”

McAllister may have only scored two goals in the SWPL overall, but she got her first-ever professional goal for Scotland which saw her country win 4-1 against Northern Ireland in October 2019.

“I think I blacked out after I scored it to be honest,” she explained. “I scored the goal, and everyone started running to me to celebrate and I kind of just stood still. I was in complete shock. It was so unexpected, and it easily became one of the best days of my life.”

International duty can show players different tactics and styles they may not have utilised while playing at their clubs. It is something McAllister is keen to draw on.

Having the likes of Leanne Crichton, who has been to major tournaments with the Scotland national team, alongside her will undoubtedly help in her development, and she is also looking to draw on the experience of others.

“International football is obviously different from club football,” she said, “I’ve felt myself improve after being away as it gives you different perspectives and ways of developing your game.

“I definitely encourage the other girls to try to push themselves so they can have the opportunity to be called up. I would say to young players to keep working hard as it is possible.

“Getting game time is so important, which is why I’m extremely grateful for Motherwell giving me the opportunity. Our improved form this season has definitely contributed.”

This summer, former Scottish internationalist Crichton joined both the coaching and playing staff at Motherwell.

Hailed as one of the most influential female players of her generation, the 34-year-old earned 72 caps and has been a hugely inspirational figure for the Women of Steel.

“Paul [Brownlie] and Crichton have been great at taking me on board and helping me advance as a player,” said McAllister.

“They are all about helping youth players with game time and becoming the best that they can be by giving me experience. That then helps me prove to both myself and the Scotland coaches that I am a strong player, and I am good enough to be playing.

“I definitely believe that Crichton’s experience, as well as being an internationalist, has rubbed off on to the rest of the team. She has brought so much to the group, and the older more seasoned players, as well as the younger ones, have all learned something from her.

“I have also learned things on international duty that I’ll try to show the rest of the team so we can all progress as one unit.

“Crichton has experienced a lot over her playing career and being able to learn from a player of her calibre is honestly amazing. She is a great inspiration to us as players and to a lot of young girls overall. Having her as a team-mate and coach is wonderful.

“I’ve learned a lot during my time at Motherwell and I hope I can continue to improve and keep our good run of form going for the rest of the season.”

Motherwell were beaten in a tight battle at the Oriam on Sunday, with Hearts running out 1-0 victors. 

Erin Rennie’s tap in secured all three points for the Edinburgh side. 

In a cagey affair in the capital, Motherwell had the best chance of the first half in the 30th minute.

On her first start this season, Jordan McLintock’s effort was on target and forced Charlotte Parker-Smith in the Hearts net into a save which then struck off the post. 

Hearts’ biggest chance of the first period came in the 35th minute. Maria McAneny won the ball back for the Jambos before she struck just wide of the mark. 

Neither side could find a breakthrough and the teams went in at the break on level terms.

Hearts made changes at half time as they looked to find a breakthrough and did just that in the 77th minute. While discussing the game later, some fans compared the team’s strategic adjustments to the calculated risks players take on platforms like the casinos mentioned on this page, where bold decisions can lead to significant rewards—or losses. McAneny’s free-kick was fired towards goal, and Khym Ramsay couldn’t hold on to the ball, allowing Rennie to finish and make it 1-0.

Jemma Hughes thought she had equalised when she had the ball in the back of the net in the closing stages. However the referee ruled the goal out for a foul on the Hearts defender in the build up. 

Motherwell now go into a break and will return to action when they play Rangers on Sunday 20 February. 

Motherwell face Hearts in SWPL1 next on Sunday 6 February at The Oriam Sports Centre in Edinburgh.

Kick off is 3pm. 

Come and Watch

Tickets for the match are priced at ​​£5 for adults and £2 for U16s/Over65s. Tickets can be bought here.

There will be no option to pay at the gate on the day of the game. 

Tale of the Tape

Last time out, Motherwell came away with a comfortable 2-0 win against Hearts at Alliance Park.

A Leanne Crichton penalty opened the scoring, before Kaela McDonald-Nguah doubled ‘Well’s advantage. 

Motherwell have won each of the last four encounters against the Jambos, conceding only one goal in the process. 

The last time Hearts took any points in this fixture, was in 2018 when the sides met in SWPL2. The score was 1-1. 

Form Guide  

Hearts currently occupy eighth in the table with ten points. Since the return from the winter break, they have one win in five in all competitions, that win coming against Gleniffer Thistle in the Scottish Cup. 

Last week, they were beaten 2-0 by Glasgow City, after drawing 1-1 with Spartans the week prior. 

Motherwell come into this game after claiming seven points from a possible 14.

They dispatched Spartans 3-0 in their previous game to go four points clear of Aberdeen in fifth place in the table. 

London Pollard netted her first Motherwell goals as she grabbed a double, whilst Jo Addie added a third in the second half. 

Motherwell pair Ciara Duff and London Pollard have been called up to represent Scotland in a double header against Wales this month. 

Goalkeeper Ciara Duff, who was in the Under 19s squad last month, will once again be looking to impress manager Pauline Hamill and cement a place in her team. 

After netting her first goals for Motherwell last weekend against Spartans, Pollard is also once again selected as she continues her development. 

Scotland face off against Wales on Tuesday 15 February and Friday 18 February.

Motherwell cruised to their fifth league victory after defeating Spartans 3-0 in a phenomenal performance at Alliance Park on Sunday.

London Pollard netted her first Motherwell goal to put the women of steel in the ascendency, before adding her second of the match on the stroke of half time.

Jo Addie fired an exceptional third midway through the second half to secure all three points.

Looking to build on their performance in the midweek defeat to Hibernian, ’Well applied the early pressure and deservedly broke the deadlock after five minutes.

Pollard skilfully latched onto Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s through ball, before coolly dispatching her strike into the bottom-left corner to give her side the early advantage.

After dominating much of the early possession, Motherwell continued to threaten and came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage midway through the first half.

Katie Rice’s pinpoint delivery accurately picked out McDonald-Nguah deep into the Spartans penalty area, but the forward was unable to capitalise at the back post.

With the half time whistle looming, Motherwell were reduced to 10 as McDonald-Nguah was given her marching orders, much to the bewilderment of the Motherwell technical area.

However, despite the disadvantage, Motherwell pressed forward and deservedly netted a second on the stroke of half time.

Pollard’s perfectly-timed run exploited Spartans’ high defensive line, allowing the striker to race through on goal. She skilfully rounded the keeper before calmly placing her strike into the empty net.

With the second half underway, the women of steel continued to advance in search of a vital third goal.

Their efforts were rewarded as Leanne Crichton’s exceptional cross accurately picked out Addie at the back post, who composed herself before rifling a spectacular half-volley into the top left corner.

With the final few minutes ticking away, the visitors searched for a late consolation. Sarah Clelland’s long-range attempt swerved unpredictably in the stormy conditions, but Khym Ramsay reacted quickly to produce a smart stop.

Nevertheless, the hosts stood resolute to record their fifth victory in the SWPL1 this season.

Paul Brownlie will be encouraged by his side’s performance as they look to extend their advantage over Aberdeen in the league table with a win away to Hearts next week.

Lifelong Motherwell supporter Amy Anderson is loving life after making her dream move to join the women of steel.

The former Hamilton captain has been decked out in claret and amber for as long as she can remember and is now living the dream on a weekly basis – turning out for the club she loves in SWPL1.

She is playing a big role, too. On Sunday she captained the side for the second time since arriving last summer, as they recorded a 2-1 victory at Accies to move back into the top half of the table – keeping the women of steel on course for their highest ever league finish.

“I’ve loved every minute of being here, I’d not worked with Paul (Brownlie) or Leanne (Crichton) before signing for Motherwell, but had played with some of the girls,” Anderson said. “I feel in the six months I have been here, I’ve become a better player.

“Paul sold me on joining the club, I’d heard a lot of good things about him and a number of players that he has coached are now playing for the national team.

“I felt Motherwell was a step up from Accies and the calibre of the players they were signing showed that. I wanted the chance to play with quality players like Leanne Crichton – I’m a midfielder as well and was looking for the opportunity to be playing beside her, which I’m lucky enough to do so at the moment.”

Sunday’s victory was Motherwell’s first of 2022, having drawn twice with Partick Thistle 2-2 in the space of seven days earlier this month. The first meeting with the Jags came in the Scottish Cup and in the end Brownlie’s side suffered an agonising penalty shootout defeat to exit the competition at the first hurdle.

Anderson admits their cup defeat came as a big disappointment and demonstrated there is still room for improvement in the latter stages of the season.

“Obviously the cup was disappointing, but as soon as it happened, we focused on putting it right in training,” she reflected. “Against Partick the following week we put in an improved performance although we were denied the win by an unfortunate mistake.”

During her brief time with Motherwell, Anderson has already experienced a few bucket-list moments, including her first goal in claret and amber and captaining the side, though she still has one more target in her sights.

This season Motherwell have put down roots at Alliance Park, the home of Lowland League side Caledonian Braves after years of flitting between various venues in the local area.

Anderson hopes that having a settled home ground will bring more consistent results, but admits the opportunity to play at Fir Park would be a dream come true.

“The manager has made me one of the vice captains this season, and I didn’t actually realise Gill (Inglis) was missing the game,” she recalled. “He phoned me on the morning of the game and said ‘you are captain today’, that was for the game against Celtic – I was quite taken aback, but it felt amazing to be fair.

“Getting the chance to wear the armband again for the Accies game at the weekend was brilliant, it was a big game against my former club and we were buzzing to get the win.

“I hope the chance to play at Fir Park is not too far away, I think with what Paul is doing behind the scenes and the support from Alan Burrows, that day might not be too far away – it would be a dream to walk out on to the pitch for a match.

“The only time I have stepped on the grass was with the Under 13s, we came on at half-time after we’d won a trophy, to do it with the first team would be amazing.”

As a youth player, Anderson was involved with Motherwell’s Under 13s team, before moving on to Glasgow City in a move which she felt best suited her football development.

On returning to the club, she has been impressed by the changes that have been implemented to the women’s setup, with young players having a clear pathway to the first team.

The Motherwell Girls’ Academy recently hosted an academy trial session at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility and a glowing endorsement for the progress being made followed as Ciara Duff, Jemma Hughes, Paige McAllister and London Pollard were all called up for the Scotland Under 19s women’s training camp.

“I was with the academy until Under 13s, though at that time Motherwell didn’t have a structure in place and that meant I had to move away,” she added. “Moving to Glasgow City allowed me to come on as a player and I got a few Scotland caps at Under 17s.

“It’s good to see some of the younger players receive recognition at Under 19s and hopefully they will be selected for the games as well, it would be great for Motherwell players to represent Scotland again.

“The four players that got selected deserve it, a lot of them only came to Motherwell this season and it shows the level of ambition they feel the club can give them, as well as a belief that the club can help them keep progressing through the international setup as well.”

In recent years, the success of the Scottish national team and increased coverage of the domestic game has helped increase the focus on the women’s game in Scotland.

Crowds continue to slowly rise, while the misconceptions and negative stereotypes are being more and more eroded from the game.

However, it comes as Stenhousemuir players were targeted for abuse following their Scottish Cup tie with Rangers.

Anderson admits these stories are frustrating to read, and believes they come from a place of ignorance.

“The people that make these comments tend to never have watched a game,” she said. “To comment on something as pathetic as that is really embarrassing.”

Sat alongside her dad Gary, Amy takes her usual seat in the Davie Cooper Stand.

The midfielder has been obsessed with all things ‘Well for as long as she remembers and credits her dad for his influence.

That is not to say it has always been as straightforward however, during her five seasons with Hamilton, Gary was faced with a predicament – could he bring himself to cheer on the Accies?

“The club means everything to me, as soon as I was old enough my dad had me in a Motherwell strip,” she added. “Not long after my first shirt, I had one with my name on the back and then I got my first season ticket – I’ve sat in the Davie Cooper Stand ever since.

“I think Motherwell might be punching above their weight again, but the quality we have middle to front can definitely hurt teams – if we can keep up the form we are in then we can certainly challenge for a European spot.

“My dad is a diehard ‘Well fan, he can be a bit cringy sometimes, but he’s really enjoying watching me play for the club.

“He used to say he didn’t like shouting ‘Come on Accies’, but felt like he had to because I was in the team. When I joined Motherwell he got the home strip with my name on the back – he was delighted.”

A huge influence on her career, Anderson will be forever grateful for her dad’s support.

Whether it be a home game at Alliance Park or long away trip, he is sure to be there to support his daughter and afterwards he will share his critique of her performance, focusing on both the positives and the negatives.

“My dad showed massive support to me, if we are playing Aberdeen he’ll try get the day off work to come, if it is a midweek in Edinburgh, he’ll do everything he can to be there,” she smiled.
“I appreciate his support so much, he doesn’t miss a game for me.

“When I come home he’ll tell me what I did well and tells me what he thinks I could improve on – he wants me to be the best version of myself – that drives me on every time I play.”

Motherwell face off against Edinburgh side Spartans on Sunday 30 January at Alliance Park. 

Kick off is 4pm. 

Come and Watch

Tickets for the game are priced at £5 for adults while children go free. 

Entry is paid at the gate. 

Tale of the Tape

Motherwell and Spartans have played each other once this season so far.

At Ainslie Park, the game ended 0-0 with Motherwell playing 20 minutes with ten players after Paige McAllister was dismissed. 

Both sides have ambitions of finishing fifth place this season, with only a point separating the two sides. 

Spartans have picked up three wins from the last six games against Motherwell, with the other three ending in draws. 

Form Guide

Both sides played fixtures midweek, with Motherwell falling to a narrow loss to top-four side Hibernian 1-0. 

Motherwell have picked up four points from a possible nine, with a victory against Hamilton and a 2-2 draw against Partick Thistle. 

Spartans drew 1-1 with Hearts midweek. Since the return from the winter break, they have beaten Morton Girls in the Scottish Cup 11-0. 

They staged a remarkable comeback against Aberdeen, where they won 3-2 and lost to Glasgow City 4-0