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Mason Blyth-Clark is our second signing of the summer.

The forward joins the women of steel ahead of the forthcoming 2024/25 SWPL campaign on a season-long loan deal from Rangers.

The Scottish youth international makes the switch across the River Clyde after featuring for local rivals Hamilton over two consecutive loan spells. Blyth-Clark’s performances were rewarded after picking up the Accies players player of the season award.

“I’m delighted to have joined Motherwell,” Blyth-Clark said.

“I’m excited by the vision Paul and Leanne have for the club and I feel I can really develop myself as a player here.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

The pacey 17-year-old joins the women of steel having gained a wealth of professional experience, having featured 22-times for the Accies and twice for parent club Rangers.

‘This is another great addition to the squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“Mason adds a new dynamic to the squad in the final third and is a technically exciting young player who can really drive us forward this season.

“Despite her age, Mason already has a wealth of experience at this level and we believe Motherwell is the perfect next step in her footballing journey.”

Murron Cunningham has extended her stay at the club after agreeing a contract extension.

Experienced defender Murron Cunningham will remain with the women of steel for a fourth consecutive season after signing on a permanent basis from Hearts in 2021.

“We are delighted to have Murron back for next season,” Head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Murron came back from a major injury and really hit the ground running. She is a model professional to have within the squad and has demonstrated real leadership qualities.

“Getting Murron back into regular competitive action was a significant milestone. The season ahead is the next opportunity for Murron to build up those minutes on the pitch.”

Cunningham cemented her place at the core of the Motherwell backline, featuring on 25-occasions, with the defender playing a pivotal role in sustaining the women of steel’s exceptional 11-game unbeaten run.

“I am delighted to be staying at the club for the forthcoming season,” Cunningham said.

“Extending my contract for the season ahead is exciting for myself personally. I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and I can’t wait to get the games underway to see what we can achieve as a squad this year.”

Former captain and long-serving centre-back Georgie Rafferty will depart the women of steel after five years in claret and amber.

The former SWPL, SWPL Cup and SWF Scottish Cup champion, joined a newly-promoted Motherwell side in the summer of 2019 following a productive spell in Glasgow with Celtic, as the Lanarkshire side prepared for their first season of top-flight football.

Five seasons in claret and amber followed, with the defender facing the highs of the Scottish Cup Semi-Final and the lows of a serious injury which ruled the 27-year-old out of action for over two years.

“It’s been a really difficult decision to leave the club this summer,” Rafferty noted.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to represent the club for a few years now and it’s been extremely special, particularly getting to wear that armband on several occasions throughout the years.

“I’ve came to a bit of a crossroads between my personal and football career. I’m now a qualified paramedic, and it feels the right time to move on from the club and onto the next chapter in my footballing and personal career.”

Since making the switch to North Lanarkshire in the summer of 2019, Rafferty played a pivotal role in etching the women of steel into the history books; guiding the club to two Scottish Cup Semi-Final appearances. The latter proving to be an historic occasion for the side, becoming the first Scottish women’s team to contest a domestic cup Semi-Final at the national stadium, Hampden Park.

“I think I’ve really matured as a person and as a player throughout my time at the club,” Rafferty explained.

“The club has been a big part of my career and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent Motherwell on many occasions. Without a doubt, the most special moment was playing at Hampden in the Scottish cup semi-final. I think most of the girls involved in that day would say the same, not everyone can say they’ve played at the national stadium so it definitely was a special moment walking out onto that pitch.

“I think the clubs came on massively since I joined. Paul and Leanne work tirelessly to make the club a more professional environment on and off the field.”

The experienced defender had to face a tough injury setback throughout her time in claret and amber, with a major knee concern ruling Rafferty out of action in her debut season at the club.

“I’ve had a really difficult time with injuries, Rafferty detailed.

“Unfortunately in my first season at the club, I had a bad knee injury which had left me out for just over two years. I had a couple of operations and unfortunately at the time support had to be very limited as a result of covid. The club was going through a new management change at the time, so mentally it was really difficult for me as I wasn’t sure what the future held.

“I was told due to the severity of injury that I may not play again, so I’m very grateful for the club and staff to have given me the opportunity to get back onto the pitch and kicking a ball again.”

Despite the tough injury setback, Rafferty thanked the club staff for supporting her return to action and will continue to support the club whilst starting the next chapter of her footballing journey.

“I need to give massive praise to the club physio at the time, Aileen,” Rafferty said.

“I can’t thank her enough for all her support, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without her encouragement and assistance.

“I’d just like to say thanks to Paul and all the club staff for their support throughout the years at the club. I’ll still be supporting and cheering the girls on and I wish everyone involved at the club all the best going forward!”

The club would like to thank Georgie for her efforts and dedication throughout her time at Motherwell and wish her well for the future.

The fixtures for the new ScottishPower Women’s Premier League have been revealed and we will kick off the new season in the Scottish capital at Ainslie Park against Spartans.

Our first home game will be to Montrose on matchday 2, with Aberdeen the visitors on our penultimate match at K-Park.

We will travel to face SWPL2 champions Queens Park on Sunday 22 September before returning to play the reverse fixture on Sunday 24 November.

Our first midweek test will be on the road to face Celtic midweek on the 21 August before facing Rangers in our second midweek encounter on Wednesday 11 December.

We will conclude the regular season in Glasgow, meeting Glasgow City at Petershill Park ahead of the post-split fixtures.

All fixtures are subject to change.

We are looking to add coaches within our girls academy. 

The ideal candidates would have prior coaching experience and are working at UEFA C license level

All roles within the girl’s academy are voluntary positions.

If you are interested and require further details, please contact Head Coach Paul Brownlie or academy coordinator Calum Ross:

Paul.Brownlie@motherwellfc.co.uk

calum.ross@motherwellfc.co.uk

Jenna Penman is our first signing of the summer.

The Scottish youth international defender came through the ranks at Dundee United, impressing in the City of Discovery before joining SWPL2 promotion-chasers Aberdeen.

Capable of operating at the right or centre of defence, Penman then guided the Dons to the 2020/21 SWPL2 league title, before making the switch to Hibernian the following year.

The defender soon traded Leith for Gorgie in the summer of 2022, joining Head coach Eva Olid at local rivals Hearts. The 21-year-old made 34-appearances across two seasons in the Scottish capital, including a Hampden Park appearance in the Scottish Cup final.

“I am delighted to be joining Motherwell,” Jenna Penman said.

“When I spoke to Paul and Leanne, it was evident that the ambition and ethos of the club was exactly in line with my ambitions.

“Motherwell is a great place for me to develop and I am very excited to get started.”

Penman has represented Scotland across a variety of age categories, making 9-appearances throughout her time within the international ranks.

“Jenna will bring real quality to our backline,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“She is someone I’ve known for several years and has caught my eye with some impressive performances against us last season.

“Jenna is a very versatile defender, has real quality in possession but also loves to defend. She’s exactly the player I wanted to add to the squad.”

Sarah Gibb, Rebecca Cameron and Laura McCartney have extended their stay at the club after agreeing a contract extension.

Midfielder Laura McCartney will remain with the women of steel for a fourth consecutive season after initially signing on loan in 2021 before making the move permanent last summer.

Recent 2023 acquisitions Sarah Gibb and Rebecca Cameron will commit to their second season in claret and amber after signing on a permanent basis from Glasgow City and St. Johnstone respectively last term.

“This is another positive step in our preparations for the forthcoming season,” Head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Sarah has settled really well into the squad and has developed her game as the season has progressed. I’m excited to see that progression continue this season.

“Laura has had a tough time with injuries, and getting her back in action was a significant milestone. The season ahead is the perfect opportunity for Laura to find regular first-team action.

“Rebecca has had to bide her time for an opportunity, with Emily performing to a high standard, but when called upon, Rebecca has impressed myself and the rest of the coaching staff. Competition for places is key and crucial to driving high standards on the pitch.”

Gibb cemented her place at the core of the Motherwell midfield over the entirety of her maiden SWPL campaign, featuring on 30-occasions, with the youngster capable of playing in a variety of positions, providing versatility within the Motherwell midfield.

“I’m so happy here,” Gibb explained.

“There’s nowhere else I’d want to be. I want to be apart of the club and try to reach the next level with this group of players. The staff have been excellent with me and have made me feel really valued at the club.”

The return of Laura McCartney from a serious long-term injury – that ruled the midfielder out of action for over two-years – positively influenced the depth of talent in the Motherwell backline. As the squad prepare for the forthcoming season, McCartney will be determined to regain the early signs of momentum shown in a Motherwell shirt.

“I can’t wait for the season to start,” McCartney emphasised.

“Returning to competitive action after an extensive amount of time on the sidelines was a real milestone moment for myself last season and pre-season will be the perfect time for myself to continue that return to regular match action.”

23-year-old shot stopper Cameron closely-fought fellow teammate Emily Mutch for a place in the Motherwell goal, impressing in an inspired performance over eventual league champions Celtic.

“Last season was a really good introduction to the squad and the club as a whole,” Cameron explained.

“Emily and myself have really pushed each others standards which has been a very positive and healthy competition for places. Extending my time at the club for the season ahead is exciting for myself personally and I can’t wait to get started.”

Tara McGonigle, Morgan Hay and Katie Andrews will all depart the club following the expiry of their contracts.

McGonigle and Hay both traded ML3 for ML1 last summer, as the pair departed local rivals Hamilton for claret and amber. However, both couldn’t establish a consistent place in the starting XI and were loaned out to SWPL2 survival hopefuls Gartcairn. The duo played a fundamental role in lifting Gartcairn from the foot of the SWPL2 league table to an eventual sixth-placed finish.

Shot-stopper Katie Andrews joined the women of steel at 16-years-old from Queens Park in 2021 and spent three seasons with the women of steel including two loan spells at Gartcairn and Glasgow Women respectively.

We thank Tara, Morgan and Katie for their efforts at Motherwell and wish them all well for the future.