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Partick Thistle are Motherwell’s first opponents of 2020 in the SWPL Cup on Sunday.

Eddie Wolecki Black’s side play host to the second-tier side at Bothwellhaugh as part of the new-look group stage format. Kick-off is at 3.30pm.

A trip to Kilmarnock then lies in wait on Sunday, 16 February in the second match, before Forfar Farmington visit on 1 March.

Forfar are also the women of steel’s first league opponents of the season, with the team making the trip north on Sunday, 23 February.

The story so far

Motherwell warmed up for the new campaign with a 5-3 friendly win over Dundee United, followed by a 2-0 win at St Johnstone last Sunday.

Head to head

The two sides last met in Scottish Cup action last term, as Motherwell went on a run to the semi-finals of the competition.

It took two goals in extra-time at Ravenscraig to get the job done against the Jags, with Motherwell running out 2-0 winners through goals from Chelsea McEachran and Katie Rice.

From the dugout

“We’re shaping up well for the new season,” head coach Wolecki Black said. “We’ve added strong options to our squad which will stand us in good stead.

“The opening cup games will give us an opportunity to continue to build. We’ve brought in a lot of new faces with top-flight experience, as well as keeping a core of the team who did so well to stay in the league last season first time around.”

Lauren Doran-Barr and Abby Callaghan have both signed on for another year with Motherwell.

The duo, who featured in the club’s maiden SWPL1 campaign in 2019, are staying with Eddie Wolecki Black’s side.

They join Chelsie Watson, Rachel Connor, Gill Inglis,Kaela McDonald-Nguah, Khym Ramsay, Hollie Thomson, Lauryn Reside, Lori Gardner, Katie Rice, Claire Adams, Jamie-Lee Smith and Niamh Johnston in forming the squad for 2020.

Further signings will be announced over the course of the week.

Meanwhile, Motherwell will face Forfar Farmington, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle in the group stage of the new SWPL League Cup.

The fixtures will be played on the Sunday 9 February, Sunday 16 February and Sunday 1 March.

Motherwell will face Partick Thistle at home first, before a trip away to Kilmarnock and then a home tie with Forfar Farmington.

The women of steel’s league opener away to Forfar Farmington will be played in between the ties on Sunday, 23 February.

Chelsie Watson, Rachel Connor, Gill Inglis and Kaela McDonald-Nguah are the latest additions to the Motherwell squad for the 2020 SWPL1 season.

Inglis and Connor stay on after joining up with the team towards the end of the 2019 campaign, and are joined by Watson from Rangers and McDonald-Nguah from Spartans.

They join Khym Ramsay, Hollie Thomson, Lauryn Reside, Lori Gardner, Katie Rice, Claire Adams, Jamie-Lee Smith and Niamh Johnston in committing for the 2020 campaign.

Further signings will be announced over the weekend.

Motherwell open the SWPL1 season with a trip to face Forfar Farmington on Sunday, 23 February. Kick-off at Station Park is at 2pm.

On Sunday, the team were 5-3 winners over Dundee United in the first friendly ahead of the new campaign.

The team will next play a friendly with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, 2 February.

Katie Rice, Claire Adams, Jamie-Lee Smith and Niamh Johnston have been added for the 2020 season.

Forward Rice and midfielder Adams both stay on for another year after featuring for the women of steel last season.

They’re joined by the returning full-back Johnston, who was part of the promotion-winning team of 2018.

New recruit Smith, a central defender who has signed from Hibernian, has also joined the squad.

They join goalkeeper Khym Ramsay, defender Hollie Thomson, midfielder Lauryn Reside and forward Lori Gardner in committing for the 2020 campaign.

Further signings will be announced throughout the week.

Motherwell open the SWPL1 season with a trip to face Forfar Farmington on Sunday, 23 February. Kick-off at Station Park is at 2pm.

On Sunday, the team were 5-3 winners over Dundee United in the first friendly ahead of the new campaign.

The team will play friendlies against Dunfermline Athletic away on Sunday, 26 January and St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, 2 February.

Motherwell’s first four signings ahead of the new SWPL1 season are here.

Goalkeeper Khym Ramsay has been recruited from Rangers. She joins defender Hollie Thomson, who returns after a spell out of the game with injury.

Midfielder Lauryn Reside returns to the club after a year with Celtic, while forward Lori Gardner signs on again having spent 2019 with the women of steel.

Further additions to Eddie Wolecki Black’s side will be announced throughout the week.

Motherwell open the SWPL1 season with a trip to face Forfar Farmington on Sunday, 23 February. Kick-off at Station Park is at 2pm.

On Sunday, the team were 5-3 winners over Dundee United in the first friendly ahead of the new campaign.

The team will play friendlies against Dunfermline Athletic away on Sunday, 26 January and St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, 2 February.

We’re delighted to announce the return of Eddie Wolecki Black as the head of our women’s football department.

The 54-year-old returns to the club following a previous, highly-successful spell as manager in the 2018 season, where he took the team to an unbeaten SWPL2 campaign and promotion to the top flight.

He returns as the team prepare for their second season in SWPL1, having comfortably secured their status in 2019.

“I’m excited to be back at Motherwell,” he said on his return. “There’s an opportunity to grow the club further and my day-to-day remit will be doing that.

“Instantly when I came back I felt part of things again. This is a club that is determined to improve in every aspect, working together to achieve that, and that motivates me greatly.”

Wolecki Black will be responsible for all areas of women’s football at Motherwell, from first team level through to youth level, and is tasked with the strategy, growth and development of the club.

He will also lead the first team as manager, with two assistant coaches to be appointed shortly.

Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows added: “The opportunity to welcome Eddie back was one we instantly took up when it arose.

“With the team now established in the top division, and with the pace at which the game is continuing to grow, being able to bring him in with all his experience on a daily basis is another big step forward for the club.”

After success in his first spell at the club, Wolecki Black was head hunted by Celtic towards the end of the 2018 season.

His year was at Celtic Park was also successful, with the Hoops finishing in joint second spot and improving their points tally by 13 on the previous campaign.

Prior to his time at Fir Park, the 54-year-old won four trebles in four years at Glasgow City – lifting the Scottish Women’s Premier League title, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup each season.

He also managed SPFL sides Montrose and Airdrieonians, as well as a short stint at Lowland League outfit Edusport, now known as Caledonian Braves.

Motherwell will kick off the 2020 Scottish Women’s Premier League season at Forfar Farmington.

After securing top-flight status last campaign after promotion the season prior, Station Park will be the first venue of the new year on Sunday, 23 February.

A home match with Hibernian will then follow on Sunday, 15 March at Ravenscraig.

Donald Jennow is to step down from his role as Motherwell’s head coach, following the conclusion of the SWPL1 campaign.

Jennow arrived at Motherwell two years ago as assistant to Eddie Wolecki Black and together they helped mastermind a storming SWPL2 title-winning season.

When Wolecki Black switched to Celtic, Jennow was promoted to the top job and took his side to the final of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup, where they lost to Hibernian.

This season, Jennow has rebuilt his team and consolidated ‘Well’s spot in the top flight, whilst again enjoying a good run in the cup, eliminated once again by Hibs at the semi-final stage.

Jennow is stepping down to concentrate on home and work life, although the former Airdrieonians assistant hasn’t ruled out a return to the dugout at some point in the future.

“I can’t thank Donald enough for his contribution to Motherwell in the two years he’s been with us,” chief executive Alan Burrows said.

“We are very sorry to be losing him, but we also understand and completely respect his reasons.

“Donald has been helping us redraw some of the structure and strategy around our women’s department and we hope to start implementing some of those recommendations very soon, whilst also looking to replace him with a high-calibre candidate.”

Jennow added: “I have really enjoyed my time at Motherwell and am grateful to Alan for the opportunity to lead the team and represent this fantastic club.

“I want to thank all the players and back room team who give up so much to do their best for the team.

“Together we secured our position in the league and reached the semi final of the Scottish Cup.

“The players can be proud of what they achieved and I will watch on and hope they continue to improve.”