football club
Motherwell Football Club is a scots professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, which plays in the scots Premiership. Motherwell have not dropped out of the top-flight of Scottish football since 1985, and have lifted one trophy in that time – the scottish Cup in 1991. [ 5 ]
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Clad in their traditional claret and amber, Motherwell play their home matches at Fir Park Stadium [ 3 ] and have done since 1896. The cabaret ‘s chief rivals over the years have been Hamilton Academical and Airdrieonians, due in separate to their close geographic proximities. These matches are known as the Lanarkshire bowler hat. The clubhouse have won four major trophies in domestic football : the Scottish League style in 1931–32, the scots Cup in 1951–52 and 1990–91, and the Scottish League Cup in 1950–51 .
history [edit ]
Beginnings [edit ]
Motherwell FC was born on 17 May 1886, when representatives of the two independent Motherwell works teams Glencairn FC and Alpha FC met in Ballie ‘s public house in the town ‘s Merry Street, and decided to merge the two teams with the aim of creating a club to represent the town as a hale at a higher footballing charge. Motherwell ‘s introduction fastness proved to be a successful one as they overcame Hamilton Academical 3–2. [ 6 ]
annual table positions of Motherwell in the League. The early on years proved slightly chaotic as the club had small regular competition to play in, and matches would frequently start with players short, as men failed to turn up on time after their shifts in the local ironworks. On 5 August 1893 the decision was made to turn professional, [ 7 ] and the club was consequently elected to the league, then being the merely Lanarkshire slope to compete at national charge. [ 8 ] up until 1895 the club had played at a few unlike venues, including a locate at Roman Road, and Dalziel Park. [ 6 ] The little slope and mucky conditions at Dalziel Park were deemed unsuitable and Lord Hamilton granted a lease on a plot of nation on his Dalzell estate of the realm. This fresh prime was named Fir Park and has remained the golf club ‘s dwelling for over 120 years. The following years saw the club grow, appointing their first and longest serve director to date, John ‘Sailor ‘ Hunter, who would go on to steer the club into its most successful period. In 1913 the decision was made to change the baseball club ‘s color from aristocratic to the nowadays signature claret and amber. It is thought this was inspired by the success of Bradford City, who besides sport claret and amber, although a more amatory version of events claims them to have been Lord Hamilton of Dalzell ‘s race color. [ 9 ]
1920s and 1930s successes [edit ]
Motherwell enjoyed a successful menstruation in the consequence of World War I, managed by John Hunter. The club placed third in the 1919–20 season and, although narrowly avoiding relegation in 1924–25, they steadily climbed the table and enjoyed seven consecutive seasons finishing in the peak three. In the summer of 1927, the cabaret made a very successful enlistment of Spain, winning six out of the eight games they played and losing alone one. These results included an emphatic 3–1 victory over Real Madrid and a 2–2 draw with Barcelona. [ 10 ] Following their success in Spain, the club went on another summer enlistment, this time of South America. [ 11 ] After losing only three of their previous ten games, the go culminated in a 5–0 defeat by a brazilian League Select side. [ 12 ] Motherwell ‘s first ( and to this day, entirely ) Scottish League backing came in 1931–32 – with 30 wins in 38 fixtures, scoring 119 goals – a record 52 of which were scored by Willie MacFadyen, who remains to this day the phonograph record holder for most goals scored in a single temper and one of the baseball club ‘s all-time top goalscorers with 251 goals. [ 13 ] The championship was sealed on 23 April 1932, when Rangers could only draw at home against Clyde, handing Motherwell the title without kicking a ball. [ 14 ] This was besides the alone League title south korean won by a club outside the Old firm between 1904 and 1947. In the two seasons following the league title succeed ( 1933–34 and 1934–35 ), ‘Well finished runner-up, as they had besides been in 1926–27 and 1929–30. They besides contested three scots Cup finals in this period – in 1931, 1933 and 1939, but lost them all .
Post-World War II period [edit ]
Following the break-up of the police squad after World War II, the cabaret were not instantaneously successful. It then captured two major trophies in as many years with victories in the 1950 Scottish League Cup Final and the 1952 scots Cup Final. The club was then relegated for the first time always at the end of the 1952–53 season, but the club were promoted the adjacent year. Following their return to the First Division, Bobby Ancell took management of the clubhouse in 1955 and presided over an earned run average in which highly regarded Scotland stars including Ian St. John and Charlie Aitken played for the club. [ 15 ] however, Motherwell were unable to keep their assets, and no trophies were won in Ancell ‘s era. His resignation came in 1965 amidst a downturn in form which finally saw the club relegated back to the moment Division at the conclusion of the 1967–68 season .
1970s recovery and the McLean era [edit ]
Motherwell were immediately promoted back to the First Division in 1969, maintaining a mid-table position. The 18-team First Division was superseded by a newfangled 10-team Premier League for the 1975–76 temper, at which time they were managed by Willie McLean and his adjunct Craig Brown ( who would become coach about 35 years later ). Under their management, Motherwell improved to fourth in the postpone with players such as Bobby Graham, Willie Pettigrew and Bobby Watson. The most celebrated cup run of that period was the 1975-76 Scottish Cup where they eliminated Celtic and lost out in the semi-final to Rangers .
1980 and 90s [edit ]
tribute to Motherwell ‘s 1991 scottish Cup winning side Relegation down to the now-First Division and promotion back to the Premier League occurred twice in the early on 1980s, before a ten under coach Tommy McLean ( brother of Willie ) culminated in a scots Cup gain in 1991. however, similarly to the Ancell earned run average, Scotland internationalist Tom Boyd was sold in the close season after the cup acquire. Results faded for two years before reaching another two season zenith immediately following the bless of Paul Lambert with third base ( 1993–94 ) and second-placed ( 1994–95 ) Premier League finishes. The 1995 runner-up eat up was the baseball club ‘s highest finish since 1933–34. With Tommy McLean ‘s departure to Hearts in 1994, much of his squad was broken up ; a large tip in particular was paid by Celtic for Phil O’Donnell. much of this money was reinvested in the police squad, while the golf club cycled through managers including Alex McLeish and Harri Kampman. At this point, on August 1998, John Boyle bought the cabaret, taking over from John Chapman. [ 16 ] Billy Davies was appointed as coach, and bombastic transplant fees were paid for big players including ex-Scotland internationals John Spencer and Andy Goram. The investment though failed to provide results on the flip .
By the goal of Davies ‘ tenure the club were in fiscal trouble. Eric Black was briefly in charge with the club floating near the foundation of the table before it was placed in administration in April 2002 with losses approaching GBP 2 million annual. [ 17 ] Black resigned, and was replaced by Terry Butcher. The club ‘s expectation remained bleak as they were forced to make excess or release 19 players and replace them with younger players ; Boyle besides placed the club up for sale. [ 18 ] Relegation in 2002–03 – normally automatic following a last ending in the league – was avoided on a technicality, as First Division winners Falkirk lacked a stadium meeting Premier League regulations. [ 19 ]
Despite the miss of resources, a number of young talented players were found to play for the club ; crucially, when many of these moved on, including Stephen Pearson and James McFadden, they brought tax income in the form of transfer fees, and with John Boyle waiving the clubhouse ‘s personal debt to him, its fiscal future was assured by the conclusion of the 2004–05 season with the cabaret ‘s annual losses falling to one of the lowest figures in the Premier League [ 20 ] and the club coming out of administration in meter to avoid a ten-point Premier League penalty which was being phased in for teams in administration. [ 21 ] On the field, the club besides managed to reach the League Cup final, although they were comprehensively defeated by Rangers. Butcher moved on to Sydney at the end of the 2005–06 season, and was succeeded by his assistant Maurice Malpas. Malpas ‘ stint at the club lasted merely one temper before his resignation in May 2007. After a short time period with Scott Leitch as caretaker coach, Mark McGhee was appointed to the side. [ 22 ] In his first base season as director McGhee would take the clubhouse to 3rd in the league and frankincense qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time in 13 years where they would be beaten by french side AS Nancy 3–0 on aggregate. [ 23 ] Mark McGhee left Motherwell for the vacant managerial status at Aberdeen in June 2009 to be replaced by Jim Gannon. Former Scotland director Craig Brown took over when Gannon left .
Brown helped the club finish 5th in the SPL and qualify for Europe. The 2010–11 season saw the cabaret in the Europa League and they defeated Breidablik [ 24 ] and Aalesunds [ 25 ] before losing in the Play-off round to Odense [ 26 ] preventing them from reaching the group stages of the competition. Brown left Motherwell for Aberdeen on 10 December 2010. [ 27 ] Stuart McCall was named as his successor. This season saw the clubhouse reach the scottish Cup Final where they were defeated 3–0 by Celtic. [ 28 ] The 2011–12 season saw Motherwell reach the qualifying turn of the Champions League for the foremost prison term. They finished third gear, one set outside the convention two spots allocated to the SPL for the Champions League. however the club was awarded a place because the golf club that had finished above them, Rangers, went into liquidation and were prevented by UEFA from playing in european competitions. In the draw for the 3rd qualification turn of the Champions League Motherwell were drawn against Greek heavyweights Panathanaikos. This ended in disappointment as Motherwell were knocked out after losing 2–0 at dwelling and then 3–0 away. [ 29 ] [ 30 ] The 2012–13 temper brought even greater success in the SPL as the club finished 2nd in the table [ 31 ] and once again qualified for the Europa League. It besides saw striker Michael Higdon win the PFA Scotland Players ‘ Player of the Year award. [ 32 ] Goalkeeper Darren Randolph ( second year running ), defender Shaun Hutchinson and midfielder Nicky Law were selected for the PFA Scotland Team of the Year. [ 33 ]
A bird’s-eye opinion of Fir Park, pictured during a scottish Premiership repair between Motherwell and Dundee United Motherwell were granted companion membership of the European Club Association in June 2013, becoming the fifth Scottish clubhouse to join the Association. The cabaret were invited to join after reproducible qualification for european rival between 2008 and 2013. [ 34 ] In season 2013–14 Motherwell were knocked out of the Europa League by russian side Kuban Krasnodar 3–0 on aggregate in the third qualify round. [ 35 ] On 22 January 2014 Motherwell won their fortieth Lanarkshire cup beating Hamilton Academical 1–0 thanks to a 54th-minute goal by 19-year-old child Jack Leitch. On the final day of the 2013–14 scottish Premiership, Motherwell won 1–0 at Aberdeen with a dramatic 93rd-minute achiever, leapfrogging Aberdeen in the procedure to seal a second consecutive runner-up topographic point in the league. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] Despite conceding the most goals ( 60 ) out of the top six teams, european football was delivered for the one-sixth meter in seven seasons, [ 38 ] with a record points sum ( 70 ). [ 39 ] It was a season that besides saw a beginning ever competitive get the better of to Lanarkshire neighbours Albion Rovers, sitting one-third bottomland of scots League Two at the prison term, 1–0 in the scots Cup. [ 40 ] Despite three successful straight league campaigns, Motherwell made a poor start to the 2014–15 scottish Premiership, which ultimately led to the resignation of coach Stuart McCall on 2 November 2014. [ 41 ] Despite the appointment of Ian Baraclough in December 2014, [ 42 ] Motherwell were finally consigned to a scottish Premiership relegation play-off spot after a get the better of at St Mirren in the penultimate league meet of the 2014–15 season. [ 43 ] In the 2014–15 relegation play-off finals, Motherwell faced Rangers. The first base leg, at Rangers ‘ home grate, Ibrox Stadium, saw Motherwell run out as winners with a score of 1–3. In the moment peg, Motherwell celebrated staying in the top division by winning, 3–0. On 23 September 2015, Motherwell parted ways with director Ian Baraclough. [ 44 ] Mark McGhee returned in October 2015 before being sacked in March 2017 after a poor people run of results. [ 45 ] On 28 October 2016, Motherwell became a fan-owned club when supporters club Well Society ‘s £1 conduct with Les Hutchison was concluded. [ 46 ] On 13 October 2017, Manager Stephen Robinson extended his contract until May 2020. [ 47 ] On 31 December 2020, Robinson resigned as director, with Keith Lasley taking interim charge. [ 48 ]
Records and statistics [edit ]
The club has won four major trophies in its history : the First Division in 1931–32, the scots Cup in 1952 and 1991, and the Scottish League Cup in 1950. In addition, it has won the second-tier Scottish league on four occasions ; as the Second Division in 1953–54 and 1968–69, and as the First Division ( beneath the Premier League ) in 1981–82 and 1984–85. They besides won the Milk Cup in 1983, and the scots Summer Cup in 1944 and 1965. Bob Ferrier holds the record for the count of Motherwell appearances, with 626 in the inter-war menstruation. The goalscoring record is held by Hughie Ferguson, who scored 284 league goals in 10 seasons in the 1910s and 1920s. Willie MacFadyen ‘s 52 goals in the title-winning 1931–32 season remains a cabaret ( and nation ) record for goals in one season. The club ‘s record european appearance holder is Steven Hammell, with 19 appearances for the club in Europe. The current record European goalscorer is Jamie Murphy, with seven goals. besides, the 8–1 winnings over Flamurtari on 23 July 2009 presently stands as their phonograph record victory in european competition. [ 49 ] Fir Park ‘s stream safety certificate limits the capacity to 13,742, all-seated in accord with the Taylor Report although the land is listed as 13,677. [ 4 ] Its modal home gate for the 2018–19 temper was 5,448. The club ‘s record attendance for a home match is 35,632, against Rangers in a scottish Cup quarter-final replay on 12 March 1952, but as temper tag holders were not counted at the time, the genuine attendance would be over 37,000. [ 50 ]
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Motherwell ‘s biggest win was a 12–1 victory over Dundee United in 1954, with the club ‘s heaviest get the better of being the 8–0 loss to Aberdeen in 1979. [ 51 ] On 5 May 2010, Motherwell were involved in the highest marking couple in the SPL, drawing 6–6 with Hibernian at Fir Park, with Lukas Jutkiewicz scoring the counterweight in the 91st minute. [ 52 ] This eclipsed another high-scoring game involving Motherwell, a 6–5 get the better of by Aberdeen on 20 October 1999. [ 53 ] The record transmit fee paid by the club was to Everton for John Spencer in 1999 ( £500,000 ) and the highest receive was David Turnbull for his move to Celtic in 2020 ( £3.25m ), eclipsing the 1.75m paid for previous record holder Phil O’Donnell in 1994. [ 54 ] O’Donnell rejoined Motherwell in 2004, but his moment spell at Fir Park ended when he died after collapsing on the gear in a game against Dundee United on 29 December 2007. [ 54 ] [ 55 ] Stephen Craigan holds the record for the most-capped musician at the club, with 54 caps in entire, 51 as a Motherwell actor – Northern Ireland. [ 56 ] [ 57 ]
Europe [edit ]
- As of 17 September 2020
player of the year [edit ]
The Supporters Association beginning handed out the award in April 1956. The first winner of the award was Andy Paton, who received a argent cup from Sailor Hunter at a dinner dance in Overton Miners Welfare. Paton was far honoured in 2007 when he was declared the “ Greatest always ” Motherwell player. [ 58 ] Joe Wark and Keith Lasley are the only men to win the award three separate times. Charlie Aitken was the first of five players to win the award back-to-back, with Louis Moult being the last actor to do this .
mansion of fame [edit ]
The club launched its official Hall of Fame in 2019, with five inaugural members announced at a dinner on 23 November. Four of the names were confirmed prior to the event with a fifth, a special fans vote, announced on the night as Phil O ’ Donnell. [ 59 ] The 2020 event was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with merely three names, Hunter, Paton and Cooper having been confirmed. On 9 September 2021, the baseball club announced the event was returning with the two remaining 2020 inductees to be named alongside the previous three, together with a whole modern class of five names for 2021. [ 60 ]
Managers [edit ]
Honours [edit ]
Motherwell have won a number of league titles and cups in their history, which includes six major domestic trophy successes. Their sole Scottish league backing came in season 1931–32 ( 66 points sum, winning allowance by 5 points ). Amongst their biggest cup success was winning the scottish Cup twice in 1951–52 ( 4–0 five Dundee ) and 1990–91 ( 4–3 vanadium Dundee United ), and the Scottish League Cup once in 1950–51 ( 3–0 v Hibernian ), besides winning the now defunct Summer Cup in 1943–44 and 1964–65. They have besides won the second tier of Scottish league football on four occasions. other celebrated cup success includes winning the scots Qualifying Cup once and winning the Lanarkshire Cup forty times. Their most holocene final appearance in the scots Cup came in 2017–18 ( 2–0 frustration to Celtic ) and the Scottish League Cup came in 2017–18 ( 2–0 defeat to Celtic ). Their best league operation recently in the scottish top escape was registering back-to-back second-place finishes in 2012–13 and 2013–14. They have qualified for european rival ten-spot times. The baseball club won the Lanarkshire Cup during 2013–14 in the last season that the cup was competed. This was the club ‘s fortieth achiever. Below is a list of honours won and early achievements by Motherwell. [ 62 ]
1The scottish Football Federation was a ephemeral non-league that Motherwell competed in from 1891–93 before being elected into the scots Second Division in 1893–94.
2The Summer Cup in the 1940s was a regional competition for Southern League teams, while in the 1960s it was a national cup contest for Scottish League Division One clubhouse.
3The Lord Provost of Glasgow ‘s Charity Cup was a scots Super Cup match between the 1951–52 Division One champions and 1951–52 scottish Cup winners.
4The Lanarkshire Cup Final was between Motherwell and Airdieoanians in 1925–26, but the cup was withheld after a dispute over choice of venue.
5 The Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup was an Inter-League competition .
stream team [edit ]
First team police squad [edit ]
- As of 31 August 2021[78]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
On loan [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
Reserve Team [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
retire numbers [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
Since O’Donnell ‘s death in 2007, alone one player has worn the number 10 shirt. David Clarkson, who is the nephew of O’Donnell, wore the shirt up until he left the club in July 2009. While not officially retired, it has not been issued to any subsequent player .
Club staff [edit ]
Board of Directors [edit ]
Position
Name
Majority Shareholder
The Well Society
Chairman
Jim McMahon
Chief Executive
Alan Burrows
Company Secretary
Graham Keys
Director
Douglas Dickie
Director
Tom Feeley
Director
Andrew Wilson
Coaching staff [edit ]
Position
Name
Manager
Graham Alexander
Assistant Managers
Keith Lasley
Chris Lucketti
Goalkeeping Coach
Craig Hinchliffe
Academy Director
Steven Hammell
Under 18s Manager
Brian Kerr
Head of Intermediate Academy
David Clarkson
Head of Junior Academy
Paul Burns
Head of Recruitment
Nick Daws
Head of Performance Analysis
Ross Clarkson
Performance Analyst
Graeme McArthur
Head of Medicine and Performance
Dave Rhodes
Club Doctor
Dr Danny Graham
Head Physiotherapist
David Henderson
Physical Performance Coach
Andy Boles
Kit Coordinator
Alan MacDonald
Motherwell were sponsored in the 2019–20 season by on-line gambling company Paddy Power as separate of their ‘Save our Shirt ‘ campaign ‘. [ 79 ] This followed Bet Park sponsoring the side in a softwood running since the depart of the 2018–19 season. Commsworld was the principal sponsor from the 2010–11 season. [ 80 ] ascribable to the sponsorship softwood not being agreed in clock for the originate of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League the team briefly featured www.chooselife.net as their chief shirt patronize. The team shirts continue to carry this sponsorship on the back of the shirt. [ 81 ] recently, they have besides been sponsored by the local IT firm Log in to Learn, which have besides appeared on the back of the shirts. [ 82 ] For the 2009/10 season the team were sponsored by JAXX, a german gambling company. [ 83 ] They in turn had replaced Anglian home improvements, who were the club ‘s shirt sponsor from 2006 to 2008. previous to this the club had been sponsored by Zoom Airlines, who were part-owned by club conductor John Boyle, and who retained advertising quad on both the Davie Cooper Stand and the South Stand [ 84 ] until they ceased deal in August 2008. The patronize from 2002–04 was a local party called The Untouchables. [ 85 ] previously the club had enjoyed a long-run association with Motorola, but this ended after 11 years in 2002 as the sponsor started to reduce its manufacture operations in Scotland. This had in turn followed another long-run association with local car dealer Ian Skelly, who had sponsored the club since 1984. The club have had a number of different kit manufacturers since the 1970s. At salute the official kit supplier is Macron who were newly announced for the 2014–15 season to replace Puma after their 3-year hand with the club expired. [ 86 ] previously the golf club kits were supplied by New-Zealand based sporting goods manufacturer canterbury who were announced as the official kit supplier to Motherwell for the four years beginning with the 2009–10 season, taking over from Bukta. [ 87 ] however, Canterbury went into government after less than one class of the narrow had been completed. [ 88 ] Major manufacturers Adidas, Admiral, Hummel, Patrick, Pony, Umbro and Xara have all been kit providers for Motherwell .
[89] A collage of Motherwell F.C. kits from 1935 to 2006
References [edit ]
further learn [edit ]
- Wilson, Derek (2008). Motherwell FC On This Day. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905411-37-5.
- Wilson, Derek (2009). Motherwell FC Miscellany. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905411-37-5.
- News and statistics
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