ECOSSE1991

Hello Fellow 'Well fans, Just to make you aware, if you haven't read about it in the Well Society newsletter, the club shop is taking orders for scrapbooks of former players, two Ancell Babes Willie Hunter & Pat Quinn and Tom Forsyth & Joe Wark. Each players family together with a current member of the MFC Former Players Club (FPC) have collated these scrapbooks. The books were compiled by the individual player themselves and contain great pieces of their playing career as well as Motherwell FC history. One of the many good deeds carried out by the FPC is to raise funds to assist partners and families of former 'Well players who have passed on. They also contribute to the Well Society. A percentage of the money from sales will go to the FPC. Here's the link. https://motherwelldirect.co.uk/collections/books

The youngster at the front is 14-year-old John Taylor “Bug” Young. A Motherwell Times article of 15th October 1954 confirms he played football for the Alpha Works FC, who operated at Roman Road from 1881-1886. The article states he was, in October 1954, one of only 2 surviving members of the original Motherwell FC team of 1886 when Glencairn FC and Alpha had merged to form Motherwell FC. The newspaper article confirms he was "known as Bug Young" to older supporters. John was born on the 4th of October 1869 and he is first mentioned in the Scranton US census of 1st June 1870 as being 8 months old. He died at 709 South Second Street, West Monroe, Louisiana on 27th December 1957.

WILLIAM (BILLY) REID (INSIDE FORWARD) MOTHERWELL FC 1954/55 – 1961/62 When Motherwell manager George Stevenson signed William (Billy) Reid on his 17th birthday on 31st January 1955 from Wishaw High School he disappointed fifteen top ranking clubs in Scotland and England who had been angling after him for some considerable time. According to the 1955-56 club handbook he was 5’ 6” and 10st when he arrived at Fir Park. He came from a football background as his father played juvenile and junior football, his younger brother Sammy (who eventually joined Motherwell) played schools and youth football and his uncle was the former ‘Well wing half, Tommy McKenzie who was on the Fir Park staff when Billy arrived. As a teenager he won many honours and prior to arriving at Fir Park he possessed 3 Schools International and 3 Youth International caps. He proved his worth when playing in the reserve side and scored 7 goals in Division ‘C’, 2 in the Supplementary League and 2 in a friendly against Dumbarton. Billy made his league debut in claret and amber and solitary game in 1954/55 season against Dundee on 26 March 1955, ‘Well lost 2-0. He also played in the Lanarkshire Cup Final against Airdrie on 14 May 1955 scoring one of the goals in a 3-2 ‘Well win after extra time. When Bobby Ancell arrived in 1955 he started to sign young players like Billy, John Martis, Ian St John, Charlie Aitken. In Ancell’s first league game as Motherwell manager Billy scored in a 5-2 win over East Fife at Fir Park on 10 September 1955, Johnny Aitkenhead with a hat-trick and Alex Bain were the other scorers. Billy lined up in the first floodlit match at Fir Park against Preston North End on Wednesday 29 February 1956. Unfortunately he was injured after a few minutes and was replaced by Pat Quinn, ‘Well lost 3-2. The Motherwell team that night was; Weir, Kilmarnock, McSeveney, Forrest, Paton, Aitken, Kerr, Reid, Gardner, S. Brown, Williams. Scorers for ‘Well were Brown and an own goal from a soon to be famous manager, Tommy Docherty. Preston scorers were Dennis Hatsell, Tommy Thomson and legendary Tom Finney. According to the 1961/62 club handbook he played in 8 league games during season 1960/61 and 3 league cup fixtures, his last appearance was on Boxing Day 1960 at Fir Park in a 2-1 defeat to Rangers. Although he appears in the 1961/62 club handbook as being one of the signed players for that season he didn’t play a league game again and moved to Airdrie in October 1961 for £4,500. In just under 7 years at Fir Park Billy made 73 appearances scoring 11 goals, (56 league/9 goals, 3 Scottish Cup/0 goals & 14 League Cup/2 goals) add to this a number of friendly games during his time. This is only a brief summary of his career whilst wearing claret & amber but it can be clearly seen that he is one of the clubs legends and long remembered as a member of THE ANCELL BABES. Condolences to his family, friends & former teammates.

I know that Bobby Roberts, Willie McSeveney & John Martis are alive and no doubt others who played in the Ancell era.

Top photograph; John McPhee, Tommy McKenzie, Willie Cowie & Ian St John.

On behalf of Motherwell FC I'm trying to make contact with family members/relatives of the 15 Motherwell players & officials who won the 1952 Scottish Cup. John Johnson, Willie Kilmarnock, Archie Shaw, Archie Cox, Andy Paton, Willie Redpath, Tommy Sloan, Wilson Humphries, Archie Kelly, Jimmy Watson, Johnny Aitkenhead, Donald McLeod, George Stevenson (manager), Willie Walker (trainer), Ben Ellis (coach). [email protected] Any information would be greatly appreciated.

It was a shocking performance, however some of the comments are way over the top. Making judgemental comments about new player’s after 45 or 90 minutes is pointless. Polworth made more chances than any other player in the Premiership last season yet he’s being unfairly criticised after one game. If they’re playing as poorly after 6 games then I’ll judge, but having watched the ‘Well for decades I know to have patience and to trust the manager, especially the current one. This is a team led by a damn good manager who finished in 3rd place last season. Calm down guys.

I may be sceptical but if a referee makes a decision on the field and later having had time to view the action/tackle etc. on television he may realise that he made the wrong call and will then change his reason to matchup with what he has seen on the television replay. I agree with the emoji at the end of your last sentence, it's a perfect indication of what both of us think the chances of that happening. Another inconsistent decision by the ref last night. Motherwell were awarded a free kick in the second half and the County player picked up the ball, walked away with it and as Richard Tait tried to knock it out of his hands the County player threw it away. The County player was correctly booked but what action by Tait justified a yellow card? No pushing, shoving, raised fists just a swipe for the ball.

I can't agree with the comments of fans who say that losing Scott will harm our season. The club can't turn down that amount of money for a young player with potential. How many of us would consider our final league place suffered recently when the likes of Murphy, Erwin, Cadden or Hastie moved on? Yes any one of them may have weakened the squad but I don't recall any noticeable damage to that particular season or final spot. We move on and the manager and staff will no doubt keep producing promising youngsters.

Brilliant stuff, take a bow Mr Robinson, staff & players.

Poor stuff but let’s get things into perspective, we’re only 9 points behind Celtic. Would any of us expected this at the start of the season?

He plays like one so I guess he might as well look the part.

Shocking decision, 3 Hearts players between Campbell and the goal line when the ball is played forward by Polworth.

How did Berra last 90 minutes with his repeated fouling and foul throws going unpunished?

Do you honestly believe that he is "one lazy bastard"?