EightSixteen

I can see why some aren't considering renewing their tickets until they see how everything pans out but personally, I've just renewed mine yesterday. For me, when I made the decision to scrape money (that I didn't really have) together for a Well Society membership the Rangers/Newco situation didn't really phase me. I just applied the same logic to my ST renewal.

Well done for all your hard work this season you lot, you truly deserve every plaudit afforded to you in this thread and a very many more! Looking forward to seeing your displays in Europe!

http://sport.stv.tv/...ell-supporters/ One Stephen Craigan! There's only one Stephen Craigan -ONE STEPHEN CRAAAAAIGAN! To quote your own t-shirt Craggs -"thanks for everything" and best of luck with all your future endeavors.

If we made it that far we'd need to kidnap the Firpark DJ so we can safeguard it and prevent an embarrassing Proclaimers mashup

Corrected. Cheers for the heads up Brazilian

Higgy's Pen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OjzoaXJo-Y I'll video all set pieces and post them up if we score. I can practically smell Champions League fitba! Mon the Well!

Excellent news Alan, thanks for getting back to me.

Just on the club site the now, having a wee a wee peruse at the discounts available for ST holders and seen the club shop is part of it & have special offers throughout the season. Have I missed these? The only offers I've seen this season were the hoodie offer and the 2for1 deal on hats & scarves. Anything specific to ST holders?

En route to Killie atm, really looking forward to the game. Predicting a tight 1-Nil finish coming off the top of Big Higgy's heed. Desperately needing suggestions of where to go for a decent pint in Killie though, answers on a postcard please...

Bump! How was this johnstone? Really keen to hear how you got on and if it was any good? I played my first game of fives in 6 years yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Would love to play more football just to get my fitness level up a bit without it being overly competitive. Seen the club started another 10 week block on Monday there, contemplating giving them a wee phone tomorrow and seeing if I can join in next week for the rest of it.

I'll never forgive him for that fucking monstrosity!

As far as I can see, this is cash that's wanted for when it's needed and that is totally worth investing in!

The appeal was heard today around 3ish and it's now been referred to the judicial panel for a fast track tribunal tomorrow. Fingers crossed for the big man now.

The origin of Motherwell FC can really be attributed to massive changes in society in the 1870's which gave birth to a new generation of leisure pursuits and saw football become the sport of the masses. The revolutionary introduction of half days on Saturday for many trades gave the working class man the time to indulge in these pursuits. During this time many teams were founded throughout the Lanarkshire area. These teams were most notably work teams. The early teams in Motherwell were dominated by Glencairn, who started up in 1877. Named after John Glencairn Carter Hamilton of Dalziel, they initially called open ground at Craigneuk their home, using a local school as their facilities. This park was known as the 'Foot of the Knowe.' However, they soon moved to 'The Meadows' via a short stay at a pitch at Broomside near Kidstones Pit, in the area now known as North Lodge. The Meadows was an in demand park, hosting the annual gala occasions as well as being the home of Glencairn's fierce rivals, Alpha FC. Alpha FC would go on to become the most popular side in the area and eventually become the backbone of Motherwell Football Club. Founded in 1881 by the workers in George Russell's Alpha Steam Crane and Engineering Works, which was based in Park Street, they developed by playing against a host of other amateur teams that had sprung up in Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill. Some of the more prominent names at the time were; Dalziel Rovers, Milton Rovers, Motherwell North End, Motherwell Amateurs and Hamilton Park. In 1886 a Motherwell Charity Cup was established to engage local teams in a tournament that was to be for the 'benefit of the poor.' Another game that was set up at this time was an exhibition between Glasgow Ancients – as the name suggests, a selection of older players from Glasgow – and a select eleven made up of players from both Alpha FC and Glencairn. This was a huge deal; as the months prior to the game had been filled with talk of the two top sides in Motherwell amalgamating to form a stronger team. This argument was done no harm when the select eleven overcame the more experienced Ancients two goals to one in front of a large crowd. On the 6th May 1886, the Alpha board met and decided to disband the club as it was, and reform it under a new constitution and set of rules. The plane was to keep the same name, but eleven days later representatives of Glencairn and Alpha met in Baillie's Pub in Parkneuk and decide to form a new club altogether. This new club was to be called Motherwell Football Club. A committee was formed and they were able to field a team, albeit and Alpha dominated one. Their debut fixture proved to be a successful one as they outshone Hamilton Academicals 3-2. On the dawn of this new era the Motherwell Times commented that the merger of the two sides could make "Motherwell second to none in the West of Scotland as a country club." In the early years life was somewhat chaotic for the fledgling Motherwell with no regular competition to play in, although the Lanarkshire Cup was still seen as a prestigious tournament at this time. The new side reached their first final in 1888 where they lost to Airdrie. Not only was competition difficult to find but games would still start with players short, as they struggled to make the game after a shift in the local iron works. The Scottish Cup did offer one major tournament that was available for Motherwell to compete in. They entered the competition for the first time in 1886, losing 6-1 to Cambuslang in the first round. They did make Round three in 1888, only to lose 6-2 to Dumbarton. Then in a move to push the club forward, the AGM of 1893 heard the heated debate of whether the club should turn professional or not, and in the end it was decided unanimously in favour of turning professional. This also meant an increase in gate prices with entry now costing 6d (2.5p) and season tickets moving to 7/6 (37.5p). The decision of the Scottish League to form the Second division in 1893/94 allowed them to expand into geographical areas that they were previously absent from, such as Tayside, Edinburgh and Industrial Lanarkshire. Motherwell were therefore duly elected along with nine other teams to form the Second Division for the start of 1893/94. The other nine teams who joined Motherwell for this historic season were Hibernian, Cowlairs, Clyde, Partick Thistle, Port Glasgow Athletic, Abercorn, Morton, Northern and Thistle. Motherwell's first game was a 4-1 home win against Clyde, with the first professional Motherwell side striding out in maroon shirts and satin knickerbockers. Although the preferred colours throughout the period were to remain the original blue. In their first season in the division, Motherwell managed a respectable fourth, winning 11 of their 18 games. 1895 saw two major developments at the club. They brought home their first professional silverware in the form of the Lanarkshire Cup and the club moved for the final time. The tight muddy Dalziel Park was deemed unsuitable for League football, but Lord Hamilton solved the problem by granting a lease on a piece of land at the Northern end of his Dalziel Estate. The club took Fir Park as the name of their stadium. I can't actually remember who published this originally but Flow has had this and the rest of our history up on the official site for quite a while. It's an interesting and colourful read that will make you proud to be a dosser!

Spot on, Craigan has been an excellent servant to the club and a real stalwart to the team however his slowing pace is becoming more obvious as he's been caught out of position frequently this season and he simply can't catch up. When the seasons over and his contract expires I'm sure he'll have plenty of options to move on to. He's got banter and all his coaching badges so I've no doubt he'll be able to talk his way into a coaching role until he gets a permanent spot on the telly. That being said, it'll be a sad day when he goes.

Your no kidding, I wonder where he left his studs today?

Definetly a train day for me aswell. It's an excellent gesture of appreciation from the club to those that've made our away support the undeniable presence that it is this season.

Both are excellent! I prefer the 1886-1965 one as it's an excellent reflection on our past. Anyone know if gobstopper68 on Steelmen Online or FP Corner?

I was just about to ask the same question Finlay, anyone know where Humph is then? Game Prediction: 1-0 with a Big Higgy Heeder into the net!

STV News Report http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/282701-family-of-phil-odonnell-thank-motherwell-fans-as-memorial-is-unveiled/

I think £12 for an adult with £5 for kids & concessions being about right. That'd need be consistent accross the league though for it to have any lasting effect on SPL attendances.