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Toxteth O'Grady

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Posts posted by Toxteth O'Grady

  3. 2022/23 ins & outs discussion

    in Club Chat

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Yabba's Turd said:
    11 hours ago, fizoxy said:
    16 hours ago, grizzlyg said:
    Here goes. 
     " Stephen Craigan..... Stephen Pearson.... Scott MacDonald... Ross McCormack.....Keith Lasley...Phil O'Donnell.....Louis Moult"
    "James McFadden.....Brian McClair.....Steven Hammell...Stu McKinstry...North Korea ...South Korea ...Marilyn Monroe"
    Ok I ran out of names halfway through the 2nd verse!!! Lol

    Stephen Hughes, Fraser wishart

    George Burley

    David Clarkson

  10. Next Motherwell Manager - Steven Hammell

    in Club Chat

    Posted

    https://www.thenational.scot/sport/20619410.motherwell-announce-new-manager-today-late-night-board-talks/

    Quote

    Motherwell to announce new manager today after late night board talks
    1 hr ago

    By Graeme McGarry
    @Graeme_McGarry
    Senior Sports Writer
    Share

    Motherwell legend Steven Hammell has been in caretaker charge of the Fir Park club since Graham Alexander left by mutual consent.

    MOTHERWELL will announce their new manager today after late night board discussions to whittle down their shortlist to replace Graham Alexander. 

    Four men were interviewed for the vacant post this week, including current caretaker manager and head of the Motherwell Academy Steven Hammell, as well as former Fir Park midfielder Simo Valakari, currently the manager of Kuopion Palloseura in his native Finland.

    No final decision had been made as of yesterday evening as chief executive Alan Burrows and the rest of the Motherwell board held talks to establish their preferred candidate, but Herald Sport understands that the club are optimistic they will be able to unveil their new manager today. 

    Hammell has already taken charge of the win over St Mirren on the Premiership's opening weekend and the last-gasp defeat to St Johnstone on Saturday following Alexander's departure. Whoever is named as the new permanent manager though is expected to take his place in the dugout for Saturday's trip to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie. 

    Hammell, the former Motherwell left-back who amassed 583 appearances as a player at Fir Park, has spoken previously of how much it would mean to him to manage the club where he spent the vast majority of his career. 

    “I’m in a senior football position at the club and I’m grateful and privileged to be in the position I am just now," Hammell said. 

    “If that’s to then progress to the first-team manager, then fantastic. If that’s what the club want and they feel it’s the best thing for the club, it’s something I am prepared to do.”

     

  12. ECL Fir Park Motherwell v Sligo Rovers 21/07/22

    in Club Chat

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Kmcalpin said:

    Good to see a large crowd last night but as so often happens the team let them down.

    Main Stand was an absolute shambles last night and a few emails will no doubt be sent to the club this morning about it, including one from me.  I have no idea about the other 2 home stands. We got to our usual area well before kick off to find others occupying our seats. They refused to move saying they had been told they could sit anywhere - I wonder who told them as we couldn't find any stewards. This situation got steadily worse nearer and after  kick off with folk standing about looking for seats, groups being split up etc. I've seen  many games in a packed Main Stand but this was the worst experience ever. Come on MFC if the Hydro can organise larger crowds with everyone sitting in their correct seats why can't we? Stewarding was totally inadequate.

    The Hunter stand also seemed overcrowded, with far, far more fans than usual standing at the back.

    And while we are at it, the PA system wasn't working in the Hunter stand either.

  15. Kevin Van Veen

    in Club Chat

    Posted

    Kevin Van Veen opens up on crippling gambling addiction

    Quote

    Kevin Van Veen opens up on crippling gambling addiction as Motherwell striker recalls rehab in South Africa

    The Dutchman reveals how he would miss training to gamble away thousands in a casino but has since learned to control the addiction.

    Kevin Van Veen would wake up in the middle of the night craving a kick. But not at a ball. He desperately needed a buzz. But not from scoring a goal.

    Instead, he’d get out of bed and head straight for a casino. It was the only way to feed his addiction. Money had no value. Neither did his career or his life at that stage. Thankfully, he sought help. Suddenly, the former PSV kid, who was highly rated by coaches in Holland, found himself picking strawberries in South Africa. No money, no phone, no definitive future. Just a bed, a bathroom and a mirror. Van Veen had to look within himself to find salvation.

    Eventually, with the help of others, the game he has loved from the age of six gave him it. At 31, he’s now determined to maximise every minute. Motherwell supporters who adore him want to reap the benefits of that. But most of them won’t know the journey he has been on to get to Fir Park.

    As a young player at PSV Eindhoven, he was released because he was so small, his shorts wouldn’t stay up. A 27cm growth spurt left him in agony and hospitalised for eight weeks. He turned his back on football to work on building sites as a plasterer before his hunger for goals returned.

    As a semi-pro in Holland, van Veen started to make a living from the game. But the more he earned, the more he gambled. And given what he’s had to go through, it’s a miracle that he’ll spearhead Motherwell’s Europa Conference League campaign which starts on Thursday night.

    Ask any coach who has worked with van Veen and they will tell you he should be playing at a higher level. With his ability, how did he wash up at Northampton and Scunthorpe before turning up in the SPFL Premiership.

    As MailSport found out in an exclusive and searingly honest interview, the reasons are complex. Speaking for the first time about his personal issues, van Veen said: “When I was younger, I had a lot of mental health problems and anxiety because I was battling addiction.

    “When I was 18, I was allowed into the casino and would go with some friends. It started with a tenner when I wasn’t earning much. But that would quickly become £50, £100, £200. As I earned a bit more money from playing football it was £1000 and a lot more.

    “I’ve been addicted ever since then. It’s inside my body and is an everyday thing. Sometimes I’d miss training. I wouldn’t turn up because that (gambling) was all I wanted.

    “I would wake up in the middle of the night and jump out of bed to go to a casino – because my body needed that kick. I even went for rehab to South Africa where I had to learn about the value of money.

    “I was strawberry picking and potato picking every day over there from 6am to 6pm. All I had was a plate of food. I had no salary, no phone – just a bathroom with a mirror. I had to re-appreciate the value of life and money.

    “I’m still fighting it every day. It’s still there in my mind every day. But I’m trying to manage it a lot better than I did, instead of wasting it on a game that disgusts me now.”

    During his time playing in England, Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance facility was a Godsend for Van Veen. Since then, he has been encouraged to speak openly about the battles that have undoubtedly prevented him from realising his full potential on the pitch.

    He said: “Over the years I’ve had a lot of help. Sporting Chance in Leeds helped me massively. Every Tuesday and Thursday I’d drive there to talk in the group. I had to detox my body from the addiction. It was really bad, especially when I was on medication.

    “But I’ve been clean for two and a half years now. Nobody really knows. But my psychologist has urged me to speak up.

    “And over time it has worked for me. I didn’t want everyone to know but at the end of the day it’s me. It’s part of me. And it’s still a huge achievement for me to be here, playing at a good level.

    “But it’s probably the reason why I’m not where I should be. If I could turn my life and career around, I would. But I can’t turn back time or change it. If you’re asking me what really held me back, it’s probably that.

    “I think I’ve got the ability but my mental health and addiction has left me struggling from the age of 18. My mum, who is my biggest fan, is just proud that I’ve actually made it as a footballer. Because I could easily have become someone who had nothing and was left in the gutter.”

    Addiction isn’t the only obstacle van Veen has had to overcome in his career. As a teenager no one in Holland doubted his technique.

    But incredibly, having developed into a 6ft 1in striker, his SIZE threatened to curtail his career at an early stage. It forced him into a real job, where he learned that to get anything in life you have to graft.

    The Dutchman, who hails from Eindhoven, said: “I grew up at PSV but was sent away for being too small. My dreams were shattered. I was a very tiny player. Honestly, I needed a belt around my shorts to keep them up.

    “PSV told me that, physically, I was just too little so they didn’t want me anymore. But ability wise I was always one of the most talented.

    “Even when I was young, Dutch newspapers were talking about me. That probably got in my head a bit. I believed I’d make it to the first team but it didn’t happen.

    “Then I suddenly took a growth spurt of 27cm. The doctors explained to me that, because of all the training I was doing at PSV, my body didn’t have time to grow. So I went from being very small to being thin and long.

    “I was in hospital for eight weeks and had massive growing pains. I was still a child and I cried a lot.

    “After that I played for my uncle’s team and gave up professional football. I started a job as a plasterer, doing a lot of heavy carrying on the building site.

    “At PSV I thought I’d make it so I didn’t pay attention at school. I was trouble because I thought I was too good for it.

    “I regret all that now, I realise it’s the most important thing you can do. I was plastering from early morning until late at night.

    “Football wise, I was just playing as an amateur. Teams wanted me but I was disillusioned by the game. I’d hit a brick wall because of my physicality so I had to concentrate on having a normal working life.

    “And I had so much fun doing it. There was no pressure, no one was watching me.

    “It really made me appreciate what I have now. Because you have to work hard for very little.

    “That’s why I won’t take anything for granted. It has been a tough road for me.”

     

    • Like 3

  17. 2022/23 ins & outs discussion

    in Club Chat

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Spit_It_Out said:

    During an EFL League One fixture between Plymouth Argyle and Scunthorpe United, Plymouth goalkeeper Matt Macey attempted to throw the ball out of play so he could receive treatment for a suspected broken ankle. However, Morris ran to retrieve the ball to keep it in play and subsequently chipped the injured keeper to equalise.

     

    Morris and KVV shithousery could be something else next season.

    And here's the video

    https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11711578/controversial-iron-goal-sparks-melee

  25. Europa Conference League

    in Club Chat

    Posted

    41 minutes ago, Villageman said:

    Can I ask what plans if any the posters who are suggesting flying to to Dublin (assuming opponents are Sligo) have on the next part of the trip. Trying to weigh up the travel options.

     

    I believe there are fairly regular trains from Dublin to Sligo. Takes around 3 hours.

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