mfc_in_the_community

We are Motherwell girls under 13's claret football team and are part of the charity, Motherwell Football Club Community trust. We have been selected to attend and play in the World's largest football festival, "the Norway Cup", in July where we will be flying the flag for the mighty 'Well and Scotland. We have to raise funds to make this dream a reality for our girls and so we are hoping with your support, this can be achieved! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity therefore any donations or support would be greatly appreciated. Please donate to our JustGiving page by clicking here We will be the only Motherwell team in Europe this year - help us twist and shout to victory Thanks in advance, Motherwell Football Club Community Trust Girls Under 13's Claret Team.

The Community Trust has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to preserve the heritage of the club for future generations and by the Bank of Scotland to deliver a Dementia project. To support both projects we are appealing to fans to donate unwanted Motherwell memorabilia. We hope to create a significant collection of materials which will be cataloged and preserved and made available to future generations of Motherwell fans. Any duplicate items we receive will be used in memory boxes we are creating to support the dementia project. The idea is to create collections of Motherwell memorabilia which will be placed in sheltered housing complexes, etc and used by people living with dementia and their carers. If you have material you would like to donate please email us at community@motherwellfc.co.uk. Also if you would like to volunteer for either or both projects we would love to hear from you. Thanks Charlie Bennett

After a fine 7-1 win this afternoon against Westerland to take them through to Semi Finals of the SWFL1 League Cup the Ladies will play Glasgow City dev at Fir Park on Sunday May 1st with a 2pm kick off. Get along and roar the girls on to victory as they attempt back to back promotions!!!

Hi. Charlie Bennett here from the Community Trust. Would you consider donating them to the 1886 project the Community Trust are setting up in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund. A major aim is to protect the heritage of the club. As part of this we hope to create a resource centre when fans and researchers can access old programmes, pictures, etc. Contact details are Charlie.bennett@motherwellfc.co.uk

Fantastic debuts also for Lauren Whitehead and Lauren Reside from our under 17 team and Alise Stewart who will join the Scotland Under 17 National Camp tomorrow even though she is only 15. The future is bright......the future is Claret and Amber!!

Motherwell Ladies resume their league campaign this Sunday with an away game to Edinburgh South at Inch Park, Edinburgh with a 2.00pm kick off. New signing 104 times capped Suzanne Grant is set to make her debut for the Fir Park side as the 'Well look to maintain their unbeaten record. Manager Graeme McArthur has promoted several of the Club's Under 17 side to the Ladies team for their fixture as the Fir Parkers look to build for the future. Look out also for Scotland Under 17's star Alise Stewart who will also be in the squad.

Watch out for a sensational new signing for the Ladies team later in the week!

Hi Busta. At the. Omens they don't have a home pitch although the last few games have been played at Ravenscraig. Should be a couple of games at Fir Park hopefully during the second part of the season which kicks of August 2nd.

yeah fantastic news. A great player and a true professional. Just loves it at Motherwell and coaches our girls Under 11 squad.

Guys, Thank you to Steelmenonline for creating this subform. I am Charlie Bennett the General Manager of the Club's Community Trust. The development of the female game comes under my remit. I thought it might be an good idea to give you a context for the development of the female game here at Motherwell and a little insight into our plans for the future. Our objectives in terms of the girls and women game are: to increase participation in football to increase the Motherwell FC fanbase to promote equality and diversity across sport and in particular football to promote increased mental and physical wellbeing in females Over the last several years the Club and indeed the Trust have dabbled with female football but never got it right. Two years ago we began developing a plan which would allow us to meet the objectives we detailed above, and secure the resources we required. What you are seeing now is the result of that plan. In the last few months we have been engaging with top women Club's (at Champions League level) and the plan has been modified to amend this. At the moment we have around 150 girls playing football with us at Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, and the Ladies team - although we plan to increase that significantly. Under 9's through to Under 17's operate through our Girls Performance Centre. Its important to emphasise the role of the GPC is to ultimately produce players for the Ladies first team. The model we have for this is probably unique in its approach. For example our Under 9 and Under 11 squads come to Fir Park straight after school twice a week. They are provided with a nutritious snack, and homework support is available through a tutor - they then go to training. Our Under 15 squad is providing players for the national and regional development teams, and our Under 13's and Under 17 teams are doing well in their first season. Indeed there are players in our Under 15's and Under 17's squads who could perform well in the Ladies team and they will soon move up. We have had the SFA out looking at the Under 9 and Under 11 squads and they were incredibly impressed by the quality of player. We are confident many of our current playing squad will line up in the blue shirt of Scotland in the years to come. Our Ladies team sit at the top of the players pathway and are a squad built for success. We had been aware the SWF were reorganising the structure of their leagues, and we were given initial encouragement that entry to the premier league would be criteria and resource led. However, the SWF decided to remain with the pyramid system and we were consigned to the bottom league despite probably having one of the best playing squads in the country. The Ladies team have also been fantastic role models for the Club, encouraging younger players, and soon they will be featuring in videos that will promote keeping young girls/women safe. Our plans for the future are very ambitious. We have three incredibly exciting initiatives coming up over the next few months which we unfortunately cannot share with you yet. When we do announce then, however, everyone in women football will sit up and take notice. Ultimately our goal is not just to get to the top league in Scotland but to represent Scotland in Europe. If you need more information you can contact me at Graeme McArthur team manager at or Girls Performance Centre Manager at We are also happy to supply players and coaching staff for Q&A sessions, etc. We are all looking forward to a lively discussion board but please guys - cut out any inappropriate comments. We won't condone this and they will be reported to the moderator. Lastly - a wee word about the Rangers game. Rangers have been playing in the SWFL2 this season, in a different regional league, and have run up the proverbial cricket scores in many of their games. They were a tough nut to crack but I'm sure anyone seeing the game would have enjoyed the Motherwell performance, particularly second half when we dominated and could on another day have scored more goals.

Guys, Thank you to Steelmenonline for creating this subform. I am Charlie Bennett the General Manager of the Club's Community Trust. The development of the female game comes under my remit. I thought it might be an good idea to give you a context for the development of the female game here at Motherwell and a little insight into our plans for the future. Our objectives in terms of the girls and women game are: to increase participation in football to increase the Motherwell FC fanbase to promote equality and diversity across sport and in particular football to promote increased mental and physical wellbeing in females Over the last several years the Club and indeed the Trust have dabbled with female football but never got it right. Two years ago we began developing a plan which would allow us to meet the objectives we detailed above, and securing the resources we required. What you are seeing now is the result of that plan. In the last few months we have been engaging with top women Club's (at Champions League level) and the plan has been modified to amend this. At the moment we have around 150 girls playing football with us at Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, and the Ladies team - although we plan to increase that significantly. Under 9's through to Under 17's operate through our Girls Performance Centre. Its important to emphasise the role of the GPC is to ultimately produce players for the Ladies first team. The model we have for this is probably unique in its approach. For example our Under 9 and Under 11 squads come to Fir Park straight after school twice a week. They are provided with a nutritious snack, and homework support is available through a tutor - they then go to training. Our Under 15 squad is providing players for the national and regional development teams, and our Under 13's and Under 17 teams are doing well in their first season. Indeed there are players in our Under 15's and Under 17's squads who could perform well in the Ladies team and they will soon move up. We have had the SFA out looking at the Under 9 and Under 11 squads and they were incredibly impressed by the quality of player. We are confident many of our current playing squad will line up in the blue shirt of Scotland in the years to come. Our Ladies team sit at the top of the players pathway and are a squad built for success. We had been aware the SWF were reorganisation the structure of their leagues, and we were given some encouragement that entry to the premier league would be criteria and resource led. However, the SWF decided to remain with the pyramid system and we were consigned to the bottom league despite probably having one of the best playing squads in the country. The Ladies team have also been fantastic role models for the Club, encouraging younger players, and soon they will be featuring in videos that will promote keeping young girls/women safe. Our plans for the future are very ambitious. We have three incredibly exciting initiatives coming up over the next few months which we unfortunately cannot share with you yet. When we do announce then, however, everyone in women football will sit up and take notice. Ultimately our goal is not just to get to the top league in Scotland but to represent Scotland in Europe. If you need more information you can contact me at Graeme McArthur team manager at or Girls Performance Centre Manager at We are also happy to supply players and coaching staff for Q&A sessions, etc. We are all looking forward to a lively discussion board but please guys - cut out any inappropriate comments. We won't condone this and they will be reported to the moderator. Lastly - a wee word about the Rangers game. Rangers have been playing in the SWFL2 this season, in a different regions league, and have run up the proverbial cricket scores in many of their games. Some of them a bit more experienced than even us.

Guys, Thank you for those who have completed our survey so far. The feedback we have received so far is detailed below. 100%of respondents thought the heritage of Motherwell Football Club is either veryimportant (78%) or important (22%) to the local community 100%of respondents agreed the heritage of Motherwell Football Club should becollected, preserved and made available to the community and future generations 85%of respondents would like to see a permament exhibition of the club’s heritageat Fir Park; 74% responded the heritage should be made available online througha website; 62% would like to see a Heritage Trail at Fir Park; and 55% felt theClub’s heritage should be made available to schoolchildren through Learningresources. 80%of respondents have indicated they would contribute their own memories to theClub’s heritage through a digital archive 84%of respondents indicated they would donate programmes, strips, scarves,pictures they personally own to the project 53%of respondents have indicated they would volunteer to take part in the projectsactivities We still need around 50 more people to complete the survey so if you haven't completed it PLEASE, PLEASE do it sometime today. If we can get the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund (and with your help we can) we can preserve and make accessible the Club's rich heritage to the local community and for future generations. Thank You

Cheers. That's should be those issues corrected. Thanks for pointing them out and for completing the survey :-)

In 2016 Motherwell Football Club will celebrate it's one hundred and thirtieth anniversary as one of Scotland's most famous and celebrated football clubs. To mark this momentous achievement Motherwell Football Club Community Trust is applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to record the heritage of our fantastic football club, to preserve and record it, and to make it accessible to the local community and future generations. To help us understand what you would like this project to look like please take just a few moments to complete this questionnaire and provide us with your feedback. Thank You!! Please click here to complete the questionnaire

Guys. As you know the Community Trust is the charitable arm of Motherwell Football Club. In the last year we have posted new initiatives, etc on the Club's web site. However the range and breadth of the programmes we deliver means we have now created our own Facebook presence and will be posting on there. The Facebook site will allow us to keep our fans, partners, and communities up to date with the huge range of activities and community benefit we provide. Importantly, we can use the popularity of the site to secure sponsorship from a wide variety of bodies to expand the community work we do. Currently we engage with 29 primaries and deliver across lifelong learning, health and wellbeing, inclusion, and regeneration in addition to our burgeoning community coaching programme. Could we ask you therefore to visit our site here and click the all important Like button. Many thanks

SUMMER SOCCER SCHOOL - NO NEED TO BOOK!!! With the weather set fair for the rest of the week get your kids down to the Fir Park astro and get them involved in the Club's Summer Soccer School programme. They'll meet new friends, develop their footie skills, and generally have a great time - and the first team squad pop in too! Cost are only £45.00 for the week, £10.00 for a day, or £5.00 for the half day. There's no need to book and the fun starts at 9.00am and finishes at £3.00. More information at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com or by calling us 01698 239926

Hi Guys - thanks for the tremendous support so far. Everyone really, really appreciates it. Could we have one last push please before voting closes tonight at 5.00pm. The link is Vote for the Motherwell FC Community Trust Very many thanks! Charlie

Guys. We already do something along these lines. On a Saturday morning we run the Fir Park Soccer School on the Astro behind the East Stand where boys and girls attend a two hour football coaching session and then attend the match with our community coaches. Many of the kids wouldn't have the opportunity of attending the match if we didn't run this initiative. The Fir Park Soccer School costs £40.00 per ten week block and is open to everyone between the ages of 5 and 15. This covers the coaching session, match ticket, and supervision by our coaches at the match so its great value. The kids have a great time, develop their skills, make new friends, and have their own area in the Davie Cooper Family Stand at the match. You can book online at www;motherwellsoccerschools.com or by calling us at 01698 239 926. its a great way of supporting the 'Steelmen Forever' campaign, and developing the fan base.

FAO Taff Thanks for your feedback Taff. Over the last few months we have fully implemented an online booking system for our community coaching scheme which collects a wide range of information when the parent/gurdian books a place for their child. One of the questions we ask is whether the child is a Motherwell supporter. At the moment 45% of children attending community coaching sessions are Motherwell supporters whilst 55% are not. However, I can say from speaking to our community coaches who deliver the sessions, and from talking directly to parents a number of children are turning their allegiance to Motherwell, and bringing their Dad's who would normally visit other Scottish clubs with them. In terms of marketing to a wider base i would agree with you - watch for a major development in the next month or so. FAO Fatcalf Whit d'you want the new groundsman to have kittens!

ALMOST SOLD OUT! Guys, For those of you still considering sending children to the Motherwell Football Club Academy Experience the 6-8 years age group is completely SOLD OUT! There are only THREE places remaining in the 9-12 years age group. You can secure one of these last places by booking online at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com. As a result of the Academy Experience 68 young people will be mixing with the manager, and first team squad, get to train on Fir Park and be treated as young professional players for the week. The feedback has been tremendous and we are likely to deliver the Academy Experience during the Easter Holidays 2012. Cheers

Guys, There are very few places remaining for the Academy Experience taking place during the October School Week. If you wish your child to be part of this fantastic week which includes a welcome by Manager Stuart McCall, being coached by Kenny Black, and members of the first team squad, and taking part in a session on Fir Park then please book now at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com

Motherwell Football Club Academy Experience - October Holiday Week October 17th - 21st, 2011 Experience Life as a Professional Footballer with the Steelmen Boys and Girls 6 to 12 Take your football skills to the next level and experience life as a Professional Footballer in our first ever, week-long MFC coaching programme during the October School Week from: Monday 17th until Friday 21st October For the first time ever, Motherwell Football Club is offering young people between the ages of 6 and 12 the opportunity to experience life as a professional footballer in our Academy Experience programme. Academy Experience is a week long intensive programme which will replicate the coaching received by professional players, and will include: Training sessions delivered by members of the first team squad Coaching session with Kenny Black our Assistant Manager Training session on Fir Park. Comprehensive coaching will include game awareness, technique development, balance, creativity, and nutrition. Academy Experience is designed to take young players to the next level of performance, and to instil in them the skills and confidence they require to develop their potential. Coaching will be delivered by our highly-qualified SFA accredited coaches, and the young people will be rubbing shoulders with the first team professionals and youth squads. Participants will also be presented with a certificate signed by Motherwell Manager, and former Scotland star, Stuart McCall. The five-day programme costs just £55 which includes a healthy breakfast. Players should bring their own packed lunch, and appropriate footwear and clothing – and a change to allow for inclement weather. £55.00 for the whole week Fir Park Astro Turf Mon 17th to Fri 21st October, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm • Places are Strictly Limited • For further information, and to book please call us on: 01698 239 926 or go to our website at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com

Motherwell Football Club is pleased to launch its Easter Holiday programme with extended hours allowing parents to drop off their children at the much earlier time of 8.30am and collect them at the later time of 4.15pm for the price of just £14.00 per day, or £7.00 per half day. The new extended hours are in direct response to many requests from parents with work commitments, and the Club are only too happy to respond to this request. 'Well legend Stevie Kirk commented: "Over the last year we have had many requests from parents to provide a facility where children and young people could be dropped off earlier and picked up later to fit in with parents work commitments. We are only too happy to accommodate this request, and our pricing structure is still much cheaper than many other child care options available in the area. Whilst the children are with us, they are getting healthier, are meeting new friends, and developing their skills within the shadow of Fir Park, and our coaches are there to provide a fun, safe environment. We also have a range of discounts on offer for parents booking children in for a full week, or sending more than one child. The Holiday Programme will kick off on April 4th and will continue throughout the full two work period until April 15th. For further information please click here to download our brochure. You can book either through our website at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com or through our bookings hotline on 01698 239 926. Easter Holiday Programme Brochure.pdf

Guys. I'm Charlie Bennett Head of Adult Learning and Motherwell Fc in the Community. As such I run the Club's Community Programme. I've noticed a couple of comments on the forums recently referring to our community programme. Motherwell Football Club are very active in the community and we should probably make our fans more aware of what we are achieving, and the very positive effect our work is having on individuals, groups, and local communities. I'll have a chat with 'Flow and maybe get a special feature on our work on the Club website, and the programme. I'll just give a couple of wee examples just now. In the last 5 months over 80 people have achieved an IT qualification in our Learning Centre. Our Fit Fans in Training programme is the most successful in the Premier League, and the numbers of young people coming along to our community coaching sessions has increased by 30%. In fact we are very close to putting up the SOLD OUT sign on eight of our community courses. If any one would like more information on our Community Programme and our development plans you can email me at Charlie.Bennett@motherwellfc.co.uk and I will get back to you asap. WelsmaninWell - I note some of your comments and would welcome the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. If you give me a ring on 01698 239 926 I'd be happy to meet with you and reassure you of our commitment to local communities.

Guys - the new session of Motherwell FC's official community coaching courses has just kicked of across Lanarkshire providing quality coaching to children and young people of all abilities between the ages of three and fifteen. This year for the first time ever we are offering a goalkeeping school which is held at Wishaw Sports Centre on a Sunday between 3pm and 5.00pm. We are also looking for players to represent Motherwell FC at a community level in lanarkshire leagues and other competitions from spring 2011 onwards. However, to qualify to play in the famous claret and amber you must be enrolled on one of our coaching courses. All courses cost £40.00 for a ten week session. To book online go to our website at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com or give us a call at Fir Park on 01698 239 926. Book your place soon as places are limited.