[The Well Support]

An interesting subject.

 

Overall, I think our support is quite poor towards our team. There's the getting on players back and abuse that has already been touched on, but something else that really infuriates me about our support is the lack of singing and songs in support of the team. I know obviously since the terraces were abolished the atmosphere inside football grounds has been greatly subdued, but even back in the day, our support would only sing at the start, and again near the end of a game providing that we were winning. We also never seem able to come up with any original songs to sing either. Apart from "Motherwell Motherwell" and "Well Well, Super Well" all we get is "There's only one - enter player's name -", and songs copied from other teams like "We are the Motherwell FC" - obviously adding Motherwell instead of an other team's name. Can't we think up something of our own to sing???

[Why Do We Hate Hearts So Much?]

Goes back a lot further than that my friend.

 

My father used to talk of a great Motherwell -v- Hearts rivalry in the 1950's, when both clubs had fairly decent sides and relative success on the park.

 

Then there's something missed so far........ Motherwell - Hearts, where west meets east (before Livingston). Lanarkshire borders West Lothian and fans of both clubs were and can be found in border towns such as Forth, Bathgate, Armadale, Whitburn, etc., creating a geographic rivalry.

 

Texaco Cup semi of 1970 was my 1st taste of the Jambos, and as I progressed thru my teens the visit of Hearts was an eagerly awaited fixture for us that frequented the shed.

 

I joined BoS in Edinburgh in 1982, ( 1 month after the infamous final game of season 81/82 and the riot in Gorgie Road), and spent 20 years working there (which included 2 stints living in the capital) ................. and Hearts fans are worse than H-uns in my experience.

 

FHW ...... too right !

 

 

I'm just a bit too young to remember that infamous Texaco Cup semi final from 1970, as I would only have been three at the time, but I've heard all about it, especially from my auld man and many others. There's no doubt that there's been some tasy encounters between the clubs down the years. But I just don't buy into this 'rivalry' thing, because in my experience, Hearts fans don't give a shit about us, and I've enountered many of them through living and working in Edinburgh alongside them for the best part of my life. It's like the way our fans feel about Hamilton Accies - they hate us, but we don't care enough about them to hate them in the way they do us.

 

And as for the comment about them being as bad as *banned word*? That's way off the mark I'm afraid, way off. Hearts, like Motherwell, have a small contingent in their support who let their club down with some songs and behaviour at certain games, but they are nowhere near as bad as Rangers fans. I wouldn't go shouting that around Gorgie way I can tell you. Believe me, they hate the *banned word* as much as anyone else does and are embarrassed - just as we are - to be labelled in the same sentence as them. When I started going to games with my dad when I was a wee boy, games against the Old Firm were terrifying affairs as we were completely outnumbered, even in our own ground by them, and they were alot worse then than they are now I can tell you. You spent the entire game dodging flying objects, flying fists and had to listen to their usual sectarian crap right through. Hearts were no angels, but they were never in the same league as Rangers, or Celtic fans for that matter and still aren't.

 

The only time I've ever really disliked Hearts was when Jim Jeffries was there during the mid nineties. His greetin' face coupled with his team of John Robertson & John Colquohoun(two of the worst diving cheats in the history of Scottish football) and the likes of Steve Fulton, Neil Pointon and Neil Berry, Gary Locke and that big French keeper, Rousset. They were just a really detestable team at that time, and we couldn't for the life of us beat them either! Since then though, they've not really bothered me as much although I always enjoy beating them and winding up my Jambo mates.

[Why Do We Hate Hearts So Much?]

The 'hatred' towards Hearts is actually quite childish I think. It's basically down to the fact that back in the 80s and early 90s, we could not buy a result against them for love nor money. Plus, our Cup winning manager Tommy McLean, left us for them. It's an inferiority complex on our part, but that's just part of football, as Airdrie and Accies are the same with us.

 

The much talked about trouble caused by their supporters in the past is very true, I remember it well. However, I always thought that Hibs and Aberdeen fans were every bit as bad, if not worse than Hearts were when they came to Fir Park, and as has already been mentioned, Easter Road was a very intimidating venue for an away supporter back in the day. I've had more hassle on Easter Road than I have had on Gorgie Road down the years.

 

But, at the end of the day, they're all tossers!

[Motherwell v Kilmarnock (Mon)]

Have we won a game where we've lost the first goal this season?

 

 

We beat Saint Mirren 2-1 after going 2-1 down back in September.

 

All in all, not great first half and so frustrating to lose yet another goal from a set piece. However, what a support our club has eh? Only 1-0 down, at home and booing their team off at half time. Get behind the team ffs!

 

Positives to take from that half have to be the debut of young Saunders. He has looked assured, confident and has been absolutely superb. That goal saving challenge when the boy was clean through was something that puts Craigan and co. to shame. His crossing hasn't been too shabby either. Keep it up son!

[Motherwell v Kilmarnock (Mon)]

Radio Clyde just said that Clarky is out with an injured wrist which he picked up during a training ground accident.

 

Aw we need.

 

 

Anyway, I reckon a close 'un tonight and a 1-1 draw.