Motherwell FC News – August 1999
Motherwell FC News
August 1999
29.08.99
No updates until the weekend I’m afraid, as I’m working in London this week!
26.08.99
The Sun reports that Motherwell have two Dutch defenders on trial. John Veldman, who has played with a host of clubs including PSV and Ajax, and Benito Kembley, who also had a spell at Eindhoven, are both free agents.
Motherwell’s close season publicity drive has payed off, with the club achieving record season ticket sales of 4000. The previous best was only 2800.
24.08.99
Ricky’s reports of the games against Raith Rovers and Kilmarnock are now available.
23.08.99
Billy Davies has dismissed rumours linking Motherwell with a move for Celtic captain Tom Boyd.
22.08.99
The draw for the third round of the CIS League Cup took place earlier today, and Motherwell will travel to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle on October 12 or 13.
The club are to make an official complaint about referee Eric Martindale’s handling of yesterday’s game at Rugby Park. The ref managed to book five Motherwell players when there was hardly a bad foul throughout the entire 90 mins.
The first Sweepstake League Table is up-and-running!
20.08.99
Simo Valakari missed Finland’s 4-3 win over Belgium in midweek through injury. Hopefully he will be fit for tomorrow’s trip to Rugby Park. One player who will definitely return to the side is Lee McCulloch, who missed Wednesday’s game against Raith Rovers due to suspension.
Freed Motherwell youngster Stephen Reilly, who was recently on trial with Real Madrid, is returning to Spain next month to be checked out by both Real Zaragoza and Espanol after being recommended by Real Madrid manager John Toshack.
Could any Inter Motherwell players interested in taking part in a friendly next month please get in touch with Ricky or myself as soon as possible? New recruits welcome!
19.08.99
Ricky’s report of the Rangers game is now available. It doesn’t make pleasant reading.
18.08.99
The draw for the next round of the CIS Insurance League Cup will take place on Sunday.
14.08.99
Motherwell free Steven Reilly has just completed a week’s trial with Real Madrid! The 17-year-old left-back, who was released from Fir Park during the summer, is now waiting to hear if he’s done enough to earn a contract.
Don Goodman is suspended for tomorrow’s game at Ibrox. Derek Adams is expected to come in as a straight replacement.
Former Motherwell striker Tommy Coyne has signed a two-month loan deal with Falkirk.
13.08.99
Reports suggest that Motherwell have sold a record number of season tickets this year, believed to be in the region of 4,500.
Motherwell legend Steve Kirk, now manager of East Fife, has signed ex-‘Well players Rab Shannon and Paul McGrillen. Shannon is returning to Scotland after a spell in Australia and McGrillen is heading for Bayview after being freed by Airdrie.
11.08.99
Apologies for the lack of updates recently, but I’m having problems with my PC and am unable to access my email. I’m afraid this site will only be updated fairly infrequently until my PC is fixed.
Our CIS Insurance Cup tie against Raith Rovers has been put back 24 hours and will now take place on Wednesday August 18 at Starks Park.
Simo Valakari has been called up to the Finland International squad for their friendly against Belgium next Wednesday. This means he will miss the Raith Rovers game that night.
Former Motherwell captain Chris McCart has been appointed Celtic’s new Youth Development Officer. And Steve Kirk, now player/manager at East Fife, will be out for around six weeks after damaging his neck and chest wall in his side’s recent game against Berwick. Initially, Kirkie feared he’d broken his neck.
Reports suggest that the club will play their reserve games this season at Airdrie’s Shyberry Excelsior Stadium.
Motherwell’s official match programme for the new season has been reduced in price to £1.00. The edition for Saturday’s game against Dundee Utd gave details of how the club will be running subsidised buses from Strathaven and East Kilbride to home games this season.
A financial report for season 1997/98 has revealed that Motherwell paid the lowest wages and had the smallest turnover in the Premier League that season.
Ricky’s report of the Dundee Utd game is now available.
10.08.99
Former Motherwell midfielder Eliphas Shivute has become the most expensive player in Chinese football history when he joined Shenzhen from Dallan Wanda for £350,000.
Michael Doesburg has revealed how he made a miraculous recovery to face Hibs last week, just 24 hours after suffering an all-night fever. Michael’s temperature shot up to a worrying 39.5 degrees early on Friday morning, but just a day later and still struggling from the after effects of the illness, he starred at Easter Road.
01.08.99
Motherwell have banned the players from Fir Park for the next 48 hours in a bid to clear up the virus that has decimated the team. The club’s request to have yesterday’s game against Hibs postponed was turned down, resulting in Billy Davies fielding a weakened side.
Motherwell will face Raith Rovers at Starks Park in the 2nd Round of the League Cup on Tuesday 17th or Wendesday 18th of August. Raith won their 1st Round tie 1-0 yesterday against Stranraer.
The squad list for the new season is available here.
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