Motherwell FC News – December 1999
Motherwell FC News
December 1999
27.12.99
Today’s game against Hearts has been postponed as the Fir Park pitch is waterlogged.
24.12.99
Lee McCulloch has turned down the offer of a new contract with Motherwell. Lee still has three years left on his current deal, but has rejected a lucrative extension and wants to see out the remainder of his contract. The club recently knocked back a £1 million bid from Hearts for the 21-year-old, and Spurs and Leeds are also believed to be interested.
Former Motherwell goalkeeper Hastie Weir, one of the famous Ancell Babes, has died after a long illness.
Merry Christmas to all our readers!
22.12.99
Ged Brannan’s booking against Rangers last Saturday took him through the disciplinary points limit, and he will be suspended for Motherwell’s trip to St Johnstone on January 22. However, he will be availavle to face Hearts on Monday.
Ricky’s report of the Rangers game is now available.
21.12.99
The Sun reports that Rob Matthaei faces being fined by the club after his amazing outburst against Billy Davies in the Dutch press, and is unlikely to play for Motherwell again.
Rangers midfielder Giovanni van Bronkhorst has been cleared by the SFA after he deliberately booted the ball into the East Stand during Saturday’s match, striking a pensioner in the face. The incident was not mentioned in the referee’s report.
20.12.99
Rob Matthaei has hit out at Billy Davies in an astonishing newspaper article. Under the headline “I’d have hit Davies if I was younger”, Rob claims that Davies refuses to pick him for the first team because he used to keep Davies out of the side when they were both players. Matthaei also says he would be happy to move to another Scottish club because he likes living in the country. The full article is available from the Daily Record Web Site.
Rangers’ midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst has apologised for booting the ball into the East Stand on Saturday, hitting an OAP full in the face. The incident occured after a ‘Well fan had thrown the ball at Barry Ferguson as he went to take a throw-in. It remains to be seen if van Bronckhorst features in the referee’s report to the SFA. Several Motherwell supporters also made statements to the Police.
19.12.99
Newspaper reports claim that a Motherwell fan was injured when Rangers midfielder Giovanni van Bronkhorst deliberately booted the ball into the East Stand yesterday. The incident occured after a ‘Well supporter was ejected for throwing the ball at Barry Ferguson, and as the ball bounced back on to the pitch, Van Bronkhorst retaliated by kicking it into the crowd. An OAP was hit in the face, but fortunately he didn’t require medical attention. A number of Motherwell fans sitting in the East Stand made statements to the Police.
17.12.99
The Sun reports that Andy Goram, Don Goodman and Kevin Twaddle are doubtful for tomorrow’s game against Rangers. Of the three, Goram is the most likely to play after recovering from his calf injury, but Goodman (groin) and Twaddle (virus) are still struggling.
16.12.99
The Motherwell Times reports that Andy Goram has recovered from his calf injury and will play against Rangers on Saturday.
15.12.99
Remember when seven ‘Well fans (inluding myself) visited London recently to appear on Sky Soccer AM? Well, the photos of our day out are now available!
Here’s me with the very lovely Soccerette, Angela. Hmmm, nice!
And here’s Ally with the even more lovely Helen Chaimberlain, who co-presents the show. Need anyone ask why Ally is smiling?
Finally, a charming photo of myself with the Mailing List guru himself, Drew Buddie!
Watch this space for more photos!
Ricky’s report of the Hibs game is now available.
12.12.99
Simo Valakari has revealed he wants to stay at Fir Park after his contract expires at the end of the season. AIK Solna and Bronby are believed to be keeping tabs on the Finnish Internationalist.
09.12.99
The Motherwell squad will spend the winter shutdown in the Algarve. However, Billy Davies has warned his players it won’t be a holiday they’re heading for, with double training sessions planned.
The Aberdeen gave has been re-arranged for Wednesday, January 26. Just the ideal time of year for a midweek trip to Pittodrie.
Andy Goram still hasn’t fully recoverd from his calf injury, so Steve Woods will continue in goal at Easter Road on Saturday.
Newspaper reports have revealed that the transfer fee involved in bringing 17-year-old Highland League striker Martin Wood to Fir Park was in the region of £10,000.
08.12.99
Tonight’s game against Killie has been postponed as the Fir Park pitch is waterlogged. There’s no news yet of a re-arranged date for the fixture.
Motherwell have completed the signing of 17-year-old Rothes striker Martin Wood for a nominal fee.
06.12.99
Motherwell have been allocated just over 700 tickets for Saturday’s game at Easter Road, and they are for the West Lower South and Upper South sections of the old Main Stand. Tickets for the Rangers game at Fir Park on Saturday, December 18, go on sale on Wednesday.
05.12.99
Everyone’s favorite newspaper, the Sunday Mail, reports that Billy Davies is about to commence talks with John Boyle over a new contract. Apparently, Davies only has a one-year roll-over deal until next October, and the Mail claims that he could quit unless he gets the going rate for an SPL boss. The Manager of the Month for November said:
“My probation is now over and I’m looking for a longer contract with more security. I hope to sit down with club officials soon to get it sorted out.”
Another report in the Mail claims that John Boyle and Pat Nevin are set to host their own radio talk show on new Lanarkshire station, Clan FM. John Boyle is a major shareholder in the station.
03.12.99
Tomorrow’s match at Aberdeen has been postponed due to the Pittodrie pitch being waterlogged. No new date has yet been announced.
Billy Davies is to offer Lee McCulloch a new contract in a bid to keep him at Fir Park. Davies said:
“In the next couple of days we’ll be sitting down with him and seeing what’s happening with his contract situation. We’ll get everything tied up from there. He’s still got another couple of years on his contract at this club and as far as I’m concerned he’s a Motherwell player.
02.12.99
Lee McCulloch missed last night’s game at Tannadice after suffering a bout of food poisoning.
Ricky’s report of the match is available here.
01.12.99
Billy Davies has been voted SPL manager of the month for November, his second consecutive award.
Michael Doesburg has revealed he wants to sign a new contract with Motherwell and see out his playing days at the club. The 31-year-old, who’s present deal expires at the end of the season, said:
“Ideally, I’d like to get the contract sorted out before the winter break in January. I know that I’m free to talk with any club from January 1, but I like Motherwell and I hope they like me too. In 1998, I was talking over a deal with AZ Alkmaar coach Wim Van Hanagem which would have seen me combine coaching the under-21 team and playing for the first team. I earned my coaching diploma in Holland and I want to go into management when I finally finish as a player. But Motherwell made me an offer and I decided to risk the move. Initially it was a bit unsettling moving here with two small kids. My wife was worried about everyday things like driving on the left side of the road, while our son, Ruben, was only nine weeks old which made the move to Scotland even more difficult. But now Ruben and my four-year-old daughter Quinty love it here. Quinty has a lot of new friends and speaks like a native. My wife and I both learned English at school but it’s sounds nothing like the dialect in Lanarkshire!”
Last month’s news
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