Motherwell FC News – September 1999
Motherwell FC News
September 1999
25.09.99
Craig Brown has dismissed newspaper reports that Andy Goram is set to return to the Scotland squad. Brown says he is perfectly happy with the goalkeepers he has at his disposal at present.
Ricky has written a report of Monday night’s wash-out against Hearts.
I’m away from home again this week, but this time it’s nothing to do with work. I’m taking a well deserved week’s holiday in Majorca, so I’m afraid the site won’t be updated again until I get back. I’m actually pretty glad that the Aberdeen match has been postponed, as it means I’m not missing any games while I’m away :o) However, it also means that Inter Motherwell will benefit from my silky ball skills once the Inter MaLam game is re-scheduled 🙁
24.09.99
Tomorrow’s game against Aberdeen has been postponed as the Fir Park pitch still hasn’t recovered from the torrential rain which forced Monday night’s match against Hearts to be abandoned. It appears there is a problem with the drainage system in a certain area of the pitch. No new date for the fixture has been announced as yet.
The postponment means that Inter Motherwell’s match against Inter MaLam is also off.
Today’s Daily Record claims that Andy Goram will be re-instated as Scotland’s No. 1 for next week’s Euro 2000 qualifiers against Bosnia and Lithuania. The Goalie announced his retirement from international football when he quit the Scotland training camp in the USA just days before the World Cup in 1998 to sort out his personal life. However, the Record reports that a secret meeting with Scotland boss Craig Brown has persuaded Goram to do a U-turn. The full story is available from the Daily Record Web site.
The Hearts game has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, November 23. It will again be shown live on Sky TV.
21.09.99
Controversy surrounds referee John Rowbotham’s decision to call off last night’s Motherwell v Hearts game at half time. ‘Well chairman John Boyle has accused the Edinburgh club of unfairly influencing the referee’s decision to abandon the match. It turns out that Hearts’ chief executive Chris Robinson, an influencial figure in the SPL, went into the referee’s room at the interval to protest against the game continuing. Boyle responded by saying:
“We were disappointed but what distresses me is that the Hearts chief executive went into the referee’s room at half-time to make a protest,. I think that was absolutely out of order. If the referee makes a decision, then we are happy to abide by it – but we are not happy if he has been unduly influenced. I don’t think it was an issue of players’ safety – we feel really aggrieved that this game has been postponed.”
“This is Scotland, this is football, we play in difficult conditions – that’s what we do. So we are upset that this game has been called off, but our staff are working to issue everyone with match abandoned tickets. All our fans and all Hearts fans will get into the replay for free.”
“I would have preferred if the referee had made his decision completely impartially. We understand that Hearts made protestations in advance of that. I think that the game tonight should have gone ahead – but the referee made his decision and we stand by that.”
It appears that Ceefax made a bit of a mistake when they claimed the replay would go ahead next Monday (Sept 27th). According to the club, a new date has yet to be arranged.
An under-18 tournament in memory of Andy Thomson will take place at Dalziel Park this coming Sunday. The tourney kicks-off at 10am and teams representing Motherwell, Rangers, Hearts, Celtic, Albion Rovers, Hibernian and Livingston will participate.
A worrying report suggests that Chapman’s have lost the contract to supply the pies at Fir Park!
A rumour has appeared on the Motherwell mailing list which suggests that John Boyle is unwilling to fund any further transfers as he believes he did enough last season.
20.09.99
Tonight’s game against Hearts was abandoned at half time due to a waterlogged pitch, with Motherwell leading 1-0 thanks to a Shaun Teale penalty after 24 mins. The match has been re-arranged for Monday, September 27 at 7.45pm.
Long term illness victim Kevin Twaddle was on the bench for tonight’s game.
Soccernet reports that Scotland boss Craig Brown has held a secret series of talks with Andy Goram in the hope of securing an international comeback for the 35-year-old.
19.09.99
Ged Brannan has encouraged Motherwell supporters to get behind the team and manager Billy Davies ahead of tomorrow night’s game against Hearts. Ged also insists that Billy Davies is one of best bosses he’s worked under, not only tactically but especially when it comes to man-management. The full article is available from the Sunday Mail Web Site.
Our game at Parkhead has been re-scheduled again, and will now take place on Wednesday, October 27.
An interesting Sunday Herald article on Lee McCulloch is available here.
Ricky’s report of the St Johnstone game is now available.
It has recently been pointed out by fellow ‘Well fan Monica Devlin that I STILL haven’t published the results of the End of Season Poll, for which I apologise most profusely. My only excuse is that I have been very busy at work recently. However, I will do my best to get the results added up and posted to the site later this week. I will also try to get the Sweepstake league table updated after tomorrow night’s game.
12.09.99
Motherwell’s League Cup tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle will take place on Tuesday, October 12 with a 7.30pm kick-off.
The latest rumour doing the rounds is that Hearts are interested in Shaun Teale. Apparently, Shaun was only offered a one-year contract when he wanted a two-year deal. However, the story linking Tom Boyd with a return to Fir Park has been blow out of the water, as the Celtic defender is out for three months with a back injury.
Motherwell’s under-18 side are participating in a charity tournament at Cliftonhill tomorrow evening.
I’m off on my travels again, this time to Paris for a week. It’s a tough life, I know. Anyway, this page won’t be updated again until next weekend.
09.09.99
Just back from another couple of days in London to find that the rumour factory appears to have gone into overdrive in my absence. Following last week’s story about Tom Boyd being lined up for a return to Fir Park, the latest players to be linked with us are Rob McKinnon and Colin Hendry!
The two Dutch trialists we had at Fir Park recently will NOT be offered contracts.
The Motherwell Times reports that Andy Goram will face a late fitness test before Saturday’s game at St Johnstone. The Goalie was using crutches after injuring a hip against Dundee a fortnight ago.
Kevin Twaddle has resumed training after recovering from illness. The £100,000 summer signing from Morton has yet to make his ‘Well debut after being struck down with glandular fever shortly after arriving at Fir Park.
06.09.99
An interview with John Boyle is available to read on the Wishaw Press Web Site.
05.09.99
Our trip to Parkhead next month has been moved back a day to Sunday, October 3 with a 3pm kick-off. This is to allow Celtic an extra day to recover from their UEFA Cup tie on the Thursday night.
04.09.99
Andy Goram suffered a hip knock and heavy bruising during the Dundee match and has spent the week hobbling about on crutches. However, it is expected he will be fit for next week’s game at Perth.
The two Dutch defenders on trial at Fir Park recently have returned to Holland. According to the club, no comment can be made if Billy Davies wants to buy them or not.
Stephen Reilly, the Motherwell free transfer who recently had a trial with Real Madrid, is now with English 1st Division side Chartlon Athletic.
It is rumoured that Tony Thomas may ask for a transfer unless he regains his placs in the side.
Ricky’s report of the Dundee game is now available.
Last month’s news
Back to main page