Did You Know?


A random assortment of facts and figures

…Motherwell’s first ever senior game saw the side play local rivals Hamilton Academical at their original Roman Road ground in 1886. Motherwell ran out 3-2 winners thanks to two goals from A. Kemp and a third from N. McMaster.

…Motherwell’s record attendance at Fir Park was 35,632 for a Scottish Cup tie with Rangers back in 1952.

…Willie McFadyen holds the record for the most goals scored in one season by a Motherwell player. He bagged 52 goals in 34 games in season 1931/32

…Diminutive striker Dougie Arnott starred for junior sides Lesmahagow and Pollock before arriving at Fir Park in the clubs centenary year of 1986.

…Eliphas Shivute was the first player from the Southern African state of Namibia ever to ply his trade in Scotland.

…Motherwell’s record victory was an astonishingly brilliant 12-1 triumph over Dundee United.

…The Steelmen’s biggest defeat was an embarrassing 8-0 demolition at the hands of Aberdeen.

…Tom Forsyth left Motherwell for Ibrox on the 11th October 1972. Four days later he was playing in a light blue jersey against Motherwell at Fir Park, the ‘Gers won the game 2-0.

…George Watson, Alex Stewart and Wilson Humphries all have scored 6 goals for the club in a single league game. George scored six versus Falkirk in October 1928, Alex bagged two hat-tricks against Celtic in April 1937 and Wilson netted half a dozen over Dundee United in January 1954. Willie McFadyen and Ian St John also scored six but these came in friendly matches versus a South African select side and Flamengo respectively.

…Lennon Miller currently holds the record for being the youngest ever debutant, at the age of 16 years and 6 days he made his debut in a Scottish League Cup tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Fir Park in a 4-0 win on the 31st August 2022, the young midfielder took the record from Darren Smith who at the age of 16 years, 6 months and 6 days made his first team bow also against Inverness CT at Pittodrie in a 1-1 draw on the 3rd October 2004, highly rated winger Tommy Coakley previously held the record as he had made his debut at the tender age of 16 years, 10 months and 11 days vs Kilmarnock on the 1st April 1964.

…Conversely, Goalkeeper Gordon Marshall is the oldest player to have featured in a first team game, his last appearance was in the enthralling 4-4 draw against Celtic on the 30th July 2005 where he was aged 41 years 3 months and 11 days, sadly after picking up an injury he would quickly call it a day on his playing career to concentrate on coaching.