From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Motherwell F.C. Under-20s and Academy
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| clubname | Motherwell Under-20s |
| image | File:Motherwell FC logo.png |
| fullname | Motherwell Football Club Under-20s |
In addition to the Motherwell F.C. first team, competing in the Scottish Premiership, the club also has a reserve team who play in the SPFL Reserve League as well as younger age group teams in their youth system. They fielded a reserve team in defunct competitions for many years.
Reserve Team
In the early 1950s, reserve teams were incorporated into the third tier of the senior Scottish Football League, with Motherwell 'A' taking part for six seasons of the arrangement.
Motherwell were an ever-present in the Scottish Premier Reserve League since its formation in the 1998–99 season. Initially starting as an Under-21 league, the reserve league was open to all age groups from season 2004–05.
The Motherwell reserve team withdrew their team from the 2009–10 season due to financial constraints and a lack of support from other clubs, leading to the competition's abandonment. Motherwell Reserves then played friendly matches.
In July 2018, it was reported that reserve leagues would be reintroduced in lieu of the development leagues that had been in place since 2009. The top tier of the new SPFL Reserve League featured 18 clubs, whilst a second-tier reserve League comprised nine clubs. Other than a minimum age of 16, no age restrictions applied to the leagues. At the end of its first season (2018–19) several clubs intimated that they would withdraw from the Reserve League to play a variety of challenge matches, but Motherwell were one of those who chose to remain.
Motherwell Reserves usually played their home matches at Dalziel Park, a sports facility outside Motherwell that is also the training ground of the first-team, but also used Forthbank Stadium in Stirling and Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.
Under 20s Team
History
Until 1998, Motherwell competed in the youth competitions administered by the Scottish Football League. They then took part in the age group leagues run by the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Professional Football League.
From 2015 onwards it is possible for the Well academy to participate in the UEFA Youth League by their under-18 side (previously under-17s) winning the prior season's league at that age group; however this has not yet been achieved.
The Scottish Youth Cup (which began in 1985) is administered separately, with Motherwell winning the competition for the first time in 2016.
For the 2016–17 edition of the Scottish Challenge Cup, under-20 teams of Premiership clubs were granted entry to compete against adult teams for the first time in the modern era. In the 2018–19 edition, with the age now changed to under-21s, Motherwell reached the quarter-final stage, the best performance by a 'colt' team up to that point, losing 2–1 to eventual winners Ross County.
Having played home games at Fir Park, Hannah Park (Shotts) and Creamery Park (Bathgate), their regular stadium is now Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium.
In 2015, former Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan coached the Under-20 side. In 2019, Maurice Ross was appointed coach.
Reserve team
Academy
The club also operates the Motherwell Academy. The academy was formed in 2012, and consists of teams made up of players and coaches from Under-11 to Under-17 level. The youth teams train at a sports facility based within Braidhurst High School.{{cite news|url=https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/the-braidhurst-campus/|title= Academy:The Braidhurst Campus|publisher=Motherwell F.C.
In 2017, the Motherwell academy was one of eight across the country designated 'elite' status on the introduction of Project Brave, an SFA initiative to concentrate the development of the best young players at a smaller number of clubs with high quality facilities and coaching than was previously the case.
Honours
Reserves
- Scottish Reserve League
- Winners: 1912–13
- Runners-up: 1988–89, 1994–95, 2006–07
- SPFL Reserve Cup
- Runners-up: 2018–19
- Scottish 2nd XI Cup
- Winners: 1942–43, 1948–49, 1956–57
- Scottish Reserve League Cup
- Winners: 1987–88
Youths
- Scottish Youth Cup
- Winners: 2016
- Runners-up: 1987
- SPFL Development League
- Runner-up (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
Notes
Graduates
Players who have gone on to play for their country at full international level are marked in bold whilst those still at the club are marked in italics.
- SCO Phil O'Donnell
- SCO Lee McCulloch
- SCO Dougie Ramsay
- SCO Steven Hammell
- SCO James McFadden
- SCO Brian Dempsie
- SCO Stephen Pearson
- SCO Shaun Fagan
- SCO Kenny Wright
- SCO Willie Kinniburgh
- SCO David Clarke
- SCO Kevin MacDonald
- SCO Paul Quinn
- SCO David Clarkson
- SCO Marc Fitzpatrick
- SCO Darren Smith
- SCO Bobby Donnelly
- SCO Adam Coakley
- SCO Mark Reynolds
- SCO Kenny Connolly
- SCO Jamie Murphy
- SCO Bob McHugh
- SCO Steven Saunders
- ENG Shaun Hutchinson
- SCO Paul Slane
- SCO Ross Forbes
- SCO Mark Archdeacon
- SCO Jordan Halsman
- SCO Steven Meechan
- SCO Jamie Pollock
- SCO Gary Smith
- SCO Stuart Carswell
- SCO Steven Lawless
- SCO Ross Stewart
- SCO Craig Moore
- SCO Euan Murray
- SCO Jack Leitch
- SCO Dale Shirkie
- SCO Chris Cadden
- SCO Lee Erwin
- SCO David Ferguson
- SCO Dom Thomas
- SCO Luke Watt
- SCO Ross MacLean
- NIR Ben Hall
- SCO Dylan Mackin
- SCO Jack McMillan
- SCO Jake Hastie
- SCO Allan Campbell
- SCO Adam Livingstone
- SCO David Turnbull
- SCO Barry Maguire
- SCO James Scott
- SCO Jamie Semple
- SCO David Devine
- SCO Max Johnston
- SCO Kian Speirs
- SCO Lennon Miller
- SCO Luca Ross
- SCO Ewan Wilson
- SCO Mark Ferrie
- SCO Dylan Wells
- SCO Brannan McDermott
- SCO Matthew Connelly
- SCO Zander McAllister
Statistics
| Player | Position | Age of debut | Motherwell | International | U21/U23 International | Motherwell Career | Manager | Debut date | Apps | Goals | Country | Apps | Goals | Country | Apps | Goals | Totals | 65 Players | 4,013 | 383 | 13 Players | 98 | 17 | 23 Players | 145 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCO Phil O'Donnell | Midfielder | 1990–1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | Tommy McLean | 233 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Lee McCulloch | Midfielder | 1994–2001 | Alex McLeish | 147 | 27 | 18 | 1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Dougie Ramsay | Midfielder | 1997–2003 | Billy Davies | 42 | 2 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Steven Hammell | Defender | 1999–2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2018 | Billy Davies | 583 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO James McFadden | Forward | 2000–2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Billy Davies | 123 | 44 | 48 | 15 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Brian Dempsie | Defender | 1999–2003 | Billy Davies | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Stephen Pearson | Midfielder | 2000–2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Billy Davies | 142 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Shaun Fagan | Midfielder | 2000–2007 | Eric Black | 84 | 3 | – | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Kenny Wright | Forward | 2002–2006 | Terry Butcher | 26 | 2 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Willie Kinniburgh | Defender | 2001–2008 | Terry Butcher | 65 | 3 | – | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO David Clarke | Midfielder | 1999–2003 | Terry Butcher | 2 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Kevin MacDonald | Midfielder | 1999–2004 | Terry Butcher | 14 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Paul Quinn | Defender | 2002–2009 | Terry Butcher | 183 | 4 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO David Clarkson | Forward | 2002–2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Terry Butcher | 261 | 56 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Marc Fitzpatrick | Defender | 2004–2011 | Terry Butcher | 143 | 5 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Darren Smith | Forward | 2004–2010 | Terry Butcher | 70 | 7 | – | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Bobby Donnelly | Defender | 2005–2007 | Terry Butcher | 6 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Adam Coakley | Forward | 2004–2007 | Terry Butcher | 4 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Mark Reynolds | Defender | 2005–2011 | Terry Butcher | 202 | 6 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Kenny Connolly | Midfieler | 2004–2008 | Maurice Malpas | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jamie Murphy | Forward | 2008–2013 | Maurice Malpas | 215 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCO Bob McHugh | Forward | 2007–2015 | Mark McGhee | 92 | 8 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Steven Saunders | Defender | 2008–2013 | Mark McGhee | 74 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| ENG Shaun Hutchinson | Defender | 2009–2014 | Mark McGhee | 144 | 9 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Paul Slane | Midfielder | 2009–2010 | Mark McGhee | 9 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Ross Forbes | Midfielder | 2007–2012 | Jim Gannon | 77 | 10 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Mark Archdeacon | Forward | 2008–2010 | Jim Gannon | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jordan Halsman | Defender | 2010–2012 | Jim Gannon | 3 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Steven Meechan | Midfielder | 2009–2011 | Jim Gannon | 4 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jamie Pollock | Midfielder | 2009–2012 | Jim Gannon | 5 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Gary Smith | Forward | 2009–2012 | Craig Brown | 4 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Stuart Carswell | Midfielder | 2011–2015 | Stuart McCall | 99 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Steven Lawless | Midfielder | 2009–2012, 2021 | Stuart McCall | 18 | 2 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Ross Stewart | Goalkeeper | 2012–2015 | Stuart McCall | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Craig Moore | Forward | 2011–2017 | Stuart McCall | 30 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Euan Murray | Defender | 2011–2014 | Stuart McCall | 3 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jack Leitch | Midfielder | 2013–2016 | Stuart McCall | 32 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Dale Shirkie | Forward | 2012–2014 | Stuart McCall | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Chris Cadden | Defender | 2013–2019 | Stuart McCall | 139 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCO Lee Erwin | Forward | 2012–2015 | Stuart McCall | 38 | 6 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO David Ferguson | Defender | 2013–2017 | Stuart McCall | 16 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Dom Thomas | Midfielder | 2014–2017 | Stuart McCall | 39 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Luke Watt | Defender | 2014–2018 | Ian Baraclough | 10 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Ross MacLean | Midfielder | 2014–2019 | Ian Baraclough | 22 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| NIR Ben Hall | Defender | 2015–2016 | Mark McGhee | 19 | 1 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Dylan Mackin | Forward | 2013–2017 | Mark McGhee | 5 | 2 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jack McMillan | Defender | 2016–2018 | Mark McGhee | 16 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jake Hastie | Midfielder | 2016–2019 | Mark McGhee | 42 | 8 | – | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Allan Campbell | Midfielder | 2016–2021 | Mark McGhee | 160 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCO Adam Livingstone | Defender | 2017–2020 | Stephen Robinson | 12 | 2 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO David Turnbull | Midfielder | 2017–2020 | Stephen Robinson | 41 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCO Barry Maguire | Midfielder | 2017–2024 | Stephen Robinson | 78 | 2 | – | 8 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO James Scott | Forward | 2017–2020 | Stephen Robinson | 42 | 7 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Jamie Semple | Defender | 2019–2021 | Stephen Robinson | 8 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO David Devine | Defender | 2018–2023 | Stephen Robinson | 3 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Max Johnston | Defender | 2021–2023 | Graham Alexander | 21 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCO Kian Speirs | Midfielder | 2022–2023 | Graham Alexander | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Lennon Miller | Midfielder | 2022–2025 | Steven Hammell | 76 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCO Luca Ross | Forward | 2022– | Steven Hammell | 12 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Ewan Wilson | Defender | 2022– | Stuart Kettlewell | 45 | 1 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Mark Ferrie | Forward | 2022–2025 | Stuart Kettlewell | 12 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Dylan Wells | Midfielder | 2022– | Stuart Kettlewell | 6 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Brannan McDermott | Defender | 2022–2025 | Stuart Kettlewell | 1 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Matthew Connelly | Goalkeeper | 2019– | Jens Berthel Askou | 2 | 0 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| SCO Zander McAllister | Defender | 2024– | Jens Berthel Askou | 3 | 0 | – | – |
Careers elsewhere
A number of players attached to the Academy as schoolboys and scholars, as well as those who signed professionally but never made a first team appearance, have gone on play league football elsewhere. Those that have gone on to play for their country at full international level are marked in bold and those who made their league debut whilst away on loan are marked in Italics
- GHA Alfredo Agyeman
- SCO Adam Asghar
- SCO Jamie Ewings
- SCO David Gormley
- SCO Robbie Hemfrey
- SCO Chris Higgins
- SCO Reece McAlear
- SCO Ross McKinnon
- SCO Stuart McKinstry
- SCO Colbi Mcquarrie
- SCO P. J. Morrison
- SCO Morgyn Neill
- SCO Josh Watt
- SCO Olly Whyte
- SCO Scott Wilson
References
References
- [http://www.oocities.org/br1anmccoll/cdiv.htm Scottish Football League C Division overview], Scottish Football Historical Archive
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot3hist.html Scotland - Final Tables Third Level 1924-2004], [[RSSSF]]
- [http://fchd.info/MOTHERW2.HTM Hibernian Reserves] Football Club History Database
- link. (15 January 2010)
- [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/celtic/4109738/Managers-united-in-call-to-scrap-SPL-reserves.html Managers united in call to scrap SPL reserves], Roddy Forsyth: ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', published 5 January 2009
- (23 July 2018). "SPFL reintroduces reserve leagues after nine-year absence". BBC Sport.
- Jack, Christopher. (1 May 2019). "Rangers and Celtic set to quit SPFL Reserve League in a bid to boost Academy teams". The Herald.
- (12 April 2012). "SPL to create Under-20 league". [[STV Sport]].
- [https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/11/17/scotland/challenge-cup/motherwell-u21/ross-county-fc/2928413/?ICID=PL_MS_02 Motherwell U21 1-2 Ross County], Soccerway, 17 November 2018
- "Fir Park Stadium". Motherwell F.C..
- (10 July 2015). "Former Rangers star Johansson quits Motherwell post and Craigan takes over". Herald & Times Group.
- [https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/squad/reserves/ Reserves: Staff], Motherwell FC
- [https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/recruitment-scouting/ Recruitment & scouting], Motherwell FC
- "Motherwell return for Scott Leitch as former captain is appointed academy director". Daily Record.
- [https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/about-our-academy/ About our academy], Motherwell FC
- (15 November 2017). "Project Brave: Scottish FA confirms eight-club academy elite". BBC Sport.
- (15 November 2017). "SFA confirms Project Brave academy placings". [[The Scotsman]].
- [http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/scottish.htm Senior competition winners], Scottish Football Historical Archive
- [https://uk.soccerway.com/national/scotland/spfl-reserve-cup/20182019/s16517/final-stages/ SPFL Reserve Cup 2018–19], Soccerway
- [https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/academy-graduates/ Academy Graduates], Motherwell FC
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Motherwell F.C. Under-20s and Academy — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report