Our third place finish in season 1993/4 earned a place in the Uefa Cup and on 9 August 1994 Havnar Boltfelag from the Faroes arrived at Fir Park for the first leg.
Tommy McLean had departed in the close season and Alex McLeish has taken up post as player manager. This was his first competitive match and it took place while the stadium was undergoing a major change. What was to become the Cooper Stand was emerging from the old terracing and for this tie Motherwell fans occupied the other three sides. Many took to the opportunity of watching from the new South Stand.
It was obvious early on that we had the expected fitness advantage over the amateurs but we had to wait 21 minutes for the opening goal. McKinnon crossed from the left, Lambert touched it on to Coyne and the low drive found the net. We were on the way.
McGrillen added a second seven minutes later when he volleyed Dolan’s cross high into the net. The flood of goals failed to materialise but the tie was finished when super sub Kirk scored inside the last ten minutes.
The visitors had not been overwhelmed and their organisation and enthusiasm were enough to cause us some concern but there was a genuine belief that we had done enough to win the tie.
Team: Woods, Shannon, McKinnon, Philliben, Martin, McCart, Lambert, Dolan, McGrillen, O’Donnell, Coyne Subs: Kirk, Allen, Davies, Burns, Ritchie.