Ricky's Rant
Ricky's Rant
Due to one thing or another, be it blocked drains or greetin' faced Jambos, it's been donkeys since the last GLF but thankfully here we all are once again. A Happy new Millenniummy thing to one and all. And, as usual, we only make the papers for all the wrong reasons despite a decent last few months ON the park (though not that often at home.......).
Just when I thought that everything was fine and well suddenly three quick-fire incidents thrust Motherwell back onto the Front Page of the Daily Ranger (well, as well all know, papers start from the back). The Sean Teale story is particularly sad as I always found him to be a very outgoing guy, always keen to chat and he was an integral part of our team. However, whatever the truth is regarding the contract or non-existence of one, a couple of things stand out. Firstly, Our Chairman would have to admit it was wrong to publicly criticise Sean for his age and lack of pace.
It isn't the Chairman's place to comment on such things, and anyway, there's no way the Manager, who perhaps is, would do so in such a public environment. Secondly, what Sean said was maybe best left (no matter how accurate, or otherwise) until after his time at the club though it would have been disappointing to hear such a bitter attack on Motherwell at any time, remembering the tirade Bitter Martin hit the club with when he left. And, of course, you also have the probability of most of it being taken in the one hand by the Daily Ranger, minced around in Jim NaeBrain-or empty noggin, and spouted forth in their own version of the "truth". Moving on, there was then the unusual situation of the best part of three pages (YES, 3 FULL Pages) devoted to Motherwell's incessant demolition of Airdire and all that entails. I will say now that there's no way the name of Motherwell Football Club should ever be altered, removed, whatever - and if Mr Boyle underestimates the thinking of the fans on this one then I am afraid he will lose out in a big way as the 'Well fans stay away. We are the Premier team in Lanarkshire, and it should stay that way. I don't imagine for one second the few hundred Airdire fans, and the few who don't like Greyskull, would stand by and watch Airdire disappear.
All really can be said is remember the Hearts-Hibs, Dundee-United, ever Oxford-Reading proposed mergers. Perhaps Inverness worked, but then, that was on a substantially smaller scale than Motherwell and Aidire. It won't work. You can't throw away all the history of Motherwell FC (or Airdire for that matter, not that it has a lot to start with....). There is, however, the theory doing the rounds that the whole charade was designed to encourage someone to rescue Airdire from their pile of sh.. em, debt. The first no chance, the second, thanks to that star of International Footie, Archie - sorry, Gemmel has no connection with this whatsoever. What I meant was Steve Archibald, the John Hendry (last heard of struggling to get a seat on the bench at Pollok Juniors) of his day. Whatever the truth is surrounding the Motherwell - Airdire story, some things remain.
A merger would NOT work, the deletion of the name Motherwell Football Club would NOT be allowed to happen, and the removal of Airdire (or Accies, Albion Rovers for that matter) would scarcely help the crowds at Fir Park. Airdire attract perhaps a maximum of 800 hard-core supporters, Accies maybe half that, and Rovers, well the term negligible springs to mind. If we are struggling to achieve the extra 1000 fans-a-season promoted by the Chairman last season, then surely there are better ways of gaining them than by wiping out the other local teams. And anyway, there really is not a chance of the hard-core support of another team travelling to watch what is considered the "bitter" rivals even if their own team no longer exists. Perhaps a few hundred, at blind optimistic best, though even those gained would be far out-weighed by the fans of Motherwell turning their back on a "Lanarkshire United". In April 1986 Motherwell faced Hibs at Fir Park in front of 2369 fans. At the back end of 1999 there were some 9000 there - don't le what has taken years to build.
I must give a special mention to Spenny as well, he got ripped apart on more than one occasion by certain elements of the crowd, I wonder if these people were still screaming abuse at the man after his great show this season - everyone goes off form at some point, it's worth remembering that. He'd be the first to admit things didn't go according to plan last season, but he's more than making up for that now. Also, I couldn't believe the way some folk were booing the team against Rangers. Yes, it was gutting, I was as angry as the next person, but it was a bad, bad day which, no matter who you are, will happen from time to time. Just ask ManUre!! The true fans stayed to the end, even retained their sense of humour. One thing did amaze me that day, though. Somebody threw a scarf onto the park at the end of the game. A bad enough thing to happen perhaps, but a Newcastle scarf?!?!?!:?!
This winter shut-down has been an absolute nightmare, but then considering the lack of consistency in the fixture list this season it's something we Motherwell fans should be well used to by now. The weather really hasn't been that bad this winter, it has been raining a fair bit but prior to this season hands up anyone who remembers a Fir Park game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch in the past - didn't think there would be many if any. Motherwell used the break positively to get some hard training down in a good environment, whereas the Old Squirm, still bleating on about too many fixtures (the most recent being Greyskull who want to make the Scottish Cup a knock-out tournament to prevent replays - so they can take part in the third-rate Euro Losers League) go off and play friendlies in other countries.
Loule were denied a win in the 73rdminute of injury time. The Old Squirm weren't the only ones right enough, The Sheep actually won a match away from home (no, they didn't play Motherwell) against Dusseldorf ladies, though quite what playing a friendly achieves is questionable. A break is supposed to be just that, a chance to recover from injuries or get some hard training done and not risk unnecessary injuries, though it looks like they all managed to escape lightly. Have to say though, bit of a Scheidt break for Rafael, wasn't it, with the recent Op?!?! Anyway, no footie for five weeks, constant visits to all sorts of shops, this aint good - anyone for a petition banning one next season?
My other gripe at the moment is with the SPL, why on earth do we have to start the season at the end of July? Oh, sorry, I forgot, the Old Squirm continually letting us down year after year (yeh, I know, the rest aint doing so well, but we don't lay claim to the trophy at the beginning of each year, do we?) meaning every Scottish team has to start in the preliminary preliminary round which gives you entry to the preliminary round of the prelims. It's got nothing to do with the fact I'll miss the start of the season for the second year in-a-row, honest. It'll be unbearable, I'll have to go from the Cup Final to the 7thof August without seeing the 'Well - still, a Cup Win would help go some way to alleviating the stress caused.
In the twenty-odd years I have supported Motherwell there have been plenty of highs and all too many lows. You could go from the euphoria of the Cup win, the rush of Dortmund, the sheer joy of denying Greyskull their 9-in-a-row party, and ending a run of six defeats by winning at the home of the great unwashed. Then there was the Ferret leading the 'Well squad up the stairs of the 40-capacity "Main Stand" at Station Park, Forfar when the First Division was secured in 1985, with a female Plod running around the ground chasing several fans who had "borrowed" the number boards for the subs. Softie sending his penalty over at Hampden, then Psycho's somersault after the 'Well gained sweet revenge in '91. Lee hitting the post in Anjalankoski, TC curling the ball round Stefan Klown but also round the post. Superb goals like the fifteen-pass move which the BD rounded off against Partick, Psycho as above, Big Mitch against the Pratts, or Spenny to down Greyskull - though had Michel Doesburg connected right that would have eclipsed all, except in the eyes of the Weeji Meejia. And players, TC, Psycho Forbes and O'Neill, Shuggie Sproat, Dougie Arnott, John Spencer, Johnny Gahagan - some greats, some numpties (Paul Baker, Paul Jones, Bawford Craptie, Alan Sneddon, Ruby Murray, Joe Carson), but all having the undoubted distinction of wearing the claret and amber in combat - an honour to be cherished!!
We've got a ground to be proud of (though not a pitch), a team which we can boast about, let's give them the backing they deserve. Fortunately there are more who will rather than not - do you think the Old Squirm fans would retain their sense of humour when five goals behind? We are different. For over a hundred years we have been Motherwell, we are Motherwell, and will remain Motherwell.
Cheers, Ricky
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