GLF 47: Games I'm glad I never missed!!!!

10. 1981/2, Clydebank (Away)

Anybody who was at Scotland's first all-seated stadium on this occasion
must surely look back in awe at what was put on show by the mighty
Steelmen. In a season that was packed with Motherwell goals, this result stood out a mile above the rest. My abiding memory will be Willie Irvine's superb overhead kick.
Clydebank 1-7 Motherwell

9. 1989/90, Dunfermline Ath. (Away)

Talk about this game and an image of Rab McLaren waiting in vain for a
lift from Willie Rutherglen ( who'd forgotten all about the plan ) in the
Glasgow rain springs to mind. To compound Rabs' misery his hero Johnny " The Gagster " Gahagan had the game of his life which included a never to be forgotten strike from distance.
Dunfermline Ath. 0-5 Motherwell

8. Nov. 1996, Kilmarnock (Away)

A hat-trick from 'Well's finest are, in truth, a rarity, but on this occasion we saw a classic Tommy Coyne treble in the rain. The "Cobra" gave us many brilliant moments, but this one stands out for me as my 4-year old son sat behind the goal that day and took TC for his first ever hero
Kilmarnock 2-4 Motherwell

7. Around 1992, MYPA '47 (Away)

In complete contrast to the first leg, this was a game not to have missed. This game was close to being the Steelmens finest hour. Only the width of the post in injury time stopped Lee McCulloch scoring, and Motherwell from claiming an incredible comeback. This without doubt was Andy Roddies' finest hour in Claret and Amber ( yes folks, he did in fact have one!! ).

MYPA '47 0-2 Motherwell

6. 1986/7, Rangers (Away)

87 minutes of desperate defending was made all worthwhile when Andy
Walker broke down the left. He sent over a teasing cross for Ray
Farningham to bullet a diving header home for the winner. The couple of hundred 'Well fans in the Main Stand couldn't believe it. I still can't.
Rangers 0-1 Motherwell

5. Sept. 1994, Borussia Dortmund (Away)

An unusual choice this game, as we were beaten. But anybody who was there will know why it was so special. Apart from ripping Dortmund apart time after time in the first half, and seeing a heroic display by, wait for it, Stevie Woods, just rubbing shoulders with a real big European Club was a dream come true for all ‘Well fans within that fantastic atmosphere. The Westfalen Stadium was the place for any ‘Well fan to be.
Dortmund 1-0 Motherwell

4. Sept. 2002, Celtic (Home)

I know this was only recently, but with all that the Club had been through in the last year, this game will hold a special place in all our hearts for years to come. Our diamond, James McFadden became the saviour of Scottish Football and a hero to all our kids ( and grown-ups!! ) with his vintage display on Fir Park that night.
Motherwell 2-1 Celtic

3. May 1991, Rangers (Home)

An “exocet Double from Doug Arnott” screamed Derek Rae on Radio Scotland, and Motherwell had hammered the Champions-elect 3-0. This being a couple of weeks before the Scottish Cup win and ‘Well fans all over were wondering what was going on down Fir Park way!! I’ve a brilliant memory of Mark Walters sending a penalty as high as I’ve ever seen one go over the bar. Priceless.
Motherwell 3-0 Rangers

2. May 1991, Dundee Utd (Hampden)

No doubt most of you will have this one down for your best ever game, and no one could argue. Most likely this will have been a lot of ‘Well fans only opportunity to see a trophy being lifted by a Motherwell Captain. My thoughts that night turned to a couple of “nuggets” within a few hundred hardy souls who’d shouted for Tommy McLean’s head after Meadowbank had come from behind to beat us 4-2 a few seasons previous. Strange what a Cup win does to your mind!
Motherwell 4-3 Dundee Utd.

1. April 1991, Celtic (Hampden)

This one tops the lot for me. A goal down within minutes to Celtic in a Cup replay, and the writing appeared to be on the wall. In truth Motherwell should’ve been dead and buried by half-time. After the break however, we saw the kind of stuff that make legends. Arnott, O’Neill and Kirk, each goal better than the last. In the final few minutes, the ‘Well fans were looking at each other, we knew we were home and hosed, but none of us could take it in. What a night.
Motherwell 4-2 Celtic

There you have it, 10 classics games for any “serious” Steelman to be seen at. Too often, we are sent home in a terrible mood after a shoddy display from our favorites, but these are the occasions that make it all worthwhile. Of course there will be many games that could’ve been on my list. Coming from two down to beat Hibs 6-2, David Ferrere’s debut, seven past Clyde in the Scottish and of course, the 12-1 game against Dundee Utd after being one down ( had I been there!! ). Any game defeating Celtic or Rangers warrants a place regardless !! As a postscript to one of my “great games I’ve missed”, guess who couldn’t make it to the Hearts game at Fir Park a few weeks back??? Until the next time, keep the faith.

Eddie Ferguson