Motherwell F.C. Under-20s and Academy

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.[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

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.[http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s45 SPL Reserve League - General Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115180328/http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s45 |date=15 January 2010 }}

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.[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 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.{{cite news |title=SPFL reintroduces reserve leagues after nine-year absence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44932616 |accessdate=27 July 2018 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 July 2018}} 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,{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17611585.rangers-and-celtic-set-to-quit-spfl-reserve-league-in-a-bid-to-boost-academy-teams/ |title=Rangers and Celtic set to quit SPFL Reserve League in a bid to boost Academy teams |first=Christopher |last=Jack |work=The Herald |date=1 May 2019 |accessdate=7 August 2019}} 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.

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{{cite news|url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/aberdeen/303285-spl-to-create-under-20-league/|title=SPL to create Under-20 league|date=12 April 2012|publisher=STV Sport|work=sport.stv.tv|accessdate=1 August 2012}} 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.[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

Having played home games at Fir Park,{{cite news|url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/the-club/fir-park/|title=Fir Park Stadium|publisher=Motherwell F.C.|accessdate=1 September 2012}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13416467.Former_Rangers_star_Johansson_quits_Motherwell_post_and_Craigan_takes_over/ |title=Former Rangers star Johansson quits Motherwell post and Craigan takes over |work=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=10 July 2015 |accessdate=16 August 2015}} In 2019, Maurice Ross was appointed coach.[https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/squad/reserves/ Reserves: Staff], Motherwell FC

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{{fs player|no=25|nat=SCO|name=Max Ross|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=SCO|name=Dylan Wells|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=28|nat=SCO|name=Luca Ross|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=30|nat=SCO|name=Brannan McDermott|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=32|nat=SCO|name=Zack Flatman|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=33|nat=SCO|name=Derin Marshall|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=34|nat=SCO|name=Scott Williamson|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=35|nat=SCO|name=Campbell Forrest|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=36|nat=SCO|name=Ross Nelson|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=37|nat=SCO|name=Mikey Booth|pos=MF}}

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{{fs player|no=40|nat=SCO|name=Zack Tomany|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=41|nat=SCO|name=Jack McConnell|pos=GK}}

{{fs player|no=42|nat=SCO|name=Jon-Joe Friel|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=43|nat=SCO|name=Jay Gillies|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=44|nat=SCO|name=Andrew Arnott|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=45|nat=SCO|name=Zander McAllister|pos=DF}}

{{fs player|no=46|nat=SCO|name=Rocco McColn|pos=MF}}

{{fs player|no=47|nat=SCO|name=Nathan Lawson|pos=FW}}

{{fs player|no=48|nat=SCO|name=Harry McLean|pos=FW}}

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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.[https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/recruitment-scouting/ Recruitment & scouting], Motherwell FC 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.

|accessdate=13 August 2018}} From 2013 the director was former Motherwell captain Scott Leitch,{{cite web|title=Motherwell return for Scott Leitch as former captain is appointed academy director|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/motherwell-return-scott-leitch-former-2678758|publisher=Daily Record|accessdate=12 November 2013}} later being replaced by Steven Hammell who also had the same role as a player until his retirement.[https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/about-our-academy/ About our academy], Motherwell FC

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.{{cite web|title=Project Brave: Scottish FA confirms eight-club academy elite |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/41997062|work=BBC Sport|date=15 November 2017|accessdate=29 July 2018}}{{cite web|title=SFA confirms Project Brave academy placings |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/sfa-confirms-project-brave-academy-placings-1-4613908 |work=The Scotsman|date=15 November 2017|accessdate=29 July 2018}}

Reserves

• Scottish Reserve League{{efn|Includes the Scottish Reserve League 1910–1915 / 1945–1949, the Scottish (Reserve) League 1955–1975, the Scottish Reserve League 1975–1998 and the Scottish Premier Reserve League 2004–2009. Any wins in the Scottish Football Alliance (1918–1939) or the SFL Division C (1949–1955) are listed separately. Any wins in the SPL Under-21 league (1998–2004) are listed in the Youth section.}}[http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/scottish.htm Senior competition winners], Scottish Football Historical Archive
• Winners: 1912–13
• Runners-up: 1988–89, 1994–95, 2006–07
• SPFL Reserve Cup
• Runners-up: 2018–19[https://uk.soccerway.com/national/scotland/spfl-reserve-cup/20182019/s16517/final-stages/ SPFL Reserve Cup 2018–19], Soccerway
• 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{{efn|Since 1998; previously known as the Scottish Premier Under-18/Under-19/Under-20 League and SPFL Under-20 League.}}
• Runner-up (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10

{{notelist}}

[https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/academy-graduates/ Academy Graduates], Motherwell FC

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• {{flagicon|SCO}} James McFaddenThis player has also represented their country at full international level.
• {{flagicon|SCO}} David Clarkson
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Mark Reynolds
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Paul Quinn
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Stephen Pearson
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Hammell
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Keith Lasley
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Shaun Fagan
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Lee McCulloch
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jordan Halsman
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Adam Coakley
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jamie Pollock
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Mark Archdeacon
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Paul Slane
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Brian Dempsie
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Meechan
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jamie Murphy
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Robert McHugh
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Forbes
• {{flagicon|SCO}} William Kinniburgh
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Shaun Hutchinson
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Jonathan Page
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Saunders
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Marc Fitzpatrick
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Lawless
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Smith
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Darren Smith
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Steven Hetherington
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Adam Asghar
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Josh Watt
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Lee Erwin
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Moore
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jack Leitch
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Dom Thomas
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Allan Campbell
• {{flagicon|SCO}} David Turnbull
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jake Hastie
• {{flagicon|SCO}} James Scott

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{{reflist}}

• [https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/squad/reserves/ Reserve Squad], Motherwell official website
• [https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/academy/ Academy], Motherwell official website
• [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=3164 SFA Youth Cup results and archive], Scottish Football Association website

{{Motherwell F.C.}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Motherwell F.C. Under-20s and Academy}}

Reserves

Category:Youth football in Scotland

Category:Scottish reserve football teams

Category:Football academies in Scotland