Wednesday’s gathering of history enthusiasts and club supporters was nothing short of a triumph.
An 18 strong crew met in the Davie Cooper Stand’s hospitality boxes, overlooking the lush turf, to work on the Motherwell FC Heritage Group’s pilot Scan-a-Thon. Over 10 hours, they scanned and preserved a treasure trove of home match programmes, covering nearly 14 full seasons from 1948-1949 up to 1959-1960, and the 1962-1964 seasons.
These programmes, from the personal collection of Motherwell FC Club Historian Stuart Graham, tell the story of Motherwell FC’s rollercoaster journey through Scottish football during some of the club’s most iconic years.
Heritage Matters
The significance of this archival effort cannot be overstated. Among the programmes scanned were those from the historic 1950 Scottish League Cup campaign which culminated in Motherwell defeating Hibernian 3-0 at Hampden and the 1952 Scottish Cup home games, which led to the Steelmen’s 4-0 triumph over Dundee. These are not the only highlights, as the project also captured the drama of relegation and promotion, 1953-1954, as well as the exhilarating rise of the legendary Ancell Babes, featuring stars like Ian St John, Andy Paton, Charlie Aitken, John Martis, Pat Delaney, Bobby Roberts and Joe McBride.
One of the standout programmes preserved in the collection is for Fir Park’s record attendance of 35,632 during the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay on 12 March 1952, where Motherwell defeated Rangers 2-1. Another memorable programme was on sale ahead of the club’s record 12-1 victory against Dundee United in 1954, a scoreline that remains etched in the annals of Scottish football history.
Three Cheers for the Volunteers
Brian McCafferty, Heritage Group Lead and former Motherwell FC and Well Society Chairman, reflected on the day’s success. “The Scan-a-Thon was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our club’s rich history and preserve it for future generations. The work we’ve done is more than just digitising old programmes; it’s about keeping the spirit of Motherwell FC alive, celebrating our proudest moments, and learning from the challenges we’ve faced. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who participated and shared their passion for our beloved club.”
Wednesday’s Scan-a-Thon is just the beginning. With the first season of Motherwell FC programmes dating back to 1948-49, there’s still a lot of work ahead. The Heritage Group is committed to refining and optimizing the workflow, ensuring that we can efficiently scan and preserve the entire collection. This event marks a significant step forward, but the journey to fully archive Motherwell FC’s rich history continues with renewed energy and focus.
“This is hugely important and valued work by the Heritage Group – a credit to the club,” said Greg Anderson, Well Society Board Member and Managing Director of Blue Parrot Events Group, who volunteered to work a shift on the Scan-a-Thon.
Again, a huge thank you to all who helped on the day. Until next time ! Heritage really does Matter !
If you are interested in getting involved in our Club’s heritage related work and activities, please let us know via the contact form.
