Fan Zone Brings History to Life at Fir Park

Saturday 4th April 2026: Heritage Trust pop-up in the John Hunter fan zone (image:MFCHT)

Motherwell FC’s 140th anniversary celebrations took another step forward this weekend with the launch of a vibrant new fan zone inside the John Hunter Stand turnstile – where past and present met in spectacular style.

Delivered by the dedicated volunteers of Motherwell Football Club Heritage Trust, supporters were transported back to the club’s golden era of overseas adventure, showcasing the famous tours of 1927 and 1928. At the heart of the display were the iconic Copa del Rey trophy – won after defeating Real Madrid – and the Argentina Cup from the historic South American tour.

The response from supporters was outstanding. Fans turned out in their hundreds – including visitors from Denmark, Germany and Portugal – queuing to get a close-up look at the silverware and capture photos with these remarkable pieces of Motherwell history. For many, it was a rare chance to connect with a story that still defines the club’s identity nearly a century on.

Nick Mackie, Trustee and Head of Operations, said, “This is exactly what the Heritage Trust is about – bringing our history to life in a way supporters can see, feel and be part of. To have hundreds of fans engaging with these trophies, taking photos and sharing the moment shows just how powerful our story is. These tours put Motherwell on the world stage – and they still inspire today.”

The exhibition also marks the beginning of a wider storytelling project. The Heritage Trust has announced the upcoming release of Steve Young’s book, Well Beyond Scotland, due this autumn, charting these extraordinary tours in detail. Supporters can now register their interest and pre-order here.

Attention now turns to the next major event in the anniversary calendar. On Friday 15 May – on the eve of the final game of the season – the Heritage Trust and Former Players Club will host a special gala dinner at Dalziel Park. The evening will feature manager Jens Berthel Askou alongside club legends Willie Pettigrew, Stevie Kirk, Stephen Craigan and John Gahagan. Tickets are now available here.

Adding to the matchday experience, the fan zone also featured a barista coffee cart operated by Bean2Work, a community interest company dedicated to training people for careers in hospitality – ensuring the initiative delivers both heritage and community impact.

The fan zone is a Club initiative, working with LCL Landscaping & Groundcare to create a multi-use space between the John Hunter and Davie Cooper Stands to enhance the match day experience for supporters and visitors.

Join the Stadium Tour Team

Nick Mackie, Trustee, Motherwell Football Club Heritage Trust, at Fir Park Stadium

Become a Stadium Heritage Tour Guide at Fir Park

Motherwell Football Club Heritage Trust is excited to announce that we are developing a programme of stadium and heritage experiences at Fir Park.

To make this possible, we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to be trained as Tour Guides – helping to share the stories of the club, the players, and the community that built Motherwell FC.

What the Role Involves

 As part of a friendly team, you may help with:

  • Guiding small groups around Fir Park
  • Talking about club history, famous matches and legendary players
  • Demonstrating items from our museum collection & archives
  • Helping with school visits / community groups
  • Matchday “pop-up” history displays
  • Welcoming visitors and answering questions

You don’t need to be an expert already – full guidance and information will be provided. What matters most is enthusiasm, reliability and good communication skills.

All volunteers will be registered through the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme to ensure a safe and responsible environment for everyone taking part in our tours and heritage activities.

When & Where

  • Based at Fir Park Stadium
  • Possible weekday tours or school visits
  • Training provided
  • Team-based approach – no one will be “thrown in at the deep end”!

Ideal For

  • Supporters with a passion for Motherwell history
  • Retired fans looking to stay involved
  • Students seeking experience in tourism, museums or education
  • Anyone who enjoys speaking to people and sharing stories

Interested? Let’s talk.

Email Nick Mackie, Trustee – Operations admin@mfcheritagetrust.com or use this website’s contact form

Volunteers Wanted: Help Build Motherwell FC’s Digital Heritage

Join the MFC Heritage Trust to catalogue history, power our virtual museum, and grow our online archive.

The MFC Heritage Trust is growing fast. As we continue to develop our historical archive and our online virtual museum, we’re inviting suitably experienced volunteers to take ownership of several key tasks that will have a lasting impact on how Motherwell’s story is preserved and shared.

Whether you can join us once a week at Fir Park or prefer to contribute from home, we’d love to hear from you.

Roles we’re recruiting for

 1) Catalogue Our Image Bank

We hold several hundred images spanning the 1890s to the present day. Help us:

  • Organise, describe and date images to professional standards
  • Add captions, credits and usage notes
  • Create consistent filenames and metadata for easy search and retrieval

Helpful skills: experience with digital archiving or libraries, attention to detail, familiarity with metadata.

 2) Create Searchable PDFs of Match Programmes

We have a large collection of scanned match programmes to convert into accessible, searchable PDFs. View samples here: mfcheritagetrust.org/gallery/match-programmes

Helpful skills: Adobe InDesign (ideally), OCR workflows, PDF optimisation, accessibility basics (bookmarks, reading order, alt text for covers).

3) Webmasters (WordPress & Elementor)

Support content uploads and help keep our sites secure and up to date. See: mfcheritagetrust.com

Helpful skills: WordPress, Elementor, media optimisation, routine updates/backups, security best practice.

4) Player Archive Developer (SportsPress Pro)

Help build our player archive using the SportsPress Pro plugin.
Helpful skills: WordPress custom post types, SportsPress configuration, data entry standards, CSV imports, taxonomies, simple data modelling.

Time & location

  • Team rhythm: Ideally one collaborative session per week.
  • Flexibility: We’re happy for volunteers to work from home and fit tasks around life away from Fir Park.
  • Support: You’ll join a welcoming, knowledgeable team – and make a tangible contribution to the club’s heritage.

 What you’ll gain

  • Real-world portfolio pieces and credit for your contributions
  • Experience with digital preservation tools and workflows
  • The satisfaction of helping take our club’s history to supporters of the glorious game globally

How to apply

Please email Nick Mackie, Trustee – Operations at admin@mfcheritagetrust.com or use the contact form.

Let’s Make History Together

 

Bring Motherwell FC’s History to Life – Join Our Heritage Trust Volunteer Team

Motherwell Football Club has a proud and storied history, and with the recent launch of the Motherwell Football Club Heritage Trust, we’re eager to welcome volunteers who are as passionate about preserving this legacy as we are. This is a unique opportunity to help build a lasting tribute to our club’s heritage, connecting fans with the rich moments, stories, and memorabilia that define our community.

At our first board meeting on Wednesday, 30th October 2024, our Trustees identified three key areas where dedicated volunteers can make a meaningful impact: archiving, website management, and media production. If you’re experienced in any of these fields and driven to preserve the legacy of Motherwell FC, there’s a place for you in the Heritage Trust. Here are the roles that can benefit most from your expertise:

Key Volunteer Roles

  1. Archivist
    As the Trust’s Archivist, you’ll work closely with Stuart Graham (Trustee, Club Historian) in cataloguing and managing a wide range of historical materials, including photographs, manuscripts, audiovisual recordings, and digital files. This role is ideal for someone experienced in archival management and preservation who wants to make a long-lasting impact on the club’s legacy.
  2. Webmasters
    If you have experience with WordPress, consider joining our Webmasters team! In this role, you’ll support Kevin Tweedlie (Trustee, Digital Design and Development) in building and maintaining our virtual museum—a space where fans worldwide can access the history of Motherwell FC. We’ll provide training to help you refine your skills as you bring our club’s history online.
  3. Media Content Producers
    Are you skilled in photography, videography, or media production software like Premier Pro or Final Cut? Join our team to help bring Motherwell FC’s story to life through captivating content! Working with Nick Mackie (Trustee, Operations and Communications) you’ll produce engaging multimedia for our virtual museum, social media, and events, capturing the spirit and legacy of the club.

 How to Get Involved

If you’re ready to share your talents and become part of “Team Heritage,” reach out to us at admin@mfcheritagetrust.com . This is a chance to make a real impact, connect with fellow fans, and bring the story of Motherwell FC to life for future generations.

Join us in celebrating and protecting the legacy of Motherwell FC—your contribution will help ensure that our club’s spirit lives on. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Motherwell FC Heritage Trust community!