The 2008–09 season was Motherwell's 11th season in the Scottish Premier League, and their 24th consecutive season in the top division of Scottish football. As well as the SPL, the club competed in the Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, and the UEFA Cup for the first time in 13 years.
Season review On 10 July, Bob Malcolm signed a new one-year contract with the club.
On 8 August, Motherwell announced the signing of Jim O'Brien to a two-year contract from Celtic, and the six-month loan signing of Gunnar Nielsen from Blackburn Rovers.
On 19 August, Motherwell signed John Sutton to a three-year contract from Wycombe Wanderers.
On 1 September, Motherwell signed Maroš Klimpl on loan from Midtjylland for five-months.
On 2 January, Artur Krysiak joined Motherwell on loan from Birmingham City until the end of the season, whilst Maroš Klimpl extended his loan stay from Midtjylland until the summer.
On 19 January, Motherwell signed a pre-contract agreement with Michael Fraser, with the goalkeeper joining from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the summer.
On 24 January, Ross Forbes joined Dumbarton for the remainder of the season.
On 2 February, Cillian Sheridan joined Motherwell on loan from Celtic for the remainder of the season, whilst Semih Aydilek joined from Birmingham City on a similar deal. The following day, 3 February, Chris Porter left the club, signing for Derby County for an undisclosed fee of around £400,000
On 12 June 2009, Mark McGhee left the club to become manager of Aberdeen with Assistant Scott Leitch and goalkeeping coach Colin Meldrum also leaving for the Pittodrie outfit.Dons Welcome Returning Hero, BBC Sport, 12 June 2009
Squad
No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Contract ends Apps. Goals Goalkeepers 1 Graeme Smith GK Rangers 2005 147 0 21 Artur Krysiak GK on loan from Birmingham City 2009 2009 1 0 Defenders 2 Paul Quinn DF Academy 2002 184 5 3 Steven Hammell DF Southend United 2008 2010 301 2 4 Mark Reynolds DF Academy 2004 2010 128 2 5 Stephen Craigan (captain) DF Partick Thistle 2003 260 9 6 Brian McLean DF Rangers 2006 2009 61 6 37 Shaun Hutchinson DF Academy 2008 1 0 40 Jonathan Page DF Portsmouth 2008 3 0 43 Steven Saunders DF Academy 2008 3 0 Midfielders 7 Stephen Hughes MF Leicester City 2007 2009 75 3 17 Bob Malcolm MF Unattached 2008 2009 24 2 12 Darren Smith MF Academy 2004 71 8 13 Maroš Klimpl MF on loan from Midtjylland 2008 2009 24 1 14 Keith Lasley MF Unattached 2006 197 12 16 Marc Fitzpatrick MF Academy 2002 2010 132 5 17 Jim O'Brien MF Celtic 2008 2010 28 1 18 Steven McGarry MF Ross County 2006 2010 99 4 22 Semih Aydilek MF on loan from Birmingham City 2009 2009 0 0 45 Paul Slane MF Academy 2007 1 0 Forwards 9 Cillian Sheridan FW on loan from Celtic 2009 2009 15 2 12 David Clarkson FW Academy 2002 2010 253 55 11 John Sutton FW Wycombe Wanderers 2008 2011 33 12 15 Jamie Murphy FW Academy 2006 53 4 33 Mark Archdeacon FW Academy 2007 0 0 35 Bob McHugh FW Academy 2007 3 0 Away on loan 29 Ross Forbes MF Academy 2008 0 0 Left during the season 9 Chris Porter FW Unattached 2007 2009 67 27 26 Kenny Connolly MF Academy 2004 3 0 Gunnar Nielsen GK on loan from Blackburn Rovers 2008 2008 0 0
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee RefAugust 2010GKSebastian KosiorowskiKorona Kielce 8 August 2008MFJim O'BrienCelticUndisclosed19 August 2008FWJohn SuttonWycombe WanderersUndisclosed
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.8 August 2008GKGunnar NielsenBlackburn Rovers30 December 20081 September 2008DFMaroš KlimplMidtjyllandEnd of season2 January 2009GKArtur KrysiakBirmingham CityEnd of season2 February 2009FWSemih AydilekBirmingham CityEnd of season2 February 2009FWCillian SheridanCelticEnd of season
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.16 June 2008FWMartin GrehanStirling AlbionUndisclosed3 February 2009FWChris PorterDerby CountyUndisclosed
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.24 January 2009MFRoss ForbesDumbartonEnd of season
Released Date Position Nationality Name Joined Date Ref.31 December 2008MFKenny ConnollyAyr United17 January 200931 May 2009GKGraeme SmithBrighton1 July 200931 May 2009DFBrian McLeanFalkirk1 July 200931 May 2009MFStephen HughesNorwich City22 July 200931 May 2009MFBob MalcolmBrisbane Roar31 July 2009
Trial Date from Position Nationality Name Last club Date to Ref.July 2008GKLenny PidgeleyMillwall August 2010GKSebastian KosiorowskiKorona Kielce January 2009DFByron WebsterBaník Most January 2009MFSimon ElliottFulham
Competitions Overview
Premier League
Table
Results summary
Results by round
Results Date Opponent Venue ResultMotherwell's score is shown first. Attendance Motherwell Scorer(s) Report 9 August 2008HeartsTynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh (A)2–3 14,219Clarkson (2) 16 August 2008AberdeenFir Park, Motherwell (H)0–1 5,872 BBC Sport 23 August 2008Dundee UnitedFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–15,149Sutton 30 August 2008HibernianEaster Road, Edinburgh (A)1–011,285Sutton 13 September 2008CelticFir Park, Motherwell (H)2–45,872Clarkson, SuttonBBC Sport 21 September 2008RangersIbrox Stadium, Glasgow (A)1–249,448 BBC Sport 27 September 2008St MirrenFir Park, Motherwell (H)2–14,786 Malcolm, Sutton 5 October 2008FalkirkFir Park, Motherwell(H)3–24,509 Porter, Murphy, Sutton 18 October 2008KilmarnockRugby Park, Kilmarnock (A)0–15,113 25 October 2008Inverness CTCaledonian Stadium, Inverness (A)2–13,110 Malcolm (2) 1 November 2008HamiltonFir Park, Motherwell(H)2–06,205 Porter (2) Sutton 8 November 2008CelticCeltic Park, Glasgow (A)0–256,504 BBC Sport 12 November 2008RangersFir Park, Motherwell (H)0–09,600 BBC Sport 15 November 2008FalkirkFalkirk Stadium, Falkirk (A)0–15,279 22 November 2008HibernianFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–44,957 Malcolm 29 November 2008AberdeenPittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen (A)0–210,302 BBC Sport 15 December 2008KilmarnockFir Park, Motherwell (H)0–23,339 20 December 2008HamiltonNew Douglas Park, Hamilton (A)0–23,527 27 December 2008InvernessFir Park, Motherwell (H)3–24,521Porter (3) 3 January 2009St MirrenLove Street, Paisley (A)0–010,189 7 January 2009HeartsFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–04,928 Porter 17 January 2009Dundee UnitedTannadice, Dundee (A)4–07,090 Klimpl, Porter, Clarkson, Fitzpatrick 24 January 2009FalkirkFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–15,018 Clarkson 31 January 2009HibernianEaster Road, Edinburgh (A)1–110,903 Clarkson 14 February 2009HamiltonFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–05,197 Clarkson 22 February 2009CelticFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–18,593 QuinnBBC Sport 28 February 2009Inverness CTCaledonian Stadium, Inverness (A)2–13,611 Sutton, Sheridan 4 March 2009HeartsTynecastle, Edinburgh (A)1–213,306 HughesBBC Sport 14 March 2009Dundee UnitedFir Park, Motherwell (H)2–14,798 Clarkson, SuttonBBC Sport 21 March 2009KilmarnockRugby Park, Kilmarnock (A)0–05,434 BBC Sport 4 April 2009AberdeenFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–14,686 O'BrienBBC Sport 11 April 2009RangersIbrox Stadium, Glasgow (A)1–3 50,080 SuttonBBC Sport 18 April 2009St MirrenFir Park, Motherwell (H)0–2 6,626 BBC Sport 2 May 2009FalkirkFalkirk Stadium, Falkirk (A)1–2 4,937 Clarkson (pen.)BBC Sport 9 May 2009St MirrenSt Mirren Park, Paisley (A)3–1 4,002 Murphy, Clarkson (2)BBC Sport 13 May 2009Inverness CTFir Park, Motherwell (H) 2–22,818 McLean, SuttonBBC Sport 16 May 2009HamiltonNew Douglas Park, Hamilton (A)3–03,383 Clarkson, Sheridan, SuttonBBC Sport 23 May 2009KilmarnockFir Park, Motherwell (H)1–2 4,186 McLeanBBC Sport
League Cup
Date Round Opponent H/A Score Motherwell Scorer(s) Attendance Report 24 September 2008 3rd Round Hamilton H 1–2 Jamie Murphy 5,590 BBC Sport
UEFA Cup
Date Round Opponent H/A Score Motherwell Scorer(s)The number(s) in brackets shows the minutes of the goal(s) that was/were scored. Attendance Report 18 September 2008 1st Round AS Nancy A 0–1 16,094 BBC Sport 2 October 2008 1st Round AS Nancy H 0–2 11,318 BBC Sport
Scottish Cup
Date Round Opponent H/A Score Motherwell Scorer(s) Attendance Report 2 February 2009 4th Round Inverurie A 3–0 John Sutton (2, 69), David Clarkson (57) 2,500 BBC Sport 7 February 2009 5th Round St Mirren H 1–1 Stephen Hughes (65) 5,695 BBC Sport 19 February 2009 5th Round Replay St Mirren A 0–1 4,555 BBC Sport
Squad statistics
Appearances 'Motherwell F.C. 2008–09 Statistics, Motherwell F.C. Official SiteMotherwell FC season 2008–09, Fir Park Corner
|colspan="14"|Players away from the club on loan: |- |colspan="14"|Players who left Motherwell during the season:
Goal scorers
RankingNationPositionNumberNamePremier LeagueScottish CupLeague CupUEFA CupTotal1 FW10David Clarkson13100142 FW11John Sutton10200123 FW9 Chris Porter900094 MF8 Bob Malcolm30003FW15Jamie Murphy201036 DF28Brian McLean20002FW9 Cillian Sheridan20002MF7 Stephen Hughes110029 DF16Marc Fitzpatrick10001DF13Maroš Klimpl10001MF17Jim O'Brien10001DF12Paul Quinn10001TOTALS4641051
Clean sheets
RankingNationPositionNumberNamePremier LeagueScottish CupLeague CupUEFA CupTotal1 GK1 Graeme Smith910010TOTALS910010
Disciplinary record
NationPositionNumberNamePremier LeagueScottish CupLeague CupUEFA CupTotal GK 1 Graeme Smith3000000030 DF 2 Paul Quinn5200000052 DF 3 Steven Hammell4000100050 DF 4 Mark Reynolds6000100070 DF 5 Stephen Craigan3010000040 DF 6 Brian McLean1000000010 MF 7 Stephen Hughes2000000020 MF 8 Bob Malcolm5000000050 FW 10 David Clarkson6100000061 DF 13 Maroš Klimpl8010000090 MF 14 Keith Lasley7010001090 MF 16 Marc Fitzpatrick1000000010 MF 19 Steven McGarry1000000010Players who left Motherwell during the season: FW 9 Chris Porter0000010001TOTALS523302110584
See also List of Motherwell F.C. seasons
References