(Taken from the Motherwell Times centenary edition 1983)
Motherwell FC nicknames over the clubs history have ranged from the dossersto the Steelmen,with a few others - less printable thrown in for good measure. The Steelmen however, or the Well have become more generally acceptable.
Mr Ian McFadyen, sr. Glen Tower, brother of Scottish League record goal-scorer Willy tells the story that on one occasion when he travelled to Yorkshire to see Huddersfield Town play Chelsea: he shouted: at a break in the game: Come away the DossersHis brother, Willie (playing centre-forward for Huddersfield) was in direct opposition to fellow League Championship medal winner, Alan Craig, who was playing centre-half for Chelsea. Both turned towards the stand in an effort to see who had reminded them of the Dossers How did that nickname originate anyway?
As swimming was later to be come synonymous with the mention of Motherwell in the mid 30s the 40s and the 50s, football had blazed the trail in this respect in the 20s and mid 30s.
In Motherwell achievements were positively outstanding.
In the well-received ;Glory Daysarticle in the Motherwell Times last summer, researchers quite clearly indicated that when Motherwell FC won the Scottish League Championship at the end of the season 1931-1932 that achievement could not be described as a flash-in-the-pan. To illustrate this, in season 1934-1935 Hamilton Accies and St. Johnston would you believe finished fourth and fifth position of the league ahead of Motherwell who were seventh. In season 1937 Falkirk finished fourth to Motherwell fifth.
Aberdeen in 1934-35; 35-36 and 36-37 were certainly challengers ahead of Motherwell, as were Hearts in 1934-35 and 1937-38 but, for them - and the rest there was nothing to compare with Motherwells record of achievement which lasted from season 1926-27 until season 1937-38.
That League Championship win - sweet music as it may well be to the ears of the Claret and Amber faithful was but the pinnacle of a truly purple patch at Fir Park.
From season 1926-1927 and for the following eight seasons- Motherwells positions in the Scottish League were second, third, third, second, third, first, second and second. For seven of those eight seasons, Rangers were Champions and even the great Celtic teams record was not as good as Motherwell, since the Celtic finished third, second, second, fourth and third.
Quite apart from Motherwell's rise to fame over the period 1928-36, the club showed commendable enterprise in displaying furth of these shores the undoubted talents of the players who wore the distinctive claret and amber jerseys. Manager John Hunter was never one to see his playing staff being idle if there was the prospect of games with free Saturdays during the football season.
In this way matches with English FA and Irish FA teams were hurriedly arranged, and the overall result was that the Fir Parkers steadily built up an approach to such games against the unknown opposition that allowed the side to enhance its reputation in England, Ireland and, just before the Second World War, in France to such an extent that what occasionally constituted necessity in competitiveness became an undeniable pleasure in these friendly fixtures.
Consequently, the reputation of Motherwell FC as a football-playing combine grew and grew. During these palmy days, home gates were overcome by attendance figures at away games. Neutral supporters flocked to see these aristocrats of football playing all over Scotland. The skills they displayed were admired more and more, and, in the midst of it all, a decision was taken to embark on foreign tours. Viewed from the terracing of today, the fact that Motherwell successfully toured Spain, Argentina and South Africa (twice) over 50 years ago in three of these tours out of four is incredible.
Dalziel Parish
1798
Parish of Dalziel
1836
1942-2001
