I’M WELL AND TRULY SMITTEN WITH THE STEELMEN
Louis on his love affair with Fir Park fans... and the future
THERE is something infectious about Motherwell. Although, that may well depend on which nightclub you frequent...
But there is definitely something about its wee football team, nestled at the top of Airbles Road, that gets under your skin, leaves you tense, nervy and at times downright sick, but every now and again makes you delirious and euphoric to the point where you feel you’re not actually in Motherwell.
Sadly, there are some things a jab of Penicillin just won’t cure. The diagnosis isn’t good, it may just be love.
There are many bitten by the bug who have found it hard to pull themselves away from this fickle mistress. A chunk of the first-team squad – including captain Keith Lasley and assistant manager James McFadden – have all gone away and come back again to their first love. Even for their final home game of the season on Tuesday, Derek Adams, Marvin Johnson and Chris Humphrey, all former interests of this parish, returned to the bosom of the Phil O’Donnell Stand – another returnee himself – to watch the latest dramatic act of heroism unfold.
A 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, coupled with Hamilton Accies’ rank-rotten form, conspired to conjure up another love-in on a Fir Park pitch so lush you’d think it had been to the same barber as Kris Boyd, Anthony Stokes and Leigh Griffiths. I jest of course – it’s Killie who have the artificial surface.
Nevertheless, the scene of revelry was one which took Louis Moult aback. Now at the end of his second year at Motherwell, the former Wrexham striker has enjoyed several high and low moments during his time at the coal face in a claret and amber jersey. Wonder goals against Celtic and the weekend’s dramatic winner over Hamilton are just two examples.
But the man himself insists nothing comes close to the emotions surging through his body on Tuesday night as a bustling Fir Park erupted as one with the power of the Ravenscraig steelworks, clanging and roaring in unison to greet this Motherwell survival mission.
“It probably is my best moment for Motherwell,” said a still visibly giddy Moult, delivered in full strip and flipflop ensemble. “It’s a weird one because Saturday was magical as well with me scoring the winner. It meant that little bit extra, but this just topped it.
“Just for what it meant for the football club. That was huge. Everyone is delighted.
“We know the season hasn’t been good enough, and it’s up to us to build on what we’ve done.
“You can see the passion in the boys both on Saturday and against Kilmarnock. That’s how we need to approach every game.
“I’ve been really lucky. I had a great relationship with the fans at Wrexham, and had a massive soft spot for them.
“I wasn’t sure if that was going to happen ever again. Then I come here and the relationship with the fans is unreal. You saw it at the end there, it’s ridiculous. It does make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time I play.”
IN THE two seasons Moult has been at Motherwell, he has been the club’s top goalscorer. He sits on 18 this season.
For all that goalscoring success, he knows the endeavours of this team have not lived up to the high standards which carried them to a top-six place last year. However, given the last few months, anywhere
outwith the bottom two will do for now.
“You just saw the relief from near enough everyone. What an unbelievable feeling,” said Moult. “But yeah, it’s just a massive relief.
“I knew we weren’t going to get relegated. I’d have done everything I could to try and keep this team up. Everyone was the same.”
Moult’s future at Motherwell remains unclear. He is now entering the final year of his contract and is reportedly a target for Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha. The Fir Park club also turned down bids for him in the January window from at home and abroad.
The 25-year-old didn’t give much away when questioned on his intentions beyond this summer, only reiterating his passion for the club which has undoubtedly raised his career to a new level.
MOULT added: “January was a weird one for me. There were a couple of bids put in but I got my head down and got on with it.
“This club has been fantastic to me, absolutely fantastic.
“I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for this club and it’s given me a platform to build on.
“I’ve not even given it a thought to be honest. There is so much going on at the minute.
“Now we have that [survival fight] out the way. I’ve had a lot of tweets and phone calls and I’ve tried to leave it alone.
“I don’t think any footballer knows what is going to happen from one day to the next. I really don’t.
“This football club has been fantastic to me. I have a soft spot for it to say the least.”
The feeling is very much mutual.
The hairs stand up on the back of my neck every time I play for Motherwell