Faddy can help save ex-Steelmen club
Motherwell hero John Martis has begged former Steelmen stars to help keep alive the club’s former player association.
The 79-year-old was a founder member of Well’s FPA in 1989 – the first of its kind to be forged at a Scottish club.
But Martis, who played almost 300 times for Well at centre-back, fears the club could go extinct unless it gets fresh blood.
Martis, who still lives two streets away from Fir Park, said: “We were the first club in Scotland to have something like this. But we need younger members otherwise we’ll be in danger of – literally – dying out.
“I understand that it’s different nowadays. When I played you tended to be with one club for a decade or more.
“Now players move around and perhaps don’t form the same attachment to clubs like we did.
“Even so, it would be great if we could attract people like James McFadden, Scott McDonald and Stevie Hammell – players who have had a strong connection with Motherwell.
“If they joined it would raise our profile among other players who wore the claret and amber.
“Every organisation needs fresh blood. Last year Tam Forsyth and Cammy Murray – who had one season as a player at Motherwell but coached here for 14 years – joined the committee.
“Whenever we get together there’s always good banter and chat – and the oldest guys usually have the best stories.”
Club legends such as Ian St John, Pat Quinn, Willie Pettigrew and Bobby Graham are members.
The FPA meet four times a year at home games and hold events to raise funds for deserving causes close to the club.
Martis said: “We have a sportsman’s dinner to raise funds and there is an annual golf outing at Wishaw.
“The money we raise allows us to donate to the Well Society and every Christmas we give £50 to the widows of former players, to remind them that we’re thinking about them and help financially.”