Robbo bolsters Motherwell defence
Motherwell have boosted their defensive options with the arrival of goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and defender Liam Donnelly.
Manager Stephen Robinson has moved quickly to strengthen his backline, with 26-year-old Gillespie joining from Walsall and Donnelly, 22, from Hartlepool United for an undisclosed fee.
Robinson said: “Liam was a target of ours from when we started our summer
Shotts boxing coach Frank Delaney was “shocked and delighted” after winning a lifetime achievement award.
The 70-year-old was recognised for his services to the sport and the community during his 42-year coaching career, most of which has been spent at Springhill Boxing Club in Shotts.
He picked up the award at the North Lanarkshire Sports Awards, which celebrates the achievements of people involved in local sport.
Delighted Delaney said: “I honestly didn’t think I would win it.
“There were four shortlisted and I was very surprised to end up having my name called.
“I was shocked and delighted. It’s such an honour and it really makes it all worthwhile.
Frank attended the ceremony, compered by Tam Cowan and held at Ravenscraig, with his wife Dorothy and his three daughters Vicki, Kim and Angela.
He said: “To have my wife and three daughters there made it extra special.
“It’s rare to have all of us out together and that made it even better.
“They’re all very proud of me and to lift the award in front of them was just brilliant.”
Frank has coached hundreds of youngsters since starting coaching in 1976.
And while he has overseen the careers of boxers from Western District level to world recruitment, so we’re delighted to have landed him.
“I’ve worked before with Liam at youth international level with Northern Ireland, so I’ve first hand experience of what we’re getting. He will fit in well here and further strenghten our central defensive options.
On goalkeeper Gillespie, Robinson said: “He has played a lot of games at a good level in England, so comes here with a lot of experience and will provide excellent competition in goals.”
Donnelly started his career title winners, he still puts in as much effort with those who weren’t as talented as others
He said: “I had someone come up to me recently and thank me for the amount of effort I put into coaching him, despite saying himself that he was terrible at it.
“He managed to lose a lot of weight through boxing and it does have a lot of positive aspects, especially health benefits.
“I’ve coached boys at Western District level, Scottish champions, European champions to world champs.
“There’s loads of boys who never became champions but boxing is brilliant for a lot of people.
“When I look back and think about it I have a lot of fabulous memories over the years.
“It means a lot to me to have this recognition for all the hard work.”
While not wishing to point out one favourite boxer in particular, Delaney was with local side Dungannon Swifts, before earning a move to English side Fulham.
He captained the Cottagers to the 2013/14 FA Youth Cup final, where his side, which included current Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé, lost to Chelsea.
It was around the same time Liam made his full international debut, coming on as a late substitute against Chile in the Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander to win his one and only cap.
He spent two years with Pools, the first playing alongside current ‘ Well stopper Trevor keen to thank Willy Hutchinson for his performances over his career which saw Delaney oversee his first European and world titles.
Delaney added: “When Willy won his European gold on the way over I told him I’d never won a European title. He said ‘I’ll win this’ and he did.
“He did exactly the same with his world title. Mark my words, he will be a world professional champion. I have no doubt of that.”
Councillor Frank McNally, the council’s convener of education, said: “It has been another great year for sport within North Lanarkshire with huge numbers of young people participating on a regular basis.
“The awards are in recognition of the provision and support for these activities - which make such a difference to so many people in our communities.” Carson, notching over 60 games and scoring on three occasions.
He has continued to play regularly for the Northern Ireland Under 21s, where he now has 20 caps and four goals to his name.
Gillespie was on the books at Newcastle United as a youngster before signing his first professional contract at Carlisle United.
At the age of 18, he became the club’s youngest- ever goalkeeper when he made a substitute appearance against
Norwich City.
Gillespie shot to fame with his performance in a League Cup game with Liverpool in 2015, keeping a star-studded Reds side at bay all the way to a penalty shootout, where he saved from Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.
After 180 games with the Cumbrians, he stepped up a division to League One for the 2017/ 18 season with Walsall, making 25 appearances.
Three players have been released from Motherwell following the end of the season; goalkeeper Russell Griffiths and forwards Deimantas Petravicius and Ellis Plummer.
Defenders Tom Aldred and Stephen Hendrie’s loan contracts have expired, as has popular Nadir Ciftci’s deal.