ROUND-UP
SIGNING
Motherwell have re-signed striker Ross Mccormack on a loan deal from Aston Villa until the end of this season.
Mccormack (32) spent two years at Fir Park between 2006 and 08, before making the switch to Cardiff City. Spells at Leeds and Fulham followed, before he signed for Villa in 2016.
Since then he has had loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Australian clubs Melbourne City and West Coast Mariners, before arriving back at Fir Park.
The Scotland international was spotted at Motherwell’s derby win at Hamilton on December 29.
Mccormack told the club’s website: “I am delighted to be back.
“Although I was a youth player at Rangers, got a good education there and played some first-team games, I feel like this was the club that launched my career and I will be forever grateful for that.
“I’ve had a frustrating few years and I am desperate to just get back on the pitch again and do what I do.
“I want to put something back in to Motherwell for what they did for me all those years ago.
“My aim is to come in and score goals, help the team and help to develop some of the younger talent in the squad.”
Having impressed down south, Roberto Di Matteo paid the second-highest fee in Villa’s history to lure Mccormack to the Midlands, reportedly £12 million.
Manager Stephen Robinson said: “We are delighted to get a player of Ross’ quality at the club.
“This is a player who has earned over £25 million in transfer fees, is the all-time top scorer in the EFL Championship, with a record better than one goal in three games, and is experienced at international level.
“What has impressed me more is his desire to be here, to contribute and put something back in and help us for the rest of this season.”
Mccormack has a knee injury that will keep him out until at least the end of January, but Robinson hopes to have him in the squad shortly after that.
The move comes after striker Ryan Bowman left for Exeter City, and Ross Maguire was loaned out to Queen of the South.
Motherwell have also moved to take USA under-23 international winger Gboly Ariyibi on loan from Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at MK Dons.
Meanwhile, Alfredo Agyeman has left at the end of his contract, and Ross Maclean has departed to sign full-time at Championship side Falkirk.
ATHLETICS
Runners from Law and District Amateur Athletics Club blew off the cobwebs and burned off some festive calories as they took part in their annual Christmas Pudding race.
Kids and adults alike took to the course set out at Strathclyde Park for their final race of 2018.
They did so, while donning everything from sombreros to Santa hats.
A Law and District AAC spokesperson said: “The Christmas Pudding race was a great success.
“It was a real family event, with the younger children really enjoying the day, and dads and mums adding to the day with their efforts and support.”
The spokesperson added: “It was good to see and speak to people that you may not see so often.
“There were lots of great costumes, from sombreros to antlers, Santa hats, elf hats and more – a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who came along.”
Law and District athletes Donald and Jessie Gilchrist, brother and sister, have been selected to represent West of Scotland at the Inter-district Championships in Stirling next Saturday.
PLAYERS WANTED
Hamilton’s Mill United 2007s are looking for additional players in all positions to strengthen their team as they move from 9-a-side to 11-a-side football.
Training is at Holy Cross High on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6.30pm-8.30pm, with matches played on a Saturday morning.
If interested, contact Stephen Devanney on 07939 092274.
Mill United’s 2005s have a new coaching team and are currently looking for experienced players in all positions.
They train at Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm, and play in the Lanarkshire Football Development Association (LFDA) league on a Sunday.
If you are interested, contact Brian Hendry on 07949 808085.
Mill United 2004s are looking for additional players in all positions.
They train at the Bent playing fields on Tuesdays from 7pm-8pm and Thursdays from 5pm-7pm, and play in the LFDA league on a Sunday.
Contact Alan Tait on 07774 985213 for details.
Milton Rovers YFC 2003s are looking for one or two outfield players from the Carluke, Wishaw or general Lanarkshire area.
Training is on Wednesdays and Fridays, games are played on Sunday mornings in the LFDA A Division.
If you are interested, contact Peter Naughton on 07816 092550 or email Pjdnaughton@gmail.com.
Strikers, a right-back and centre-back are being sought by Central Boys FA for their 2006 11-a-side team.
They are specifically looking for players with experience of community club football.
If you are interested, contact 07982 509644, find them on Facebook or @ Centralboysfa1 on Twitter.
Lanarkshire Harps 2004s are looking for players in all positions, including goalkeeper, from the South Lanarkshire are Glasgow south areas.
If you are interested contact Stephen Gallagher on 07912 108518 or Andy Glass on 07533 980918.
AMATEUR FIXTURES
Foster’s AFL (Friday, January 11):
Black Rooster Bunrigh Trophy final: Eastfield v St Patrick’s FP (Lesser Hampden, 7.15pm). Saturday, January 12: Scottish Cup fifth round: Bridgewater v Cambria.
Black Rooster Cinema Cup third round: Garrowhill Thistle v Bannockburn.
Second round: Harestanes v Colville Park Electric.
Premier Division: Greenock HSFP v Wishaw HSFP; Southside v Campsie Minerva; Stein’s Thistle v Cambusnethan Talbot.
Division 1A: Arthurlie v Clydebank; Drumchapel United v Stedfast; Gartcosh United v Bearsden; Uddingston Anvil v Falkirk Community.
Division 1B: Ardencaple v Blantyre RGM; Craigneuk v Third Lanark; Edusport Academy v Fallin; Newton Vale v BSC Glasgow. Sunday, January 13: William Summers Cup (over-35s) quarter-final: Carfin v Blantyre Celtic; Fullarton Park v Hamilton FP; Rossvale v Motherwell Community; Wishaw HSFP v Cumbernauld Colts.
Strathclyde Saturday Morning AFL (Saturday, January 12):
Stax Trade Centres Premier Division: AS Airdrie v East Dunbartonshire; Bengal Lancers v UB United; Rossvale Kelvinbridge v East Kilbride Thistle; Tynecastle v Semsa; Westercommon Star v Shawbridge.
Championship Division A: Southside v Barony of Blackhall; Springburn Thistle v Petershall Villa; Uddingston v Holytown Colts; Windlaw v Blackthorn Rovers.
Championship Division B: Bridgeton Vale v Yoker United; Kirkintilloch Thistle v Gartcairn; Lenzie Thistle v Bargeddie; Moorlands v Renfrew; Port Glasgow United v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.
First Division: Greenock HSFP v DTI; St Peter’s v Overtoun Park; West of Scotland v Royalle Madrid.
YOUTH FIXTURES
Lanarkshire Football Development Association (Sunday, January 13):
Under-13 Section A: Claremont v Cambuslang; Eddlewood v Mossend; EK Burgh United v Cambusnethan Talbot; Villa Park v Blantyre SAC Gold.
Under-13 Section B: East End Thistle v Villa Park Black; EK Soccer Stars v Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers; EKFC Gold v Blantyre SAC Black; Strathaven Dynamo v EKFC Blue.
Under-14 Section A: Aston Villa Community v EKFC Gold; Cambusnethan Talbot v Eddlewood; EK Caledonian Thistle v Cleland; Mill United v Ballerup.
Under-14 Section B: East End Thistle v Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers; Eddlewood Red v EK Caledonian Thistle Grey; EKYC v Yett Farm; Milton Rovers v Mill United Colts; Strathaven Dynamo v Holytown Colts.
Under-15 Section A: Bellshill v Larkhall Thistle Blue; Blantyre SAC v Holytown Colts; Mill United v Aston Villa.
Under-15 Section B: Claremont v EKYC; Milton Rovers v EKFC Blue; Newmains Hammers v Strathaven Dynamo.
Under-16 Section A: Alpha v Milton Rovers; Claremont v Mossend; Holytown Colts v Blantyre SAC Black.
Under-16 Section B: Dalziel Black v East End Thistle; EK Burgh v Blantyre Vics; Newmains Hammers v EKYC; EK Caledonian Thistle v Alba Thistle; Mill United Black v Strathaven Dynamo.
Under-17 Section A: EK Caledonian Thistle v Mossend; Jerviston v Blantyre SAC Gold; Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers v Duncanrig.
Under-17 Section B: EK Burgh Colts v Coatshill; Mill United Colts v EKFC Red; Milton Rovers v Giffnock.
Under-19: Blantyre Vics v Blantyre SAC; EKYM v Milton Rovers; Hamilton Thistle v Jerviston; Larkhall Thistle v Dalziel.
Central Scotland Football Association (Friday, January 11):
Under-19 League Cup final: Arthurlie Cantera v EKFC Gold.
Under-19 League A: EKFC Blue v Albion Rovers YFC. Saturday, January 12: Under-13 A: Clarkston Athletic v Airdrieonians Real; Cumbernauld Colts v ES Galaxy; Gairdoch United v Hamilton Accies; Rossvale v Kilsyth CFC Kelvin; Scotland v Lenzie YC.
Under-13 B: Balloch Eastfield v EDFC; Clydesdale v Rosebank Thistle; GT Larbert Gold v Central Boys; Syngenta Juveniles Grange v Motherwell FC CT; Torrance v North Kelvin United; West Park United Sky v Seafar Villa Cumbernauld.
Under-13 C: AC Rovers v West Park United Navy; Garnkirk United v Stein’s Thistle; Garrell United v Rosebank United; Kildrum United v Camelon Juniors; Kilsyth CFC Lennox v Cumbernauld Pumas; Rossvale United v Cliftonhill Red.
Under-14 A: Balloch Eastfield v Camelon Juniors; Falkirk FCF v Lenzie YC; Gairdoch United v Professional Football Academy; Kilsyth Athletic v Bargeddie Colts White; Motherwell FC CT v Maryhill.
Under-14 B: ES Galaxy v Calderbraes; Rosebank United v West Park United Navy; Rossvale v Bridgend; Syngenta Juveniles v Larkhall Thistle; West Park United White v Burnbank Academy; Young Pumas v Torrance.
Under-14 C: Cliftonhill v Gartcairn FA; Cumbernauld Pumas v Clydesdale; EDFC Villa v Summerston; Kildrum United v Campsie; North Motherwell v Mossend; Rossvale Thistle v Moorlands; Seafar Villa Cumbernauld v Garnkirk United.
Under-15 A: Cumbernauld Colts v Kilsyth Athletic; Gartcairn v Falkirk FCF White; Milton Blacks v Motherwell FC CT; Syngenta Juveniles v EDFC United.
Under-15 B: Jerviston v ML4 United; Maddiston Minis v Burnbank; Rossvale Inter v Syngenta Grange; Stein’s Thistle v AC Rovers; West Park United Navy v Bargeddie Colts.
Under-15 C: Clyde FC SOF v Rossvale Barca; Condorrat v North Motherwell; Rosebank United v Milngavie; West Park United Gold v Albion Rovers ITC.
Under-15 D: Bargeddie Colts-airdrie v Motherwell Phoenix; Cumbernauld City v Dunbeth Black; Eddlewood v Kildrum United; Mill United Colts v Rossvale Madrid; Notre Dame SA v Kirkwood.
Under-16 A: Bridgend v Milton; Camelon Juniors v Cumbernauld Colts; Clyde FC SOF v Dalziel; Falkirk FCF v EKFC Blues; North Motherwell v Falkirk FCF Blue; Stonehouse v Airdrie United.
Under-16 B: Cumbernauld United v Campsie; ES Galaxy v Dunblane SC; Gairdoch United v Scotland Red; Hamilton Accies v Condorrat; Seafar Villa Cumbernauld v West Park Gold; Stein’s Thistle v Dunbeth; West Park United Navy v Lenzie YC.
Under-17 A: Airdrie v Syngenta Juveniles; Craigpark Colts v FC Coasters; Jimmy Johnstone Academy v Cumbernauld Colts; Kilsyth Athletic v Rossvale Thistle; Motherwell FC CT v Blantyre SA Black.
Under-17 B: Argyle v Lenzie YC; Dunblane SC v Third Lanark; Kilsyth Community v West Park United Navy; Milngavie v Drumchapel United; Milton v Scotstoun Athletic; Stenhousemuir Community v Rossvale Rovers.
Under-17 C: Baljaffray Inter v Stirling Albion JA; Bo’ness United CFC v Bridge of Allan; Clyde Community v Calderbraes; Cowie United v Bonnybridge YFC; EDFC v Albion Rovers YFC; Yett Farm v Camelon Juniors.