List of Motherwell F.C. seasons explained

This is a record of the seasons played by Motherwell Football Club in Scottish and European competition from 1891 to the present day.[1] It details the club's achievements in major competitions, and details all the managers of Motherwell.[2]

This list does not include matches from the Lanarkshire Cup.

Seasons

SeasonLeagueTierManager
[3] [4] 		LeagueScottish
Cup		League
Cup
[5] 		Europe
[6] 		Leading
Scorer(s)
[7] [8]
Pldwidth=30Wwidth=30Dwidth=30Lwidth=30GFwidth=30GAwidth=30GDwidth=30Ptswidth=30FP
[9]
1891–92Football FederationUCommittee2246125880−221412thR1align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1892–93Football FederationU
[10] 		Committee1811347746+3125bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1893–94
[11] 		Division Two2
[12] 		Committee1811166144+17234thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1894–95Division Two2Committee1810265639+1722bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1895–96Division Two2Committee1853103147−16138thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1896–97Division Two2Committee1861114055−15139thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1897–98Division Two2Committee1834113156−251010thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1898–99Division Two2Committee187654140+1204thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1899–1900Division Two2Committee189183836+2194thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1900–01Division Two2Committee1843112642−161110thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1901–02Division Two2Committee2212285044+626bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1902–03Division Two2Committee221246449+3528bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1903–04Division One1Committee2663172661−351513thR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1904–05Division One1Committee2662182853−251414thR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1905–06Division One1Committee3498135064−142610thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1906–07Division One1Committee34129134548−33310thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1907–08Division One1Committee34127156153+83110thR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1908–09Division One1Committee34116174773−262813thR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1909–10Division One1Committee34128145960−13210thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1910–11Division One1Committee3484223766−292017thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1911–12Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter34115183444−102714thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1912–13Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter34121394739+8376thR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1913–14Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38116214665−192817thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1914–15Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter381010184966−173018thalign="center"-[13] align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1915–16Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38118195582−273014thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1916–17Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38166165759−2388thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1917–18Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter3416997051+19415thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1918–19
[14] 		Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter341410105140+11385thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1919–20Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter42231187453+2157bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1920–21Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter421910137551+24485thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1921–22Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter42167196358+53913thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1922–23Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter381310155960−13613thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1923–24Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38157165863−53710thR2align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1924–25Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter381010185463−93018thR3align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1925–26Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38198116746+21465thalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1926–27Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38235108152+2951bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1927–28Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter3823969246+4655bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1928–29Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38201088566+1950bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1929–30Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38255810448+5655bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndR3align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1930–31Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38248610242+6056bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdbgcolor=silver align="center"RUalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1931–32Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter383062119
[15] 		31+8866bgcolor=gold align="center"1st
[16] [17] 		QFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1932–33Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38275611453+6159bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndbgcolor=silver align="center"RUalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1933–34Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter3829459745+5262bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1934–35Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter381510138364+19407thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1935–36Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38181287758+19484thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1936–37Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter3822799654+42514thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1937–38Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter381710117869+9445thQFalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1938–39Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter38165178286−43712thbgcolor=silver align="center"RUalign="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
1939–40Division One1John "Sailor" Hunter52121412+258th
[18]
[19] 		align="center"-
[20] 		align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-align="center"-
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War
1946–47
[21] 		Division One1George Stevenson30125135854+4298thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFGSalign="center"-align="center"-John Brown (16)
1947–48Division One1George Stevenson30133144547−2298thR3GSalign="center"-align="center"-Wilson Humphries (19)
1948–49Division One1George Stevenson30105154449−52512thR2GSalign="center"-align="center"-Davie Mathie (13)
1949–50Division One1George Stevenson30105155358−52510thR1GSalign="center"-align="center"-Archie Kelly (15)
1950–51Division One1George Stevenson30116135865−7289thbgcolor=silver align="center"RUbgcolor=gold align="center"W
[22] 		align="center"-align="center"-Jim Forrest (14)
1951–52Division One1George Stevenson30121175157−6317thbgcolor=gold align="center"W
[23] 		bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFalign="center"-align="center"-Archie Kelly (20)
1952–53Division One1George Stevenson30105155780−2325bgcolor=pink align="center"15thR3GSalign="center"-align="center"-Archie Kelly (19)
1953–54Division Two2George Stevenson30213610943+6645bgcolor=gold align="center"1st bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFGSalign="center"-align="center"-Jackie Hunter (28)
1954–55Division One1George Stevenson3094174262−202215th
[24] 		QFbgcolor=silver align="center"RUalign="center"-align="center"-Jackie Hunter (8)
1955–56Division One1Bobby Ancell341111125359−63310thR5bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFIan Gardiner (9)
1956–57Division One1Bobby Ancell34165137266+6377thR6GSIan Gardiner (18)
1957–58Division One1Bobby Ancell34128146867+1328thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFGSIan Gardiner (18)
1958–59Division One1Bobby Ancell3418888350+3344bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdR3GSIan St. John (24)
1959–60Division One1Bobby Ancell34168107161+13405thR3QFIan St. John (21)
1960–61Division One1Bobby Ancell34158117057+13385thQFGSIan St. John (18)
1961–62Division One1Bobby Ancell34136156562+3329thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFQFPat Quinn (21)
1962–63Division One1Bobby Ancell341011136063−33110thR2GSJoe McBride (11)
1963–64Division One1Bobby Ancell34911145162−112911thQFQFJoe McBride (19)
1964–65Division One1Bobby Ancell34118164554−92814thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFGSJoe McBride (21)
1965–66Division One1Bobby Howitt34124185269−172813thR2GSIan Thomson (10)
1966–67Division One1Bobby Howitt341011135960−13110thR1GSBobby Campbell (18)
1967–68Division One1Bobby Howitt3467214066−2619bgcolor=pink align="center"17thR1GSDixie Deans (11)
1968–69Division Two2Bobby Howitt36304211223+8964bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR1GSDixie Deans (30)
1969–70Division One1Bobby Howitt341110134951−23211thQFbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFDixie Deans (15)
1970–71Division One1Bobby Howitt34138134347−43410thR3GSDixie Deans (9)
1971–72Division One1Bobby Howitt34117164969−202910thQFGSJim MacCabe (7)
1972–73Division One1Bobby Howitt34119143848−10318thR4R2Willie McClymont (6)
1973–74Division One1Ian St. John34147134540+5359thQFR2Bobby Graham (13)
1974–75Division One1Willie McLean34145155257−53310thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFGSWillie Pettigrew (20)
1975–76
[25]
[26] 		Premier Division1Willie McLean36168125349+4404thbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFGSWillie Pettigrew (22)
1976–77Premier Division1Willie McLean361012145760−3327thQFGSWillie Pettigrew (21)
1977–78Premier Division1Roger Hynd361317164552−7336thR4R2Vic Davidson (8)
1978–79Premier Division1Ally MacLeod3657243386−5317bgcolor=pink align="center"10thR3R3Willie Pettigrew (6)
1979–80Division One2Ally MacLeod391611125948+11436thR3R2Willie Irvine (13)
1980–81Division One2Ally MacLeod39191196551+14498thQFGSAlbert Kidd (13)
1981–82Division One2David Hay3926949236+5661bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3GSWillie Irvine (20)
1982–83Premier Division1Jock Wallace36115203973−34278thR3GSBrian McClair (11)
1983–84Premier Division1Jock Wallace
Succeeded by Bobby Watson		3647253175−4415bgcolor=pink align="center"10thQFGSJohn Gahagan (11)
1984–85Division One2Tommy McLean36218106226+2650bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFR2Andy Harrow
Rab Stewart (9)
1985–86Premier Division1Tommy McLean3676233366−33209th
[27] 		QFR3John Reilly (9)
1986–87Premier Division1Tommy McLean441112214364−21348thQFbgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFAndy Walker
Steve Kirk (10)
1987–88Premier Division1Tommy McLean441310213756−19368thR4bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFSteve Cowan (9)
1988–89Premier Division1Tommy McLean36713163544−9279thR4R3Steve Kirk (14)
1989–90Premier Division1Tommy McLean361112134347−4346thR4R3 Nick Cusack (11)
1990–91Premier Division1Tommy McLean36129155150−1336thbgcolor=gold align="center"W[28] [29] QFDougie Arnott (14)
1991–92Premier Division1Tommy McLean441014204361−183410thR4R2UEFA Cup
Winners' Cup		R1Dougie Arnott (8)
1992–93Premier Division1Tommy McLean441113204662−16358thR3R3Steve Kirk (10)
1993–94Premier Division1Tommy McLean442014105843+1554bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdR4R3 Tommy Coyne (12)
1994–95Premier Division1Alex McLeish361412105050054bgcolor=silver align="center"2nd
[30] 		R4R3UEFA CupR1 Tommy Coyne (16)
1995–96Premier Division1Alex McLeish36912152839−11398thR3QFUEFA CupPRWillie Falconer (5)
1996–97Premier Division1Alex McLeish36911164455−11388thQFR2 Tommy Coyne (11)
1997–98Premier Division1Alex McLeish3697204664−18349thR4QF Tommy Coyne (15)
1998–99
[31] 		Premier League1 Harri Kampman
Succeeded by Billy Davies		361011153554−19417thR5R3 Owen Coyle
John Spencer (7)
1999–2000Premier League1Billy Davies361410124963−14524thR5QFJohn Spencer (11)
2000–01Premier League1Billy Davies381217194256−14438thR3R4 Stuart Elliott (12)
2001–02Premier League1Billy Davies
Succeeded by Eric Black
Succeeded by Terry Butcher		38117204969−204011thR3R2 Stuart Elliott (11)
2002–03Premier League1 Terry Butcher3877244571−262812th
[32] [33] 		bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFR3James McFadden (13)
2003–04Premier League1 Terry Butcher381210164249−7466thQFR2David Clarkson (12)
2004–05Premier League1 Terry Butcher38139164649−3486thR3bgcolor=silver align="center"RU[34] Scott McDonald (15)
2005–06Premier League1 Terry Butcher381310155561−6498thR3bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SF Scott McDonald
Richie Foran (12)
2006–07Premier League1Maurice Malpas38108204161−203810thQFQF Scott McDonald (15)
2007–08Premier League1Mark McGhee38186145046+460bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdR5QF Chris Porter (18)
2008–09Premier League1Mark McGhee38139164651−5487thR5R3UEFA CupPODavid Clarkson (13)
2009–10Premier League1 Jim Gannon
Succeeded by Craig Brown		381314115254−2535thR4QFUEFA Europa League
[35] 		QR3 Lukas Jutkiewicz (12)
2010–11
[36] 		Premier League1Craig Brown
Succeeded by Stuart McCall		38137184060−20466thbgcolor=silver align="center"RU[37] bgcolor=#FFDD99 align="center"SFUEFA Europa
League		PO John Sutton
Nick Blackman (10)
2011–12Premier League1Stuart McCall38188124944+562bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdQFR3 Michael Higdon (14)
2012–13Premier League1Stuart McCall38189116751+1663bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndR4R3UEFA Champions
League[38]
UEFA Europa
League
QR3

PO		 Michael Higdon (26)
2013–14Premiership
[39] 		1Stuart McCall38224126460+470bgcolor=silver align="center"2ndR4QFUEFA Europa
League		QR3 John Sutton (22)
2014–15Premiership1Stuart McCall
Succeeded by Ian Baraclough		38106223863−253611thR4R3UEFA Europa
League		QR2 John Sutton (13)
2015–16Premiership1 Ian Baraclough
Succeeded by Mark McGhee		38155184763−16505thR5R3 Louis Moult (15)
2016–17Premiership1Mark McGhee
Succeeded by Stephen Robinson		38108204669−23389thR4R2 Louis Moult (15)
2017–18Premiership1 Stephen Robinson38139164349−6487thbgcolor=silver align="center"RUbgcolor=silver align="center"RU Louis Moult (8)
2018–19Premiership1 Stephen Robinson38156174656−10518thR4QFDavid Turnbull (15)
2019–20Premiership
[40] [41] 		1 Stephen Robinson30144124138+346bgcolor=bronze align="center"3rdR5R2 Liam Donnelly
Chris Long (7)
2020–21Premiership1 Stephen Robinson
Succeeded by Graham Alexander		38129173955−16458thQFR2UEFA Europa
League		QR3 Devante Cole (11)
2021–22Premiership1Graham Alexander381210164261−19465thQFR2Tony Watt
Kevin van Veen (9)
2022–23Premiership1Graham Alexander
Succeeded by Steven Hammell
Succeeded by Stuart Kettlewell		38148165351+2507thR5QFUEFA Europa
Conference League		QR2 Kevin van Veen (25)
2023–24Premiership1Stuart Kettlewell381013155659−3439thR5R2 Theo Bair (15)

Key

bgcolor=goldChampions
[42] 		bgcolor=silverRunners-up
bgcolor=bronzeThird Place
[43] 		Semi-finals
[44] 		bgcolor=pinkRelegated
Key to league record
Key to tier
Key to rounds

Notes

  1. Web site: Records – The Scottish Football League Archive. Scottish Football Association. 22 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531203216/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/stats/records/. 31 May 2012.
  2. Graham Barnstaple and Keith Brown (2004). "'Well Again! The Official History of Motherwell Football Club 1886-2004". Yore Publications.
    Alex Smith (2003). "Motherwell: Champions of Scotland 1931-32". Desert Island Books.
    Derek Wilson (2009). "Motherwell FC Miscellany". Pitch Publishing.
    Jim Jeffrey, Genge Fry (2001). "The Men Who Made Motherwell Football Club". Tempus Publishing.
  3. All managers are Scottish unless their nationality is stated
  4. Before 1911, a Committee was in place as a management team
  5. The League Cup competition did not start until the 1946–47 season.
  6. European club competitions did not begin until the 1955–56 season.
  7. All players are Scottish unless their nationality is stated
  8. Only league goals are stated
  9. Positions resulting in promotion are in bold
  10. Since it was a Regional League, it is unknown what level the league was in the Scottish Football pyramid.
  11. Web site: Motherwell : History 1871 to 1918. Statto.com. 21 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110316101052/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/motherwell/history/pre-ww1. 16 March 2011.
  12. Since the 1893-94 season, Motherwell have never competed in a league lower than the second tier of Scottish Football.
  13. The Scottish Cup was not held in 1915 through to 1918 because of the First World War.
  14. Web site: Motherwell : History 1918 to 1945. Statto.com. 21 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110316101841/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/motherwell/history/post-ww1. 16 March 2011.
  15. This total stands as a record for the highest number of league goals scored by Motherwell in a season.
  16. Web site: Motherwell F.C. 1930-1939. 1931–32. Motherwell Football Club. 1 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20161108195033/http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/the-club/history/club-history/1930-1939/. 8 November 2016. dead.
  17. This was Motherwell's first, and to this day only, top-flight title success.
  18. The 1939–40 season was suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War.
  19. The club participated in the Scottish War Emergency Cup as an alternative
  20. Scottish Cup was suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War.
  21. Web site: Motherwell : History 1945 to 1975. Statto.com. 21 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110316101047/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/motherwell/history/post-ww2. 16 March 2011.
  22. This was Motherwell's first, and to this day, only League Cup win.
  23. This was Motherwell's first ever Scottish Cup win.
  24. Motherwell were spared of relegation due to Division One being increased to 18 teams for the following season.
  25. The league was renamed the Scottish Premier Division
  26. Web site: Motherwell : History 1975 to date. Statto.com. 21 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110830143807/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/motherwell/history/modern. 30 August 2011.
  27. Relegation was suspended due to league reconstruction, therefore Motherwell retained their Premier Division status
  28. Web site: Scottish Cup Final Archive – Motherwell 4-3 Dundee United. 18 May 1991. Scottish Football Association. 1 August 2011.
  29. Web site: The 1991 Cup Run. 18 May 1991. Fir Park Corner. 5 August 2011.
  30. The first season in which teams are awarded 3 points for a win. Before this season, 2 points were awarded for each win
  31. The league was renamed the Scottish Premier League
  32. Motherwell were spared of relegation as Falkirk did not meet the SPL stadium criteria
  33. Web site: Falkirk denied promotion. 23 May 2003. BBC Sport. 1 August 2011.
  34. Web site: Rangers 5-1 Motherwell. 20 March 2005. BBC Sport. 1 August 2011.
  35. The UEFA Cup was re-named the Europa League.
  36. The 2010-11 season was their 125 anniversary season.
  37. Web site: Celtic lift the 2011 Scottish Cup. 21 May 2011. Scottish Football Association. 1 August 2011.
  38. Motherwell qualified for the Champions League as Rangers went into liquidation. They entered the Europa League upon exiting the Champions League.
  39. The league was renamed the Scottish Premiership
  40. [2019–20 Scottish Premiership]
  41. News: Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season. BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. 18 May 2020.
  42. League and Cup
  43. League Only
  44. Cup Only

External links

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Motherwell F.C. seasons".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.