Motherwell VC - A 'brief' history
It all started with a lunchtime conversation in the Our Lady’s High School PE staff base, involving Jim Knighton, Maureen Boyle and Philip McGhee. The rest, as they say, is history – and a long history at that! With the aim of retaining the talented 5th year volleyball squad, with notably the boys as previous winners of the Lanarkshire Under 16 Cup, a let was booked in Our Lady’s starting in August 1980.
As the youngest of the above named trio, McGhee was delegated the duty of club administrator and booking the let. At that time a Motherwell Volleyball Club already existed and along with Dalziel VC, both used OLHS. This not only made it difficult to find a convenient time for a let –eventually having to settle for a Sunday afternoon, but choosing a suitable name. Without any discussion and inspired by the Clyde Valley phone book, which had been used to source the number for Community Education, the palindromic moniker CVVC was created in the space of a phone call.
Ironically, it was almost the first and last time the name was referred to. The club immediately embarked on a long succession of sponsors, adopting a series of company names which provided the club with a profile and volleyball history beyond its modest level of District League competition.
Thistle Sports
The first sponsor arrived within four months of the club’s formation. The town’s sports shop provided us with a subsidised set of strips (and personal discount). Not a bad deal for the shop whose name found it’s way into local and national papers as a distinguished first season saw the team win the second division title and finish 3rd in the national Motherwell Trophy. Not a great deal for us, though, as the pale blue strips (with extremely tight and revealing shorts!) faded badly. They did, however, outlive Thistle Sports.
In what was to become a sinister pattern for the club’s sponsors, the sports shop went burst and we went looking for another sponsor.
Alethia Travel
This is probably the name most synonymous with the club. Indeed, most former players and opponents still refer to the club by that name. This is perhaps due to the fact that it was the longest association with one sponsor and undoubtedly our most successful years.
It also coincided with the largest number in terms of membership and teams resulting in the club being based in Taylor HS from 1983.
As every player possessed a plethora of sports gear in the bright yellow colours of the sponsor, the club caught the eye on volleyball courts across the country and on some occasions even brightened up a dull Motherwell town centre.
Sadly, in the week that the club celebrated its tenth anniversary, Alethia Travel journeyed into oblivion, leaving the club looking for another sponsor.
Whatco Step forward national house builders Whatco! An inspired link up between the McGhee brothers provided the club with their best backing financially. Which was just as well as the corporate coloured and logo laden tops were the most expensive purchase in the history of the club.
Highlights of a three year association (before Whatco went bust) were undoubtedly winning the league with the smallest pool of players and an appearance on national TV.
In August 1992 the club returned to its spiritual home and with the demise of the original Motherwell Volleyball Club (and just about every other volleyball club of that era) the club rightfully adopted the town’s name.
Redline
Another sponsor and a not so novel strip to reflect the company name. Notably, not only did this sponsor beat the dreaded liquidation curse but its name survived. Despite having an increased size of squad (boosted by the last batch of Our Lady’s pupils) the club finally relinquished league participation in 1998 – having effortlessly won it for three consecutive seasons.
However, the club continued to play competitive matches and out of habit (and with a second set of strips) retained the sponsor’s name until 2002.
Most notably during this time the club (with a couple of guest players) peaked by winning the title of Scottish District Champions in 2001.
Motherwell VC
Now known simply as Motherwell VC, the team devoid of a sponsor and only boosted by a sequence of short term members, was restricted to friendly matches and the occasional tournament.
As the club headed into its 30th year, though, the old nucleus of six players meant that even committing to friendly matches was a bit haphazard.
But just as old age, battle worn injuries and work commitments looked like taking its toll with club heading the way of its first three sponsors, the club was boosted with the arrival of a posse of players which put the club back on a healthy footing – and looking forward to another 30 years!
'Well beyond Lanarkshire
Although the club’s foundation was largely built on the pupils of Our Lady’s HS and then Taylor HS, the club can proudly boast an eclectic combination of former pupils from across Lanarkshire schools. With representation from no fewer than a dozen schools at some stage turning out in the blue/yellow/green/red strips of the club, the addition of players from Poland provided a whole new dimension to the inclusive nature of the club.
To celebrate the extended club membership and with the prospect of restoring 6 v 6 matches, a new set of strips and an original colour scheme was sought.
Limited by colour and expanding chest sizes a bright orange was agreed upon to signal, hopefully, a bright future.
2023 New era - new sponsor
As the recruitment of new, and especially experienced members continued to rise, the club attracted the attention of a new sponsor.
The financial input from Paintline, led to the creation of new strips, a new colour scheme and a new era for the club.
Club Honours
Although the Men's team won the Lanarkshire District League in its first year and won four Glasgow District titles in the mid 90's, the undoubted pinacle came in the first year of the new century. Reduced to only seven active members, and no longer in a league, veteran coach John French was recruited along with three schoolboys as the club entered the Scottish Interdistrict champioship for the first time in seven years. What started out as adventure ended with a rather mature Motherwell VC winning the trophy against the odds. Finishing as runners up on either side of this win was most commendable and incredible considering the team played no competitive games during this era.
While the success of the Mens team was patchy, the women's team, notbaly under the banner of Alethia Travel Ladies dominated the Lanarkshire and Glasgow district league scene almsot throughout the 1980's. Incredibly, the team won the Glasgow District League for five consecutive seasons from 1982. In maintaing this fantastic run the Alethia Ladies Team won every home game from August 1982 until March 1988 before the team disbanded June 1988.
Five players, Michele Mooney, Elena McGinn, Lynn Mair, Joanna Phee and Jaqueline Bonner continued to play in the Mixed District League finished .The latter three then played in the Men’s League until end of season 1992.
Player History
Over the last 45 years the club has been represented by well over 130 members (listed below) who have embraced our name and philosophy, while playing their part in the club's distinguished history.
The injection of a new wave of players, from home and abroad, should ensure that club extends its enduring position in Scottish volleyball.
1981-82 John McFarlane Iain Sweeney Alice McCabe Lynn Mair
1982-83 Ivy McGunnigle Alison Graham Steven Hastie Steven Anderson Fiona Purves Douglas Gibbons Jane Corbett Derek Green
1983-84 Gerry Cantwell David Collins Gerry McKay Stephen Smith Barry Shannon Mark Healy Joanna Phee Jacqueline Heron Claire Dunlop Paul Smith Aileen Phee Lesley Smith Stevie McWilliams Linda McWeeney Carol A.Mooney Jacqueline Bonnar Michele Grant Tracey Murray Ian Clark Cathleen McAleese Marie Feenan Peter Alexander
1984-85 Danny Lowe Clair Kean Elena McGinn Deborah Divers Stephen Kerrigan Stuart Hay Lorenzo Santi Frank Mooty Brian Gaffney
1985-86 Michele Mooney Willie Scott Paul McGarry Patricia Cantwell
1986-87 Janet Farrell Gerry Healy Susanne Canning
1987-88 Billy Hendry Willie Paton Andy Hailstones Jim Hiddlestone
1988-89 Geraldine Connor
1989-90 Colin Towers Gary Leck
1993-94 Jim Knighton (R) Ross McGuire Michael Soares
1994-95 Kevin Harvey Paul Devlin Gerry McKee Richard Koiak Dougie Robson
1995-96 Garry Lewis Chris Donnelly Allan Robinson
1996-97 Scott Robertson Stephen Clark Martin Cassidy Mark McGlynn Paul Martin
1997-98 Karen Erskine Phil Bailey Bob Lindsay
2000-01 John French Neil Miller Gregg Taylor Alan Boag
2002-03 Kay Morrison Christine McArthur
2010-11 Paul Mitas Tomasz Ptak Marcin Buturla Pawel Wilkolek Jaroslaw Zychski Damian Krzesak Dawid Krzesak
2013-14 Jakub Mitas Tymon Mitas
2015-16 Leslaw Kusztelak
2017-18 Josh Dougan
2018-19 Stanislaw Mitas
2022-23 Steven Anderson (returning after a 36 year absence) Stuart Miller (after playing against us in the 90s)
2023-24 Jim Forrester Lenka
Irvine Bryan Ng Kay Morrison (returning after 21 years)
Aiden Donald
Special Mentions
While almost everyone listed above has represented the club in competitive action, there are a few who are worthy of special mention. In terms of making the most appearances, without having a team list for every game played, it is fair to assume that the distinction is held by one of the original trio of Briody, Clelland or McGhee.
Likewise, with respect to identifying the oldest player to represent the club, the honour is likely to rest with the aforementioned threesome, although the latter holds a seven year advantage with no signs of ‘retiring’ despite entering his 70th year.
At the other end of the age spectrum, though, things are much clearer. As can be seen from the press reports the club has a history of developing young players and giving them court time from a very young age.
In terms of participating in the Men’s League Steven Smith started the trend when he made his competitive debut at 14. This was equalled by Barry Shannon and in different generations, Stephen Kerrigan, Gerry McKee and Stephen Clark.
Nobody, though, broke the under 14 barrier and given the current make-up of the club it is unlikely that feat will be achieved.
By comparison the Ladies team, essentially under the banner of Alethia Travel, boasted an average age several years younger than their male counterparts. Indeed on several occasions during the highly successful seasons 1983-85, the oldest player on court was only 14 year old.
Several made their league debut at 13, starting with Claire Dunlop and matched by Aileen Phee and Deborah Divers. However, the distinction of being the youngest person ever to represent the club belongs to Michelle Mooney, who at tender age of 12, not only made her league debut but kept her place in a league winning squad of 1985-86.