Tag: Green

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British Club Tops

C. I. S. Insurance Cup Final 04-05

Motherwell’s first cup final since the well remembered Scottish Cup final of 1991 would see them kick off against Rangers, in the so called “Davie Cooper Final”, at Hampden on the 20th of Match 2005. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for the steelmen as the gers ran riot on the day putting five past Motherwell goalkeeper Gordon Marshall. This would be Marshall’s last season in football after he retired at the grand age of 39.

This Marshall top comes from the semi-final game at Easter Road against Hearts where Motherwell had put up a good performance by giving themselves a two goal lead but then seen it slip in the last 5 minutes after conceding twice, taking the game into extra time. With all Motherwell fans on the edge of their seat and with penalties on the horizon up steps Fitzpatrick to fire the Well’ to Hampden.

Marshall started in the final at Hampden alongside players such as Phil O’Donnell, Steven Hammell, Stephen Craigan, Martyn Corrigan, Scott McDonald and Kevin McBride with the latter being who’s top we also have here.

Starting at right midfield of a 4-4-2, McBride would play majority of the match before coming off as a substitute in the 83rd minute for Paul Quinn. After his original loan spell from Celtic, McBride would join the Steelmen on a permanent basis on a two year deal before leaving on a free in 2007.

Since then, Motherwell have featured in another three finals. The first being the 2011 Scottish Cup and the next two coming in the same season in the 17/18 after an impressive season from Stephen Robinson’s men. All of which have unfortunately been played against Celtic at Hampden.

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International Tops Rest of the World

Scott McDonald – Australia 02′

Aussie forward Scott McDonald would start his career off playing for semi-professional outfits Gippsland Falcons and Casey Comets, where he would become to youngest ever National Soccer League player at 15 years of age, before getting his move to to the south coast of England with Southampton. After a couple of loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Bournemouth and a permanent move to Wimbledon FC, it was his next move up to Scotland that would make everyone remember his name.

Signing for Motherwell in 2004, McDonald would make over 100 appearances in claret and amber while scoring over forty goals in his first stint at Fir Park. The Aussie can be most remembered for famously scoring a brace against Celtic on the last day of the season of the 04/05 season to deny Celtic the title, giving it to city rivals Rangers.

Scott McDonald scoring against Celtic on ‘Helicopter Sunday’ – Scott McDonald reveals how Helicopter Sunday caused rifts with his family – Daily Record

Motherwell would accept a bid of £700,000 from Celtic at the end of the 06/07 season where he would spend the next three years of his career making 88 appearances and scoring 51 goals. McDonald would win the league in his first season with the bhoys while being named the leagues top scorer and adding a league cup winners medal to his collection in the 08/09 season. During the Champions League group stage in November 2008, McDonald would famously score against Manchester United, holding them to a 1-1 draw. Scott would move on from Celtic on the 1st of February 2010, deadline day, to Middlesbrough for £3.5 million to join up with previous manager Gordon Strachan.

McDonald (right) celebrating his goal against Manchester United. https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/australia-international-scott-mcdonald-becomes-western-uniteds-latest-signing

After Middlesbrough, McDonald would have a successful career playing for Millwall, Motherwell again, Dundee Utd and Partick Thistle before moving back to his homeland of Australia where he’s played with Western Utd, Brisbane Roar and most currently Western Sydney Wanderers. McDonald managed to feature 26 times for his country.

This jersey is one of McDonald’s early tops from his time with the Australia under 20’s where he would play 24 times, playing under coach Ange Postecoglou, who at the moment is being heavily linked to the vacant Celtic managerial position.

This Adidas branded kit bolsters Australia’s classic Green and Yellow, displaying a small felt number in the centre of the jersey front and the normal larger size template on the back. As it’s a under 20’s top, no names were printed on the back.

Instead of the badge showing the Football Australia logo, it shows the Australian coat of arms which bolsters a shield with the badges of states New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania while being supported by a kangaroo and an emu.

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Club Tops European

Michael Higdon – NEC Nijmegen 13′

NEC Nijmegen badge

Englishman Michael Higdon started his career at Crewe Alexandra before making his move to Scotland where he would play with Falkirk and St Mirren, scoring 15 and 18 goals respectively before finding his form for with Motherwell.

Higdon (right) celebrating with Humphrey (left). Motherwell Legend Michael Higdon retires from football. : MotherwellFC (reddit.com)

It is with The Steelmen where Higdon would become a cult hero as he would score 13 goals in his first season and then a massive 26 league goals in the 12/13 season, where he would become Motherwell’s top goal scorer in a season since the Second World War. As a result of Higdon being so important to Motherwell’s 2nd place finish in the league, he was voted PFA Scotland’s Player’s Player of the Year.

Higdon with his PFA PPOTY award. Tam Cowan: My hero Higdon had the Mother of all hangovers – Tam Cowan – Daily Record

After leaving the Scottish side on a free, Higdon would move across the English Channel to Dutch side NEC Nijmegen. The Scouser would only play in Holland for one season but he would continue to be as prolific abroad, scoring 14 goals but this was not enough to keep Nijmegen in the Eredivise. After the season, Higdon would get his move back to England with a bid coming in from Sheffield United.

Higdon with NEC Nijmegen. Higdon leads NEC to victory — Nijmegenleeft.nl

As for this beauty, Jako have produced an instantly recognisable kit for NEC Nijmegen as the use of their classic three colours are used through this iconic shirt, with the main torso being split in two with the contrasting red and green while using the last colour, black, as the sleeves. The clubs double headed eagle is replicated from the badge and can be seen spread out over the bottom of the jersey.

At the bottom on the back, there is also a skyline of the city of Nijmegen, which is also the oldest city in Holland. This cityscape features the Nijmegen Railway Bridge, which was demolished twice during the Second World War, once by the Dutch to defend against the attacking German’s which was then rebuilt and destroyed again by the German’s as they fled the American’s. The bridge was nicknamed “Little Omaha” due to the casualties suffered on the bridge.