Seb Palmer-Houlden has rated his first European start for Motherwell as the highlight of his young career. The 22-year-old forward featured in the UEFA Conference League play-off second leg against SC Freiburg, a match the Steelmen lost 4-1 to exit 7-2 on aggregate. He spoke about the experience in an interview reported by the Daily Record Football this week.
Palmer-Houlden joined Motherwell from Gillingham for a fee this summer after a conversation with manager Alfred Johansson convinced him. "I spoke to Alfred Johansson and I was in right away," the striker said. His previous start before the Freiburg trip had been for Gillingham, following earlier spells at Bristol City and a loan at Dundee. His immediate focus is now on domestic action, with Motherwell sitting fourth in the Premiership with four points from two games. They have scored twice and conceded once, putting them two points behind leaders Celtic ahead of their next league fixture.
The Conference League play-off concluded at the Europa Park Stadion in hot and humid conditions. Over 1,400 Motherwell fans made the trip to Germany, but they saw their team's European hopes end. The match was complicated by a red card shown to defender Jake Girdwood-Reich. Palmer-Houlden had a notable chance to score, set up by a pass from Alex Lowry, but his effort was saved by Freiburg goalkeeper Mia Backhaus. The 4-1 defeat sealed a 7-2 aggregate loss, confirming Motherwell crashed out of the competition. Palmer-Houlden did not feature in the club's first two European qualifying rounds this season.
For the young forward, the occasion in Germany stood above all his previous footballing moments. "It is probably the best experience I have had in my footballing career," Palmer-Houlden stated. Making a European start for a Premiership club represented a major step up from his previous outing for Gillingham. The atmosphere created by the travelling support and the scale of the continental fixture left a lasting impression on him, fueling a desire for more such experiences in the future.
Alfred Johansson's side now turns its full attention to the Scottish Premiership campaign. Their next challenge is a tough away match against a St Mirren side that has a 100% record so far this season, scheduled for Sunday. The squad is also managing some injury concerns, with Callum Hendry, Jordan McGhee, and Paul McGinn currently sidelined. Fans can track the team's availability on our injuries page. Motherwell's solid early league form, provides a platform to build upon after the European disappointment.
The immediate goal is to secure a positive result at St Mirren to maintain their top-four position. For Palmer-Houlden, the Freiburg experience has set a new standard. He now aims to establish himself in the Motherwell attack and help the team challenge for a return to European football in future seasons, using the memory of that night in Germany as motivation.
