Motherwell Football Club is mourning the death of former chairman Brian McCafferty at the age of 79. He passed away peacefully at home over the weekend, surrounded by his family, after a battle with cancer.
"Everyone at Motherwell Football Club is deeply saddened by Brian’s passing," said current club chairman Kyrk Macmillan. McCafferty's wife Linda, daughter Lynne, son Gavin, daughter-in-law Helen and grandson Ross survive him. His final visit to Fir Park was for the match against Hearts in May, which drew the biggest crowd for 21 years and was a significant step towards European qualification.
A key role in fan ownership
Brian McCafferty's influence on the club's modern history is immense. He was one of the original four Well Society board members elected in October 2012 and became one of its first two representatives on the Motherwell FC board in April 2013. He succeeded Graham Barnstaple as Well Society chairman in September 2014, taking charge during a critical period. Earlier that year, the Society faced the challenge of raising an additional £400,000 as the club confronted a severe cash shortfall.
McCafferty led the Well Society's negotiations with majority shareholder John Boyle and prospective buyer Les Hutchison. Those talks culminated in a rescue deal signed in January 2015. Under the agreement, both the Well Society and Hutchison invested, with Hutchison acquiring Boyle's majority shareholding for £1. McCafferty became chairman of Motherwell FC that same month, steering the club through the transition before stepping down from both boards later in 2015. Motherwell formally moved into fan ownership in October 2016.
"Brian was not only a gentleman but also a giant of Motherwell Football Club and its fan ownership movement," said Well Society chairman Derek Watson. McCafferty later worked with the MFC Heritage Trust, stressing the importance of preserving the club's history. He consistently highlighted the generosity of John Boyle and the commitment of Les Hutchison in keeping the fan-ownership dream alive.
Current context for the club
The news comes as the first-team squad prepares for a challenging run. Their next match is at home against league leaders Celtic on 11 October. Supporters can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and review the current squad list. The club also has several players currently sidelined, including Callum Hendry and Paul McGinn, with details available on the injuries page. Brian McCafferty's legacy ensures the club he helped save continues to compete, with its next challenge set for 11 October.
More detail at Motherwell Football Club
