Dutch ultras engulf Motherwell friendly in sea of flares and pyro as special connection sparks boisterous scenes

Stuart Kettlewell's Motherwell are in Holland for their pre-season preparations - and they perhaps weren't expecting a sea of flares and smoke bombs to meet them.

The Steelmen finished seventh in the Premiership last season after the former Ross County manager's arrival although he is facing a rebuild after key stars like Kevin Van Veen's departure. They are taking on Dutch fourth tier side HSC Haaksbergen as part of their week abroad and before things kicked off at Sportpark de Wildbaan, a wall of flares, noise and pyro appeared from a group of Dutch ultras and select few 'Well fans who had made the journey.

Vocal Fir Park singing section 'The Well Bois' share a close relationship with ultras of Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen. The pair have attended each others' games in the past and the club based in the Netherlands have met again with their Lanarkshire friends at this friendly encounter, marking it with plenty of colour and noise as both teams entered the park.

The pair have never met in action with each other. 'Well cult hero Michael Higdon left Fir Park for the Dutch side in 2013, spending a season there before returning to the UK with Sheffield United.

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