Tam Cowan: Europa League final was not the only big football event this week

My dear old granny died on Saturday afternoon.

At least, that’s what I told organisers of the Motherwell FC Player of the Year event I was due to host just hours after a 6-0 trouncing at Celtic Park.

Yep, the Europa League Final wasn’t the ONLY big football event this week. (And thank goodness for that, dear reader, as your fitba’-daft columnist had a Wednesday lunchtime deadline ahead of last night’s 8pm kick-off in Seville.)

The late, great Ronnie Corbett once claimed the most nervous he’d ever felt in his life was standing at a urinal next to Shakin’ Stevens.

But I was even more panic-stricken by the rather challenging prospect of trying to cheer up a room full of ‘Well fans, while the players - who’d just been pumped at Parkhead - were sitting right down the front.

It’s true what they say - adrenalin is brown.

However, the dinner went ahead as scheduled (turns out the Dalziel Park Hotel in Motherwell has a very strict 24-hour cancellation policy) and I’m delighted to report it was a roaring success.

As a Fir Park season-ticket holder for 43 years, it’s a great honour to MC the club events.

I could never have played for Motherwell - although manager Graham Alexander DID offer me a trial right after the Celtic defeat - so this is a terrific second prize.

And in fairness to the players and coaching staff, they enjoyed a laugh on Saturday night and didn’t mind getting slaughtered.

“If Ukraine defended like you lot this afternoon,” I said right at the start, “the war would have lasted 20 minutes.”

Don’t forget though, Motherwell finished fifth in the league this year and qualified for the Europa Conference League, which will be our 11th time in Europe - a Scottish record for a non-city club.

Not bad, eh?

All we need now