Motherwell’s 1991 heroes left stranded at Hampden

May 26 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL 1991 Scottish Cup-winning heroes suffered a double disappointment on Saturday.

The team, who were guests of honour at Hampden Park for the 2011 final, first watched Celtic beat Stuart McCall’s Steelmen 3-0.

Then they returned to the stadium car park, in pouring rain, to discover their bus had left without them.

The ex-players had enjoyed hospitality at Hampden, tickets to the game, and they should have had return journey back to Motherwell aboard a coach supplied by West Lothian firm Browning’s.

A post-match party back at Fir Park’s Centenary Suite was also promised.

However, according to people travelling with the former ‘Well stars, the bus left five minutes before the arranged 6pm departure time – leaving them stranded at a soggy Hampden.

One fan who travelled on the same hospitality coach, and did not wish to be named, said he was shocked the Motherwell Football Club heroes had been treated in such a way.

He told the Advertiser: “We were on a specially-organised bus that was supposed to leave Hampden at 6pm on Saturday evening.

“However at 5.54pm the driver took it upon himself to go – leaving 12 seats empty. Most of those seats had been occupied by ex-players who had been part of the Scottish Cup winning team of 1991.

“Those of us on the bus were in disbelief. The driver was approached and asked to wait and he simply said if the other bus was leaving so was he!”

The source continued: “It was pouring with rain and 12 people were stranded.

“I was very angry when the bus drew out of the car park with the empty seats. It was a poor way to treat the Motherwell heroes of 20 years ago.”

To add insult to injury, once the stranded passengers eventually did make it back by taxi to Motherwell’s Fir Park, they were then denied access to the club’s Centenary Suite.

The source added: “There was a bit of a do going on in the Centenary Suite on Saturday night.

“When those who were stranded did make it back to Fir Park they were told by a bouncer they could not enter the Centenary Suite as it was a private function. It turned out to be a very eventful cup final day for them!”

Eric Browning, owner of coach firm Browning’s, based in Whitburn, said: “The situation was that my driver had practically a full bus load from about 5.15pm that evening. Other passengers asked him if he could leave at that point.

“However, he explained that for some reason, possibly part of the hospitality package, he had to hold back until 6pm.

“By two minutes to six the remaining passengers were nowhere to be seen.

“At this point he decided to leave for the return journey.”