Jamie Dolan Tribute

Motherwell are mourning the death of former fans' favourite Jamie Dolan who has died of a heart attack while out jogging aged 39. Dolan's death is the latest shock to hit the club following the loss of Phil O'Donnell, the captain, who died from a cardiac arrest after collapsing on the Fir Park pitch on December 29 last year during a game against Dundee United.

Dolan started his career at Motherwell in the 1980s after being signed from Forgewood Boys Club. He appeared in the Youth Cup final against Celtic in the 1986/87 season and soon found himself promoted to the senior squad under Tommy McLean.

Dolan was a mainstay in the heart of the Motherwell midfield in the early to mid-1990s. In January 1997, however, he moved to Dundee United as part of a swap deal with Owen Coyle. After two seasons at Tannadice, Dolan moved south to Fife to play for Dunfermline where he stayed for a year. A year at Livingston followed, which included a loan deal with Forfar Athletic, and he spent his final playing season with Partick Thistle, retiring in 2002 after over 300 league games. He remained active in the game, though, and was involved in the Junior leagues for many years.

Dolan also retained strong links with Motherwell, playing an active role in the former players' club and assisting the club with charity and sponsors' events. A statement on the club's website said: “Everyone at Motherwell would like to pass on our sincerest condolences to Jamie's family and friends at this sad time.”

Craig Paterson, the former Motherwell captain, paid tribute to Dolan. “I saw Jamie not long ago and he still looked like fit enough to play a full match,” Paterson said. “When Motherwell qualified for Europe in 1994, Jamie Dolan, Billy Davies and Paul Lambert were as good a midfield as anywhere in Scotland at that time.

“He was a favourite with the fans because every week he would give 90 minutes of hard graft. If he didn't play well at least you knew he would give his all for the team. It's just so sad that he's now gone, and my thoughts obviously go out to his family.”

John Philiben, another former team-mate, knew Dolan from when he joined the Fir Park club. “He was a quiet lad when he first came into our dressing-room," Philiben said. “But once he settled in, he was a joker and got on well with everyone.

“He came into a good team that Tommy McLean had built, and was a good player to have in your side, winning the ball and keeping it simple.”