Ready for kick-off
IT'S the eve of a new season, the friendlies are out of the way and now the competitive action begins.
Berwick kick off their new campaign with a difficult away tie at Peterhead in the CIS Cup on Saturday.
Not many people will be expecting Rangers to go there and get a result, but as manager Jimmy Crease says, his players have proved their fitness in pre-season, and he wants them to travel north and 'dig in.'
The league action starts next weekend (away to Albion Rovers first game). Crease says they have to start out aiming for the title, but in reality, reaching the play-offs is their goal.
Can they do it? Well, only time will tell on that front. But in pre-season there were glimpses that they can play some decent football, what they need to do is carry that through into their competitive campaign.
The loss of Stuart Callaghan with a broken bone in his ankle so early on is a blow, and it's a sure sign that Rangers need to steer clear of long term injuries - their squad is relatively small and they really cannot afford to have too many key players out at any one time.
Published Date:
28/07/2010
Modified Date:
28/07/2010
Gribben back, Call injured
WELL, the new season is almost upon us, and Berwick have all but completed their squad with the re-signing of Darren Gribben.
Gribbs was with us two years ago, when he almost finished top scorer in the division - quite an achievement for a side which finished second from bottom.
He left to join Dumbarton, but promptly quit and signed for Junior side Boness, where he again banged in a few goals.
His return to Shielfield will be welcomed by some, questioned by others, but as Jimmy Crease says 'he is a proven goal scorer.'
Sadly, Gribben's return has been tempered by the news that last year's skipper Stuart Callaghan will miss the start of the season with a broken ankle.
Call took a knock against Raith last weekend, and Crase says he has sustained 'a small fracture' which will sideline him for several weeks.
Not the ideal way to start the new campaign . . .
Published Date:
21/07/2010
Modified Date:
21/07/2010
Crease builds squad
THE football season may just have ended, but Berwick manager Jimmy Crease is already hard at work assembling his squad for the 2010-11 campaign.
So far goalkeeper Mark Peat, defenders Andy McLean and Jamie Ewart, captain Stuart Callaghan, midfielders Stevie Notman, Paul Currie, David Greenhill, Paul McMullen and Fraser McLaren, along with striker Alan Brazil have all agreed new terms.
And this week it was confirmed that central defender Guy Kerr, who played on loan from East Fife for the final months of last season, has also signed a full contract.
Elliott Smith and last year's leading goalscorer Damon Gray have also both been offered new deals, but currently Gray is considering an offer to play in Sweden, so we will just have toi wait and see how that one pans out.
But as confirmation comes of the new signings, so too does the news that several players are not being offered new deals, and they include the long-serving centre half Robbie Horn (who was employed in a coaching capacity last season), and midfielders Oliver Russell and Chris McMenamin, who spent most of the season out on loan.
Still, 11 players signed up this early is all good news for the club - keep an eye out for any new arrivals over the coming weeks.
Published Date:
19/05/2010
Modified Date:
19/05/2010
A rare event
SATURDAY'S 0-0 draw at Livingston was a rare event indeed for Berwick - it was their first no score draw in an official match in THREE YEARS.
The last 0-0 recorded by the club was way back in April 2007 - the championship-winning season, when they drew a blank against Elgin at Shielfield.
Since then they have played 120 games without a goalless encounter, which is quite a feat.
So if you want to see goals - get along and watch Berwick!
Published Date:
21/04/2010
Modified Date:
21/04/2010
Play-off hopes fading
BERWICK'S play-off hopes appear to be fading at a rate of knots.
Queen's Park's 1-0 home victory over Albion Rovers on Tuesday means Rangers are now three points adrift of QP in the play-off race, and with only two games to go (home to Albion on Saturday and away to Annan in the nlast game of the season) nothing short of victory in both fixtures is required if they are to achieve a top four finish . . . even then it may not be enough if the Hampden side win this weekend as well.
Berwick started the season with so much hope and optimism, and at Christmas were looking odds-on for a play-off place, if not a tilt at the title itself.
But injuries, a loss of form, a long winter lay-off due to the weather, and a spell of playing on heavy pitches which did not suit their style, all took their toll.
It's been downhill almost all the way since New Year . . . so let's hope after two draws against champions Livi, they can finish with a flourish and give the fans something to cheer about.
Published Date:
21/04/2010
Modified Date:
21/04/2010
When will turning point come?
BERWICK picked up three welcome, not to say much-needed points when they won at Queen's Park on Saturday.
But just 72 hours later a 4-1 hammering at Albion Rovers signified more short-comings within the Rangers ranks.
There is no doubting that Berwick's poor run, which co-incided with the bad weather and the deterioration of pitches across the country, could be levelled at their inability to adapt to the worsening conditions.
Saturday's win at Hampden only added fuel to that fire as the victory came on a decent surface where they were able to knock the ball about.
Fast forward to Tuesday and after a hammering at the hands of a side now challenging Rangers for a play-off place, there are more than a few anxious over-the-shoulder glances to see how the teams are closing the gap behind them.
We can only hope that the pitches dry out soon, because Rangers have a difficult run-in to the season and a top four place is not guaranteed.
Published Date:
10/03/2010
Modified Date:
10/03/2010
On the slide . . .
BERWICK'S 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Forfar on Saturday was described by manager Jimmy Crease as 'the worst since I took over as manager.'
And there will be few people arguing with that fact, as the performance fell well below the level fans have come to 3expect this season.
As Crease says, their title hopes have now gone, but if the team doesn't start to show signs of improvement shortly (they have only won one of their last eight games) then even a play-off place might slip from their grasp.
There's no denying that the enforced break due to the bad weather has had an effect on the side - injuries and suspensions have also taken their toll - but heavier pitches just don't suit their top of the ground style of play and the results show that.
The players should be good enough to adapt, however. There is still quite a way to go in the season, therefore there is plenty of time for the team to pick it up again, but clearly an improvement sooner rather than later would appease the supporters, not to mention the manager, who has threatened that 'heads might roll.'
Published Date:
17/02/2010
Modified Date:
17/02/2010
Time to kick on
FOLLOWING on from last Saturday's 5-1 away win over Elgin - Berwick's biggest victory for quite some time - surely now is the time for the team to kick on for the rest of the season.
This weekend they face Montrose at home in their first match at Shielfield since December 12 - a much-needed boost to the coffers I am sure - and another three points to strengthen their hand in their title and play-off bids would be a welcome addition.
For after that Rangers embark on what is likely to be a very difficult and testing period. Fellow contenders East Stirling and Forfar are next up, and of course they still have four postponed matches t0 re-arrange, which is almost certain to mean a flurry of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday fixtures.
Recent suspensions and injuries have shown how vulnerable the small squad can be, and with Chris McMenamin having been put out on loan to Linlithgow Rose, manager Jimmy Crease will probably be keen to try and add to his numbers before the transfer window closes.
Published Date:
29/01/2010
Modified Date:
29/01/2010