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Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust Working for Club & Community Issue # 21 • Winter 2012 • £2 (free for members) THE SEASON SO FAR PAGE 8 In this issue Behind the Scenes at BRFC Reserves Review All Shook up! www.berwickrangers.org Greetings... vice-chairman DAVID COOK First of all, some good news to strongest Third Division for proposal for a two-tier SPL, AND A VERY MERRY what we are able to donate in report since our last newsletter. years, a point highlighted by the made up of 24 teams, splitting CHRISTMAS and really great fiscal terms. I know all within The Trust has appointed Isla 2 point spread from 7th to 3rd into 3 leagues of 8 after 22 2013 to you all. It hardly the club do not share this Barber as Secretary, replacing positions at the time of writing. games. Whoever is responsible seems credible that we’re at view but we shall continue the long-serving Karen Thorburn The biggest frustration so far needs to lay off the Buckfast. At the end of another year and to do and contribute what who provided excellent support has been Rangers’ domination the moment, it’s impossible to as usual in the life of our Trust we can whilst maintaining a to the Trust over the years. Many of games and the high cost of tell how this will pan out, but it’s not been a boring one! watching brief. supporters will know Isla from not having the killer instinct to as a Trust we’ll be seeking your her sterling work in the club finish off the opposition. Darren views once the alternatives Newsletter No. 21 Since our last newsletter to Having resigned my position shop, and we’re delighted to Lavery’s improvement has been become clearer. Winter 2012 you our new season is now on the Scottish Council of have her on board. sensational, and Lee Currie’s into its second quarter with Supporters Direct, if you have goalscoring from midfield has As you know, we have our AGM c/o 10 Golden Square ,as I write, the team having a spare hour I can tell you While it’s a relief to have filled backed him up, but everyone I on 8th December prior to the Berwick-upon-Tweed pulled itself right onto the why, I watch with interest the Secretary’s position, we’re speak to believes that Rangers’ home match v Peterhead, and Northumberland shoulders of those in the play as the newly organised SD still in desperate need of new signing priority should be a I hope we get a good turnout TD15 1BS off places. Our manager has in Scotland takes its first blood on the Trust board. There’s goalscoring striker to back up from members. I want to use another article in this newsletter Lavery. We’ll see what Santa that meeting to get a sense from Telephone: put together a talented squad faltering steps. Being part of inviting people to join the brings in the next window. you about what our priorities 01890 860329 who are playing attractive the Council which secured football with it generally their not insignificant board, but the fact of the matter Anyone who was at the The should be for the year ahead. As Fax: being agreed that a couple of funding from the Scottish is that we’ve been seeking Rangers match on 25th August usual, we’ll be looking at ways 01289 306980 additions would make us into Government (£130,000 per new members for a couple of had the good fortune to be of raising money to support the E-Mail: genuine contenders. year) I probably have more years now with barely a flicker present at one of the greatest football club, but I’d also like to [email protected] Our Trust remains as active as interest than most in their of interest. We’ve been in idle days in our modern history, and have a closer look at the nature Chairman: ever and it’s hugely pleasing progress. mode for some time now, and if you were there, you will know of the relationship between the Colin Pike that our membership whilst membership numbers that only a refereeing error football club and the Trust. Our remain constant, an injection denied us a famous win. It’s days proposals for regular tripartite Vice-Chairman: numbers remain at an all time To finish for now, can I remind David Cook high, and that of course is you that as usual you can of new blood will help kickstart like that which make supporting meetings between the football down to you the members, attend any of our board new initiatives and bring new your team through thick and club, Trust and Supporters Club Secretary: without whom we would not meetings with no prior notice ideas to the table. So if you’re a thin worthwhile. just haven’t taken off, so we Isla Barber exist. required. You can also contact Berwick Rangers supporter, have need to revisit how, as a major Treasurer: me on anything to do with some time on your hands to With a fair wind and some shareholder with a director on Gordon Dickson Our financial assistance to our Trust or the wider Trust commit to the work of the Trust minor strengthening of the the football club board, we can Membership Secretary: the football club continues movement always glad to and have access to a pc and squad, we should make the best represent Trust members’ Bill Purvis with us handing over what hear from you email, come on down……. playoffs. Looking at the wider interests at Berwick Rangers we consider to be a useful footballing world beyond that FC (for example, a number of FC Board Representative: sum to our club every season Keep the faith. On the pitch, Ian Little and though, things are clouded people have expressed concern John Bell although we do not measure Robbie Horn have created the with uncertainty. The SFL has at the lack of atmosphere in Committee Members: our contribution purely in best team since the 2006/07 published what look to me like the ground, despite improving John Bell, Ronald Kirk, Stephen Colin championship winning side. well-thought out proposals crowds, since the Ducket fence Scott, David Spence, Michael For my money, the current side for a 16-10-18 three-league was taken down) Smyth, Keith Hall are a better footballing outfit structure going live in 2015/16. FOOT NOTE: and has more quality players One of the key elements of the Thank you again for continuing Newsletter Editor: If you have an questions or Michael Smyth than Coff’s champions. So why, SFL proposal is that Old Firm to support the Trust. issues, or any contributions you might ask, have Rangers reserves should be admitted, Designed/Published by: for our newsletter, email: struggled to break free from along the lines of the Spanish David Cook Paul Smith / www.vivadigital.net [email protected] midtable all season? I think model. True to form, and reeking Vice-Chair there are a number of answers of self-interest, the SPL has Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust Pictures by Doug Stenhouse, Andrew Robertson, Tweeddale to that. Again, this is a personal countered the SFL structure Press & Angus Blackburn view, but I believe this is the with a brainless, deeply flawed Behind the Scenes at BRFC A look behind the doors of Shielfield Park... LYNDSAY FLANNIGAN took on the role of having been drawn away in each with the Financial Officer at Berwick Rangers at the consequent travelling costs to be considered, too. start of the 2007-08 season. She has worked Income from a couple of home friendlies is also in accounting since graduating from Napier factored in. University in Edinburgh with a degree in Business Studies. Lyndsay pointed out that before the season starts, the club knows how much will be received from Lyndsay admits that before linking up with the its main sponsor, shirt and back of shirt sponsors. club, she had no particular interest in Berwick Money from individual players’ kit sponsorship also Rangers nor in football in general. Now however, goes into the general pool though the season can she is a mine of information, some of which she be underway before all these deals are tied up. recently imparted to Trust Board member Michael The arrangement with kit suppliers Zoo sees the Smyth. company supplementing purchased kit with other The club also did well out of a pre-season friendly Board will be looking at every possible way of free equipment. against Hibs last season which drew a 1,400 crowd, reducing the cost of staging similar fixtures. When BUDGETING FOR THE SEASON the Easter Road club content to ask Rangers only it is a cup tie, the home club is allowed to deduct Lyndsay explained that she maps out a budget Fixed costs include wages for non-playing staff ( to reimburse the cost of their coach travel to a proportion of gate receipts to cover the costs for each season based on ‘a worst case scenario’ the groundsman is the only full-time employee ), Shielfield. ( Hibernian were also very undemanding of hosting the tie, usually about 15% of takings. i.e. that net income from home league games will training costs and those for staging home games when they loaned out Danny Handling and Jordon The rest, minus VAT, is split evenly between average only £1,000 per game and that the club e.g. refreshments for players and officials and Forster last season.