���� ���� � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � Berwick Rangers � � � � � � � � � � Supporters Trust � �� �� � � � �� �� � ���� � �� Working for Club & Community TRUST MEMBERS NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2007 FREE TO MEMBERS ISSUE NO. 10 SPECIAL CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION In this issue... “My greatest We look back at the Championship season ever achievement The players tell us about the ‘title- in football” winning feeling’ and their hopes for next season Trust members celebrate title £1 Buy Official Championship Merchandise @ www.berwickrangers-shop.co.uk As is customary, I’d like to to ���� ���� � �� thank all those connnected � � Inside this issue... � � SPECIAL � � to the Trust for their efforts Champions! 4 & 5 � � � in providing a worthwhile � The Berwick Brick Wall 6 & 7 � � service to fans, community � � CHAMPIONSHIP � � and Club, and once again The Title Run-in 8 & 9 � � highlight the huge amount � Trust Promote Decider 10 ISSUE � of work undertaken by a � � � �� Player of the Year 11 �� � relatively small number of � � � � individuals.The excellent Trust Hall of Fame 12 �� ��� ���� � work done in supporting the Membership Report 13 Youth Initiative, newsletters, 8 PAGES OF COVERAGE the Trust web-site and Trust & BRFC A.G.M. 14 Newsletter No. 10 Champions through a Lens! 15 Summer 2007 Trust Shop, for example, START OVERLEAF Hello and welcome could not happen without Trust Shop Update 16 c/o 10 Golden Square to the latest, and very the dedication and whole- ‘Foreign Fields’ 16 special, edition of the hearted commitment of Berwick-upon-Tweed Vice Chairman’s Report 17 Northumberland BRFC Supporters Trust perhaps less than half-a- TD15 1BS newsletter. dozen people which the Trust Trust Help Away Travel 17 are extremely fortunate to News Snippets 18 & 19 Telephone: Special indeed, as its not count on as members. 01289 333103 often that we have cause to celebrate a Championship! The Trust continues to Fax: Twenty-eight years since grow steadily, but we really 01289 306980 the last one, to be precise, would appreciate some and those of us who were ‘new blood’ on the Trust E-Mail: fortunate enough to be at Board to keep development [email protected] the nail-biting climax to the going. So if you have a little season against Arbroath time to spare, please make Chairman: witnessed the culmination yourself known. Thanks to John Bell of a great effort by all all who attended the recent concerned with Berwick AGM - as organisations Vice-Chairman: Rangers. go, we always have a very Colin Pike healthy percentage of our There’s no doubt that for membership in attendance. Secretary: two seasons in succession Our guest speakers John Mark Swanston John Coughlin has done Coughlin and Elaine Millar an extraordinary job at from Supporters Direct Treasurer: Shielfield, and success did an excellent job of Gordon Dickson was fair reward for a huge keeping us entertained and amount of work put in this interested. Membership Secretary: year. Even the most die- Bill Purvis hard supporter would have I hope you enjoy reading struggled to dream of this this edition, and please Committee Members: achievement after the exodus feel encouraged to put pen David Cook of experienced players from to paper and contribute a Karen Thorburn the Club, and the Trust few words for the next one. Paul Smith can take some satisfaction There’s a lot of interesting George Thompson from the part we played in stories out there waiting to Stephen Scott helping to bring about the be heard. Keith Hall signing of Gary Wood. Ronald Kirk Take care, and have a safe There’s no doubt too that and enjoyable summer, and Newsletter Designed & support from the terracing roll on Division Two! Edited by Paul Smith has been appreciated by the players, and although often Best wishes, Printed by Fantasy Prints, small in number, the vocal Berwick. Tel 01289 303242 encouragement provided Pictures by Joe Payne, throughout the year surely Kevin McCormick, David Morton helped in some way. John Bell (Trust Chairman) & Doug Stenhouse ���� ���� ���� ���� � �� � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 28/4/2007 - A DAY TO REMEMBER � �� �� � �� � � � Champions! � � �� �� �� �� � ���� � �� � ���� � �� Everyone has their own personal Colin said: “I can remember very little about “Both Tai and I witnessed all the pre-match recollections of what happened on that that night at Cowdenbeath all those years ago build-up from the tunnel area – the boys were glorious afternoon where the 28-year-long so I was determined to take as much in of the so up for it. However - one thing will live me wait for a Championship finally ended. day as I could especially at the end of the game forever. because you never know how long we may wait I’m sure we could fill the Trust to lift another championship again. “The team were getting ready to go into their newsletter five times over with pre-match huddle and Tai was looking a bit everyone’s memories of that “This success means just as much as left out of things as he stood outside the group. memorable day - from the moment the first one did but this was more of But Big Kevin seen him standing there all on his when Assistant Manager Matt Kerr a team effort because the last one own and called him over and tucked him under addressed The Ducket moments was very much the Dave Smith show his arm into the huddle amongst the team before kick-off with a gripped fist to – he was very instrumental on the - what a gesture by the big man, this was the fire the fans up ready for the war-cry field.” biggest day in most of these players careers yet right until Robbie Horn and Grant they still had time to make Tai’s day by involving Without doubt the most touching McNicoll received the trophy. him in the circle as Robbie lead the battle-cry to Tia Meakin with Gary Wood and Kevin Haynes story of the day is recalled by ardent ensure the team let no one down. Black & Gold fan David Morton Speaking to the media after the final whose partner’s son Tai Meakin was “Footballers often get bad press that they don’t whistle, manager John Coughlin mascot for the day. care about the fans – that cannot be said about said: “I’ve won championships with The staunch trust member paid our players – what a bunch.” both Alloa and St Mirren in the past tribute to talisman striker Kevin as a No2 to Tom Hendrie but this one Haynes for a tear-jerking gesture means the most as it’s my first title as he showed towards Tai seconds before the big a manager in my own right.” kick-off. Trust Vice-Chairman Colin Pike stood on David added: “I had arranged for Tai to be the terrace at Central Park back in 1979 mascot for the day for the Arbroath game well when the Dream Team won their last league before we knew that the game would take on as championship at Cowdenbeath. big as importance as it did. Fans Celebrate: (L to R) Dale Jones, Ian Gregory, Michael Bell, Martin McLeary, Mark Swanston, Rich Swanston, Brian Parkin, Steve Parkin and David Morton Above: Kevin Haynes and Iain Diack. Below: the Ducket in full swing Ian Little and Gary O’Connor with the trophy 4 ORDER YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP T-SHIRT TODAY @ www.berwickrangers-shop.co.uk JOIN TODAY FROM ONLY £2 PER MONTH! 5 ���� ���� ���� ���� � �� � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� by Chris Sanderson � �� �� � �� � � � ‘The Berwick Brick Wall’ - Horn & McNicoll � � �� �� �� �� � ���� � �� � ���� � �� Supporters Trust Player of the Year I seemed to get a tough reception at the time Man for all occasions Grant McNicoll speaks volumes for what the gaffer and his Robbie Horn couldn’t hide his emotion but I feel that’s behind me and the support has sampled all the highs and lows that backroom staff and this squad has achieved. after receiving the accolade at the club’s that not just me but the team has received Berwick Rangers have faced in a ten year annual presentation night in The Black over the past couple of seasons has been career at Shielfield Park. “Everyone writing us off actually spurred us & Gold Club shortly after clinching that immense. on and don’t forget we were a good 13 points elusive third division championship. Promotions, relgations, cup shocks, various behind leaders East Fife at one stage before “If anything that spurred us on to go one heartbreaks and playing on all the big stages we went on that record breaking run of eight The rock solid defender’s contribution to better and lift the title for the fans who have – the long serving defender has been in the back-to-wins in the league which paved the title chase didn’t go unnoticed by trust been superb as well as everyone connected trenches for all of them but the championship the lifting of the Championship members who were polled in the weeks with the club. win is the icing on the cake insists the 29- trophy.” CS leading up to the final game of the season. year-old “I’ve been touched with all the awards I Speaking in the aftermath of the picked up – it wasn’t until a few days after the Grant added: “I played in all the big championship celebrations, Robbie said: championship win that everything began to cup shocks against Rangers and Hearts, “This award means so much to me. ”If the sink in and I must admit when I looked back I played on some big stages and played in a truth was known I always felt a bit emotional. promotion winning side back in 2000 but felt I struggled to win make no bones about it this is the pinnacle of the fans over during “But it was a team effort and I must pay my career.