Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust Be the 12th Man! WE NEED MORE LIKE HIM This issue is kindly sponsored by A LETTER FROM JUST AMERICA CHAMPION! Issue # 27 • Winter 2015 • £2 (free for members) www.berwickrangers.org On the other hand, it does give us a major debatable. Nothing to do with the food. It was Berwick Rangers (though not dominant) stake in the club. the fare on the pitch as we crashed 5-0 to Clyde. Supporters Trust Apparently, so far, two directors have expressed I hope you find this magazine more an intention to stand for the post of chairman. enjoyable than that particular game. Thanks In view of the parlous state of the football team to all contributors and to UK Fuels for their Newsletter No. 27 and Brian’s strong financial record whilst at the sponsorship. It is very much appreciated. Winter 2015 helm, it is vital that the best person for the job is chosen. With this in mind, I recently wrote to Keeping fingers crossed for a big improvement Brian suggesting a meeting at which candidates on the field, I wish you all a happy new year. Address: Chairman: Committee Members: would address an audience of Supporters c/o 10 Golden Square Michael Smyth John Bell, Ronald Kirk, David Trust and Supporters Club members (the SC is Berwick-upon-Tweed Spence, Ian Beresford, Gary also a major shareholder ) plus any interested Michael Vice-Chairman: Michael Smyth, Northumberland Smith, Stuart Lee and individual shareholders outlining their Gordon Dickson Chairman TD15 1BG Brendan Thorburn respective visions and strategies for a successful Secretary: Berwick Rangers. Telephone: 01890 860329 Isla Barber Designed & Published by: Paul Smith / www.vivadigital.net Treasurer: Fax: 01289 306980 After hearing these, if they were of a mind to do FOOT NOTE: If you have any questions or issues, or Vacant Pictures: Tweeddale Press, so, privately, audience members could indicate any contributions for our newsletter, please e-mail E-Mail: Alan Bell, David Glencross, Ian Membership Secretary: [email protected] Runciman, John Bell, Doug to individual directors which candidate they [email protected] Bill Purvis Stenhouse, Jim Matthewson, preferred. The directors could choose to ignore fb.com/berwickrangerstrust Gemma Law, Gary Flint FC Board Representative: them but the views expressed might influence John Bell which way they eventually vote. I await Brian’s twitter.com/berwickrst Editor: Michael Smyth reply. Our previous newsletter carried an article critical of the local press coverage of Berwick Rangers. Unhappy with some of the comments, the sports editor approached our representative on the club board, John Bell. He was invited to FROM THE CHAIRMAN... give his side of the story in this issue but we These are critical times at Berwick Rangers Another issue taxing supporters’ minds is that have heard nothing more. F.C. We have recently changed the manager of the position of club chairman. Brian Porteous and, as I write, lie at the foot of the table. Our has indicated he will step down at the end of Putting back the time of our AGM in November summer/autumn 2014 edition included an the season. A number of Trust members have helped attract more people than last time. The article entitled ‘The Cameron Effect’ reflecting approached me asking for clarification of the existing Trust Board was re-elected. Original a generally promising start as manager by the situation. What I can say is that, ultimately, it is guest speaker Gordon Smith brought along ex-Scotland international. Sadly, the high hopes the directors of the club who will choose Brian’s another ex-player David Moyes which meant for invested in him by the club and supporters were successor. the second AGM in a row, we enjoyed hearing unfulfilled. John Coughlin is back. If he can get from a double act. Neither ‘Pogo’ nor ‘Moysie’ us into the promotion play offs, as things stand, Revised figures suggest that the Trust holds minced their words when talking about football. it would be a minor miracle but the absolute almost 20% of the shares issued by the club. Fortuitously, they were already scheduled to priority has to be avoiding finishing in 10th This has to be looked at in two ways. It is come down to Shielfield that day anyway as spot with an obligatory two leg play off against simply not a big enough holding for us to force members of a party which had booked a meal Highland or Lowland League opposition to through any major changes we might desire at and would then watch the match. Whether Front cover: Steven Notman continues to be a determine SPFL status next season. the club without the support of others. they’ll ever want to eat at Shielfield again is top performer in a struggling Berwick team By Ron Kirk THE SEASON SO FAR Oh dear. I am writing this article following Rangers’ half courtesy of goals from Darren Lavery and new 5-0 home thumping by Clyde, a result which saw signing David Morris to force the tie into extra Rangers slump to the bottom of the league. This time. Another new signing, David Banjo, headed was the second time already that Berwick have what proved to be the winner in extra time to lost 5-0 this season and along with 4-1 defeats at send the Ducket faithful into raptures. The prize both Elgin and Montrose it is easy to understand for that stunning comeback was an away tie at SPL why Rangers now find themselves in peril at the side Kilmarnock. Rangers again battled manfully bottom of the league. and after losing an early goal to a penalty, Darren Lavery brought Rangers level just after half time. As most of you will know, the Trust AGM took place Rangers were still level heading into the last prior to the game against Clyde. Gordon “Pogo” quarter of the game but unfortunately Killie’s full Smith and Davie Moyes, who were both members time training began to pay dividends and they of Davie Smith’s championship winning team from managed to breach the away defence on three 1978/79, were in attendance and when Davie occasions during the last 20 minutes or so to wrap Moyes was asked by one of those present what he up a 4-1 win. thought of modern day football, he emphatically replied ‘’s***e’’. I don’t think that you need to be The manner of Rangers’ comeback against Alloa a rocket scientist to work out what his thoughts had boosted fans hopes that a successful league must have been as he watched Clyde romp to season may lie ahead. Although Berwick battled a 5-0 win with some ease. That evening, Alan to a 2-1 home win over Montrose on the opening Shearer when analysing the Newcastle-v-Leicester day of the league season, the alarm bells really penalty duly converted by Darren Lavery. At game on Match of the Day, commented that a five started to ring the following week when they that point, Rangers were lying handily placed in letter word which he could not use on television crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Methil against East Fife. second spot in the League with 10 points from had been trending in social media on Tyneside to In truth, 5-0 flattered Rangers as the Fifers could their opening 5 games. Since then however, they describe Newcastle’s performance. I suspect that it quite easily have racked up double figures. I know have been going downhill almost as quickly as was probably the same five letter word that Moysie that some Berwick fans thought that East Fife were the former Austrian ski champion Franz Klammer. had used earlier that day to describe modern day unplayable that day, but I frankly didn’t go along Rangers have picked up a meagre five points in the football. Shearer went on to say that there were a with that theory. I have been supporting Rangers subsequent nine games and also crashed out of number of words he could use such as heartless, for 38 years and without a doubt that is one of the the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle after losing 4-1 clueless, talentless, woeful and inept. These worst performances that I have had the misfortune at Annan. The week after the cup defeat at Annan, words could apply in equal measure to Rangers’ to witness and believe me I have seen some horror Rangers crashed to another 4-1 defeat at Montrose performance against Clyde and indeed to the vast shows over the years. Ryan Goodfellow, the East which culminated in the finger being pointed majority of the season so far as a whole. Fife goalkeeper, spent much of the afternoon as a at manager Colin Cameron followed by the specatator, so much so that East Fife should have immortal words from Sir Alan Sugar’s Apprentice Despite the current doom and gloom, Rangers charged him the same £13 admission fee that I had programme, “You’re fired”. started the season reasonably well. As in recent to pay. years, the competitive season kicked off with the Cameron’s appointment as manager in 2014 was Challenge Cup or Petrofac Training Cup as it is now To Rangers’ credit they bounced back from the unequivocally accepted by almost all Rangers’ known. Rangers were drawn away to St.Mirren and defeat in Methil to beat Stirling Albion 3-1 at fans as being the correct one to take the club performed admirably in a 3-1 defeat. The following Forthbank before drawing 2-2 at home to Arbroath forward.