The Lone Rangers
- Thread starter DerbyJack
- Start date
- Replies 139
- Views 35K
7th February 2015
Scottish League One
Well our unbeaten streak comes to one **** of an end as were destroyed by Alloa. The Wasps are chasing us in there hunt for a place in Scottish Championship and haven't given up on hopes of snatching that automatic spot and a five goal victory will do little to stop there ambitions.
14th February 2015
Scottish League One
Retreating to Shielfield following our hefty defeat we put on one **** of a show for the Berwick faithful with a nine goal thriller seeing both clubs go toe to toe, with goals flying in at either end and ending in true style when Pat Walker does what he does best, scoring a dramatic late winner to take all three points.
17th Febraury 2015
Scottish League One
The streak is back on. Young striker Bia-Bi has adapted well to life in between Walker and Lavery and this time, it was the youngster that take the plaudits with a well taken brace sending us towards victory with vice captain Jack Boyle helping us on our way.
21st February 2015
Scottish League One
And its over. Bia-Bi netted the only goal of the first half as he continues his hot form but the lead lasted just four minutes after the break, as East Fife threw everything into claiming the points finally making the break through in the final minute of normal play to cruelly take the victory.
February 2015
Scottish League One
We're holding onto third spot and have built a bit of a gap from the chasing pack now. Having lost out to both East Fife and Alloa this month, hopes of actually making through the playoffs is looking slim but just being in this lofty position is a huge achievement for the minnows on the border.
Last edited:
7th March 2015
Scottish League One
We've previously given the league leaders a rough ride but as we welcome them to Shielfield Park, Dunfermline proved to be in no mood for an upset and quickly shut us down in ruthless fashion, tearing our three man defence to pieces, whilst keeping the leagues most prolific strike force easily under control
14th March 2015
Scottish League One
Its not getting any better. Livingston have been a thorn in our side for the majority of the season and where quick to bring out there good from against the Borderers with a four goal demolition that saw midfielder Coultress sent off half way through the second half to add to a miserable month so far.
21st March 2015
Scottish League One
With three games lost convincingly in a row, the arrival of the seemingly doomed Elgin City came at just the right time. Having taken the lead early in the second half it seemed Elgin were about to make it a completely terrible month but once again we left it dramatically late, with Jody Morris scoring the equaliser before crowning his appearance from the bench with a winner in the last few seconds.
March 2015
Scottish League One
A poor month for Berwick see's us slip down the playoff places sitting awkwardly on the edge, however the hard work has already been done this season and despite our relatively poor form we're still well ahead of the chasing pack, with only a complete collapse in the final two months standing between us and a shot at the Championship.
Last edited:
4th April 2015
Scottish League One
Following a relatively sloppy month for the Berwick defence it was important to get back to our efficient ways and a solid display against Stenhousemuir did just that as our English wide-men Jack Boyle and Jon Blake guided us to a comfortable victory as we look to secure our playoff spot.
18th April 2015
Scottish League One
It would take a minor miracle for any club to push us out of the playoff spots but Airdrie were certainly not about to leave it to fate as a strong display from the chasers nearly gifted them all three points but a first half red card eventually proved to be too much of a burden as a late Lavery goal snatched a point.
25th April 2015
Scottish League One
Playoff spot in the bag. Two of our English youngsters combined to cruise us past fellow playoff contenders Alloa, with winger Jack Boyle continuing his strong form and the dominant defender Curtis Jones adding a header to put a comfortable spin on an encouraging result for our chances in the playoffs.
April 2015
Scottish League One
Just one game of the season remains and its already been a sensational one for the Borderers. Having punched well above our weight for the entire season we're in with a shot at another promotion having more then held our own in the league. We might not be in the best of shapes to cope with the quality of the Championship but were more then willing to find out.
Back up to second spot. Dunfermline have already secured there spot in the Championship but for the three of us in the playoffs there's still a way to go. With each team now nervously eyeing the other, we already know regardless of the final game of the season that we will be facing the much fancied East Fife. The mind games start now.
Last edited:
2nd May 2015
Scottish League One
Last game of the season and the team can be forgiven for taking their foot of the gas. With the job done last month, there was little to play for against Arbroath. With our fantastic season already ending with a guaranteed playoff spot, we duly coasted through the game with Arbroath doing just enough to keep us at bay.
May 2015
Scottish League One
With only Alloa picking up points from the playoff finalists it means the table stays exactly where is was last month. We're up against East Fife for the semi-finals of the playoff, with Alloa facing the daunting task of taking on Dumbarton. A remarkable season for the Borders now comes down to a surprise playoff competition.
Last edited:
Thirty Six games, Eighteen victories and Ninety One goals all boils down to two games against East Fife. The Fifers have looked sharp all season and will be keen not let the seasons over achievers pull another fast one.
13th May 2015
Scottish Championship Relegation Playoff Semi Final - First Leg
First blood to East Fife. It was always going to be a big ask and with the sole intention of limiting the damage in the away leg, we were actually sticking well to the game plan. With Travis Gregory's stooping header limiting our losses it appeared we would do well to hold Fife to slender goal advantage but a late goal four minutes before the final whistle put East Fife back in control of the tie, with the match at Shielfield Park now requiring a minor miracle from the Borderers.
16th May 2015
Scottish Championship Relegation Playoff Semi Final - Second Leg
Absolutely clinical. With Fife taking the first of the goals it appeared we were done and dusted however two quick replies left us just a goal behind and with momentum firmly in our favour. With time ticking down it fell to our reliable striker, Pat Walker to do the honours with the prolific Englishman rifling home two goals that swung us into the lead. With time ticking down it appeared Walker had once again dragged us to victory but a heart breaking late goal appeared to salvage the match for a desperate East Fife before the youngest member of the team, Bia-Bi popped up in the dieing minutes of the game to slam home his most important goal to date and send us into the final of the playoffs in the traditionally dramatic Berwick style.
ZeusThunder
Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2012
- Messages
- 205
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Would you mind if I borrowed this Idea for a challenge thread I'm planning to do?
Not only have we made it to the final our fellow underdogs, Alloa pulled off an even more remarkable feat, seeing off Dumbarton in there Semi-Final tie to book there place in the final. The Wasps are favourites to take the last spot in the Championship but we've made it this far and we're not about to stop any time soon.
20th May 2015
Scottish Championship Relegation Playoff Final - First Leg
Its on. We're on course for a completley unexpected promotion, as we cruise to victory in style. An Own goal set us on our way with midfielder Ben Miller and wide man, Jon Blake adding a third to the goal sheet to put us firmly in control of the tie. A goal two minutes from time gave Alloa a slim life line but in front of there despondent support The Wasps appear to have thrown there chance at Championship football away already.
25th May 2015
Scottish Championship Relegation Playoff Final - Second Leg
It wouldn't be Berwick if we didn't make the game at least a little bit more dramatic then necessary. With Pat Walker getting us off to a fine start we effectively put the tie beyond Alloas reach by half time, however Alloa were far more determined to make something of this game striking back early in the second half but a combination of Lee Armstrong and Ben Miller put us with two feet firmly planted in the Championship, with only a goal in the Eighty Second minute doing anything to take away from The Borderers celebrations.
Second season done and dusted and the Borderers continue their rampant ascent up the Scottish football ladder. Its been a season of huge highs for the Berwick faithful and there was to be yet more for this season surprise package.
2014/15
Scottish League One
With Walker claiming last years, this season was all about Darren Lavery. The Scottish striker is one of the few remaining original players from before my time at Berwick but the striker is certainly making sure that I don't rush into replacing him. The only trouble is I might not have a choice, with time ticking down our contract rebels still refuse to sign deals. Despite our new found status as a Championship club, it appears our Semi Professional status is not enough to keep our key players at the team.
Two years in a row now, were certainly in some fine form. The media are already heralding this as Berwick's most successful period to date but the real hard work is only just beginning. With a squad soon to be turned inside out by contract expirations, a board refusing to expanding our scouting range, no funds to become a professional team and a huge step up in the opposition for next season, the forth coming season is going to be tough.
In the end Dunfermline strolled to success but having smashed all expectations we've shocked the entire league by not only finishing second but also convincingly making it through the playoffs to ply our trade in Scotland's second tier. With us once again claiming the highest goal tally in the league its fair to say our recent success lies firmly at the feet of our lethal three man strike-force. Getting them firing in the Championship is crucial to our chances.
Last edited:
The second season done and dusted its time to review the shape of the squad as we reach the highest point of Berwicks long history.
The rapid change is nearly complete. With just six players remaining from our adoptive home, the English revolution at Berwick is nearly complete. With three of the Scots being part of the group that refuse to sign new contracts it appears we're going to be one step closer to our goal, however that is the only positive that can be taken from a dire situation for the Borderers.
Key striking duo, Darren Lavery and Pat Walker both remain firmly routed to the fence when it comes to contract talks, despite having no offers for either player thus far, it appears the pair remain keen on a move away from Berwick in the near future, leaving us with a gaping hole in the strike force. Midfielders Ben Miller and Ross Gray might not hold such an influential position within the team but still have been invaluable over the last two seasons and there strength and league experience would be sorely missed from our youthful team, especially with two of our finest defenders, Curtis Jones and Travis Gregory both looking set to return down south having made a strong impression in Northumberland.
If all of the players should choose to refuse our contracts, the club will most certainly be left in a much weaker position then this time last year. With no players left to drain from Scotland and a stubborn board behind us, the start of the coming season is proving to be just as tough off the pitch as it is sure to be on it.
Last edited:
The start of our Championship season is quickly upon us. With contracts being the main talking point around the entire town, the talks at Shielfield Park have taken centre stage, with our staff the first to emerge following some lengthy discussions.
Trimmed down and streamlined. The staff has been reduced by five to leave us with eight famous faces. Of the five members who left Northumberland, the main departures were that of Youth Assistant Manager Kieron Dyer and my very own Assistant Micheal Owen, both seeing there future away from the club, however it has allowed to me to make one key change, moving the beautiful ******* that is David Beckham to become my assistant as we look to create a dynamic partnership in Scotland.
Trimmed down and streamlined. The staff has been reduced by five to leave us with eight famous faces. Of the five members who left Northumberland, the main departures were that of Youth Assistant Manager Kieron Dyer and my very own Assistant Micheal Owen, both seeing there future away from the club, however it has allowed to me to make one key change, moving the beautiful ******* that is David Beckham to become my assistant as we look to create a dynamic partnership in Scotland.
With finances now being a main point of focus for Berwick, reducing our staff numbers is no great loss. With our Semi-Professional status now becoming a major obstruction in our attempts to strengthen the club, any saved money is more then welcome, however it didn't stop me making one addition to the team, as former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves arrives up North to assist with the first team coaching duties.
Dburnsdundeemad
Member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2013
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Knew you could pull off a back-to-back been away from the forums for a while, but the first thing I did when I came back was check your story progress. Big downer about the contracts though. Check out how Steven Doris has been doing for Dundee, he may be a Scot but always bangs in the goals for Dundee on my first season and I don't think he is particularly favored by the AI, so he probably barely played since the start of your save. Should be a good Championship striker to solidify your position before you continue the full English domination 
With the increased pulling power that our status as a Championship squad now provides us with, hopes were high for an exciting transfer window at Berwick, however first to be dealt with was those long lingering contract rebels, who had blighted an otherwise perfect season.
Of the nine who had refused to enter negotiations with us in January, were left with five who decided to pursue there careers elsewhere and its fair to say, all five have been crucial to the team.
Defensive duo, Gregory and Jones have been clinical at the heart of our back line and will leave a gaping hole in the defence as they look to pursue there careers on a full time basis, with midfielders Miller and Gray joining them on the road out of Berwick to take the creative edge out of our midfield.
The final departure of the window was by far the most disappointing however, as last seasons top scorer in the league and club legend Darren Lavery waved goodbye to Shielfield Park having almost single handedly guiding the club to there highest league position in history.
It was a devastating start to the window but alas there are still positives to be had. Veteran striker Pat Walker and fellow English players, George Leigh and Jack Boyle all eventually resigned for the club alongside one of only three remaining Scots, striker Josh Morris.
With the window still firmly wide open we leapt into action to try and desperately strengthen the squad before the season began...
From: Forfar
Joining us from Forfar, Ricky Burke is primarily here to provide cover to our depleted midfield. With pretty much average ability for this level, he is not exactly going to be a shining light in our team but what he lacks in skill he'll hopefully make up for in willingness throughout the season, providing cover to both Banjo and Coultress.
...Yup thats it.
With the squad left with massive holes following the departures of five influential players, I hoped I could quickly strengthen in the window but it appears our hunting of English talent willing to join a Semi-Professional team in Scotland has reached an all new low.
With the squad worryingly weakened in the seasons opening transfer window, its fair to say the Borderers aren't looking too threatening ahead of there debut season in the Championship, however there were still two more positives we could take as the season rolled to its beginning, as two of our own youth products took centre stage.
Called up to the Under Nineteens squad for England, Lowery is one of the brightest propsects to have ever emerged from Berwick. At just Seventeen hes already shown he has the ability to oust Mitchell from the starting line up, with ability of a goalkeeper far beyond his young years
Another from the class of 2014, Armstrong too has been flirting with life at international level and its fair to see why. The lanky Eighteen year old is developing into a formidable opponent and almost certainly has a future well beyond Berwick. With our defence severely thin on the ground, Armstrong is going to be thrown into the deep end at the heart of our defence but with the ability to meet anything with his head, he should cope well in our back line.
With the squad potentially weaker then before, just one solitary arrival and two youngsters proving to be the only real highlight of a disastrous transfer window, our arrival to the Championship is looking ever more ominous.
Last edited:
We can't put it off any longer, a season that potentially promised so much for Berwick is starting to look like it could be a potentially catastrophic one for the Borderers before we've even kicked a ball. Before it can begin though we've got a brief test in the pre-season and this year the Wee Rangers went on a tour of there home nation.
2nd July 2015
Friendly
So our tour didn't exactly get off to the brightest of starts. To highlight the gulf in class between Scottish and English football, this is Berwick a team who could potentially be playing in the top flight next year being humiliated by League One's Bradford. We're way off the pace here. Its not looking good already.
5th July 2015
Friendly
And things didn't improve in Bristol. A strong opponent but still a disappointing result. The 3-4-3 formation we've been using so effectively in Scotland seems to be falling to pieces south of the border and a first half hat-trick for Mattis did little to calm my nerves about our ramshackle defence.
8th July 2015
Friendly
Our tour takes us straight to the bottom of the country and finally a result worth the mileage as a much improved performance saw us give a recovering Portsmouth a run for there money, with Bia-Bi scoring late in the game to send us back up North with at least something to be proud about.
11th July 2015
Friendly
Back up to the border and back into worrying territory. Gateshead are well below our level but put on more then enough of a display to leave the Sheilfield faithful with doubts for the forth coming season, calmly taking away a deserved victory with only winger Jon Blake doing anything to spare our blushes, however the promising midfielder limped off the pitch with a potentially serious injury.
14th July 2015
Friendly
And that about caps it. Our feeder club Ashington rubbed salt into our wounds, when our usual morale boosting pre season game quickly changed into another trip back to Berwick with our tails between our legs. The injury to winger Blake, has also been confirmed as a torn hamstring ruling him out for the entire first half of the season. Its looking bleak.
Its fair to say pre-season was a disaster. Not one victory in all the games and a serious injury in the one position, I have no cover for. This is going to be an interesting season but at least our journey through our home nations had provided us with some much needed funds. Every cloud...
If you haven't gathered yet, I'm not exactly relishing the rather intimidating challenge weve got before us this season but non the less, lets get it going.
Ramsdens Challenge Cup - First Round
25th July 2016
Despite having a team held together by the players who have very much been in the background for the last two seasons, we get things under way in convincing style. Livingston gave us a torrid time last season but this time it was The Borderers who came out on top with two early goals, including a first for Washburn as he makes his debut start in the centre of defence since signing last season.
Maybe I've been worrying for nothing? Is it too early to start thinking of three straight promotions.
Last edited:
1st August 2016
Scottish League Cup - First Round
Having completley whipped Elgin throughout the entirety of last season a first round draw against them hardly filled us with dread but despite taking the lead, the Scottish League One side routinely took us apart with four well taken goals that dumped us straight out of the competition. No funds for the professional status there then.
8th August 2016
Scottish Championship
Welcome to the league. Queen of the South are stalwarts in this division and gave us a welcome that we were expecting from the Scottish second tier. The former fortress of Shielfield Park was quickly given a shock as Queen of the South cruised to a three goal victory, with Wee Rangers only amassing one shot on target throughout the entire game.
11th August 2016
Ramsdens Challenge Cup - Second Round
Well at least this competition is giving us something to hold on to. Having traded places with us in the league Dumbarton are struggling to adjust to life in League One and a sloppy display in the cup goes along way to suggest that merely trying to adapt in the league is there only priority. For us however a convincing victory and another step towards a potential final is a welcome boost to the start of our season.
15th August 2016
Scottish Championship
Our first point of the campaign. Falkirk are poised and ready for a push back to the Premier League but after thirty five minutes it appeared we were on for a shock victory with winger O'Brien and talismanic striker Pat Walker giving us an early lead but a second half collapse gifted Falkirk with a way back into the game and a deserved point.
22nd August 2016
Scottish Championship
Another club determined to reach the top flight are frustrated against the new boys as we narrowly miss out on a cheeky victory against Hibernian. Bia-Bi continues to impress at the heart of our strike force, the young striker has taken well to his key role but his neat finish was cruelly cancelled out with the last kick of the game as Hibs stole a point. Non the less another well earned point and the faith is slowly returning.
29th August 2016
Scottish Championship
Our fellow promoted side, Dunfermline have taken to life in the Championship with ease, gliding effortlessly to the top of the table and it was easy to see why. A strong first half saw both sides tide level, with the second half sparking the game into life with some end to end football eventually seeing Dunfermline break away with the aid of a foolish red card for defender Jon Fairbairn. Not what I needed with a makeshift defence.
August 2016
Scottish Championship
Its been a pretty hard start to the season but despite a convincing loss in the first game of the season, two hard earned points have seen us stave off the bottom of the league at the expense of struggling Hamilton. Its hard to read anything into the season but were already buckling ourselves in for a fierce fight at the bottom end of the table.