I missed last weeks victory over Spartans in the Football Nations Qualifying Cup so I’m hoping to catch a win here. Last Saturday was spent in the rain as my wife took part in a triathlon. I had said we could make it to Berwick if we timed it right but the way the triathlon was organised didn’t help, a 1/2 mile walk to pick up a wetsuit at the end adds a fair bit of time and the killer was the 50 minutes it took to get out of the muddy car park. We were about 10 cars from the exit but nearly every car got stuck in the mud and had to be towed. The time had gone. Still a good win and hoping for the same this week. I’ll be down with my dad and my friend Gordon will be joining us. Hospitality is booked for the 3 of us for this game. At £20 it’s worth it to help the club. My dad and I have season tickets that are valid for this game but we aren’t talking a lot of money here. It might also be the case that I’m needed as a volunteer, I’ll ask when I get there.

Gordon wants to go to Eyemouth on the way down and get fish and chips for lunch. I’m sure my dad will manage to munch them down rather than the usual all day breakfast at Foulis in Tweedmouth...

So Eyemouth it was. A small fish tea x2 and a pensioners fish tea (the same only cheaper). Then back on the road and down to Berwick. Hospitality for us and a lovely sunny day.

Well I was fully expecting a win, but as last season still looms in my mind as do the first 2 Lowland league games I was also thinking we could get turned over here. I was in fact delighted that we won. A 4-0 victory none the less. I had a brief 5 minutes as cameraman while Alan put some cameras behind the goals then I took my seat for the game.
All 4 goals came in the first half and we were off the gas somewhat in the second half but it was very hot and with 4 goals under our belt and games on Tuesday and Saturday we could afford a bit of coasting. Our first goal was a penalty, a rare thing at Shielfield for Berwick, not for the opposition though.... some decent passing and movement too from the team. It was my first look at Ricky Miller in the flesh but he’s is what we have been missing. A good solid no nonsense central defender. I’m back down to Berwick tomorrow for the week, I’ll then go up to Edinburgh for the Tuesday night game and then cameraman for the civil service Strollers game. I’ll not be at the following game at Gala, that’s the Berwick food and beer festival!

Right, this must be 3 points. There already enough fuel for the haters after the Bonnyrigg defeat. Unrealistic views and just wanting to knock the club because that’s what they like to do. I must confess I’ve no idea about the makeup of the Uni team. I don’t know if they are subject to transfer windows or a not. The students start back in September. I’ll need to find out later.
My wife went to Stirling University to do a degree in computer science before I met her in St Andrews when she moved to do a P.H.D. St Andrews Berwick Rangers Supporters also sponsored Kevin Walkers kit when he was the keeper at Berwick a few seasons ago. He was from Stirling University and I think he’s back there as a coach. Edit. He’s there as their keeper but may also be a coach.

It’s down to Berwick on the Friday and back on the Monday. My dad is off to a wedding on Saturday so I’ll be down with my wife. She has no desire to attend this game but she has been to a few. I imagine she will spend time with her family. I’m cameraman for this game so the highlights might be delayed. Alan will edit them but he’s away. It’s an under appreciated role, being cameraman means you can’t properly watch the game and then there’s the editing afterwards, Alan does a great job.
Although I’m down on the Friday there’s a Supporters Trust meeting at 11am so I’ll be tied up with Berwick Rangers for most of the day. I’ll need to get to Shielfield early to try and catch Ryan Kidd for a chat and a photo.

The trust meeting was at 11am and when that finished I grabbed some lunch and headed to Shielfield. I was there around 1pm and I was asked to man the turnstile. Camera duties and Turnstile. Lindsay would take over the turnstile just before kickoff to give me time to get to the camera and record the game. I had set the camera up before the turnstile opened. Fun Fun Fun.... I managed to speak to Ryan Kidd and hand over the £100 I had promise to help him with his kit etc. Ian Runciman was taking the team photos so I asked him to take one of Ryan and I in front of the Supporters banner in the ground.

While on Turnstile duty I managed to meet Ryan’s dad, He’s from Livingston (where I was born and raised) and born in 1977 as was I! Small world! I couldn’t really chat much I was manning the turnstile.

Let’s cut to the chase, we should have done better than a 2-1 defeat. Another blooming penalty too. We still seem scared to take a shot. Things did pick up when Yaw Osei came on, a good cross for the goal. But then a penalty saw Berwick trailing again with time ticking away. Frustrating again. Despite the criticism by some, the team did work hard but somethings just not clicking. Next Saturday it’s Gretna 2008 away. I’ll miss that one but we need the points.