First post in a while

It’s been a long time since my last post. I simply don’t have the motivation. Lockdown, work commitments, elderly parents, back strain and just a bit of general apathy all combining to eat away at my time and motivation. As I write this I have a bit of time off work but also a stinking cold. This may be more of a ramble than usual.....

A few weeks ago I donated an iMac to the club and bought a £100 cable to help with streaming the games and I’m glad to say it has worked. The 2 streams so far using the new equipment have been perfect. I also raised over £900 for the foodbank and Northern soul kitchen and sponsored a couple of games this season. I’ve even been down to do some diy in the summer and assisted at a couple of games. It’s difficult now getting to the games to help due to various reasons that all combine to eat at my time.

Berwick are now out of the Scottish cup losing 3-0 at home to Stirling Albion. I didn’t expect a win, I rarely do these days. I have pretty much resigned myself to life in the lowland league. I can’t see a way out. It’s such a tough league and despite work off the park to raise funds it’s still the same type of Berwick team on the field as it has been for a number of years. Different board, different manager, different players but the same performances and promises of improvement. We always have players full of potential, the potential never seems to come into fruition. We were flopping around at the bottom of league 2 for many seasons before the drop with our higher finishes only by a couple of points over those below us.

The new board are working well to offer stability but the teams around us in the Lowland league are getting stronger. It’s easier heading up and building in that direction than it is for a team who have dropped down and find it difficult to adapt to the new league and lack of funds that may have been taken for granted in the past. There is no money in the Lowland league, even for winning it. League 2 had payments for every league position. The Betfred cup despite being seeded and weighted against the smaller teams offered tens of thousands for finishing bottom of the initial group stages and a couple of bigger teams that would bring gate money to the club. We no no longer have access to the Betfred cup unless we win the Lowland league. The running costs of Shielfield compared to the other teams in the Lowland league has to be accounted for before a budget for players. This won’t help with a push to regain our league 2 status.
I can’t remember when we last had a decent cup run. I’m too tired to think but I recall being knocked out of the cups in the early rounds by smaller teams who we underestimated as seems to be the norm.
I know this seams to have turned into a bit of a moan but it is realistic. I’ll still support the club, help out as and when I can as I always have done but it’s tough at the moment. Our league position isn’t great and doesn’t look like improving anytime soon.
There always next year I’ve been told, next year will be our 3rd season in the Lowland league, it will soon increase in number before we know it.