Berwick Rangers: An English Club in Scotland

[The GallantPioneer1872]

That made me chuckle. Surely an honest mistake?

hahaha when it comes to Scotland nothings an honest mistake, If one team gets the result/decision then the ref must have connections to the other side that's just the way of the world up here lol.

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

What A sickener, Ref must have been a mason Unlucky as **** in that final especially after a pen miss in the first game which would have secured 2nd also! Good luck in Europa

That made me chuckle. Surely an honest mistake?

They have got that aspect of Scottish football spot on, if I'm ever one up vs. Tims or Huns we do seem to play a lot of injury time !

Well after some googling I've learned a lot about terminology in Scottish football... as of yesterday Tim and Mason were just names of people to me haha

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

I'd take a huff with the captain and let him rot in the reserves, but don't suppose the squad is big enough. Fingers crossed this coming season will see major silverware on it's way to England

With the budgets we have for next season it means he can happily rot in the reserves... although he may be useful for registration in Europe as a homegrown player trained at the club

 

[barrenjoey14]

hahaha when it comes to Scotland nothings an honest mistake, If one team gets the result/decision then the ref must have connections to the other side that's just the way of the world up here lol.

Well that's an outrageous remark! No, that is not what it's like up here at all. In fact, the media do their best to conjure up conspiracy stories left right and centre. As a former referee, I don't know of a single referee who has given extra 'help' to any club. And when the media, commentators and analysts (God only knows how they're in a job) say stupid things like "oh the referee has felt he needs to even it up" etc, then that really damages the game.

 

[leckuno]

Well that's an outrageous remark! No, that is not what it's like up here at all. In fact, the media do their best to conjure up conspiracy stories left right and centre. As a former referee, I don't know of a single referee who has given extra 'help' to any club. And when the media, commentators and analysts (God only knows how they're in a job) say stupid things like "oh the referee has felt he needs to even it up" etc, then that really damages the game.

Wow somebody has actually jumped to the bait but to be fair there was a certain team a few years ago where whenever decisions went against them the manager and fans all called it a conspiracy against them

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

It seems as if a debate over the performance of referees in Scotland has emerged on this thread. I’m proud to have started such a stimulating debate based off losing a cup final in FM… Anyway, I’m going to pretend it’s not happening and instead treat you all to the review of Berwick’s 2023/24 season.

 

[The GallantPioneer1872]

It seems as if a debate over the performance of referees in Scotland has emerged on this thread. I’m proud to have started such a stimulating debate based off losing a cup final in FM… Anyway, I’m going to pretend it’s not happening and instead treat you all to the review of Berwick’s 2023/24 season.

FFS wasn't expecting a debate on your thread for a joke haha, I'll PM the guy to clear up my SARCASM. Looking forward to your next update lets hope you never got any dodgy refs this time.

I could explain a lot of scottish stuff and overhype but we could be here all day lol. Let's just say it goes as far as someone tweeting our main bus company saying they would have had the service on if the other team were playing, When it comes to football we have a special 'breed' of fans that come out on all sides and say the dumbest of sh*t.

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

FFS wasn't expecting a debate on your thread for a joke haha, I'll PM the guy to clear up my SARCASM. Looking forward to your next update lets hope you never got any dodgy refs this time.

I could explain a lot of scottish stuff and overhype but we could be here all day lol. Let's just say it goes as far as someone tweeting our main bus company saying they would have had the service on if the other team were playing, When it comes to football we have a special 'breed' of fans that come out on all sides and say the dumbest of sh*t.

Haha neither was I. It was probably VAR's fault all along...

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

2023/24 Season Review

Ignoring the last two games, it was an incredibly successful season for Berwick as we reached the cup final and achieved our highest ever league finish.

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Here’s a detailed view of the individual player stats from the season.

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Our under 20s squad is also full of promising players.

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Kevin Kane won the SPL Young Player of the Year and unsurprisingly was fans player of the year. He’s also the youngest player in the Scotland squad for EURO 2024.

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As well as being our top scorer he also claimed the most assists for us in the league along with Christian Antoniazzi

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Jason Kerr and Aidan Wilson, two Scottish centre backs who must be close to gaining international recognition, played every single minute in the league this season.

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Michael Swainston and Stuart Smith will stay on loan for their third season at Berwick. Both have been key players for us during our time in the Premiership.

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A special mention also has to go to Lee Farrell. He’s been with us for 4 seasons and despite being backup now, he hasn’t look out of place in the SPL.

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Over the course of the season we picked up a lot of prize money. So much so that we’ve got over £11 million in the bank.

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And just look what it meant to our budgets for next season!

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£8.94 million.

It’s going to be a fun summer.
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[The GallantPioneer1872]

Haha neither was I. It was probably VAR's fault all along...

Nah we can't afford VAR XDXDXD

That transfer budget is SUPERB hopefully get a few bargains in and push for the top spot.​

 

[ScottT]

£8,000,000 for a Scottish club that isn't Celtic? Unheard of that! Great season there mate.

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

Nah we can't afford VAR XDXDXD

That transfer budget is SUPERB hopefully get a few bargains in and push for the top spot.​

£8,000,000 for a Scottish club that isn't Celtic? Unheard of that! Great season there mate.

I'd forgotten what it's like to have a 7 figure transfer budget! And there's quite a few teams who splash the cash... Dundee United spent £8.5m a couple of seasons ago and have already spent £4.5m so far.

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

Season Preview 2024/25

Our season starts with the announcement that we’ve made a record sale but it’s not one of the players you may think. Antony Evans has joined Dundee United for £1.4 million.

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He was our only significant departure and was going to be backup this season anyway so it’s a very good deal for us.

As for the ins, so far we’ve spent £5.25m.

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Ryan Christie comes in as a replacement for Evans. A far better replacement.

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And to replace Martin McCulloch after his cup final antics we got in Northern Ireland international Darren Haplin for £400,000.

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Another key addition is Bosnian centre back Josip Zeljkovic, who my scouts and assistant manager highly rate, but his heading, marking and jumping reach make me beg to differ.

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However the signing of the summer and the culmination of our transfer window is George Neil.

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He had a £2.7m release clause in his Aberdeen contract, which we activated to make him Berwick’s record signing. He’s a regular for Scotland (where he played all 3 games at EURO 2024 as they finished bottom of their group) and will hopefully make Kevin Kane seem a distant memory.

Kane incidentally will be playing in the Premier League this season after moving to Bournemouth for a fee that could rise to £33m.

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Overall I’m very happy with the transfers, we now have a good squad of players with high potential and still have money in the bank if we do need to make any more additions.

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However Sindri Snorrason is kicking up a fuss again and I’m prepared to let Martin McCulloch leave if the right money comes in for him so there could still yet be some transfer shenanigans.

Despite the huge increase in player wages, (at £8.25k a week George Neil earns twice as much as anyone else at the club) we still only have the 9th​ largest wage expenditure in the league.

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We’re predicted to finish 5th​ and the board want us to qualify for the Europa League which we’ll accomplish if we finish in the top 5 because of Scotland’s coefficient ranking.

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European football means that we were not in the group stages of the League Cup. Instead we played a lot of friendlies, which went well until our full strength side lost to Walsall.

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Overall I think this season could be a success. Celtic should be too strong but there’s no reason why we can’t finish second. Hopefully we’re able to balance European and domestic football.

The group stage draw for the Europa League draw will be in the next post and it looks like we’re not going to be the only team from the SPL in it.
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[leckuno]

Looks like some good signings there. Hopefully Neil will get you the goals and fire you to glory

 

[ScottT]

You must be very impressed with yourself to see Kane has gone on to sign for a Premiership club for such a large fee. Some tidy little signings there, it'll be interesting to see how you cope this year. Good luck.

 

[JamesScott2908]

Some cracking signings and what a budget for Berwick ha! What are your youth/training facilities like? Have they been upgraded much too?

 

[Ralph2211]

Good luck in the new season. That striker looks like he has goals in him

 

[The GallantPioneer1872]

George Neil looks like a player!! 18 Caps 10 goals is a great return aswell for a failing national side!

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

Looks like some good signings there. Hopefully Neil will get you the goals and fire you to glory

Hopefully he will.. He’s got 4 goals in 4 games so far, can’t complain!

You must be very impressed with yourself to see Kane has gone on to sign for a Premiership club for such a large fee. Some tidy little signings there, it'll be interesting to see how you cope this year. Good luck.

I was but at the same time I was annoyed that we made £20m for Newcastle just because he had one good season for us.

Some cracking signings and what a budget for Berwick ha! What are your youth/training facilities like? Have they been upgraded much too?

I know it still feels weird making transfers that cost millions of pounds. This is what the facilities look like.

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I improved youth recruitment and junior coaching a few years ago and upgraded the training facilities for the first time in the summer.

Good luck in the new season. That striker looks like he has goals in him

He started the season off slowly but got a hattrick in the last game so hopefully he’ll kick on from here.

George Neil looks like a player!! 18 Caps 10 goals is a great return aswell for a failing national side!

That’s a failing national side ranked 25th​ in the world! Once Berwick overthrow Celtic as the best team in the league my plan is to take charge of the national team at some point.

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

Europa League Draw

No more transfers were made and Martin McCulloch remains at the club and is happy so stay. In fairness he helps a lot with Europa League registration rules so he’ll get a chance at redemption at some point this season.

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We’ve begun the season very well. Defeat to Motherwell in the League Cup has been the only failure in an otherwise perfect start.

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We’ve won our opening 4 league games, including revenge (sort of) against Rangers and a 3-0 defeat of Hearts where George Neil scored a hat-trick. Consequently we sit top of the league although Hibs and Celtic also have 100% records.

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More importantly the Europa League group stage draw has been made.

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Group C
Galatasaray S.K.
FC Schalke 04
Malmö FF
Berwick Rangers

I’m very pleased with the draw, we’re playing some massive teams and have nothing to lose. I’m also looking forward to players such as Lee Farrell experiencing Galatasaray away only a couple of years after playing Stranraer away.

Meanwhile Hibs and Rangers made it to the group stages as well and have perhaps got a more favourable draw than us.

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Celtic have got the group of death in the Champions League. Despite getting to the quarter finals last year it seems as if the knockout round of the Europa League is what they will be hoping for.

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I’ve also realised our home games will be played at the 60,000 capacity St James’ Park. I’m very intrigued as to how many tickets we can sell and surely we’re going to set some records for gate receipts.

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I wouldn’t write us off in the Europa League, on our day we’re a decent side and could cause an upset. We’re arguably a better team than Hibs and they reached the knockout rounds last season so who knows what could happen.
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