The Lone Rangers

[DerbyJack]

Following an extremely busy start to the season with no fewer then seven games packed into just Thirty Seven days we get a welcome ease of pace as September once again sees us sit back and recover for the first half of the month.

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17th September 2016 - Scottish League One

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Having crashed out of the Championship, Mortons return to League One hasn't quite gone to plan thus far, winning just one game but they made a solid statement against us as they claim a neat victory on the road. A single goal was all that separated us on paper but it was far from close as we struggled to match the pace Morton laid down amassing just two shots on goal.

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20th September 2016 - Scottish League One

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Our inconsistency blighted us last season and looks set to do the same this time around but a four goal victory is still more then welcome. Ayr might have been in impressive form against us in the Challenge Cup but we dominated the first half to help us coast to a comfortable victory. We need to build on these victories if we're going to stand any chance of improving on last season.

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24th September 2016 - Scottish League One

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That's the way to do it. Brechin fell at the last hurdle of the playoffs last year and are keen not to suffer the same fate as they press for the only automatic spot in the league however they suffer a huge upset as they too are subject to a four goal humiliation at Shielfield Park. Eight goals in just two games, forget inconsistency we are dominating right now.

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September 2016 - Scottish League One

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With a stunning end to the month, we quickly climb up the table and sit in the fourth spot occupying the play-off spot that comfortably eluded us last season. Could this year be different? Based on our result thus far we are certainly showing the potential that we could make an impact but we need to iron out some of these convincing defeats before we can truly think about any reward from the season.

 

[DerbyJack]

15th October 2016 - Scottish League One

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New boys Arbroath greeted us having dominated League Two on their way to automatic promotion. League One however is so far proving to be a step too far for The Red Lichties as they already hold an unwanted spot in the relegation zone, however that didn't stop them from claiming a much needed point at our expense following a lacklustre match at Gayfield Park.

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22nd October 2016 - Scottish League One

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Our final game of a very short month has us make amends for our poor start as we return the three goals back to Airdrie. Lee Currie opens his account for the season on the back of his second Player of the Year award but it was to be a red card half way through the second half that would the make the biggest impact of the game, killing off Airdries hopes and gifting us a comfortable win.

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29th October 2016 - Scottish Cup - Third Round

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Keeping our apparent tradition of crashing out of the cups at the first hurdle we slam into Stirling and are quickly shown the exit. A Lavery goal suggested we might be able to make some progression in the Scottish Cup but it wasn't to be as once again our league rivals cast some doubt on our seasons hopes with our third convincing cup loss of the season.

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October 2016 - Scottish League One

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Just two games but a huge impact as we again shoot up the table to claim a record high, second place. Recently relegated Morton top the table and it is incredibly close behind with five teams all locked on fifteen points eyeing each other for any sign of weakness as we head towards the mid way point of the season. We might just be about to find ourselves gate crashing the playoff party at this rate.

 

[DerbyJack]

1st November 2016 - Scottish League One

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Queens Park are really taking the step in League with ease, sitting just outside the play-offs and surprising many thus far however we managed to avoid becoming another surprise casualty thanks to the ever dependable, Darren Lavery. It was a rather dull game at Hampden Park but non the less another welcome victory.

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5th November 2016 - Scottish League One

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We never seem to be able to truly know how the match is going to pan out against Stranraer, with a mixed set of results last season. Having beaten then comfortably at the start of the season and scoring no fewer then six goals we were expecting to potentially repeat the feat, however we didn't come close, throwing away a one goal lead as we let slip two goals within the final quarter of an hour.

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19th November 2016 - Scottish League One

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Dumbarton have so far battered us around this season but we finally showed some back bone against the League One big boys as we held them at bay. A resilient effort from our central pairing of Fairbairns and Kitchen was a joy to behold and certainly showed that these two can cut it at this level.

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22nd November 2016 - Scottish League One

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With some fairly bland games so far this month, we round off proceedings with a thriller against Stirling.It proved to be an interesting game of two halves as we dominated the first, with the increasingly impressive Fairbairn and the ever-present Lavery both putting us into a seemingly commanding lead but a collapse in the second nearly saw us throw away all the points with only a nerve shredding late goal from Alex Kitchen salvaging a point.

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November 2016 - Scottish League One

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Having rapidly shot up to second place we make an even quicker exit from the playoff spots entirely as ourselves and Morton both suffer a disappointing month, with our rivals quick to take advantage. Looks like our sneaky route into playoffs might not be quite so simple.

 

[DerbyJack]

The last three months have let us take the matches at a relatively steady pace but with the end of the year approaching we are forced into a jam packed month as we barrel towards the half way stage of the season.

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3rd December 2016 - Scottish League One

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We get an extremely busy month off to a start against favourites, Morton. Both of us fell from grace last month and we compiled the misery for Morton as we pull off an impressive victory. Wingers, Bonnet Johnson and Luke Leahy both picked up a brace to overcome a fierce fight back from Morton and it proved to be the start of an incredible run of form for the duo.

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10th December 2016 - Scottish League One

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They both struck again to see us pick up another victory over a struggling Ayr. Having conceded early, it looked like we were set for some more inconsistent form but a goal either side of the half time break ensured of us of the points and pushed us back into the playoff spots. The never say die attitude we have now is certainly an improvement on last season.

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13th December 2016 - Scottish League One

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We suffer a narrow defeat to Brechin as our run of good fortune comes to an end. A scrappy first half goal was all that it took to separate the teams as a rare mistake from goalkeeper, James Atkinson has us drop all the points. The Twenty One year old has been largely impressive in his short spell at the club and despite the loss he has more then earned a second chance.

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17th December 2016 - Scottish League One

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We don't waste any time on the minor mistake as we quickly leap back into winning ways with Bonnett-Johnson and Leahy again helping us towards victory over Arbroath. The pairing are putting the pressure on Lavery as he finally has some welcome competition for the title of clubs highest scorer but that didn't stop him picking up one of his own to keep our rampant wingers in their place.

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26th December 2016 - Scottish League One

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In an almost identical showing of the last game, Bonnett Johnson strikes within the opening minutes from the right with Leahy finishing off the match mid-way through the second half with a cutting run from the left. In this type of form the wing backs of League One are running scared and our small but loyal fan-base are relishing the sight of some good old fashioned wing play from the Borderers.

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31st December 2016 - Scottish League One

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No goal from our right side this time but our stand out player, Luke Leahy makes sure to continue his run of form to the end of the month as he scores the first of three goals that help us to a comfortable victory over Queens Park. Having started brightly in the league, it appears Queens Park might have hit a rather stubborn brick wall in the League spiralling down the table without much resistance.

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December 2016 - Scottish League One

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It was impossible for him not to scoop the award, With only squad mate Bonnett-Johnson coming close to his form. Leahy has absolutely stolen the show this Christmas, scoring an average of one goal per game. He has the potential to be the best player in this team by quite some distance and despite some consistent showings earlier in his career we are only really beginning to see just what he is capable of.

Having lost just one game all month, I scoop my first award from League One. Its been an outstanding display of force from our team, with an incredibly busy set of fixtures giving us a tough test but one we were more then capable of rising to with some dazzling displays from our wide-men and of course the ever present, Darren Lavery.

On the back of our best month in the league thus far, we shoot back into the Play-off spots and have joined Dumbarton and Stirling in a small break-away group at the top of the table. As we sneak past the half-way point of the season we are certainly looking like we might be on course for a record high for the club.

 

[DerbyJack]

The last two New Years have seen us hit some good form and on the back of an incredible December we are keen to get stuck it into another busy run of games.

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4th January 2017 - Scottish League One

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Leahy starts the new year exactly the same way he ends the last, finding the back of the net as he guides us towards a crucial victory over fellow high-flyers Dumbarton. Not quite a convincing victory but non the less the result certainly shows that we are not at the top end of the table based on just good fortune. We actually are beginning to look like serious contenders.

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7th January 2017 - Scottish League One

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Lavery has taken a back seat with our wingers taking the plaudits of late but he ensured he wasn't to be forgotten with a neat brace giving us a victory over the unpredictable Stranraer. We are unbeaten in five games right now and show no signs of slowing down as we quickly ramp up the points and keep up our pressure at the top of the table.

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14th January 2017 - Scottish League One

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We are yet to beat Stirling this season and once again are left frustrated as a late goal brings an end to our recent run of victories. Leahy and Russell combined to set us on the way to what looked like another win however Stirling's two Smiths, opened and closed the scoring to ensure we would share the spoils as second and first place remain locked in a fierce battle for the top.

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21st January 2017 - Scottish League One

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Morton are reeling from a shocking winter period but have started to regain ground on the chasing pack however an Alex Kitchen goal just before the break saw them drop more points as they are pushed back to square one in there attempts at salvaging what has been a disappointing season for the former Championship side.

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25th January 2017 - Scottish League One

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Arbroath ended the year sitting in a surprising play-off spot as the club looks for back to back promotions, however a challenging start to the year has seen them fall quickly from grace with our squads three in-form players all combining to add to their woes, with Kitchen, Leahy and of course Darren Lavery finding the back of the net to push our streak onwards.

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28th January 2017 - Scottish League One

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We round off a superb month with another victory this time over a struggling Ayr. Bonnett-Johnson made a return to the score-sheet and was joined by another overlooked player, Andy Russell as the two grabbed their opportunity well. A late goal was the only blemish on an other wise perfect game but non the less the over-whelmed Berwick faithful will not hold it against them.

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January 2017 - Scottish League One

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Much like buses we wait for one and two come along at once. December might have been impressive but January was easily our best month to date, running through another six games without defeat. Nine games without defeat sees me claim another trophy for the cabinet.

Top of the table with only ten games remaining. We are genuinely looking like we might be on for an actual shot of promotion right now. Six points clear of our nearest rivals and with goals flowing through the club, our start of season gamble looks to be paying off in style. Impressive stuff from the Borderers.

 

[DerbyJack]

11th February 2017 - Scottish League One

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Our run of fantastic form keeps building momentum as we smash home four goals against a struggling Brechin. With that victory we make it ten games unbeaten and in some style as the familiar faces of Lavery and Leahy are joined on the scoresheet by Stephen Tulloch, the long standing Scot picking up a very rare goal from a well worked corner. Brilliant stuff from the Wee Rangers.

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14th February 2017 - Scottish League One

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We just keep on rolling as our seemingly unstoppable run of games charges straight over Airdrie, with five goals sending the five hundred fans in a freezing cold Shielfield Park into raptures. Alex Kitchen scored the opener as we showed off another impressive worked set piece routine but it was to be a red card that truly ended the game, with Lavery taking advantage to increase his impressive tally for the season. This is almost getting easy.

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18th February 2017 - Scottish League One

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Spoke to soon. Queens Park are impressing in their debut as they sit comfortably in a mid-table position as we get ever closer to the business end of the season but in what was to be an expected victory for the Borderers we finally slipped up with us eventually lucky to even come out with one point following a dramatic end to the match. Wake up call.

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25th February 2017 - Scottish League One

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Well if the Queens Park game didn't burst the bubble then this certainly did. Dumbarton have mounted a dramatic charge to reclaim the top of the table and have quickly overtaken Stirling as our nearest rivals for the title and they certainly showed us that we weren't going to be much of an obstacle in their quest to reclaim the automatic spot. We mounted a small comeback in the dieing minutes of the game but never once did we look like leaving the game with anything less then a wounded ego.

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February 2017 - Scottish League One

A side from conceding four goals in the final game of the month, Alex Kitchen has been an absolute rock at the heart of our defence and has been key in our twelve game unbeaten run, picking up a handful of goals alongside some solid performances at the back .

Our six point lead has quickly vanished as the rampant Dumbarton sit on our coat tails with the season drawing to a dramatic close. Despite the disappointment of losing our lead we can still take comfort from already securing a spot in the play-offs already. At least if this does explode in our faces we've still got that to hold on to.

 

[DerbyJack]

An international break interrupts the pace of games in the league but it at least allowed us to get some business done behind the scenes.​

Its no great shock to say that the transfer windows of late have been nothing short of uneventful. Having not made a single move in any January transfer window and with not a single signing made at the start of the season the fans are keen to finally hear some gossip around the club, however the latest name to be causing a stir amongst the Berwick faithful comes from an unlikely source.


The once yearly, trial day. With a weak youth setup and below average youth recruitment it was certainly a surprise but a very welcome one.

Head and shoulders above anything our youth setup has been able to produce so far, Andy Vaughan looks like he could become a legend at the club. Our coaches feel he has the ability to one day become a strong Premiership player and with his neat dribbling, eye for the spectacular and the ability to get his head on to the end of anything in the box he could even make a big impact in this League at the tender age of just fifteen.

 

[DerbyJack]

March finally has the pace ease up following three frantic months of football but that's not to say we can afford to relax. We might be topping the table but we're certainly feeling the pressure and we're not exactly showing our nearest rivals just why we deserve to hold the spot.

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11th March 2017 - Scottish League One

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Stranraer are having an absolute nightmare of a season and are looking odds on to be relegated and based on the match its not hard to see why. Leahy just cant stop finding the back of the net of late and quickly added to his tally with a goal on the second minute and despite being reduced to ten men it proved to be all we needed, as Stranraer lacked any real fight or desire to reclaim the points.

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18th March 2017 - Scottish League One

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We are stuttering our way towards the finish line as another defeat against a promotion contender highlights just how weak our claim to the automatic spot is. A hat-trick for McGrath humiliated our defenders as Morton ran out comfortable winners, adding another victory to their recent streak with the club eager to not waste any more time in League One.

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March 2017 - Scottish League One

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We hold on to the top spot but its a new face that is mounting the pressure on a nervous looking Berwick. Morton have rushed back up the table and following a shocking month for Dumbarton they become the new favourites to throw us out of the automatic spot. Having just demolished us, we are certainly looking at them with a degree of fear.

Four games to hold them at bay.​

 

[DerbyJack]

Its been a season to remember for the Borderers and with just four games remaining of the season, the club amazingly still have a shot at holding on to an unexpected top spot. Only time will tell if we can put the finishing gloss on a fairy-tale season.

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1st April 2017 - Scottish League One

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That sure is one way to ease the pressure. Having never beaten Stirling all season this seemed to be the worst possible match up for an end of season run in, however we quickly destroyed any thoughts of an immediate collapse with a seven goal demolition job, as Captain Lee Currie led the way to an exceptional victory, smashing in a well earned hat-trick as we collected three points in style.

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8th April 2017 - Scottish League One

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Ayr are throwing everything they have into clinging on to a place in League One but an own goal within Thirty seconds sent them further into the mire, with our formidable wide-men coming to the forefront again picking up three goals between them to push both clubs in opposite directions. With both Morton and Dumbarton suffering surprise defeats the results now leaves us with a genuine shot of securing the top spot with two games still to play.

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22nd April 2017 - Scottish League One

League One. Done.​

With the pressure on us being sky high going into the final four games of the season, Dumbarton and Morton looked like odds on favourites to eventually claim the promotion spot but it seems they were the ones who would crumble when it matters, losing both their games this month to leave us simply needing to see off new-boys Arbroath. They certainly didn't make it easy however pushing us all the way to final whistle in a nine goal thriller that saw a fitting hat-trick for Darren Lavery seal the deal.

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29th April 2017 - Scottish League One

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With the title in the bag the boys took their foot off the gas and breathed a collective sigh of relief, with Brechin quick to take advantage of the relaxed mood of our Championship bound squad. Another goal for Laverys impressive tally at least made sure we bowed out of League One with a small taster of what got us to the top of the table but no one in Northumbria was particularly too concerned with the lacklustre finish to the season.

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April 2017 - Scottish League One

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We've done it. A truly unexpected but deserved promotion as the squad, with no strengthening, the same tactics and a constant presence of self belief proved the doubters wrong picking up a sensational promotion, with an eventual eight point margin. We might not have shone against our nearest rivals but we won when it mattered.

Time for the Championship.​

 

[DerbyJack]

Before we get stuck into the huge challenge of turning this team into a Championship side we take one last look at League One before hopefully wishing it farewell for good.


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2016/17 - Scottish League One

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Three end of season awards in a row for the Borderers and finally our ever present lethal finisher, Darren Lavery takes the award and my word does he deserve it. The Scottish striker has been at the forefront of all our hard work, making the most of every opportunity that is thrown his way and dragging this team sometimes single handedly ever upwards. He has quickly become a club icon and in my eyes he is more then worthy. Another player we can only wish was born south of the border.

A sensational view for the fans of Berwick Rangers. A record high for the club as they win League One for the first time in the clubs history with a debut season in the Championship eagerly anticipated. In the end we cruised to the title as both Dumbarton and Morton only picked up three points in the all important final month of football giving us some welcome rest at the top of the table.

Its been fun in League One but we are once again moving on to pastures new and another challenge for the Lone Rangers.​

 

[DerbyJack]

The achievement of making it into the Championship this season was made even more remarkable by the fact that we signed no players this season, however this was not a master stroke of managerial ability it was merely forced upon me by the limits of being a Semi-Professional club in the middle of no where.

​

With limited scouting and only players released by fellow Scottish sides willing to join our cause, adding players of any value to the team has been nearly impossible however some superb news greeted us before the transfer window opened ahead of our first season in the Championship.

Almost as good as promotion itself.

​

To put this into perspective its a bit like being a kid unleashed in Toys'R'Us. The transfer market in one fair swoop has suddenly opened up like a treasure chest for the Borderers and no end of players are now flocking from across Europe looking at potentially joining the Borderers for the forth coming season.

A-side for obviously limiting ourselves to just English players, we've now got no excuses for failing to strengthen in the transfer windows.

Time to open the doors, Berwick is ready to do business.​

 

[JamesScott2908]

Cracking 3rd season securing promotion and going professional! Regen looks like he could be useful to! What is he CA and PA? you looking to give him some game time in Championship or looking to loan him out?

 

[DerbyJack]

Thanks James. In terms of actual numbers I have no idea to be honest but in terms of stars, 2 CA and 5 PA but then again my coaching staff aren't exactly the best judges. I'll keep hold of him, I've always been a fan of throwing youngsters in at the deep end.

With the floodgates seemingly about to burst open on the transfer market the first moves of the season come from an unlikely source as our members of staff receive a sudden boost in numbers​

Sticking to same nationalistic principles that dictate how I sign players, I am strictly only taking on staff from England. With our new championship status the list of staff members has grown rapidly of late with a new look scouting team and some familiar faces within our ranks of coaches. With the likes of Jamie Carragher and my trusted right hand man, Owen Hargreaves already adding some star power to the team we added some more former England players to our team.

With no English striker yet able to rival Darren Lavery as the clubs leading front-man, I turn to two former England finishers to help produce a proven goalscorer from our home nation. One of England's most prolific strikers, Michael Owen took a break from horse racing to take up the role of coach to the first team, with former Spurs legend Les Ferdinand joining him as the pair look set to try and pass on some of their experience and natural ability to our fortunate squad.

The coaching team might be ready, now there's just the small matter of assembling the players to be moulded into a Championship force.​

 

[JamesScott2908]

Even so that is a high standard regen still!! Best of all he's English haha! Hopefully he will develop well! Like the look of the new incoming coaches too! 2 former NUFC strikers

 

[DerbyJack]

Yeah hope so, I want him to be massive with us, going to be hard though,Rangers already have eyes on him.

The Championship looms ever closer. Having made no signings to the team last season we cant afford to hold back again in the transfer window and for the first time since taking over as the manager of Berwick the board have not let me down.​

With a relatively huge wage budget of over Thirty grand, we might not have a transfer kitty but with that kind of money we can essentially sign who we want for free.

Before I jump into action, we managed to show some restraint clearing some space in the squad as we release three players from their contracts. Left winger, Jack Boyle and striker Adarabioyo both leave the squad following a frustrating spell within the team, both players joined as part of the first intake of the English revolution but failed to make a real impact upon the team.


The duo are joined by backup goalkeeper Billy Bald. The Scot had just one season between the sticks under my time at Berwick but the signing of young James Atkinson quickly ended his time with the club


The three departures didn't really signal the start of an influx of players to the team but that wasn't from lack of effort, no fewer then five players still remain listed but with no clubs willing to take them off our hands we opted to use our huge wage budget to our advantage and set to work transforming the team anyway.

Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

Having made a name for himself at fellow Scottish team, Cowdenbeath, Thomas Flynn opted to try and take the next step with a move to English club, Middlesbrough. Having made no appearances for the Teesiders, a loan move to Luton followed before he was eventually released. Keen to get his
career back on track, he jumped at the opportunity with Berwick and will provide Atkinson with some stiff competition for a starting spot.

Cost: Free
From: Kidderminster

A big capture for the team. Dunkley is a formidable centre back at this level and will make a fine addition to partner Alex Kitchen within the heart of our defence. Having come from the impressive youth setup at Crewe he hasn't quite lived up to their impressive standards but following a long spell at non-league side, Kidderminster he is ready to get things back on track as a key player for our coming season.

Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

We are yet to find a proven English goal scorer for the team but with the arrival of Allassani, we have a young player with an absolutely lethal finish. Having come up through the ranks of Crystal Palace we were quick to add him to our ranks and with a quick turn of speed and some real drive to get himself towards the goal he could develop into a real force North of the border.

Cost: Free
From: Staylbridge

With wingers being key to our entire tactic we need some really strong players out wide to keep things ticking over and the addition of Sam Gainford gives us some real talent looking towards the future. A product from Liverpools ranks he is by no means a English Premier League quality player but with some solid stats across the entire board he could by all means one day make it into the Scottish equivalent.

Cost: Free
From: Nuneaton

We have struggled through out my entire career to find a reliable right back, with South African Devon Jacobs filling the role for the last few seasons however the arrival of Alexander McQueen finally has us sign an English wing-back. I was close to being forced to take up a three at the back formation for our debut season in the second tier of Scottish football, time will tell if it was worth not taking the risk.

Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

The biggest signing of my career thus far has former Derby, Leeds and Blackpool player, Luke Varney join our growing ranks. With five goals picked up from a brief spell in the English Premier League the veteran striker has certainly touched the top of the professional game but in the twilight of his career has opted to try his luck in Scotland as he joins our English revolution for his swan-song. Joining us late in the window he is currently ruled out already with a dislocated jaw. Fragile.

Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

As Ben O'Hanlon signs just days before the deadline day he now ensures that for the first time in this career we have an English player available in each position on the pitch. The left back was courted by the club for the entire pre-season but kept us waiting as he stalled on his wage demands, fortunately for us we managed to eventually persuade the former Wolves man to join us.

Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

The final signing of an extremely busy window has another journeyman join the team. Lee Holmes started his career with the mighty Rams and a long career throughout English football followed with him eventually ending his time with Portsmouth. Luke Leahy has certainly made a strong impact on the left but is certainly going to be under pressure from our tricky veteran wide-man who could make a huge impact in Scotland.

An absolutely massive transfer window. We signed nearly an entire team in the window, making up for the lack of activity last season and it certainly strengthened the club massively. With the entire team now backed by some solid English talent we can hopefully survive in the Championship with ease.​

 

[JamesScott2908]

How are rangers faring on your save? I've got a Rangers save at the minute, Promotion 1st season, 6 games in to PL and I'm doing awful! Hope you can keep hold of him and there is some nice signings in there! Could you not try an English parent club?

 

[JamesScott2908]

You still going with this story?