What a

great draw today. We managed to avoid the others in our division and any bizarre trip to somewhere stupid. Civil Service Strollers in Edinburgh, at my old stomping ground down at Muirhouse. To explain, when I worked in the Civil Service in Edinburgh we used to use it for sporting activities, sports days etc. Mind you I don't think I've seen a game there or Berwick playing there for that matter. I think I'm right in saying, although open to correction, that this will be the first time we have played the Strollers in a competitive game. Looking forward to it already. Oh, and I think as well it will be the first time since 1966 we have faced East of Scotland opposition in the cup.

Midweek again

and nothing really going on black & gold wise. Champions League on the telly tonight and I'll be keeping an eye on the big game......at Hampden. I hadn't realised but apparently Albion are the only unbeaten team in our league. Having said that as long as we keep winning it doesn't matter a jot what anybody else does. It's only where your not that you start looking at what the rest are up to. Mind you tonight is their catch up game isn't it?

New record

set on Saturday, how good is that then? How many fans go through their whole existence without ever seeing such a phenomenon. Those of us present witnessed just that on Saturday, breaking a record that had existed for 40 years. Thanks to Alan Bell for clarifying that for me by the way. I'm not sure if I can take all that type of thing in really. Looking at our club records I had the privilege of watching Eric Tait create his records that still stand, and probably will for a long time. I was also present at at Douglas Park to see another unwanted record created, and then on Saturday another one. What a great platform to attack the rest of the season from......can't wait.

GAME 21
Duns Amateurs 1-10 Hibs
Popped out to Gavington this afternoon to watch what was billed as an exhibition match against ostensibly the Hibs under 19's watched over by Yogi Hughes himself. Everyone concerned had obviously made a big effort in organising the whole thing. They didn't get their reward on the pitch, although the Duns lads kept plugging away against what you'd expect were far superior opposition, but hopefully they did off it as the turn out was very healthy. Impressed by the advertising hoardings, all 39 of them, at apparently about £150 each. An enjoyable afternoon and I think, as far as I can remember, the biggest score I've ever witnessed.
Running totals 1811.6 miles £432.74
BR Totals 963.9 miles £277.78
Crowd, head count, 375, although in truth it was probably in excess of 400.

Another win

but I thought it was tougher than I expected. You can't knock a win, especially when we didn't play as well as we have this season. But you know what they say about winning when your not at your best. Five home wins on the trot, hell, it can't get any better. Whens the last season we bettered that? Alan can you help? Three of the other results ending in draws helped as well, now we're four points clear at the top and times at Shielfield are as bright as the sun that was today shining down on us all at the old ground. David Greenhill stood out for me today, as did Damon Gray and Brazil and.........
Don't know if your aware the Cup second round draw takes place this Wednesday but after today's first round games not including replays and the others yet to come in there are 3 Juniors, 6 Highland Leaguer's and 3 from the East of Scotland League. Who do you want then?

Our first

game as league leaders tomorrow, against, yes, you've guessed it, bottom club Montrose. A coupon buster, certainly hope not, the visiting clubs record is less than impressive but lets make sure there's no slip up's and for a change bang the goals in. We're overdue showing the league just how good we are getting and our play thus far certainly merits more in the goals for column. How about 5 nil tomorrow, ok, I'll calm down. Have to mention the latest stramash involving Livingston. There originally posponed game at the Shire has been rescheduled for next mid week but Shire are saying they won't play unless they get compensation for the original postponement. Don't know about you but I know whose side I come down on this one.

Did you

watch the games on the telly last night? No shocks at all I'm afraid and that's what I'm always looking for but it was not to be. It seems to me that with the balance of power, and finance, ever moving towards the big boys that shocks of any kind are fewer and fewer in coming along. Would you say us being top of the league is any kind of shock? Well, if you base it on last season it certainly is, but it just goes to prove what the power of positive thought and action can achieve. Base it on that and it's no surprise what so ever. And when you think of it in these terms the club can achieve almost anything this season. Top of the league top of.......

Top of

the league...top of the league, you know the rest. Were you there then? That was the only disappointing thing about the evening the turnout. I know this is an historic problem but I'm sure those of us that did make the effort thought it was money and time well spent. What a great performance with some amazing football. Someone said it was the biggest 1 nil shagging we've seen for a long time. Young McLean was sacrificed and I suppose the managers decision was vindicated by turning three goals on Saturday into a clean sheet. Four home wins on the trot to start the season, anyone know the last time that that happened? For me Brazil is getting better game on game, it's also good to see the goals getting shared around. Saturday top v bottom, bring on the Mo!

Tonight's game

is almost here. Looking forward to this one. When's the last time a win at Shielfield would mean us going top of the table? If things had gone to plan originally I'd have missed this one, being away that weekend. We, using the royal version, need to get the defense sorted for tonight. I'm sure Crease has a plan up his sleeve as apparently he was less than happy, and so he should have been, with the gaols that went in against us on Saturday. Jamie Ewart back? What do you think? Anyway lets hope the sometimes hesitant local support come out in force tonight then we can all do it together, and by half nine tonight, or later depending on how much extra time this one adds on, we'll be sitting top of the pile.

Stranraer tomorrow

night at Shielfield under the lights, great stuff as far as I'm concerned. There's no other games in our division so if we win we're top of the league. How good does that sound? We'll need to be on our guard though, they've beaten us this season already even if they're not that far up the table. Apparently we have a full squad to choose from whilst they have one or two injuries, the more the better as far as I'm concerned, no, I didn't mean that, did I? I'd certainly rather they came to us that the other way round on a Tuesday night, wouldn't you?

Game 18
Elgin City 3-3 Berwick

Just back from a weekend away, including the game at Elgin. I was one of about a dozen and a half Black & Gold at a very sunny Borough Briggs yesterday, with the home side only taking 8 of my hard earned pounds at the gate. We should have had the game closed down by the midway point of the first half, but didn't and you know the outcome. It's no exaggeration to say Elgin had three chances and scored them all, while we must have had in excess to a dozen, possibly more, and we failed to take enough. Normally I'd say an away point is good enough but yesterday given how the scoring went and the time of their equaliser I left the ground thinking it was two points lost. That was mitigated when I heard the Loons had also drawn, which now means a win over Stranraer this Tuesday will see us top. Finally if you go to Elgin the next time this season and your journey takes you through Keith avoid the chippy at the Elgin end of the town. There was as much organisation as a central African country, they serve the smallest haggis in the world and it's the first chippy I've ever been in where you have to buy brown sauce in sachets. You've been warned.
Running totals
Overall 1765.4 miles £403.73
BR Totals 956.1 miles £258.78

Have you

had a chance to look at the information on Livingston's actual debt situation yet? I certainly wasn't any where near aware to the extent or variation of what, and to whom, they owe money. I'm just an ordinary punter but how can any organisation be permitted to build up that sort of debt? How do they start to rebuild trust with local business's and organisations to the extent they'll do business with them again. And how about the bit that says the new "owners" have only put in 10k. Given that few of them are local guys and I'd hazard do not live in the town would you trust them?

Middle of

the week again and I'm living on a diet of televised football. Did you watch the Champions League stuff last night? Two perfect results for the English sides especially Man United in Turkey. It always strikes me that the Turks seem to get away with murder, not literally, where grounds and fan behaviour are concerned compared to what is accepted in this country. Why is that I wonder, don't expect we'll get a result on that one, do you?
On a different note, I see livi have appointed a new assistant manager and stated their intention to remain full time. Looks like it's time for their big wigs to dig deep if their crowds this season are anything to go by. You have to remember that Livingston is a town of nearly 100000 people so that shouldn't be beyond possibility, but more of them will need to turn out. No doubt those in charge won't be slow to show their appreciation......

The Stranraer

game has been re scheduled for next Tuesday under something called the !10 day rule". Always good to get a game under the lights at Shielfield. That'll give us three games in eight days with two at home, what a great chance to pick up a dose of points and maybe over take our friends from Station Park. How does top of the league sound to you? It sounds bloody good to me.
I also see that the good old SFL are supplying every club with an electronic scoreboard. Will that mean that we'll get what they do in the English Leagues at the end of each half, namely to be told how much time the ref has made up to add on, or is that being called cynical?

Last Saturday

was fairly kind to us, postponement aside obviously, but given that that happened the way the other results panned out was not too bad. I hoped that leaders Forfar would get beat, and they did. then we managed a draw from the other three, could have been more but I'll take one draw and finally we retained second spot. Even at this early stage our division has a bit of an upside down look reference games being missed. We all need to get the missing one's played to see exactly where we stand. So it's on to Elgin on Saturday, a ground I quite like, let's bring these three points home.

Just back

after being down in Manchester since Wednesday for a conference which only finished on Friday afternoon. So, I decided to stay with my daughter in Stockport and take in the City v Arsenal game yesterday, an added bonus of which was our game being cancelled which of course means I'll be able to go to the re arranged one, and, we retained second spot despite not playing, how good is that?
Game 17
Manchester City 4-2 Arsenal
Had made an arrangement to get a ticket from the lad who sits next to my daughter with him very kindly moving a bit further along into a seat that someone else was not using yesterday. The upshot being that I paid for an upgrade as they call it, how much, £33.50 no less! However, as it turned out it was money very well spent. What an absolute belter in front of a new stadium attendance record. Struggling to remember the last time I was inside a football ground with a better atmosphere. Despite City playing crap for a long period they passed a stern test. And how about "that" incident? MOTD only showed a few seconds of it, however, being in the tier above with a great view, it went on for about 15 minutes with police and stewards just managing to keep the enraged Gooners from invading the pitch and lynching your man. Even at the end, when the linesman lifted a board saying an extra 4 minutes had to be played, the City fans were still biting a collective nail. Only at City, but it was an excellent afternoon's entertainment away from Shielfield, even at that price!
Current totals
Overall 1200.2 miles £347.05
BRFC totals 434.4 miles £202.10

Game 16
Berwick 3-1 Whitehill

We retained the cup last night at a cold and windy Shielfield, not helped by the small turnout, where were you all? The team was slightly different, Robbie started and Gray and Rad******, can't remember the rest! started up front, with Gray getting a good first goal. Big Haynsey played the full 90 for Whitehill and got a couple of good cheers from the small band in the ducket, but he looked knackered by the end. Just in case your wondering that's the clubs third trophy in 12 months, Dennis has been told to order a new duster!
Running totals
BRFC 434.4 miles £202.10
Overall 1181.6 £283.55

Well well

has justice been done, you'll have decided already no doubt, but whatever all our opinions Livingston FC stay where they are which as far as our three points are concerned is great news. Will those who have taken over, whatever their combined reasons, stay put. I suppose until they come up with a way to get their money back they'll have to won't they. After all they're all huge Livi fans aren't they!!
Shielfield tonight and a cup final what more could you ask, bring on big Haynesy!

Still waiting

apparently for the decision on Livingston. Had a look in all the usual places but can't see anything at all at the moment. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't give a shite about our "friends" from West Lothian but it does concern me given that we beat them fair and square and I WANT TO KEEP MY 3 POINTS, sorry, but you get my meaning. Given the high handed way they decided not to turn up for a fixture surely a points deduction must be a possibility on top of whatever else is handed down. Not sure how much longer they will sit on this but I hope to hell they get a move on......

Next game

up for Berwick fans is the City Cup final this Tuesday against Whitehill at Shielfield. I make no apology when saying I always enjoy these games against our friends from East of Scotland football, an association our club has been a member of for more years than you care to remember. Mind you with having no game yesterday it seems like a long time to me since we've heard anything from Shielfield. No news good news eh?

Back again

after a wee break in the Western Isles I listened to our win this afternoon against the Macedonians as I drove down the road, which means Wednesday nights game still has meaning. Mind you the Dutch will be a different kettle of fish, but we still have a chance, don't we? On a slightly different note well done to Hawick on picking up their first point of the season on Friday. The Albert haven't found points too easy to get in recent times, but your of the mark lads, go for it......

I see

the Supporters Club have organised a Q&A session with the manager for later this month. Good idea as far as I'm concerned, can't be too much information dissemination and it's one of the things we hoped would change after the take over, so I'm looking forward to it, and it's back in the Black & Gold again, great stuff. Lets hope it all goes well and helps carry on creating a bond within all who have an interest in our club.
A wee clarification as well, our number 2 all time appearance holder is actually Roy McDowall and not Stuart Romaines as I said a couple of days ago. Roy amassed 296 appearances scoring 7 times during 2 spells at Shielfield.