Considered going

to the Gala Vale game tonight but for different weather reasons that game has fallen as well. Did you watch the Man United game last night then? One thing I try to do with British teams in Europe is no matter who they are I want them to win but Fergie's men put on a rather lackluster show and the Gerries nicked it at the death. Mind you that's the first leg and United did get the away goal so all you United fans in Berwick, Aberdeen, London.....no I'll stop there, it is Europe after all. Arsenal square up to Barca tonight and I must admit to having a problem with any team in any domestic league that regularly fields a side with no players that can qualify for that leagues national team, but that's an argument for another time......

Match off

is the cry, and if you live in the town that will come as absolutely no surprise. As I sit here and write there is a fairly good imitation of a storm is going on outside. I know the current state of the Shielfield pitch doesn't help but even "healthy" pitches are succumbing to this deluge. To date 5 SFL games have gone tonight and as far are ours is concerned it might be April until it's possible to get it played. The weather this season just won't give in will it? So I suppose its Man Utd Bayern on the box now, a poor substitute as far as I'm concerned, but hey I'll live with it!

Game 36
Gretna 2-0 Vale of Leithen

Visited Albert Park in Hawick yesterday for the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Final, you know the one where the winners play us in the City Cup. I thought I maybe had been there before, couldn't really remember but got to say I was quite impressed. They may not be the greatest team around but they have all the makings of a real football ground. The game it's self was fairly even apart from the last 10-15 minutes when Gretna took their chances. You may have seen it mentioned in today's Daily Ranger but there was a wee "stramash" in and around the tunnel involving various bodies, it was something and nothing but it's typical of that particular publication that in their few lines describing the incident they said it played out before the crowd of just over 500. As is usually the case when I go to these games I take a few minutes out and do a head count, have a look at the end for what I got to!
Got to say well done to Hawick for hosting a successful final and both teams, they are both still fighting for promotion and could both still be playing each other in next seasons EOS Premier Division.
Attendance (head count) 186, see what I mean!
Running Totals
Overall 4335.5 £853.23
BR 2359.4 £468.47

Game 35
Montrose 1-1 Berwick

I eventually decided to go to Montrose yesterday not fully convinced I was doing the right thing. Then after Alan Brazil fired wide with a pathetic penalty attempt and Montrose went right up the park and scored I was convinced I should have been at home with Jeff Stelling, is that the spelling of Stelling? However after that things got better for the black & gold with an equalising goal on half time and a much improved second half. On Alan Brazil, he's certainly a man low on confidence at the moment as his headed miss in front of goal emphasised. He did work hard otherwise but how he (and us) needs a goal. With the sun at Links park yesterday you needed shades to stop the glare from their plastic pitch which proved far to slippy for a number of players, what is it like to play on? Coupled with other results we are back into play off albeit temporarily. Looking to Tuesday against Livi I've had a look at the table and am I wrong in saying a win will see them all but promoted save goal difference?

All eyes

well my two anyway, are on Links Park tomorrow. This is the start of a Saturday Tuesday situation for the next fortnight, what will that make it, five weeks in a row with that scenario, not great for a part time team. But the next couple of weeks will decide our season and we must get a win tomorrow against an ever improving Montrose side. I know I've said it already but come on lads its up to you, we all need you to put on the performance of the season tomorrow because Tuesday will be no walk in the park either. I'll saying nothing else till after 445 tomorrow. You got your crossed as well?

Did you

watch the game from Tannadice last night? For once I can say I enjoyed watching a game involving two SPL clubs. Cracker wasn't it? And I'm not just saying that because of the result, although I always like to see the old firm getting beat, but Celtic went one better than that at St Mirren, they got stuffed and Mowbray got the bullit today because of it. Apparently he has the lowest win percentage since.... who really cares anyway. On the same night both of them got beat, great stuff.
Have you thought about Montrose on Saturday, are you going? I'm looking forward to it with some degree of trepidation. I'm really hoping the players will surprise us all and put in one hell of a performance really stuff Montrose, look as if they are really up for it, and make us all feel we're right back on track. What do you think......

We're out

of play off and in truth it's no surprise. We've been hanging on for some time now during which time I thought we were some way short of what was required. I'm as baffled as you as to what has gone wrong, and whether those in a position to do something about it have the capability. However, I'd say that everyone in the squad, players and management, need to sweat blood between now and the end of the season to convince Berwick fans they are actually worthy of the fans support. It's fair to say some of the performances this season have been woeful. Maybe all our expectations were too high after the record breaking start we had. The most worrying thing about this situation is the fare being served up will not bring the required bodies through the turnstiles. We in the Trust gave the club another £1000 last Saturday, money they always need badly, but I say again to the players, you must do better, what you are producing is not good enough. The season can still be turned around, but not with the kind of football presently being served up, over to you... the players......

Didn't finish

work in time to make the trip to Forfar tonight so thought I'd go to the game at Preston Athletic instead, but didn't finish in time to go to that one either, so it's Sky's offering on the box, West Ham v Wolves while I watch the rest of the scores coming up on the BBC sites vidiprinter. That's the quickest way I'll keep up with events at Station Park as well, so almost fingers crossed time. I did watch the Leeds game last night, and how Millwall took them apart. If that's Leeds without Beckford, that is his name? They need to make sure they keep him. Another one of the teams I watch, Blyth, got a good away point last night as well, well done to them.

Another football

week is upon us with two games in Angus for the black & gold. There's been a change in the fortunes of both these opponents recently and possibly the trip to Links Park may be the trickiest, only maybe mind you. I'm certainly not underestimating the Loons, they're actually a bit like us at the moment. My own week will start tonight by watching the Leeds Millwall game on Sky. Sounds tasty doesn't it. Two pussycats of the English game! Not much more in my mind re footie right now so I won't bore you with needless drivvle!

Well we

exit another weekend still in a play off position. Its getting pretty tight and some might say interesting as we head for Forfar on Tuesday at a time when their form appears to be as dodgy as our own. It seems unusual that here we are at the end of March and we've not visited Station Park yet. A win up there given the league standings will be invaluable as it will see us go above our hosts. On the wider football front City (Manchester) picked up a very good win at Craven Cottage, which given Fulhams recent form must rank as a great result. Chelsea only got a point at Blackburn as well. Another league, although slightly smaller, the East of Scotland League, have interesting duals going on in both divisions. I'm interested to see if Vale can go all the way and win their games in hand to secure promotion, which as looks likely will make them the only Border side in the top league. I know, unless off course Gretna accompany them.

Great result

today at Shielfield. Couple that with Shire, Albion and Forfar all loosing points and it is a timely boost as the run in fast approaches with a congestion of fixtures to get through. At the risk of being boring, and I've always got an eye on the table, Albion are now 6 points behind with 2 games in hand and a goal difference of 1, we have 0! However they have had a horrendous week, 1 point in 6, is that right? We now head to Station Park on Tuesday to take on the Loons at what must be a good time for us. On a different note I've just watched Scotland win in Ireland and avoid the dreaded wooden spoon, well done lads, its been a while coming, hasn't it.

We finished

our Dutch trip last Monday by making our way back to the coast from Arnhem. On the way we decided to drop in for a look at the ground of the recently defunct Harleem FC. Sad sight t was as well all locked up with the signs still evident and the teams mini bus sitting inside the locked gates as if waiting for it's next run. There were two fair sized stands down each side and a number of training pitches situated at one end. A timely reminder, if one is needed, that the unthinkable can happen it certainly did there. Back to things black & gold and I noticed we've signed a new player. Know nowt about him I'll need to do some research. Maybe better news is the signing of new contracts by several of the existing squad. McLean is one of them which is good news as I thought he was on his way. But overall good news. Shows work is being done for next season. Elgin tomorrow, if ever we needed a win its then.

Game 34
Vitesse Arnhem 0-1 SC Heerenveen

Our last game on Sunday afternoon took place in Arnhem where we witnessed a truly horrendous game in windy and cold conditions. After the game we made our way back round to the car and as we came round to the front of the stadium we bumped into a fans protest. You know the type, not much more than posturing and a few raised voices. We hung around for a wee look and I wandered to the front and took a couple of photos of the goings on. Within seconds this menacing Dutch guy approached me and asked why I was taking photos. I told him I was just a visitor, as four or five of his mates also appeared, but he became rather insistent that I delete the pictures. When it became obvious to him that I was a foreigner, or maybe it was the noise from my knees knocking ,he backed of and I made my escape. I can only presume they thought I was an undercover cop! We stayed in Arnhem that night and had an enjoyable meal and a few beers and I managed to keep out of my mates way!
Running totals
Overall totals 3941.9 miles £806.51
BR Totals 2053.2 miles £437.81

Game 33
VVV Venlo 0-1 FC Utrecht

Our second day opened in the salubrious surroundings of the Holiday Inn in Eindhoven. With nothing definate planned during the day, and the fact that our hotel was a ten minute walk from the Phillips Stadion, home of PSV, we decided to wander along for a look. During our visit our Dutch contact, through John, got in touch, and came round and met us in the club shop. Having the appropriate contacts he took us into the restaurant/bar normally reserved for club sponsors where we had a good blether washed down with a few beers then lunch. He also took us into the ground for a look around. He then told us he'd pick us up in the evening and take us to our next game at the club his company sponsors, a 35 mile run to the town of Venlo, where he supplied us with tickets and post match hospitality where we met a couple of the clubs officials. The lads were first class and offered us a tour of the ground, after a few more beer and nibbles off course. I spent some time with the club commercial manager Peter Hoex, who was a great club ambassador. Festivities over Ad, our Dutch host, drove us back to our hotel in his Mercedes, ye, we were slumming it! We agreed the night to be a great success minus off course the match score.
On a foot note well done to Durham City who racked up their second win on the trot last night and now sit on the lofty points total of 0 points!

Apologies for

my unauthorised absence but I'm just back from our annual trip to the continent watching games. This year we chose to take in three games in Holland and got the ferry last Thursday night from North Shields. After an evening of on board entertainment we got in a couple of hours late (operational reasons they said) then headed straight for Eindhoven where we had based ourselves for the Friday and Saturday nights. Our first game on the Friday night was a second division match in the city between FC Eindhoven and local rivals Helmond. We had chosen the City's lower league representatives against their "big brothers" PSV and didn't regret it. Upon the advice of the party's junior member we decided to walk to the ground as it "wasn't too far" Over 5 kilometers later and two pub stops we arrived at quite an impressive wee ground where we managed to get a pre match beer and a blether with a few young Helmond fans we were treated to a 3-2 win to the home side. The ground had stands on three sides and a "fans bar and shop" There was a wee skirmish at the end, nothing really, but mounted police chased some of the young visitors down the street and briefly our party had to quicken our pace to stay ahead of the "7th cavalry" Deciding against the walk back we got the bus into town and sampled a few of the city centre bars before retiring to our hotel. End of a busy day 1.

Whit a

day for fitba yesterday. One that can't really surprise anyone given the kind of people that are in charge of football clubs in this country. As the story at Pompey unravels we find they made 80 people redundant, from a staff of 360. 360, I ask you, they're hardly a big club that seems a hell of a lot of employees. Interesting to hear one of the "ordinary" employees say that his annual wage equated to what one of their players earns in three days! I know, don't say it. Om the same day both Cardiff and Southend were given stays of execution. And probably the saddest part of the story was Chester City and Farsley Celtic being wound up. No one in charge of Chester even bothered turning up at the High Court so 126 years of history went down the pan. I've said it before they won't be the last, not by a long chalk.

Game 31
Albion 4-1 Berwick

Disaster at Cliftonhill would have been the headline if this had been a film. After a workmanlike first half when it's fair to say we rode our luck at times we managed to get in at the break ahead. We had just kicked off and I said to the guy next to me that I hoped they would put in a sensible shift and keep things steady when the arse fell out of our night. It was an embarrassment for the 39 Berwick fans inside the ground and leaves me seriously wondering what the remainder of our season now holds. On last nights evidence we can forget play offs and start thinking about our summer holidays
Seasons running totals
Overall games 2904.9 miles £592.76
BRFC games 2053.2 miles ££437.81

All thoughts

are now on Coatbridge tomorrow night. All games and results are important, you know that, but the way things stand we really need a result. A win there would peg them right back, a draw at a push. We now need some consistency and off course find ourselves in the middle of a run of away games, and throw in the occasional mid weeker and you can work out where we are and just how and important it is to get something. There are other games in our league as well, is it three, so things may look different come half nine tomorrow night.

Hi again

been away for the weekend but kept an eye on yesterdays game at Hampden. What an excellent result, just what we needed. It was really that important when you consider that puts QP 6 points behind us and Forfar, just ahead, got a right spanking at Shire. Maybe, after a real rotten spell for the Black & Gold we can get some feel good back and remove what was becoming, for me at least, a real worry of our ability to hold onto our play off spot. We seem to be getting absent players back just in time for the very important, and very busy, run in. Looking forward to Albion on Tuesday night, we're certainly due to turn them over and again without drowning in stats they are 10 behind with 3 games in hand. See you there......

Well, at

last a result went our way, and thanks to Montrose for that. That result means off course that as it stands now they can't catch us. It's been a while in coming mind but we are due a wee rub of the proverbial green aren't we? QP next now and it's them that's looking up at us after last night's results. Off course that alters nothing as far as us getting back on track ourselves but it's still nice to get a hand from someone else. They were due us after what they done at Shielfield?
An appeal now. I wasn't at the Shire match recently so wrote and wrote and wrote......asking to buy a match programme. But the good men at the Shire, apart from a few fibs by email, have thus far chosen to absolutely ignore my requests. Were you at that game and got a programme you'd be willing to sell me? If so please get in touch I really will appreciate it.

According to

the SFL site there's a pitch inspection at Shielfield tomorrow morning at 9.15am. Don't know if that's right. I've heard nothing official so we'll just need to wait. I know, as you probably do yourself, it's no secret after all, that Shielfield is in a right "2and8" as they say. I wouldn't expect good news but you never know. There's also some East of Scotland games scheduled but they may not fare any better, you wouldn't think so, but I'm keeping an eye on the Gala game, just in case you understand. Meanwhile, seems more and more this season, I'll be turning to televised footie again tonight, with the offering from Northern Ireland, I know, desperate or what!