Redcar

The entire game. "Atrocious" according to our manager, and he wasn't wrong https://app.veo.co/matches/20230429-brfc-v-cowdenbeath-290423-7156e19b/

Dumped out of another cup at the earliest possible opportunity. Cowden were the best team and won without having to try very hard. Some experienced players (Allan, Harris, Taylor) looked like their minds were on a beach in Spain. And you'd go a long way to witness a performance of such breathtaking ineptitude dished up by Lewis Baker yesterday. And his brother - who has just signed a new contract - was little better. Took me right back to the talentless shambles that Johnny Harvey thought was worth a £10 entry fee. Having said that, the season as a whole has been pretty good, after a mediocre start. We have some great players signed for next season, but need some cover at the back, experience in midfield and a striker to partner Liam Buchanan. Apart from yesterday (and every other cup we've fizzled out of) well done to the wee 'gers. See you in July!

They want their B teams to work their way up the SPFL so they can have a decent income through the gate every week, instead of every fortnight.

Of all the back-of-a-fag-packet, slavering, blinkered bonkersness of this ridiculous new league, the 10-team element surely tops it. Only 6 teams with anything worth playing for. And if it is coming in anyway, the season after next, the notion that LL clubs were 'blackmailed' into voting B teams in again or the Conference would start this year, makes those who voted 'yes' even more in need of growing a pair. Who wants to be in a club run by these self-serving wankers? Strongly suspect that my club - Berwick - voted in favour of the B-teams (and therefore putting the conference off for a year) because they have a good budget for next season and fancy their chances of winning the LL as it stands, whereas if the conference came in next season, we wouldn't even be in it. Can just about understand that, but can't agree with this drivel. They've said nowt, though, so we might never know.

Blair Sneddon has signed for us from Falkirk after a very successful loan spell. Brilliant signing - best left back we've had for years

The silence from our club (Berwick) is ominous. And that in itself tells a tale - if we have voted for the B teams, let's hear the justification, whether that be voting under duress due to the threat of a Conference League, or some other reason. Maybe they are just embarrassed, or maybe they voted No. I hope we voted 'no', but it seems unlikely now. The yes vote was demonstrably wrong a few years ago, in terms of principle and footballing integrity. The false promises then, the vanishing money, the pathetic nature of B team fixtures ("hey, with a bit of luck they'll be at a tournament in Azerbaijan"), the failed crowds and the vitriol we got from all quarters for being complicit in opening the door to this utter crap, makes it even more important now that we should have voted on principle and integrity. And I haven't even mentioned the word "pyramid". The lowland League is beyond embarrassing. I hope there is a secret pow-wow going on in a darkened room where several LL clubs and lots of others clinging to the shaky ladder below, are talking about a completely separate structure that somehow can tell the pathetic Lowland League to get tae f**k. If we can't have a decent pyramid, slavering to the B teams is as excruciating as it is unnecessary.

Jamie McCormack has signed a pre-contract with Berwick Rangers.

None at all, though we did get a great left back - Blair Sneddon - on loan from Falkirk, and an unlucky run of injuries finally eased up. Also a new Chairman took over a few months ago and whilst that didn't mean a cash injection, he did a number of things that brought more of a feelgood culture around the club. Crowds are decent - 421 yesterday I think, with only a few EK fans. That's rather better than we got in the last season in the SPFL. Possibly the biggest reason for the improvement is that we stuck with the Manager. We were frustratingly crap at times before Xmas, and I was one of several fans who thought we needed a change. I was wrong. It took longer than it should perhaps, but the squad seem to be a happy bunch and a dozen or so are already signed for next season. Yesterdays win against EK was a joy to watch.

Berwick have quietly gone on a fantastic run and moved up to 6th place - if only we'd started the season like that. New Chairman has boosted the club with some sensible changes off the pitch, and all of our best players have re-signed for next season, with a number of quality signings in the rumour department. Just don't mention Stoneyburn. Or indeed any Cup competitions.

Because these arrangements are just stepping stones towards the B Teams playing in the SPFL which will be more lucrative than a reserve league.

A deserved stuffing of the people today, including a goal-of-the-season from Liam Buchanan. 12 of this squad have signed for next season, 5 wins in a row, a refreshing new Chairman, liquid gold pouring from the taps in the bog. (Shame we were Pish pre-Xmas)

Excellent statement tonight from Berwick Rangers FC. "Berwick Rangers are proud to announce the formation of Berwick Rangers Women’s FC, based at the club’s Shielfield Park stadium, with the aspiration to begin competitive fixtures in the 2023/4 season. The overarching long-term aim of the club is to build a local football club that is both successful and sustainable on and off the pitch. We firmly believe that engaging with girls and women in the town is a core element of meeting this goal. Berwick Rangers Women’s FC will provide the final step in a pathway for women and girls in the town into competitive senior football, and – like the men’s team – our aim is to compete at the highest level possible. It is clear to see that women’s football is growing rapidly and dynamically across the world, and Berwick-upon-Tweed is no exception. Berwick Rangers Women’s FC is the next step in the development of football in the local area, slotting into the existing pathway for girls and women in the town. Currently this consists of Berwick Rangers Wildcats for girls aged 5-11, Squad Girls from 12-16, and Tweedmouth Rangers Women beyond that. BRWFC will now sit at the top of that structure. The intention is to enter Berwick Rangers Women’s FC into Tier 7 of the FA’s Women’s Football Pyramid, which would mean the team would compete in the Northumberland League. The team would also be eligible to enter into the Vitality Women’s FA Cup".

Absolutely this.

Towering header by Kyle Baker for the equaliser against Hearts B on Saturday. Deserved point but still need a little bit more to compete with the top teams

Fully deserved 2-1 win against Gala today. Ended up a bit squeaky bum, but we should have had 5 or 6. Some poor finishing, some fantastic last ditch blocks and a few tremendous saves kept us to 2. Pyper and Travis were excellent, as were Buchanan, Barr and Nelson. Good crowd too - 372 I think. Warm minutes applause at the start for George Thompson. Fitting that he shared it with the legend that is Pele. And fitting that Pele shared it with the legend that is George Thompson.

A number of posters from the past still read this thread and also the Facebook 'From the Grove' page. I believe one reason they don't post anymore is the near certainty of ending up being insulted by some smug twat who thinks he is clever and funny, but is really just a tosser, desperate for likes and laugh emojis. They display zero interest in debate, but manage to rule the roost for a while until they piss everyone off and it all fizzles out. But.... Crowd levels held up well early in the season. Sadly they are drifting away a bit due to the shite football that we often produce, and that is also reflected in the lack of posts here and elsewhere. There is always hope! Currently in the form of a new Chairman, the transfer window and - fingers crossed - the return of easily our best player, David Ferguson.

To be fair to Bob Hay, he did post a number of live tweets during the game. No 1881 club preview though and no post-match interview (yet). Always a tad reluctant to have a dig at social media content, as it relies heavily on volunteers, but it is certainly slip sliding away as the season progresses.

Another away defeat today, and by all accounts (not for the first time against a decent team), the game was all over before we started taking part. New Chairman taking over in January. Hope he kicks several arses.

Did OK, but no more exciting than that. He did have one really good game shortly before he got injured and returned to you.

Berwick v Edinburgh Uni is off. Frozen pitch.

Recruiting some people from the North-East and some from the Central belt, then training in Edinburgh area, is hugely difficult as it makes it impossible to train together as a team. Worked in the past with the regular attraction of some 'big' games, but no chance in the Lowland League. Recruiting all from the North East - and training there - will never work. Players expect higher wages there, and it would be a 100+ mile round trip just for a home match, and double that for all the away matches. Your average 21-year old footballer is not going to relish a drive down the A1 in January at Midnight on a Tuesday night in January, in order to play futty in front of 75 people in Cumbernauld. Recruiting everyone from the Borders and training in Berwick won't work as there are not enough players good enough for Lowland League level. Recruiting all from the Central belt and training there is as good as it gets but to be successful we need a money injection, a really charismatic/persuasive manager and a shift in the live-for-now attitude that is today's culture. It is very very difficult. Currently, the club still has a reasonably loyal support, a strong history, good contacts, and half-decent finances. We could do with a lucky break and - as ever - a rich romantic fool or a winning lottery ticket.

Quick bit of pedantry - I believe the recent £4000 donation was from the Supporters Trust, not the Supporters Club. But I should quickly add that the Supporters Club have indeed given many thousands of pounds to the football club in recent years. (The SC and ST are entirely separate organisations, though both hold significant shares in the football Club, with the SC having very much the most of the 2). As for the scenario posted, if the SC sold their shares, they could indeed be very selective on how donations back to the club were spent by the club. I suppose it is a bit odd, but the alternative to holding the shares would be to hand control to individuals who might not really give much of a toss about Berwick Rangers. (Moving the Club to Edinburgh, perhaps). Dodgy owners have destroyed other clubs in the past and indeed very nearly did for Berwick Rangers 30-odd years ago. I'm happy that the SC and ST have a big shareholding, but if I won the lottery the first thing I'd do is make the SC an offer they couldn't refuse!

Yes. On sale inside the turnstiles.

The town of Cowdenbeath must commit to entering the 21st Century before being allowed .... (etc etc) See ya tomorrow for a feast of silky football.

Pointless post. If you've got any info to back this up, just tell us who your hunch is. Otherwise we might as well just treat it as a wind up.