1896/97: Malaise

Appearances & Goals

Results

Competition Results

John Renwick became the new club captain, replacing the retired Colin Campbell, with Tom Jamieson taking the vice-captain's role. Berwick Athletic had decided to cast their lot in with Berwick Rangers, after failing to secure a field on which to play, and with such a large influx of new players from which to choose Tom Cochrane, their former captain, was given the reserve team captaincy. On a county level, Berwick Rangers entered the Northumberland Senior Cup, and this season were eligible to compete in the Minor Cup. Locally, Rangers were to defend their hold on the Shielfield Cup.

September

26. Berwick Rangers opened their campaign with a visit from Kelso. Tom Hope had left the club to play for Willington Athletic and ex-Berwick Athletic player Robert Patterson took his place in goal. Tommy Smith and Tom Brodie made up the Athletic contingent in the side along with John Ring and William Halley, who were drafted in from the KOSB team. Rangers scored the only goal when Brodie stroked the ball home five minutes before the interval in a keenly contested game.

October

17. Berwick Rangers held the whip hand in a match against Duns at Shielfield. Two goals up at half-time Berwick were cruising, but a second half fight back saw the Dingers score two goals in quick succession to level the score.

24. Berwick Rangers returned from Alnwick with a deserved 2-1 victory over the North End club.

November

7. Heavy ground conditions hampered the latest Rangers versus Tweedside United bout at a rain sodden Shielfield. Renwick opened Berwick's account with a shot that could have been stopped any other day, but the present, when the goalkeeper was pretty much a fixture in the mud. United fought back, but the Rangers' next attack again proved productive when Halley sent in a long high shot into the top corner of the net. A few minutes later, Grieve scored direct from a corner when the ball rolled over the outstretched foot of the keeper. Play then turned rough, with both sides doing their bit, before United scored from a goalmouth melee right on the interval. Slack defending and a muddle in the goalmouth allowed United to score a soft goal just after the restart. Rangers' play became disjointed as the Tweedsiders pressed for the equaliser. However, Jamison put some life back into the Berwick attack when he ran through on his own to notch a fine goal and complete a 4-2 win.

14. Berwick Rangers proved the doubters wrong with a 3-1 win over an in-form Kelso side. Rangers fielded a team that many supporters thought stood little chance of winning. However, Berwick outwitted their hosts in a rough and tumble game and put through no less than five goals, although only three of them counted. Kelso scored a late consolation when presented with an easy strike after a miscalculation on the part of the keeper.

28. Bates Wanderers were due to visit Shielfield in the first round of the Northumberland Minor Cup. However, they scratched due to the travelling distance. To fill the vacant date, Rangers played Newcastle North Eastern and won 2-0.

December

5. With home advantage or choice of ground, Berwick Rangers drawn to play Shankhouse in the opening round of the Northumberland Senior Cup. Shankhouse asked for the match venue to be switched but Rangers declined. Due to a depression in the East Northumberland coal trade having a serious influence on the Shankhouse exchequer, the Blacks deemed it inadvisable to make the long journey north and scratched from the competition.

19. Berwick Rangers travelled to Seaton Burn Wanderers in the second round of the Northumberland Minor Cup. The match was played on a sodden ground after a bout of heavy rain just before kick-off. However, Berwick got off to the perfect start with the opening goal after just five minutes, but the lead did not last long. The home side soon got their act together and, after piling on the pressure, won 6-2.

25. A Christmas Day match with Tweedside United at Shielfield brought out a large crowd who parted company with their hard-earned "thruppence" to watch the anticipated battle between these local rivals. The soft nature of the ground sunk all hopes of flowing football, but there was no lack of enthusiasm. The game opened fast with play slightly in favour of the more determined United, but Rangers drew first blood on the half-hour mark. Berwick had to fight hard to maintain their advantage with stand in keeper, Corporal Fuller of the KOSB team, called into action on several occasions. After the interval, Rangers increased their lead shortly before the Tweedsiders pulled a goal back midway through the half. With time running out, Jamieson banged home a late third for the Rangers, which was a bit harsh on the battling United side, as the 3-1 score line did not do their play justice.

26. Leith Athletic Reserves visited Shielfield on Boxing Day, where a strong gale made it a one-ended game. Rangers had the wind advantage first and secured three goals. The visitors then had their turn and, although Rangers played a defensive game, Leith soon levelled the score before putting through the winning goal in the final minute.

January

1. Berwick Rangers beat Tweed Saw Mills in the semi-final of the Shielfield Cup competition on New Year's Day. Playing in the face of the strong sun, Rangers only managed to score once in the opening half. However, it was a different story in the second half, with Halley raining shot after shot on the Millers' goal and another five goals were added without reply.

1. In the final, played later in the afternoon, Rangers met post office side Vale of Tweed, who were surprise winners over Tweedside United. The Postmen gave Rangers an early fright, when Leddy scored in only the fifth minute, but two soft goals gave Berwick a 2-1 interval lead. Vale's stubborn defence failed to hold out in the second half and Rangers added another two to maintain their grip on the cup.

9. Willington Athletic, with ex Rangers players' Tom Hope and James Manuel in their ranks, were Berwick's opponents in the second round of the Senior Cup. Rangers started full of confidence, but Willington took an early lead after a period of sustained pressure. With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Berwick replied through Renwick, who cracked home an unstoppable 30-yard shot into the top corner. Willington were in luck after the interval when a heavy snowstorm began to beat in the face of the Rangers' defence, making it almost impossible to defend their goal. McLucas put the home side ahead, and Scott increased the lead with a goal that practically decided the game. Scott scored again, when the Berwick defence was disorganised due appeals for a foul, and later a fifth was added. Despite the setback, Rangers never let their heads drop, and Crombie reduced the difference slightly with ten minutes of the game remaining.

With Rangers' disappointment at being out of the cup again, football in the borough, in general, ceased to become a weekly pastime as a malaise set in. An article from the Berwick Journal a few weeks later suggest that Rangers "might, for the sake of the game, try and do a little."

The formation of an East Northumberland League was mentioned in the Newcastle newspapers, but Rangers stood little chance of inclusion due to the town's northern latitude. With so many clubs situated so close together, travelling to play Berwick Rangers was the last thing on their minds. Football circles in the Borders were already well organised with a Border League consisting of Peebles Rovers, Vale of Leithen, Selkirk, Duns, Kelso, Earlston and Newcastleton now operating but with the same problem: travelling. With this mind, it was obvious that Berwick Rangers would have to be content with a less ambitious scheme for the future and a league consisting of clubs closer to home was suggested.

March

27. It was left to the local rivals, Berwick Rangers and Tweedside United, to round off the season with an exhibition match at the Meadow Field. It was no great footballing treat, but the weather had little to do with it, more to do with the general football malaise and the attendance was not as large as these grudge matches usually attracted. United fielded their strongest side. Rangers, on the other hand, fielded a team that was not much more than a second eleven. Speculation had been rife as to the sort of combination Berwick would field. The committee had openly stated that they would refuse any player who had been doing duty for the club throughout the season to take part in the match unless they first paid their subscriptions, which were long overdue. However, United underestimated the Rangers and, by half-time, they were four goals down. The Tweedsiders upped their game and, within five minutes of the restart, they scored. After several glaring misses, they broke the stubborn Rangers defence for a second time, but with no further scoring the game and season ended in a 4-2 win for the Berwick representatives.