‘Keepers Union Key For Kevin!

‘Gers number 1 Kevin Walker has registered his appreciation of the spirit amongst the goalkeeping team at Berwick Rangers in the past year, expressing his belief that the small team of Stoppers at Berwick have been key to his development.

“I’ve got to say how great it’s been working with Mark Walters. He’s been brilliant since day one, and it’s also been a pleasure to work with our two younger lads, Craig Cockburn and Stuart Allan.

“There’s a great bond within our group and given we often get a bit of stick from the outfielders, a good rapport between the ‘keepers at the club is vitally important.”

But it isn’t just fellow shot-stoppers Kevin has been impressed with, as he admitted John Coughlin’s decision to keep former Hearts and Hibernian goalkeeping coach Jonathan Craig at the club following his arrival as first-team manager in January has benefitted him no end.

“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to stay at Berwick for next season was the goalkeeping coach, Jonathan. I’ve got a fantastic working relationship with him, and I really wanted to continue to develop under his tutelage over the next year.

“There’s no doubting a lot of my development comes from match time. Shot-stopping and distribution are the staples of any goalkeepers’  game, but your reading of the game and ability to deal with aerial balls can only be developed via regular game time.

“But I feel a lot of my development in the past year has came from Jonathan’s training, his coaching has been excellent.”

And the 24 year-old former Livingston stopper also revealed that Coughlin has enhanced both his own belief and the team’s since his arrival.

“The manager has also been great since joining. He’s inspired a lot of confidence in myself by showing his trust in my ability, and that’s something I want to pay back next season.

“In fact, I’d put a lot of our improvement in the second half of the season down to the gaffer. He really found a system that brought out the best in everyone and that really helped to lift spirits in the changing rooms.

“Playing with a back three really suited us for example. We had four top centre backs to choose from in the form of Jonny, Bob (Robert Wilson), Jordan and Brian and that competitiveness helped drive us on.

“But that being said, I don’t think as a squad we were particularly down during even our lowest points. We always had faith.

“It’s just been at a whole new level since the boss’ arrival. There’s been a real buzz in the changing room since he joined and he has got everybody playing for each other.”