A message to Berwick Rangers fans from Stuart Malcolm

It is with a heavy heart that I am leaving Berwick Rangers, after 100 competitive games as manager.

I had no intention of leaving the club, until I was offered the chance to join the coaching staff at Arbroath by Dick Campbell recently. I agonised over whether to accept the offer – for a large part because of how much I wanted to stay at Berwick – but ultimately the chance to work in the Championship with a team who were half an hour from top flight football two seasons ago was something I couldn’t turn down. I am excited to start this new challenge at Arbroath, but at the same time that means saying goodbye to Berwick Rangers, so I have conflicting emotions.

There are a lot of people who I need to thank as I leave the club. Firstly, to former chairman Brian Porteous, who brought me to the club and for whom I have a great deal of respect. Secondly, to the new chairman, Kevin Dixon, with whom I have greatly enjoyed working since January. Kevin has worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to improve the club in so many ways. I wish to extend my thanks to all directors past and present for the assistance they have given me in my time at the club. The club has a really committed group of volunteers who I have enjoyed working with in my time here. Their work keeps the club going and makes Shielfield Park a great place to be, and I wanted to thank them for their effort. A special mention must go to Dennis McCleary for his work as club secretary, often helping me with questions about player registration or league rules.

I owe a massive thanks to my coaching staff – to the club physio Lizzie Martin, to our goalkeeper coach Alex Stewart (and to Myles Hogarth for his work in the role last season), to Thomas Scobbie and my assistant Dean Shanks. We have always worked closely as a team, and their advice, friendship and support have meant a lot throughout the past two and a half years. They have both been invaluable to me, and have worked tirelessly week in, week out for the team.

Moving on to my players, both past and present – they have been a massive part of what I have enjoyed about this job. The spirit and camaraderie within the dressing room has been brilliant, and they have given every effort for the club. There have been some players who have been with me since the start of my tenure, and their commitment deserves its own recognition. Although this season hasn’t seen us push at the top end of the league as we all would have liked, this is still an extremely talented and exciting squad. I will miss all of the players as I move on from the club.

Finally, my deepest thanks must go to you – the supporters. Berwick Rangers is a special club, and that is down to its fans. When I arrived at the club, the place was still reeling from its relegation from the SPFL, but your support never wavered. Our strong home record through my tenure was built on the back of the Shielfield crowd, and I was always impressed to see so many travel with the team to away matches, from Dalbeattie to Brora. I enjoyed getting to know many of you in my time at Berwick, and I feel like I have made firm friendships at the club that will last a long time. At transitional moments such as this, it is even more important to stick together and support the board, management, and playing squad. I will miss Berwick Rangers greatly, and would have gladly stayed, were it not for the incredible opportunity that I have been given at Arbroath, and which I find myself unable to turn down.

Thank you to everyone associated with the club once again. I have Berwick Rangers stamped on my heart – and will always remember to keep a good posture in post-match interviews!

Stuart Malcolm

Berwick Rangers would like to sincerely thank Stuart for all of his work as the manager of our club since the start of the 2021/22 season. He has led the team to their two highest points totals since the 2006/07 season, as well as our best goals tally since 1994. Fans have witnessed memorable wins against Rangers B, Celtic B and East Kilbride to name but a few, and the club’s biggest win in living memory against Vale of Leithen. Stuart managed Berwick Rangers in precisely 100 competitive games, with 45 wins, 14 draws and 41 defeats. In his two full seasons at the club, we finished 8th and 7th in the Lowland League respectively.

Stuart’s work has gone far beyond a few hours on a matchday however, and we would also like to recognise and thank him for his wider work for the football club. He has sought tirelessly to bring talented players to the club, while also working to develop his squad at training each week, all while balancing commitments beyond football. He has never shied away from the media commitments that come with being a manager, and has represented the values and ethos of the club impeccably. After games, Stuart has always been very generous in giving time to speak to supporters and taking pictures with them, and attended club AGMs every January despite living over 80 miles from Berwick.

He leaves Shielfield Park with the best wishes of everyone at the club, and we hope he enjoys every success at Arbroath.