Berwick Rangers Summer Camp a resounding success
Berwick Rangers Summer Camp in association with Matty Moor Football Coach finished after three weeks on Thursday and the club are delighted to declare the three weeks as a resounding success.
The Summer Camp was partly funded by the SPFL Trust, a registered charity which works in partnership with all 42 SPFL teams to develop communities throughout Scotland by aiming to promoting health, citizenship, achievement & participation.
Matty also runs weekly sessions on Old Shielfield – further details at the bottom of this article!
During week two the official website revealed that the youngsters had been allowed to train on Shielfield Park and that club captain Jonny Fairbairn had also attended a couple of sessions to pass on tips to the next generation.
But while Jonny’s advice will no doubt have been taken seriously by the youngsters, Matty Moor, the coach who led the sessions over the past month revealed that the focus of the three weeks was not just player improvement.
“The most important part of the camp for me was seeing that every child who attended had fun. Given the age groups involved, the ‘fun’ element is probably the most important.
“As a coach I’m responsible for ensuring that all sessions cover the technical themes will remaining enjoyable for the age groups. For example, a dribbling session I did was based around the Minions movie. As the latest trend among youngsters it proved a instant hit!”
Expanding further on the importance of creating the right environment for the children to enjoy themselves, Matty reveals:
“On a personal note, I’ve been brought up through teams where too much emphasis was placed on winning, and not enough on player development.
Player development is spurred by a fun environment!
“There’s no doubt that taking this focus can be detrimental to a player, both in relation to their ability to perform and their confidence.
“And in honesty, it’s a big reason as to why I became a coach. I’d been interested since the age of 15, but it helps to ensure I keep the drive to constantly improve myself. I’m very much of the belief that the day a coach stops learning is the day they become complacent.
“In fact, my next target is to work towards obtaining a UEFA B License in order to gain further experience at club level. I’d love to get into a club and learn from those who’ve had the experience of playing and coaching at a higher level.”
It’s clear that the Summer Camp experience has been one that has been enjoyable for not only the participants but the coach too, as Matty continues:
“It’s been a great three weeks. Being involved with a club that I followed as a boy is something that makes me extremely proud. The club’s efforts in the community of late have been much-improved.
Club captain Jonny Fairbairn with the 8+ age group
“Clubs up and down the United Kingdom will use the badge to inspire children in local communities, but what really helped to set Berwick apart from the rest is the club’s willingness to be involved.
“You only have to take a look at Jonny (Fairbairn) coming down to get involved, or Ross (Aitchison, club groundsman) allowing the kids to play on the first team’s pitch so close to the season kick off to see that everyone is behind the efforts.
“Helping children aspire and giving them something to focus on is powerful. The likes of Jonny and Kieran (Ainslie) joining the first team is proof that with the right attitude, aims can be reached.”
Matty is keen for Berwick to continue their new outlook on local involvement, as he finishes:
“It’s a huge step in the right direction from the club. I think they’ve identified what needs to be achieved, and are now in the process of implementing the change. That’s great to see, as actions speak louder than words.
Berwick Rangers 2025/2026 team photo
“It would be great to one day see a clear pathway from junior level to the first team – a development system like that could be huge for Berwick as a club, and a town.”
If you think your child would be interested in Matty’s coaching, he hosts sessions every Sunday on Old Shielfield for multiple age groups:
Age 4s: 09:30am-10:30am
Ages 5-6: 10:45am-11:45am
Age 7: 12:00noon-13:00pm.
All sessions are £4 and players are asked to bring boots, shin pads, a drink and suitable clothing for the weather conditions! More information can be found over on Matty’s Facebook Page.
SPFL Trust partly funded the project
