Collins swaps Bellshill for Berwick

Matthew Collins has become the latest addition to the Berwick Rangers squad for the 2045/25 season, with the former Caledonian Braves and Partick Thistle winger committing to the club after playing as a trialist in preseason.

Twenty-one year old Collins is a player with electric pace and attacking threat, and can play on either wing or as a number 10. He spent two seasons at Alliance Park as a Caledonian Braves player, and finished last year as their second-highest scorer in all competitions. Collins was a youth player at Rangers until the age of 15, before moving to Partick Thistle – but now swaps the west of Scotland for the Northumberland coast to play for the Wee ‘Gers.

Berwick fans who attended last Saturday’s Paul Hampshire Memorial Trophy match with Dunbar United will have seen Collins starting at left midfield, wearing the number 7 shirt and impressing with a number of runs and through balls. He is set to continue to feature in the remaining preseason games, which are both at home – against Haddington on Saturday 13 July, and Morpeth on Saturday 20 July.

Speaking after capturing Collins’ signature, Berwick manager Thomas Scobbie said, ‘I am delighted to get a player of Matty’s quality into the club. He received numerous offers from clubs for next season, but felt that coming to Berwick was the right step for him. He is a technically gifted player, who likes to take defenders on – and he will certainly offer us a lot in the attacking third. Matty also has an eye for goal, which is something we have been looking to add to the squad ahead of the new season.’

Berwick’s Park’s Motor Group Lowland League season starts with a home fixture against Linlithgow Rose on Saturday 27 July, with an SPFL Trust Trophy cup tie against St Mirren in the same week – on Tuesday 30 July.