Monthly Preview – October 2026
Berwick kick off a new era with six massive games that could shape their season ahead.
New manager Martin Scott will kick off his tenure in the MKM Shielfield Park dugout with three massive cup games followed by three crucial league games as Berwick look to move up the Lowland League East table.
All kick offs 3pm unless otherwise stated
Saturday 3 October – Cowdenbeath (A)
October kicks off with one of the biggest derby encounters in years as Berwick travel to Central Park to face Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Cup.
Martin Scott’s first game in charge will be a baptism of fire as both Berwick and Cowdenbeath will look to get beyond the First Round this season. Both sides fell at home at the first hurdle last season – Cowdenbeath losing to Benburb while Berwick fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Nairn County.
Paul McLean’s Blue Brazil started the season poorly, losing eight of their opening nine games in all competitions but have rebounded somewhat to reel off consecutive league wins and move themselves up to 11th in the Lowland League East.
Despite that, Berwick completed a double over Cowden last season, with two 2-0 victories including one back in March at Central Park when Greg Binnie’s brace in the opening 15 minutes was enough to wrap up all three points for Berwick.
Tickets will be priced at £12 for adults and £8 for concessions (65 and over, Ages 13-16, disabled) with U12s going free. There will be a Pay at the Gate option on the day but please note adult prices are £1 more than the online option (£13) – cash only.
Saturday 10 October – Edinburgh University (H)
Martin Scott’s first game at MKM Shielfield Park will see more cup action as Edinburgh University make their first visit in three years in the South Challenge Cup.
Berwick have made Round 3 in this competition for the first time since 2024 thanks to the 3-2 at Greenock Juniors in the previous round. Berwick have reached this stage twice before and lost 3-0 both times – to Threave Rovers in 2024/25 and Musselburgh Athletic in 2023/24 – meaning that victory over Edinburgh University would mark the furthest Berwick have progressed in this competition.
Edinburgh University – recently promoted to the East of Scotland Premier Division – knocked Whitburn Juniors out on penalties, marking their first win in the competition since 2021. Should they progress, they would equal their best ever result in this competition which they have achieved twice in 2016/17 and 2018/19.
History is on Berwick’s side however as the ‘Gers have won every single meeting against the students, conceding just three goals. The most recent of which was in December 2023, when goals from Jackson Mylchreest and Alex Harris secured a 2-0 win. Berwick also secured a 4-1 away win that same season in the South Challenge Cup against the same opponents – Drew Cummings, Lewis Baker and a Cammy Graham brace securing the win.
Tickets will be priced at £13 for adults, £8 for concessions with U16s going free. As it is a cup game, season tickets and Club 1881 cards cannot be used.
Tuesday 13 October – Queen of the South (H, 7:45pm)
The first midweek action of October sees Queen of the South head along the border for the final KDM Evolution Trophy group stage game.
Berwick have to win and hope a few results go in their favour to ensure progression into the knockout stages as one of the top 22 sides after the 7-1 defeat at Airdrieonians last time out.
For Nicky Clark’s Queens side, the competition has provided some respite to a nightmare league season thus far with their 4-2 win over Rangers B securing their place in the knockout stages and keeping them with an outside chance of being one of the seeded teams as they sit just a point outside of the top six.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since July 2008 in this very competition where Queen of the South came to MKM Shielfield Park and won 5-1 – Ian Little scoring for Berwick. For the last Berwick win against Queen of the South, we have to go to February 2002 when Craig Feroz’s goal was enough to secure all three points for the ‘Gers at MKM Shielfield Park.
Tickets will be priced at £13 for adults, £8 for concessions with U16s going free. As it is a cup game, season tickets and Club 1881 cards cannot be used.
Saturday 17 October – Linlithgow Rose (H)
After almost a month, Berwick will return to league action when they welcome Lowland League champions Linlithgow Rose to MKM Shielfield Park.
Rose had a ropey start to their title defence but five consecutive league wins where they have scored at least three each time has propelled them up to second place. Gordon Herd opted to add youth and depth to his side in the summer, bringing in the likes of Liam McQuaid (Camelon) and Frankie Aitchison (Whitburn).
Herd also looked to address Rose’s biggest issue, a regular goalscorer up top, by signing Jordan Tosh from Hill of Beath Hawthorn, who has repaid his new manager with 10 goals in 10 league games.
Linlithgow have lost on their last two visits to Shielfield Park, most recently almost a year ago when a dogged ten man Berwick memorably beat them 3-1 with goals from Michael Mbewe, Kyle Somers and Blair Sneddon.
Tickets will be priced at £13 for adults, £8 for concessions with U16s going free.
Weekend of 24/25 October – Scottish Cup Round 2
Round 2 of the Scottish Cup will take place on this weekend.
Wednesday 28 October – University of Stirling (A, 7:45pm)
There will be more midweek Lowland League East action as Berwick make the journey to Forthbank to face University of Stirling.
Chris Geddes’ side have had a nightmare start to their league campaign, losing all bar one of their league games thus far to sit rock bottom of the table. A big reason for that is the worst defensive record in the Lowland League East (27 conceded) as well as the most red cards (4).
It was one of those red cards that contributed to their defeat at Shielfield Park in August when captain Lewis Blane was shown a straight red for pulling down Danny Handling when he was through on goal. The students were closing in on a first point before Kyle Somers popped up in stoppage time to give Berwick their first win of the season.
Tickets will be priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. U16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 31 October – East Stirlingshire (H)
Halloween will be marked with more league action as familiar foes East Stirlingshire make the trip to MKM Shielfield Park.
Callum Tapping has rebuilt his Shire squad in the summer after a miserable season last year saw them finish rock bottom of the Lowland League with three wins to their name. Out went the likes of Morgaro Gomis (Broxburn Athletic) and Chris Inglis (Clyde) while Tapping looked to add some more experience at this level.
In came the likes of Ryan Stevenson (Bo’ness United), ex-’Ger Blair Sneddon, Harley Ewen (Stirling Albion) and Kyle Ewing (Dunipace) and the new blood has helped Shire equal their win total from the whole of last season in their opening 10 games. However, four defeats on the spin have dropped them to 10th, five points above Berwick.
Shire’s last visit to Shielfield Park saw Taylor Hendry score a dramatic late equaliser to salvage a point while the last meeting between the sides was back in February at Ochilview where goals from McCrystal and a Mbewe brace secured a 3-1 win.
Tickets will be priced at £13 for adults, £8 for concessions with U16s going free.