Historical Football Kits

 

Berwick Rangers

Formed 1881 or 1884

Elected to Scottish C Division (North & East) 1951

Kit History

1895-1900 l

1908-1913 l

1919-1920 l

1927-1928 l

1931-1933 l

1946-1947 l

1947-1948 l

1950-1952 l

1952-1953 l

1953-1954 l

1955-1958 l

1959-1961 l

1961-1963 l

1963-1964 l

1964-1965 l

1965-1967 g k l

1967-1970 l

1970-1972 l

1972-1973 l

1973-1977 i l

Bukta

1977-1978 l

1978-1979 k

1979-1980 d k

Umbro

1980-1981 k

1981-1982 l

1984-1986 i m

1986-1987 m

1994-1995 h

1995-1996 h

1996-1997 b

1997-1998? d

1998-1999 h

2000-2001 k

2001-2003 f k

2003-2005 c

2005-2007 a e

Lotto

2007-2008 a

 

Background

The historic town of Berwick is less than a mile from the Scottish border and changed hands no fewer than 14 times in the Anglo-Scottish wars of the 13th to 15th century, when it became part of England. As a result the town retains many cross-border traditions and remained technically an independent state until 1836 when it was formally absorbed into the United Kingdom.

The "Wee Rangers" are one of a handful of clubs that play in a league outside their home country. This situation arises because Berwick is closer to Edinburgh than it is to Newcastle, the nearest English city. Since most Scottish League clubs are in the central belt between Edinburgh and Glasgow, it made more sense for the club to compete in Scotland than in England, where travel costs would have been prohibitive.

There is some doubt about when the club was originally formed and the team led a nomadic existence, only settling into Shielfield Park in the 1920s. In 1954 they moved onto an adjacent site but kept the name of their former ground.

Berwick competed initially in the Scottish Border League. Recent research by Alick Milne has revealed that the club joined the East of Scotland League immediately after the First World War, a new competition formed to replace the Borders League which had descended into a shambles. They made several attempts to join the North Northumberland League but were rebuffed. It was not until 1951 that they were admitted to Scottish League Division C Division (North & East). This third tier, made up largely of reserve sides, had been created in 1946 and was regionalised in 1949. The division was scrapped in 1955 and Berwick, along with the other non-reserve teams, were placed in an enlarged Division B (renamed Division Two the following season).

The club’s finest moment came in 1967 when they beat Rangers 1-0 at home in a Scottish Cup tie in front of 13,600 fans. In a competition not noted for its giant-killing tradition, this result sent shockwaves throughout the world. Otherwise the club has had an undistinguished career, rarely rising above mid-table and when the leagues were reorganised in 1975, The Wee 'Gers were placed in the new Division Two (third tier).

In 1979 the club won their first ever league honour, taking the Second Division championship to earn promotion to the First Division (then the second tier of Scottish football). They survived for two seasons before being relegated in last place. They remained at this level until 1997 when they were relegated to the Third Division (fourth tier). In 2000 they were promoted back into the third level.

Sources