Berwick Rangers’ appointment of Colin Cameron as their new player/ manager paid instant dividends last weekend as they scored in 14 seconds, defeated Stirling Albion 4-0 and created a club record as well although it was not for scoring the quickest ever Shielfield goal.
Cameron’s new charges scored after just 14 seconds of his time in charge however after initially being told that it was Berwick’s fastest ever goal at Shielfield the new boss was informed that Alex Burke had scored after 4 seconds in a Division Two game against Raith Rovers almost 11 years ago.
The 41-year-old was not too disappointed at losing out to Burke as he is delighted to back in football 2 months after leaving Cowdenbeath after a two and a half year spell that included lifting the Second Division title.
Cameron explained: “It was great to get the call to come to Berwick and I was delighted to take on the job. I had looked at a couple of other things but never really pursued them. Christmas was soon upon us and I have two young children so it was a really busy period.”
“In saying that I did find Tuesday and Thursday nights a bit long as I would normally be out at training and I was still in the house. Fridays were strange as well as they were usually filled with thoughts about the game the next day, however I am back in now and that suits me very well.”
Berwick parted company with Ian Little a week past Sunday and quickly identified Cameron as the man they wanted to replace him.
Cameron explained what happened by saying: “I got a phone call from the Chairman Brian Porteous last Monday. He wanted me to come over and meet him and see what my thoughts were over the job at Berwick. I met Brian and his son Callum who is also on the board as well as other directors John Bell and Jimmy Crease.”
“We had a chat for a couple of hours and it went very well. I was really keen to begin so we got everything done that night. I met the players for the first time last Thursday and I was fortunate that the assistant manager Robbie Horn was staying on.”
“Keeping Robbie here was key to getting going smoothly as I did not know a lot of the players and I do not know a lot about the teams in the Division.”
Cameron does know Shielfield well as he explained: “I played there for Cowdenbeath earlier in the season, in fact it was the only game I played in for them this season. It was a Scottish League cup tie and we won 5-0.”
“I would be quite happy to play all our games there as I have a record of played two, won two, scored 9 and conceded none.”
Cameron who began his playing days at Raith Rovers in 1990 and went on to play for Hearts, Wolves, Millwall, Coventry City, MK Dons, Dundee and Arbroath before becoming Jimmy Nicholl’s playing/ assistant at Central Park in 2010 has added not only Berwick to his playing CV but Burntisland Shipyard as well.
The 28 times capped Scotland player turned out for the Fife side as a trialist almost two weeks ago and he explained how that came about by saying: “That was all down to my daughter. One of her school friends is the daughter of Miles Allan the Burntisland manager. We got chatting at the school and he asked me if I wanted to do some training after I had left Cowdenbeath.”
“Of course I went down and did that and that got me thinking about playing again. I had secured my playing release from Cowdenbeath and we agreed I would play as a trialist.”
It was a successful return in the East of Scotland Division with Cameron saying: “I enjoyed it and played the full 90 minutes against Hawick Royal Albert and Burntisland won 3-1. I even managed to score as well. “
“I played the ball up to our centre forward and kept on running into the box hoping that he would find me with a return pass. He slid in right into my path and I ended up scoring between the goalkeepers legs so it was a real blast from the past.”
“It was the type of dash forward that I used to make 6 or 7 times in a game but I know that one or two a game will probably have to suffice nowadays.”
Those 90 minutes convinced Cameron that he could do a job as a player and a manager for Berwick as he explained: “I felt good after the game and when I started looking at the Berwick team and learning how their season had gone I was starting to think that I should play against Stirling Albion last weekend.”
“Dougie Brydon and Stephen Tulloch are both missing through injury and they are two of the club’s most experienced players. They are also both good talkers and organisers so we were lacking someone to do that.”
“I thought it would help the team for me to be in amongst things and I decided that I would play as long as I could. That way I was able to speak to the players and get my ideas over. “
The decision worked with Berwick winning well and Cameron added: “I have still got the enthusiasm to play, although I am not daft I cannot get around the pitch as I used to. However I felt that the team needed someone to organise them and I will keep playing as long as that is needed.”
The record Cameron did achieve is an international one as he explained: “I am the clubs most capped player so a good win and creating a record is not bad going my first game.”
The new Black and Gold boss was asked what his aims were for the rest of the season and he said:
The Play-Offs are the target at least. I said that to the Chairman when I took the job. He wants that as well and that is the ambition for everyone at the club.”
“We should be a League 1 side as there are good players here and they have shown me the standard they can hit and now they have to keep hitting them.”
Berwick face a tough test of those aims this weekend as he said: “We play Albion Rovers and of course their William Hill Scottish Cup win over Motherwell has undoubtedly helped their season. They are on a decent run just now and I reckon that their park could be a huge factor in this game.”
The Borderers may have to adopt a different approach to the one that has brought them praise this season as Cameron explained: “As everyone told me before I took the job Berwick are the best footballing side in this Division. They enjoy building things from the back but Saturday may not be a day for doing that. It may have to be done differently as the Rovers pitch will be very heavy and it will be a real sleeves rolled up performance.”
Despite their success over Stirling Cameron may make changes and not just because of a soggy pitch but after a devastating display in a midweek bounce game that saw Berwick see off Dumbarton 5-2.
Cameron said: “Josh Morris scored 5 goals and it was great to see him do that. It was good to see a good number of boys I had not seen in action and it was great for them to play against some good experienced players.”
They had Hugh Murray, Nicky Phinn, Scott Agnew, Garry Fleming and Bryan Prunty all playing so to win 5-2 was pretty decent. By grabbing all those goals Josh certainly took the opportunity to impress. He has come into my thoughts for the weekend.”
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