The ultimate cup fairytale for Berwick Rangers
Nov 23 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
ECSTATIC Berwick Rangers boss Jimmy Crease is relishing the chance to complete the club’s set of Old Firm upsets after landing the plum draw of Celtic in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
The Borderers were given the ultimate reward for their professional weekend win over Cove Rangers in the third round – a money-spinning knock-out tie against Neil Lennon’s Old Firm giants at their 4,100-capacity Shieldfield Park ground.
The tie will make a six-figure sum for the Third Division outfit, who normally play in front of crowds of around 400 but thanks to Celtic’s huge travelling support are guaranteed a sell-out attendance.
It will also prompt memories of their famous 1967 Cup defeat of Celtic’s Glasgow neighbours Rangers – a win hailed on the Berwick website as the greatest upset in the history of cup football anywhere in the world.
While other clubs may lay claim to that particular title, there can be little doubt that the 43-year-old victory ranks as one of the greatest fairytale victories in British football history. Sammy Reid’s first-half goal, combined with a fierce rearguard effort, was enough to see off an Ibrox outfit arguably at the peak of their powers.
If Crease’s part-timers were to repeat the trick in January it will equal that victory while also completing an unprecedented Old Firm double.
“Things were absolutely chaotic after the draw was made but I don’t mind being busy for something like this,” the Berwick boss said.
“It is a dream, an absolute dream. Maybe for financial reasons we would have preferred to be playing them at Celtic Park where we could have got a bigger crowd but this is good enough – we won’t be complaining.
“It is a very big game and it has given everyone at the club such a huge lift. I spoke to the chairman and I think we’re still pinching ourselves that it’s going to happen.
“I know people will probably look at it and give us absolutely no chance but we all know about 1967 at this club and the time that we beat the famous Rangers. If anything, that just makes it all the more exciting.
