Post by Roaster©®™ on Jun 16, 2006 17:01:48 GMT -1
STAFFORD RANGERS[/u]
Formed in 1876, the early years of Stafford Rangers saw them play only in cup matches and friendlies. After spells in the Shropshire League and the Birmingham League they soon found themselves in the North Staffordshire League and a new venue. The Marston Road ground has been their home since 5th September 1896.
At the turn of the century, due to an administrative error, the Rangers had to play in both the Cheshire and Birmingham Leagues. After concentrating on the Birmingham League, they were relegated to the Birmingham Combination. Either side of the First World War saw them win and become runners up twice. Rejoining the Birmingham League but a financial crisis caused them to field a team of amateurs and their fortunes turned. In the 1926-27 season, they took the Birmingham League title but by the mid to late thirties they were at another low and the club was finally disbanded by 1940.
After the War, a group of supporters helped the club to reform and six seasons in the Birmingham Combination was followed by joining the Cheshire County League in 1952. Times were bad for the Rangers once again and the club were nearly forced out of existence. A sudden change of fortunes saw them win the Cheshire League Cup in 1967-68 and within a season they had become close runners up to Skelmersdale to win a place in the Northern Premier League.
The most successful period for the Rangers was the 1970's. Under Roy Chapman, the late father of the much travelled Lee (who achieved God status at Leeds United), he led the Rangers to the NPL Championship, Staffs Senior Cup and FA Trophy treble in the 1971-72 season. The latter a 3-0 Wembley victory over Barnet. Within 3 years, the FA Cup fourth round was the reward for beating Halifax Town, Stockport County and Rotherham United (which drew a record 8,500 to Marston Road). In front of 31,000 at Stoke City's Victoria Ground, the Rangers narrowly lost 2-1 to Peterborough United.
Roy Chapman soon left to manage Stockport. In 1976, Rangers re-visited Wembley in the Trophy but lost 3-2 after extra time to Scarborough. Chapman came back as manager and took the Rangers to Wembley for a third time. This time a 2-0 victory over Kettering(both myself and Goalposts were there - it was also the highest ever gate at Wembley for a non-league fixture).
As founders members of the Alliance Premier League, their form turned and struggled for 4 years.
Recent history must start around 1983, when the club were relegated to the old Northern Premier League. The first NPL season started disastrously and it was only the appointment of Ron Reid, a PE teacher from Sheffield, that halted the slide. Placed at the bottom of the NPL, he turned the team around to end up in 10th place. The following season (1984-85), he brought a bit of glory back to the club taking the championship and promotion back to the then Gola League.
In the first season back in the top flight, they took the Jim Thompson Shield. The next season, the Bob Lord Trophy (the Gola League cup) was brought to Marston Road after a thrilling win over Barnet, with a superb goal from Bob Mountain (I skived college to travel to Barnet to watch it).
.
The late eighties and early nineties, with a succession of managerial changes (six in all), a large tax bill and a change of board, brought only one thing to the Marston Road. Disaster! The club dropped two leagues after having to sell all their 'family silver' players to come up with the money for the taxman. The players included Stan Collymore, Paul Devlin, Ryan Price, Wayne Simpson & Mark Bradshaw. According to the former chairman, the club was close to going out of business.
At one stage, the Rangers were the only team in the whole English Football not to have a win in the league, after eleven games. This fact spread throughout the world and was commented on to a Rangers fan by his waiter whilst on holiday in Cyprus.
The beginning of the 1997-98 season saw a new confidence draw across Marston Road, with the appointment of a new Board. Made up of local businessmen, they are improving the ground and instilling an air of trust amongst the ever increasing crowd.
The appointment of Kevin Bond, saw another step forward the good times back at Marston Road, but, as ever the end of the 1997-98 season saw Kevin poached by Portsmouth. He became Alan Ball's second in command for the second time. They used to be together at Manchester City.
Within a couple of weeks of the close season, a successor to Bond had been appointed. The manager now is Ian Painter, the former manager of a promising Bilston town side and former Stoke and Coventry player, who was forced to quit professional football through injury.
After four seasons languishing in the Midland/Western Division, Ian Painter built a team to take the Championship after only his second season. After 2 seasons in the Dr Martens Premier Division, Ian Painter quit the job citing 'the lack of the clubs ambition' as his reasons and promptly took up the vacant post over the Chase at Hednesford Town (local ‘scum‘).
Rangers appointed Phil Robinson as Player/Manager, a Stafford born ex-professional who previously had played for Stoke City, Wolves and Hereford United. In his first season as boss, Robinson managed Rangers to a 5-1 win in the Staffordshire Senior Cup against Stoke City (one of his former teams!). A runners place in the Doc Martens Premier Division rounded off a great 2002/2003 season for players and fans alike.
2003/04 saw Stafford win the Doctor Martens Premier Division - and promotion to the Nationwide North (the old Northern Premier League as was). The first season saw Rangers consolidate their position and in 2004/05 they finished just outside of the play-off positions.
The seasons up until 2005/06 saw Robinson establish the team as one of the better non-league outfits and whilst not winning promotion Rangers were never in danger of relegation - and performed well in the various cups including the FA Cup and the FA trophy. But finally, in 2005/06, despite a home thumping by Leeds United in the pre-season, Robinson rallied the troops. Stafford played attractive and entertaining football - once again pulling the crowds into Marston Road. They finished the season with one of the meanest defences and better goal scoring sides. Despite having led the league for most of the season, after a poor run-in, they finished as Runners Up in the League - and went into the play offs.
Stafford Rangers finally achieved Conference status after defeating Droylesdon 1-0 at Burton Albion’s Pirelli stadium. Long over due ground improvements are being carried out and there is a general air of optimism around the ground now.
Conference football at last -
Honours / Years[/i]
Nationwide North Runners Up (PO Winners) 2006
Dr Martens Premier League 2004
Dr Martens Western Division Champions 2000
FA Trophy - Winners 1972, 1979
FA Trophy - Runners up 1976
Staffordshire Senior Cup 1955, 1957, 1963, 1972, 1978, 1987, 1992, 2003
Bob Lord Trophy 1986
Midland Floodlit Cup 1971
Northern Premier League 1972, 1985
Birmingham League 1926
Birmingham Combination 1913
Formed in 1876, the early years of Stafford Rangers saw them play only in cup matches and friendlies. After spells in the Shropshire League and the Birmingham League they soon found themselves in the North Staffordshire League and a new venue. The Marston Road ground has been their home since 5th September 1896.
At the turn of the century, due to an administrative error, the Rangers had to play in both the Cheshire and Birmingham Leagues. After concentrating on the Birmingham League, they were relegated to the Birmingham Combination. Either side of the First World War saw them win and become runners up twice. Rejoining the Birmingham League but a financial crisis caused them to field a team of amateurs and their fortunes turned. In the 1926-27 season, they took the Birmingham League title but by the mid to late thirties they were at another low and the club was finally disbanded by 1940.
After the War, a group of supporters helped the club to reform and six seasons in the Birmingham Combination was followed by joining the Cheshire County League in 1952. Times were bad for the Rangers once again and the club were nearly forced out of existence. A sudden change of fortunes saw them win the Cheshire League Cup in 1967-68 and within a season they had become close runners up to Skelmersdale to win a place in the Northern Premier League.
The most successful period for the Rangers was the 1970's. Under Roy Chapman, the late father of the much travelled Lee (who achieved God status at Leeds United), he led the Rangers to the NPL Championship, Staffs Senior Cup and FA Trophy treble in the 1971-72 season. The latter a 3-0 Wembley victory over Barnet. Within 3 years, the FA Cup fourth round was the reward for beating Halifax Town, Stockport County and Rotherham United (which drew a record 8,500 to Marston Road). In front of 31,000 at Stoke City's Victoria Ground, the Rangers narrowly lost 2-1 to Peterborough United.
Roy Chapman soon left to manage Stockport. In 1976, Rangers re-visited Wembley in the Trophy but lost 3-2 after extra time to Scarborough. Chapman came back as manager and took the Rangers to Wembley for a third time. This time a 2-0 victory over Kettering(both myself and Goalposts were there - it was also the highest ever gate at Wembley for a non-league fixture).
As founders members of the Alliance Premier League, their form turned and struggled for 4 years.
Recent history must start around 1983, when the club were relegated to the old Northern Premier League. The first NPL season started disastrously and it was only the appointment of Ron Reid, a PE teacher from Sheffield, that halted the slide. Placed at the bottom of the NPL, he turned the team around to end up in 10th place. The following season (1984-85), he brought a bit of glory back to the club taking the championship and promotion back to the then Gola League.
In the first season back in the top flight, they took the Jim Thompson Shield. The next season, the Bob Lord Trophy (the Gola League cup) was brought to Marston Road after a thrilling win over Barnet, with a superb goal from Bob Mountain (I skived college to travel to Barnet to watch it).
.
The late eighties and early nineties, with a succession of managerial changes (six in all), a large tax bill and a change of board, brought only one thing to the Marston Road. Disaster! The club dropped two leagues after having to sell all their 'family silver' players to come up with the money for the taxman. The players included Stan Collymore, Paul Devlin, Ryan Price, Wayne Simpson & Mark Bradshaw. According to the former chairman, the club was close to going out of business.
At one stage, the Rangers were the only team in the whole English Football not to have a win in the league, after eleven games. This fact spread throughout the world and was commented on to a Rangers fan by his waiter whilst on holiday in Cyprus.
The beginning of the 1997-98 season saw a new confidence draw across Marston Road, with the appointment of a new Board. Made up of local businessmen, they are improving the ground and instilling an air of trust amongst the ever increasing crowd.
The appointment of Kevin Bond, saw another step forward the good times back at Marston Road, but, as ever the end of the 1997-98 season saw Kevin poached by Portsmouth. He became Alan Ball's second in command for the second time. They used to be together at Manchester City.
Within a couple of weeks of the close season, a successor to Bond had been appointed. The manager now is Ian Painter, the former manager of a promising Bilston town side and former Stoke and Coventry player, who was forced to quit professional football through injury.
After four seasons languishing in the Midland/Western Division, Ian Painter built a team to take the Championship after only his second season. After 2 seasons in the Dr Martens Premier Division, Ian Painter quit the job citing 'the lack of the clubs ambition' as his reasons and promptly took up the vacant post over the Chase at Hednesford Town (local ‘scum‘).
Rangers appointed Phil Robinson as Player/Manager, a Stafford born ex-professional who previously had played for Stoke City, Wolves and Hereford United. In his first season as boss, Robinson managed Rangers to a 5-1 win in the Staffordshire Senior Cup against Stoke City (one of his former teams!). A runners place in the Doc Martens Premier Division rounded off a great 2002/2003 season for players and fans alike.
2003/04 saw Stafford win the Doctor Martens Premier Division - and promotion to the Nationwide North (the old Northern Premier League as was). The first season saw Rangers consolidate their position and in 2004/05 they finished just outside of the play-off positions.
The seasons up until 2005/06 saw Robinson establish the team as one of the better non-league outfits and whilst not winning promotion Rangers were never in danger of relegation - and performed well in the various cups including the FA Cup and the FA trophy. But finally, in 2005/06, despite a home thumping by Leeds United in the pre-season, Robinson rallied the troops. Stafford played attractive and entertaining football - once again pulling the crowds into Marston Road. They finished the season with one of the meanest defences and better goal scoring sides. Despite having led the league for most of the season, after a poor run-in, they finished as Runners Up in the League - and went into the play offs.
Stafford Rangers finally achieved Conference status after defeating Droylesdon 1-0 at Burton Albion’s Pirelli stadium. Long over due ground improvements are being carried out and there is a general air of optimism around the ground now.
Conference football at last -
Honours / Years[/i]
Nationwide North Runners Up (PO Winners) 2006
Dr Martens Premier League 2004
Dr Martens Western Division Champions 2000
FA Trophy - Winners 1972, 1979
FA Trophy - Runners up 1976
Staffordshire Senior Cup 1955, 1957, 1963, 1972, 1978, 1987, 1992, 2003
Bob Lord Trophy 1986
Midland Floodlit Cup 1971
Northern Premier League 1972, 1985
Birmingham League 1926
Birmingham Combination 1913