Match Preview Sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Saturday 22nd February 2020
Venue: Marston Road, Astonfields Road, Stafford, ST16 3UF
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Northern Premier League Premier Division
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
Morpeth look to extend their recent unbeaten run when they make the long trip to Stafford Rangers on Saturday.
History
The first reference to a football club in Stafford came via an enquiry to the Staffordshire Advertiser, in September 1876. The reply, published the following week, suggested that the club was already up and running but no firm facts are known. Much of the early history is recorded in a book, ‘The Cinderella Story’ written by former Chairman Paul Butters and published in 1972.
Whatever the date of formation, the name of Stafford Rangers soon became established on the local football scene. Playing mainly friendlies and cup games, Rangers reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup in 1884/85 and again the following season but they found success limited in those early years.
They moved to their present Marston Road venue in 1896, changing at the nearby Albion Pub and the ground became known as the Albion Ground.
Bizarrely, Rangers fielded two sides in two separate leagues in 1900/01 after they joined the Birmingham League but their resignation from the North Staffs and District League was rejected.
In 1904/05, Rangers enjoyed a memorable run in the FA Cup, reaching the Sixth Qualifying Round before losing out to 2nd Division Blackpool in a replay.
The club won its first League title, the Birmingham Combination in 1912/13, and were runners up on a couple of occasions but their first ‘Golden Era’ came in late 1920’s as they won the Birmingham League (1926/27), came runners up twice (1928/29 & 1929/30) and third twice. During this five year period, 542 league goals were scored with Eddie Cameron scoring more than 150 of them.
But the good times came to an abrupt end. The 1930’s proved a constant battle for survival both on and off the pitch. Player shortage forced Secretary RP Brown to play in one match) and, in April 1935, only a successful appeal to pay creditors enabled them to continue.
After a break for the Second World War, Rangers resumed action in 1946/47 playing in the Birmingham Combination. A controversial move was made to the Cheshire League in 1952/53 but, apart from a Cheshire League Cup final appearance in 1954, the struggles continued. One other highlight came in 1958 when Rangers set a club record 11-0 victory over Dudley Town in the FA Cup. Les Box set an individual scoring record with 7 goals.
The 1960’s were also a time of struggle and once more the future of the club was in doubt. Only the generosity of Chairman Eric Morgan ensured their future as crowds dropped to around 200.
The appointment of Colin Hutchinson as manager in 1966 marked an upturn in the club’s fortunes, winning the Cheshire League Cup in 1968 and promotion to the Northern Premier League a year later.
The 1970’s brought in the second Golden Era. Manager Roy Chapman led the club to a historic treble of NPL title, FA Trophy (3-0 v Barnet) and the Staffs Senior Cup and Ray Williams broke Eddie Cameron’s goalscoring record with 48 goals.
In 1974/75 Rangers defeated Stockport, Halifax and Rotherham on their way to the 4th round of the FA Cup before going out to Peterborough in front of 31,160 at Stoke’s Victoria Ground. The 3rd round tie v Rotherham had attracted a record Marston Road gate of 8,536.
The Centenary was celebrated the following season but it was a year of near misses as Rangers came runners up in the NPL, the FA Trophy and the Staffs Senior Cup. The club also experienced European football, playing against Monza & Udinese in the Anglo Italian Tournament.
In 1979, Rangers won the FA Trophy for the second time beating Kettering 2-0, the match setting a record gate for the final (32,000). Rangers bounced back in 1999/2000 as Ian Painter led the club to the Dr Marten’s League Western Division title, setting a new clubrecord with 23 league games unbeaten in the process.
Another club record was broken as Kidsgrove Athletic were beaten 15-0 in the Staffs Senior Cup in 2001/02.
Phil Robinson replaced Painter as manager and the club finished Southern Premier runners up in his first year (2002/03) as well as winning the Staffs Senior Cup and taking the club to the 1st Round of the FA Cup for the first time in a decade.
The following season, Rangers finished 3rd and qualified for the newly formed Conference North.
After topping the table for much of the 2005/06 season, Rangers eventually finished runners up but won promotion back to the non league top flight thanks to a Play Off victory over Droylsden.
Rangers’ stay In the Conference Premier lasted just two seasons before they were relegated back to Conference North, but the cost of those two years lingered and once more the future of the club was in doubt.
The appointment of big name managers such as Steve Bull, Tim Flowers and Matt Elliott failed to improve fortunes and Rangers dropped to the third tier of the pyramid, returning to the NPL for 2011/12.
Last Match
Rangers lost 2-1 at FC United on Tuesday evening. Luke Griffiths opened the scoring for United when he rifled home a free-kick. Stafford levelled 10 minutes into the second half through Jon Moran who smashed home a loose ball. Morgan Homson-Smith got the winner for United when he cut inside and scored with 10 minutes remaining.
The Highwaymen advanced to the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup disposing of North Shields on Wednesday evening. Jeff Henderson headed home on 12 minutes before Shields equalised on the stroke of half time. Joe Walton added the second goal at the start of the second half before Liam Noble sealed the win in the 89th minute.
Joint Managers
Alex Meechan & Andy Fearn: Starting his career with AFC Telford United, Meechan then move on to Barrow and then Bradford Park Avenue. Meechan joined the club at the start of the season.
