This Tuesday we return to cup action with the Walsall Senior Cup. Our opponents are a bit of an unknown quantity as they do not play league games, but we obviously expect them to be good in the air, attack down the wings and bomb forward.

The RAF Senior Representative Team (SRT) are the men’s senior team for the RAF. They play the Inter-Services against the Army and RN every year in March/April. To prepare the players for the Inter-Services it was decided to try and get competitive football matches, instead of just friendlies. We play in the Walsall and Birmingham Senior Cups. Our home ground is RAF Cosford but we also use Shrewsbury Town FC for the home Inter-Services match. Our players and management team are all serving members of the RAF. Most play for other teams on a weekly basis with teams like Spalding Town, Thetford Town and Nantwich all benefiting from RAF commitment. Flight Sergeant Kev Barry who has had experience with Halesowen Town and Bromsgrove Sporting is the current SRT Manager and is supported by a full staff that are based all over the UK. This is the second time the RAF have competed in the Walsall Senior Cup. Last year they beat Walsall Wood in the first round and then lost to Lye Town in round 2.

As a representative side we can assume that they should be the elite of footballers within the RAF. It may be National, or it may be local as I am aware of a forces West Midlands League which includes Beacon Barracks Stafford and some RAF bases like Cosford. We almost played them in last season’s Walsall Senior Cup as they lost 2-1 away to Lye, the team who put paid to our Walsall Senior Cup run last season.

In any event we expect a tough game, but Rangers need to gain some confidence from hopefully a cup run, and with a Staffs Senior Cup game next week before our next league fixture, a win is paramount. Your support is appreciated to help the side win.

Games played 26th November this century

2005 Leigh RMI A 4-1 FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying round
2011 Rushall A 1-2 Northern Premier League
2013 Sutton Coldfield A 0-3 Walsall Senior Cup

The Chief Executive Officer and staff from Stafford Railway Building Society are pictured outside their offices, with the Stafford Rangers Football Club Academy mini-bus.

This is the first season that Rangers have had a football Academy and SRBS are one of three companies who have generously sponsored the vehicle. The other companies are Catch Corner pub & Grill, Wolverhampton University in Stafford and Visign

9 weeks without a Saturday home fixture and last Saturday we almost got something out of the league leaders South Shields. We now play catch up and have another home game this Saturday with Hyde the visitors. This is the return fixture from 31st August when we not only lost 4-0 but we lost Theo Bailey Jones to a long-term injury. Up at Ewan Fields we were well in the game and missed a fine opportunity on the hour. Sadly, from that clearance they went on to score. Two Hyde goals on 79 and 81 minutes ended our chances and Hyde even had time in the dying seconds to add a 4th which put a bit of an uneven balance on the game. So, this Saturday we build up for revenge.

Like ourselves, Hyde have a blank midweek, but they will be on a high having beaten our fellow relegation threatened side, Bamber Bridge 4-1 from 1-0 down. Hyde travel to us with an away league record of won2, drawn 2 and lost 5. Their two wins came in August at FC United and South Shields, and both draws were at Lancaster and Grantham with both games decided by last minute equalisers, one in favour of Hyde and one against. Defeats on the road have come at Witton, Whitby, Radcliffe, Scarborough and Warrington. They appear to demonstrate an ability to beat the best and underperform against others. Let’s hope this Saturday is the latter.

Last Saturday’s gate was lower than expected. I thought more would have travelled from the North East and I think families may have been in town for the Christmas light switch on. So, with no distractions this week lets give the team your support and build on the encouraging second half performance from the South Shields game. The South Shields management and fans all praised our performance for a bottom of the league side, and we pushed the league leaders hard. Just goes to show that with a bit of luck we can climb the table, starting with 3 points against Hyde. Those 3 points could potentially see us climb out of the bottom 3, demonstrating how tight this battle could become.

It also looks like some of our injured players are now on the mend with Jake Charles coming on second half and the management team think another one of the walking wounded could be fit for a return. I am sure they would appreciate your support, so let’s see you all cheering on a Rangers win.

Games played on 23rd November this century.

2002 Hednesford A 2-2 Southern League
2004 Barrow H 2-2 Conference North
2010 Vauxhall A 1-2 Conference North
2013 Buxton H 1-1 Northern Premier League

Saturday 16th November sees us play our first Saturday home game since 14th September. A run of 7 consecutive away games has severely dented our finances so it is timely that our first home league game after that run is with South Shields who are well known for a large traveling fan base, who hopefully can get our attendance close to 4 figures.

South Shields can Trace their history back to 1888, but their history includes various involvement with Gateshead and Gateshead United until 1974 when South Shields Mariners relocated to the town and move away from Gateshead. South Shields were original members of the Northern Premier League from 1968, so our paths did briefly cross. In looking at the recent club our history which is very short, South Shields have moved up the pyramid in the North East and wanting to join the national pyramid this forward looking side they joined the Northern Premier League Division 1 at step 4 for season 2017/18 and won the league with 103 points. Promotion to step 3 last season saw then finish second, 3 points behind Farsley but failed in the play offs. This season they are currently top with a strong away record of won 4, drawn 1 and lost 1, their only defeat coming at Witton.

Our recent home record with the current South Shields is good but may come under scrutiny this Saturday. In season 2017/18 they come to us in the FA Trophy 2nd qualifying round, and despite scoring early on, a Messiah McDonald hat trick saw us win 3-1. Last season’s league game was drawn 1-1 with our poor pitch at the time being a great leveller. So can the new South Shields get their first win at Marston Road, we will have to see. So, if you come to watch you will see for yourself. Please help swell the gate.

Please note that due to there being 2 wedding receptions in the Social club on Saturday there will be limited car parking at the ground, but there is plenty of street parking on the Astonfields Industrial estate.

Games played on November 16 this century

2002 Shrewsbury    A      0-4 F A Cup round 1
2013 Ilkeston           A      0-0 Northern Premier League