Duo leave the Boro
We can confirm that following seven days notice of approach from Nantwich Town FC, Joe Robbins will be moving on and we would like to thank Joe for his time at the Boro, albeit short.
Also leaving the club is Diego McGann, possibly signing for Foley Meir FC. Again our thanks go to Diego, with our best wishes for the future.
Stafford Rangers FC
Changes to our Academy
During the summer we have experienced a period of significant change and as these changes now come to fruition, a timely update is required.
In early June, our education provider for the past three years, SCL Education Group, served notice that it would be terminating its agreement to provide education at the end of August 2024. SCL as a business will be putting its focus behind its larger academies with 55+ students and SRFC does not fall into this category. We have always made provision for this situation and did initially have discussions with other local academies with an option to work closely together sharing education and facilities for the benefit of all. In tandem we held discussions with other providers, and we can now confirm that Juniper Training will provide educational provision for the coming and future academic years.
Juniper is a well-established education and training provider with almost 40 years’ experience. Full details of the educational course provided will be available on the web site shortly for any interested students and parents/guardians for the intake period September 2025. In summary Juniper will provide the same NCFE level education provided by SCL so there is no change for existing scholars. The course, when completed is the equivalent of three A* A-Levels giving students the option for university application, USA football scholarship application, graduate trainee opportunities or indeed the opportunity to remain as a third-year student focusing on the Personal Trainer option.
As a result of the changes, we say a fond good-bye to our tutor, Adam Cook, who remains with SCL in a new role at Chesterfield FC. We would like to thank Adam for all his hard work in ensuring that our scholars received the best possible level of education, and he leaves with a heavy heart but our best wishes and luck in his new venture.
Replacing Adam is David Gould, who will not only take up the role of tutor but that of football coach to the academy. David is no stranger to SRFC having been appointed Under 16s JPL manager at the start of last season. David is now manager of our Under 18s MFYL team. As a EUFA B licensed coach David has over 25 years’ experience and will be a major asset to the club. In addition, David is a teacher and recently undertook similar roles at Basford United FC and Long Eaton United FC. As Academy Manager David will be directly employed by Juniper but will also undertake project work for the football club under the direction of Andy Fearn.
Joining David will be our first ever Football Club Management Apprentice, Kyle Glayshier. Kyle has been a student at the academy for three years and now moves into a fourth year under the tutorship of Juniper to enhance his coaching and managerial skills. As part of this program, Kyle, already a Level 1 coach will assist David with academy training and team management, and he will also work on projects within the football club centering around football administration, finance, and infrastructure.
Education, as always will take place on site, but has moved into the “Fans Bar,” which has always been a redundant weekday facility. This is a secure environment for educational purposes and with thanks to Mark and Ben Alcock and lottery funding the facility has been improved to provide full internet/Wi-Fi access, better heating, and security. We must emphasize that this is an ALCOHOL-FREE facility during the week and is kitted out as a classroom. At weekends, the room can revert to its bar status if required.
If you are a potential student or parent/guardian interested in joining the academy scholarship program commencing September 2025 a series of recruitment trials will be held across the year, commencing Monday 28th October 2024.
More information can be obtained by email:
David.gould@staffordrangersfc.co.uk
Kyle.glayshier@staffordrangersfc.co.uk
Andy.fearn@staffordrangersfc.co.uk
Stafford Rangers FC
David Smith joins the Board
David Smith has recently been welcomed on to the board as an Associate Director.
His wealth of experience in local sport, sports governance, and club development as a successful Board Chair both at Staffordshire Cricket and Milford Hall Cricket Club over the past two decades is highly respected both locally and nationally. His knowledge and experience will enable him to help advise and drive Stafford Rangers forward.
David has played a major part in the rise of Milford Hall CC, having taken the club from a South Staffordshire League one side to a regular Premier League title winning club. In 2023 he had the pleasure in seeing 20 plus years of work as Chair reach the ultimate prize. Milford Hall lifted the most prestigious Trophy at Lords winning The National Village Cup at the home of Cricket with a squad based on home grown talent. The club was extremely well supported on their journey to the final and David and the club have every ambition to repeat that success in the near future.
He has a strong belief in utilising local talent and developing structures that can drive players and the club forward whilst being an integral part of the community. Success at Milford Hall has seen huge growth on and off the field of play.
When David took over at Milford, the club operated with just 7 junior and senior teams and that more than doubled including a thriving women’s section with the main team playing in the Midlands Premier League. The ground and facilities have seen vast improvements, and the membership has quadrupled, with the drive to have a welcoming atmosphere. The club has healthy support of valued volunteers who work tirelessly sharing his vision for success.
As Chair of Staffordshire Cricket, David has rationalised the business by bringing together a very talented set of board members. In partnership the team has seen great expansion and success, and they are nationally recognised as a high performing board with excellent governance and a highly successful organisation.
David has great skills working within the community and building partnerships which has made both Milford and Staffordshire Cricket very successful. He is keen to see Stafford Rangers develop and move forward with a clear vision to ensure they prosper once again.
He said one of his main reasons for getting involved is his interest in developing local sport and knowing so many Rangers fans and their commitment to support the club and their desire for success.
Many of the challenges he has faced over the years reflect those that face the football club, and we believe that his experience will prove a huge asset to the Board and Stafford Rangers.
Welcome to the Boro David.
Squad Strengthened
Stafford Rangers FC are pleased to announce that Kaiman Anderson has agreed to rejoin us from Walsall Wood FC. He will be no stranger to the Boro, after serving several seasons with us and being our top scorer last season.
Another player rejoining us is Jon Atherton from Chasetown. The pacy winger made several appearances for the Boro during the 2022/23 season, but suffered with an injury that made his appearances rather limited.
Also joining us is Reinaldo Forbes from Studley Town, the forward has previously been with Hednesford Town, Bedworth United and Newcastle Town.
All have joined the Boro and should be available for selection tomorrow night against Kidsgrove Athletic, subject to all paperwork being completed.
Welcome Kaiman, Jon and Reinaldo to the Boro.
Stafford Rangers FC
Legend will be missed
It is with great sadness that we report the death of former Stafford Rangers forward Roger Jones on 2 October.
Jones, a Stafford man, made 300 appearances for Rangers. His 105 goals helped the club to some of its most notable achievements.
He was a member of the side that reached the 4th Round of the FA Cup in 1974/75 and the FA Trophy final in 1976 and 1979. Although Rangers were beaten 3-2 by Scarborough in the dramatic 1976 final, it was Jones who got both of the Stafford goals.
He was on Walsall’s books as a youth during which time he was in the England Youth squad. He initially joined Rangers at the age of 19 from local Amateur League club Kingston in the summer of 1968 and made his debut at Ashton United on 10th August 1968 in Rangers’ 5-0 away victory on the opening day of the Cheshire League season.
He scored his first goal for the club two days later at Marston Road against Winsford United and was the regular centre forward that season and scored 28 goals as Rangers finished second to secure ‘promotion’ to the Northern Premier League.
Roger played in the opening NPL game against Fleetwood but after playing just a handful of games and scoring one goal he joined Rhyl in October 1969.
Later, he moved to Oswestry and it was while he was with the Shropshire side that he made a guest appearance for the Rangers at Chelmsford City in the Non League Champions Trophy at the end of the 1972 season as Ray Williams was unavailable.
Despite an impressive performance on his return to the black and white stripes, he remained with Oswestry for another season before Roy Chapman brought him back to Marston Road as a replacement for Brian Fidler.
His second spell at Marston Road was to last three years during which time Roger played a part in the memorable F.A. Cup run to the Fourth Round in 1974/75, scoring a hat-trick at Kings Lynn. Injury rules him out of the tie v Stockport County but he was back for the subsequent rounds which saw victories over Halifax Town and Rotherham United before the epic run came to an end against Peterborough United in front of 31,160 at Stoke City’s Victoria Ground.
In the following season he was a member of the team which narrowly missed out on a repeat of the treble success achieved by the club in 1972 as Rangers finished runners up in the Northern Premier League, FA Trophy and Staffs Senior Cup.
In that FA Trophy final defeat at Wembley that day he produced a superb performance and became only the second player to score twice in the Final. At the end of the season, Roger travelled to Italy with Rangers and scored against both Udinese and Monza in the Anglo Italian Tournament.
He left Stafford that summer for Nuneaton Borough but after 14 months at Manor Park, he returned to Marston Road in September 1977 for a third spell with the club. It was money well spent for Rangers as Jones netted 23 goals in his first season back. At the end of it Rangers won the Staffs Senior Cup with Roger scoring twice at Kidderminster in the first leg of the Final.
Season 1978/79 was to be his last with Stafford. For most of it, he led the attack but when Alf Wood fully recovered from his broken leg, Roger found himself third choice striker behind Wood and Mick Cullerton. He returned to Wembley in May 1979 for the victorious FA Trophy Final victory over Kettering but had to be content with the substitute’s shirt.
He left Marston Road for the Bucks Head Ground, playing in 12 league games for Telford and scoring a late equaliser in their 2-2 with draw with Stafford. Later in 1979/80 he joined Worcester and made two league appearances for them that season and completed his career with spells at Cheltenham Town, Hednesford Town and Walsall Borough.
After his playing days were over, he became a frequent visitor to Marston Road with good friends Stuart Chapman and Ben Seddon, watching the current players of the club that he helped to make so well known throughout the country.
Stafford Rangers FC.
Veteran joins the Boro
We can confirm the signing of vastly experienced central defender Michael McGrath, ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Bootle FC. Michael signs on dual registration from Stratford Town FC and we would like to thank Paul Davies for his support with this move. Having been dual registered with Rugby Town FC we would like to thank them for cancelling his registration at Rugby.
Michael, during the course of his career, has represented Alvechurch, Bromsgrove,Halesowen, Hednesford, Hereford, Kettering & Kidderminster Harriers.
Welcome to the Boro Michael.
