Aaron comes in on Loan
We can announce the loan signing of 19 year old midfielder Aaron Braithwaite from Grimsby Town. Aaron will be with us until 2/01/24 barring any unforeseen recall.
Aaron has first team experience at Grimsby, his boyhood club, and spent the majority of last season on loan at Whitby.
Subject to all final paperwork being approved Aaron will come straight into the squad for today’s game with FC United.
Welcome to the BORO Aaron
A Hero departs
Courtesy of Dereck Lester
Stafford Rangers today mourn the sad loss of stalwart Dave Hiscox who passed away this morning after a brave fight with cancer.
The thoughts of everyone at his beloved football club are with his partner Claire and their family today as we all come to terms with the awful news of his passing.
For Stafford Rangers and all his friends and colleagues Dave was a hero, always at the club and volunteering to do anything he could to help prepare for a game or maintaining the ground.
He was quiet and unassuming, a modest man who hated recognition for the work that he did for us. when he was honoured with a Volunteer of the Year award, he had to be dragged in to accept it reluctant to accept the praise and recognition he so richly deserved.
Director & Vice Chair Carol Bailey has fond memories of the man who gave so much to the club. ‘He was always smiling, a breath of fresh air and nothing was too much trouble. He epitomised everything that’s good about non-league football and we were proud to know him.’
Dave turned his hand to everything at the club from driving the tractor and cutting the pitch, cleaning the ground, picking up litter and carrying out many jobs that others hated to do. He was always at the ground and would do anything we needed with a smile on his face, always on the go looking for the next challenge. An ex-army man many conversations started with a twinkle in his eye and the sentence ‘when I was in the trenches ‘which started his compatriots in crime Barry, Derek and Dennis to run for cover.
He had a loveable habit of never switching his hearing aid on and not knowing what people were saying to him which some would say was the best way to cope with the challenges of a football club.
This weekend we face one of the most exciting prospects of the season with our home fixture against FC United. We will be asking fans before the game to show their respect with a minute’s applause to recognise Dave Hiscox, a wonderful man, a gentleman and to thank him for his many years of loyal support for the club he loved.
We have no doubt that he will be looking down on the green, green grass he called home at the Rangers, surprised by all the love and support he will receive.
God Bless Dave and thank you.
Stafford Rangers Football Club
Dare to dream?
Stafford Rangers U18’s will dare to dream again of an FA Youth Cup run after a 2-1 victory against Coton Green, writes Luke Powell.
The new-look Boro boys squad will look to follow in the footsteps of last year’s U18’s side who reached the final preliminary round – falling just one round short of the first proper – and embark on a memorable cup run themselves.
Fin Clements bagged two first-half goals for the Rangers as the home side came from behind after Harry Gatton’s sixth-minute opener for Coton Green.
Once again, former Spurs and Ireland U21 International player Andy Turner leads the side with first team back-up goalkeeper Jack Sandel the skipper. The Rangers U18’s played at the newly re-named Stan Robinson Stadium as Stafford Rangers announced a new deal with the business that sees them gain the naming rights of Marston Road.
Disaster struck early on the six-minute for the home side as Gatton stroked home the opener into the bottom right corner past Sandel in net. Like most youth games it was an energetic and fiery encounter with end-to-end football throughout.
The Rangers U18’s looked for an instant reply as Zane Johnson-Hughes broke through the defence but saw his shot saved. Aiden Parker impressed throughout and it became evident that he’d spent time with the Rangers first team during pre-season, as the midfielder created ample opportunities and was unlucky to not see his cross from the left turned home by a Boro man.
Parker was involved once again as he earnt the home side their chance to get level from the penalty spot. The midfielder was deemed to have been brought down by goalkeeper Jimmy Griffiths and striker Fin Clements stepped forward to pull it back to one each. Clements converted low to the right in the 23rd minute, with Griffiths diving the wrong way.
The striker was unlucky not to have a second seven minutes later as his effort struck the woodwork twice – hitting the bar and then the post. Somehow Clements’ effort was kept out and Coton Green survived.
However, the sides weren’t level for long as Clements bagged his and the Boro boys’ second. Goalkeeper Jack Sandel’s ball over the top reached the front man who finished with composure past Griffiths to give the Rangers a half time lead.
The second half saw competitive action but no goals, and a scrappy affair. The intensity was still high from both teams and Coton Green came ever so close to levelling in the 58th minute. The post denied the away side before super Sandel held the follow-up.
Dylan Adcock continued to show promise on the wing for the Rangers bursting through with pace, but was unable to convert before Parker forced a top-draw save from Griffiths in net to deny the midfielders thunderstrike nestling in the top corner.
Fin Clements will have left the ground wondering how he didn’t grab his hattrick, heading wide late on from close-range. But, nobody can fault his and the Boro boys’ performance as the Rangers U18’s progress through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup with their comeback victory.
Written by Luke Powell, reporting from the Stan Robinson Stadium.
Major Deal Announced
We are delighted to confirm that our major sponsor Stan Robinson (Stafford) Ltd have agreed to extend our partnership for a further five years.
This well known local and national business have sponsored SRFC for many seasons supporting front of shirt branding, advertising boards, programme advertising and most notably the Stan Robinson Suite.
The support has been loyal, consistent and fundamental to the football club and we cannot thank the family and company enough for their confidence and backing.
Stan Robinson (Stafford) Ltd was established in 1970 and is one of the leading family owned road haulage businesses in the UK and have four depots in Stafford, Glasgow, Darlington and Willand in Devon.
Stan Robinson, founder of the firm bearing his name died in 2012 and was a former director of the club. He was a family man and very proud of the business he created and was down to earth with a big heart. The ethos that he lived and worked by continues in the business today still run by the family who employ over 300 people and is one of Stafford’s most recognisable brands.
Under our terms of the new agreement our stadium will become “The Stan Robinson Stadium”, a fitting tribute and wonderful legacy to the man and family, which have supported the club so strongly.
New signage will be put in place and all documentation will refer to the Stan Robinson Stadium.
The founder of the business was fondly known as ‘Stan the Man’ and we have no doubt that he will be looking down at the stadium proudly knowing that the name of the football ground will reflect his family business name for years to come.
We once again thank Flo, Mark, Pauline and Ian Robinson for their commitment, and look forward to another 5 years helping us put Stafford Rangers on the map.
Stafford Rangers Football Club
Sam flies in
We are pleased to announce the signing of 20 year old defender Sam Bird on loan from Stockport County. This will be for an initial period of one month. Sam will join up with the squad for Saturdays game away at Lancaster.
We welcome Sam to the BORO and would like to thank Stockport County FC for their assistance.
Welcome to the BORO Sam
Defender bolsters the ranks
We can confirm the signing of 19 year old defender Rory Roberts, who has impressed during pre-season, despite missing a few friendlies with a niggling injury. Now fully fit, Rory joins the squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Lancaster.
Last season Rory played at Sandbach United, his local club.
Welcome to the BORO Rory
