Dec 31, 2020 | Club News
Well 2020 has finally come to an end and we are sure that no one is sad to see it go. A year of frustration, uncertainty, bad news and difficulties that no one could have imagined. The whole country had to come to terms with living in a pandemic that bought everyday life to a standstill.
Despite this it has sometimes bought out the very best in people and we at the football club have been humbled by the support we have received. The generosity of your donations through fundraising has enabled the football club to sustain itself during the worst of years and we come through 2020 together and stronger. We have maintained a determination to succeed greater than ever. It is however not just what you have given which has been inspirational but the way that you have done it that we are so proud of.
At the turn of the year we say a huge thank you to our fans, our staff, our players, and large team of volunteers who have selflessly worked so hard to prepare for and deliver match days when we could. To the people who have worked hard behind the scenes constantly repairing and renewing areas of the stadium you have done magnificently.
We are all proud to be part of the Stafford Rangers family that sits within our community and we will all come through this together with new aspirations, new hopes and face new challenges together.
New Year’s Eve will be different for us all with none of the usual celebrations that see the old year out and New Year in. We sincerely wish you all the very best for 2021and we want to see as many SRFC glasses raised in celebration on Social Media as we can muster.
Many of you may well be spending New Year alone and we will be thinking of you, but don’t forget, being part of the Rangers family means you will never stand truly alone and we will raise a glass to all our fans and family tonight.
As you are all aware no games or training are allowed in Tier 4 and currently all games are cancelled until at least January 12th . We will keep you advised of any changes or developments as soon as we have further clarity.
Happy New Year and thank you!
Up the Boro!
Dec 22, 2020 | Club News
Colin Phillips and Deb Jennings have due to time pressures outside of the football club, resigned their positions with the Development squad. Oz, the Director of Football and the club wish them all the very best for the future and thank both sincerely for their hard work and commitment.
We therefore have vacancies within the Development squad for an Assistant Manager and Matchday Secretary.
The development squad was extended this year to incorporate a new U21 team that joins the four other U18 teams associated with Stafford Rangers. The Development Squad creates a direct route for the most talented players into the Rangers first team and supports our football in the community ambitions. If you are interested in applying for either of these unpaid positions, you will need:
- Assistant Manager: Minimum FA level 2 (ideally UEFA B), First Aid, Safeguarding and CRB/DBS Checked (all in date).
- Matchday Secretary: Ideally – Previous experience, FA level 2, First Aid, Safeguarding and CRB/DBS Checked (all in date).
These opportunities for the right person(s) to get involved in grass roots football and the squad is now a pivotal part of Stafford Rangers Football Club. You will need to have the qualifications shown above and the passion and enthusiasm to assist driving the Development Squad forward together with the manager Oz Rowley.
Please apply in the first instance to club – info@staffordrangersfc.co.uk.
Dec 21, 2020 | Club News
We advise all our fans that the home game scheduled for the 26th December against Nantwich is now postponed with the agreement of both clubs. All games scheduled for New Year’s Day have also been postponed.
Our stance regards to a return to football has been consistent. We do not believe the league can resume until the numbers allowed back into the grounds are high enough to make it financially viable.
We also have a duty of care to players and fans and our actions should reflect a responsible stance to the landscape being driven by the pandemic. Public Health Staffordshire also believe that games can’t be played with fans attending within current tier legislation.
Recent announcement with regards to the increasing transmission of the disease does make a return to football challenging but we will advise you as soon as more information is forthcoming.
We wish everyone associated with Stafford Rangers a very happy Christmas and thank you all sincerely for your inspirational support throughout the year. We ask you to stay safe, take great care and we look forward to a new year with hope and determination.
Dec 18, 2020 | Club News
Staffs CC have advised both the club and the league that any club that admits fans to its ground runs the risk of prosecution. In consequence we are in urgent dialogue with the NPL about the resumption of football in general and our Boxing Day game v. Nantwich in particular.
Click here to review the letter from Staff CC.
Dec 17, 2020 | Club News
We are sure everyone is waiting for and frustrated by the lack of news and clarity in relation to when, how and in what manner we will be playing football next.
Our frustrations are as great as yours and culminate once more today in a huge amount of correspondence coming at us from a multitude of sources, which makes passing on any information with clarity and detail almost impossible and the message is constantly changing.
Stafford Rangers has agreed (in the absence of a league game on Saturday) to host a friendly game against Leek Town to maintain match fitness. Under the most recent advice we were going to be able to invite 300 home fans to Marston Road. Events throughout the day have occurred which now leaves us with no option but to play this game behind closed doors with no fans. Both clubs have agreed to this decision.
A game is currently scheduled for Boxing Day, a home game against Nantwich. We can’t currently tell you whether this match will go ahead or not. Many clubs including ourselves are of the opinion that only being able to allow 300 fans combined with no social club income, will result in operating each game at a substantial loss. This comes directly after a period of no income where many clubs have been sustained only by grants and loans.
Whilst we await a formal letter Public Health Staffordshire have also indicated that they regard the latest FA guidance to be totally at odds and contrary with current legislation. Their view currently is that to admit spectators to grounds, particularly under Tier 3, would be illegal. Hopefully some form of clarity and agreement can be reached tomorrow with both clubs and various ruling and advising bodies.
Our responsibility is to ensure that none of the substantial hard work and efforts by the football club, its shareholders and its fans are diluted by a policy that diminishes the financial viability of our club and many like us. Together we must also ensure the safety of our players and supporters. We will advise as soon as we have an agreed course of action.
Up the Boro!
17th December 2020
