F C United preview

Feb 16, 2020 | Club News

F C United preview

This Tuesday night we travel to the new home of F C United. I fully expect a few Rangers fans to travel as potentially it could be our only opportunity to play them at their Broadhurst Park ground. We have played away to F C united in the past as they travelled up the leagues from their inception. Their history is well documented being formed from disgruntled fans of the Glazier takeover at Manchester United. We first came up against them following their rise from the North West Counties Leagues to gain quick promotion to the Northern Premier League, as we fell out of the Conference North. Season 2011/12 saw the away game at their temporary ground at Gigg Lane Bury and we came away with a 2-1 victory. The following season we lost 3-0. Season 2013/14 was even worse as in our relegation season we lost 4-0. Let’s hope we can reverse the trend as we visit their new stadium for the first time.

FC United currently lie 5th, within the play off paces with a home record of won 7, drawn 2 and lost 4. Apart from Lancaster, all their wins have come against bottom half sides and their 4 defeats with the exception of local derby Hyde, have come from sides in the top 6. Form guide makes interesting reading as they have 3 draws and 2 wins to our 3 draws and a win and defeat. If we can continue our fight against relegation, it could be an interesting encounter.

Hopefully, with many fans travelling on Tuesday night, you need the following essential information. Broadhurst Park is located just two miles from the centre of Manchester, postcode M40 0FJ. However, you need to be aware of parking restrictions as parking near the ground is extremely limited and you are advised not to park in restricted areas on and around St Mary’s Road, Nuthurst Rd and Moston Lane. Designated car parks are available for a charge of £5 at the ground, and for £3 at the nearby St Matthew’s School, only 3 minutes’ walk from the ground. The free shuttle busses will not be operating for this fixture. Personally, I am quite surprised by all the parking restrictions considering this is a new build ground and would certainly have had to comply with rigorous planning applications.

Once you have parked you now need to be aware of issues relating to getting into the ground. Turnstiles open at 6.30pm, but between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, fans wishing to access the Main Stand function room bar can gain admission via Main Reception by cash payment. Only two stands will be open for this game, the North and West stands will be closed for this fixture. Seating will be tight, so any fans wishing to sit in the main stand will have to reserve a seat in one block of the Main Stand on a first come first served basis, by calling the FC United office 24 hours before kick-off on 0161 769 2005. Those who have reserved seating need to collect a wristband from the FC United office accessible through the main reception on the day of the match. These wristbands will only be available until the kick-off time of the match.

So once in, let’s hope we can enjoy the game and hope for three points.

Games played on February 18 this century.
2006 Leigh H 0-0 Conference North
2012 Ashton H 1-2 Northern Premier League
2017 Workington H 3-2 Northern Premier League

WHITBY TOWN V STAFFORD RANGERS

Feb 14, 2020 | Club News

Tomorrow’s scheduled league match v Whitby Town is currently going ahead.

The pitch at this time is playable and the NPL are not allowing postponements based on the weather forecast. Storm Dennis is scheduled to hit the country tomorrow and any planned pitch inspections and/or postponements will be carried out and reported on social media.

Please refer to facebook and twitter for updates

Whitby Preview

Feb 11, 2020 | Club News

This Saturday we venture to the North East to take on Whitby. We now are on a run of 7 unbeaten games, although the 5 league games see only one win but 4 draws. We will however try to clutch at straws as we try to extend this run. Whitby are on a current form run of 3 wins and 2 draws. They returned on Saturday with a good 3-1 win at Mickleover, so our task looks very difficult. Whitby are a typical mid table side with home league form of 5 wins, 3draws and 4 defeats. Wins include teams like South Shields, Morpeth and Scarborough, so they do well in derby’s, but recorded losses to Warrington and F C United. However, they did lose at home to Bamber Bridge.

We have played games at Whitby since our drop from the Conference North into the Northern Premier League from season 2011/12. Our first visit saw us lose 3-1, followed by a 4-0 defeat the following season. The next season was our relegation season and we lost the last game of the season 2-1. There then followed a two-season gap until we got out of Division 1. The first meeting in the current era saw us fare better with a 2-2 draw, followed by a goalless draw. Last season on April 16th we recorded our first victory at the Turnbull Ground on Upgang Lane.

That game saw us with similar aims as now, as that victory boosted our survival hopes. Tom Thorley scored inside two minutes and Jake Charles missed a couple of chances to add to the lead in a five-minute spell. Andrai Jones’ headed a corner onto his own crossbar in the first half. Louis Briscoe doubled the lead with a 25-yard free kick a minute into added time at the end of the first half. Whitby created a nervy finish in the dying minutes as Adam Siviter could only parry Greg Rutherford’s shot and Bradley Fewster tapped in the rebound. Rangers held on for 3 valuable points, and in the process record our first win over Whitby at the 12th attempt. Our squad that date featured 9 players who are still with us now, although 2 of those are long term injured.

Some interesting facts about Whitby include that Captain James Cook, learned his seafaring skills in Whitby and that Whitby has close connections to the novel Dracula in that Bram Stoker stayed in Whitby while writing parts the famous novel. Stoker was inspired by the moody atmosphere of the town and took inspiration from landmarks such as Whitby Abbey. This adds to the gothic nature of the town with a regular Goth weekend, thankfully in April this year, although Rangers fans would be welcome with black in our colours. Whaling was once big in Whitby with the most prominent reminder being the Whalebone Arch which can be found on the top of the West Cliff near to the football ground. Whitby once had a thriving jewellery industry using the rare gemstone, Whitby Jet. This gemstone, even today, can be found in the coastline around Whitby. However, to most people Whitby is famous for fish and chips, boasting some of the best fish and chip shop in the UK.

Those travelling to Whitby will need to travel by road using the post code of YO21 3HZ. Whitby does have a railway station, but with only 6 trains per day, you will need to overnight twice in Middlesbrough.

Games played on Feb 15th this century

2000 Shepshed Dynamo H 3-0 Southern League Division 1 West
2011 Hednesford H 4-2 Staffs Senior Cup
2014 Blyth Spartans H 2-2 Northern Premier League

Pre Stalybridge Update

Feb 7, 2020 | Club News

An update with Andy Fearn has confirmed the following, ahead of this weekend’s home fixture with Stalybridge Celtic.

Lewis King has trained but it is still too early for him to be considered for selection, as he continues his recovery. Paul Bignot is available but will be suspended for the Whitby trip, following his red card against Buxton.  Joe Cuff will face a fitness test, before the game, due to his slight pull against Buxton.  We are delighted with the progress of Tom Thorley, after his long lay off, so he will be eased back in over the coming weeks. Bradley Grayson is available again, following his omission from selection, for the Buxton game due to our prior agreement. Daniel Hawkins has returned to Salford City after his loan period and we thank Dan for his efforts while at the club. Evan Garnett is still at Belper Town, on loan, with his ongoing situation being assessed.

We are regularly asked about our youth structure and can confirm youth and academy players are regularly invited to train with the first team, so we can assess and introduce young players to a first team environment.

Stalybridge Preview

Feb 6, 2020 | Club News

Stalybridge preview
It comes around again, and it’s the “old firm derby”. Okay it’s not the Glasgow version, but it adds a bit of spice for any Rangers v Celtic fixture. This season has good memories with our game at Bower Fold last October saw us record our first three points of the season. We now have the opportunity to record our first double of the season. Something potentially made a bit easy in the knowledge that Stalybridge have sold their leading marksman to South Shields. Darius Osei has moved, having scored 14 goals for Stalybridge this season. They will no doubt have an adequate replacement so cannot take too much into that but remember that in all competitions we are now 6 games unbeaten, so yet again something to build on if the great escape is possible.
When you look at the league table you would think that a side in 22nd and bottom spot at home to a side lying 8th with 20 more points, you would expect to be a banker away win. Especially when you see that Stalybridge away league record this season is 6 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats. However, in our last 5 league games we have one win, 3 draws and a defeat while Stalybridge have one draw and 4 defeats in their last five games. Can we catch them on a downward slide and add to their poor run of form? Our last two games have seen us get a well-deserved point away at 7th placed Witton and a dogged 10 man fight to secure a draw against Buxton.
Could Stalybridge be the next to fall to our revival. If you get to the game Saturday, you may be in a position to see that. Keep the faith, the great escape has only just started.

Games played on February 8th this century.
2003 Worcester H 2-1 Southern League

Buxton preview

Feb 3, 2020 | Club News

Buxton preview

As our manager Andy Fearn says, we are now 5 games unbeaten and we look to extend that against potential relegation colleagues, Buxton. Our draw at 7th pace Witton was well deserved, fighting back twice to level, against a side who the week before had taken all three points at table toppers South Shields. Witton scored two goals in the final minutes, much like Buxton who scored twice in the last couple of minutes to win at Grantham. The bottom of the league now looks very interesting as while we lie bottom, we are 8 points away from 4 sides on 25 points. Okay 3 of those 4 have games in hand on us, but a win over Buxton will close the gap and potentially suck 17th place Buxton back into the melting pot. It all adds to what could be an enthralling fixture.

On their travels Buxton have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 6. Interestingly 2 of the 3 wins were at relegation candidates Grantham and Matlock, so we need to be on our guard to maintain our run for the great escape. We still have to ply Buxton twice, Atherton twice along with Matlock and Ashton, all sides in that group we aim to catch, so it is anybody who could go down, and of course we hope it is not us in the final two places. The 20th placed side still could go down, but on current forecasts the NPL place should be save. However, those leagues like ours will go to the wire so it is 19th for guaranteed safety. We need the faith to ensure it is in our remit to gain that place.

Tuesday night I therefore very important to get another 500+ gate to cheer on the team. Since our return to the NPL we have lost this fixture 3 times, so it is essential we put an end to that sequence. See you Tuesday night.

Games played on February 4th this century
2006 Forest Green Rovers H 2-1 F A Trophy round 3
2017 Buxton H 1-2 Northern Premier League