Ashton Preview

Jan 6, 2020 | Club News

Yet another 6 pointer, so no pressure on the Rangers then. If you look at corresponding league records, then there is a very strong similarity. Ashton at home in the league have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 6 whereas on our league travels we have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 8. Ashton lie 21st in the table with 15 points from their games while we are 3 points behind them but having played 2 more games. Goal difference is tight such that a win for the Rangers by 2 goals will take us of the bottom. Ashton’s poor home form has seen only 1 home win, that being against fellow relegation candidates, Gainsborough, and they have two draws with Atherton and Matlock. Defeats have come at the hands of FC United, Nantwich, Radcliffe, South Shields, Stalybridge and Whitby.

Ashton came into non-league hierarchy in 1992 with promotion from the North West Counties to the Northern Premier League 1, gaining promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2002. 2004 saw promotion to Conference North, but that lasted only for one season, and became the clubs first ever relegation in their history. Last season saw their second season in Conference North, but they returned to the Northern Premier league with another relegation. They were tipped for a quick return but find themselves, like us, deep in a relegation battle. However, just before Christmas the Ashton Board acted, parted company with manager Jody Banim. They quickly appointed Michael Clegg having tempted him from Atherton Collieries. His first move was to transfer in two players from Atherton in Ben Hardcastle and Michael Brewster. Clegg had won three promotions in five years in charge at Atherton Collieries. He has however had a tough start, yet to get a victory, so hopefully we intend to stop him getting his first win.

In recent years Hurst Cross has not been a happy hunting ground for us, with defeats in seasons 2013/14, 2016/17 and 2017/18. However, our first three visits saw us gain points in 2004/05, 2011/12 and 2012/13.

I know it is asking a lot for a large away following in our current form, but for those intrepid followers you need the sat nav of OL6 8DY to find Hurst Cross, Surrey Street, Ashton Under Lyne. Please note that there is limited street parking around the ground. Railway travellers have a choice of train from Manchester Victoria or a tram ride from Manchester Piccadilly, but with both you will have a good 30-minute walk. Admission is £12 Adult, £8 concession, (Junior 12-17, students and OAP’s) and £3 for Under 12’s, however all under 12’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Games played on January 11 this century
2003 Moor Green A 1-1 Southern League
2005 Alfreton A 1-0 Conference North
2011 Telford H 0-2 Conference North
2014 Blyth A 2-6 Northern Premier League

Louis Departs for Gresley

Jan 3, 2020 | Club News

The club can announce that Louis Briscoe has left, to join Gresley FC as Player Coach.
Having spent 3 spells with ‘The Boro’ and making his first debut in 2008 with 39 full appearances, plus 27 as sub, scoring 5 goals, Louis spoke to Alan Gee about his departure – HIs main memories were being originally signed by Steve Bull, having been at Wolves as a youngster so that was a special moment. Then having a good spell under Neil Kitching and eventually being part of the resurgent team that secured safety last season, before having injury and bereavement to deal with this season and Louis thanks Andy and Alex for their support and guidance in this period..
Louis looks forward to influencing Gresley’s own survival campaign and developing as a coach.
We wish him all the best and every good fortune.

Grantham Preview

Jan 2, 2020 | Club News

Cast your minds back just short of 12 months to 19th Jan 2019. Rangers played an away game at Grantham and came away with all three points. Not just the points but 5 goals in a thriller with all the goals coming from headers. 247 witnessed that thriller and of the side that day only 5 of our squad look likely to play in the corresponding fixture this year. Let’s hope for a similar result this season.

The reverse fixture was played on a Tuesday night in August, with a crowd of 564. While we took the lead through Danny Burns, Grantham pegged us back late on with an Adelekan goal. Only 6 of the Grantham 16-man squad appeared in their Boxing Day fixture, so expect to see a different Grantham team than the one we played in August. Mention must be made of the Boxing Day fixture as Grantham lost at home 5-1 to relegation candidates Gainsborough. Grantham took the lead in the game but lost out in the end. Having watched the highlights of that game Grantham make full use of very long throws from the left side so we need to be prepared. I do not want to hear of any comments about the state of our pitch as their pitch looked a lot worse. Considering it was a holiday fixture the crowd was only 259.

Grantham lie in 17th place with 22 points. Away, they have only amassed 5 points from draws and are the only team in the league yet to win away. However, it is at home where they do the damage with 5 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. Wins have come against Bamber Bridge, Basford, FC United Radcliffe and Scarborough. Mickleover and Hyde were draws and they have lost to Gainsborough, Ashton, Morpeth and Whitby. Their home games against the relegation battlers is mixed so we need to add to their Boxing Day defeat and take all 3 points. If we can perform like we did new Years day then that could be possible

For those that have not been to the South Kesteven Sports Stadium before you need some essential items. Standing behind the goals will require a telescope and binoculars are useful on the touchline. Only joking, but the stadium is an athletics stadium so at times lacks some atmosphere as the pitch appears a long way off. Admission Charges are, Adults £10, Concessions £6, Juniors 15-18 £3 and 15s are free. There is no additional charge to sit in the main stand. There is a large car park at the stadium. There is a hot food facility in the bar area open before the game and again at half time, but last season they had a hut serving some delicious fayre. The ground is easy to find, arriving on the A52 from Nottingham you turn right by the Muddle Go Nowhere pub and at the end of Barrowby Gate, turn right and quickly left into Trent Road and the ground will appear on your left.

Games played on January 4th this century

2003 Folkstone H 6-0 Southern League
2014 Stocksbridge H 3-1 Northern Premier League

Mickleover Preview

Dec 28, 2019 | Club News

If you overindulge on New Year’s Eve, then the best place to sober up will be a chilling encounter with Mickleover from just over the border in Derbyshire. The travelling fans at Nantwich were distraught at the full-time whistle. Playing with only 10 men we were winning 1-0 with 90 minutes on the clock. Sadly, Nantwich scored two goals in the 5 added on minutes. We need to be prepared for this against Mickleover as they have a habit of scoring late goals against us, many being disputed goals too. However, we must remain positive and strive for 3 points, with the hope that 2020 could be our year.

Mickleover I am sure will be looking to avenge our FA Cup victory on 7th September when we beat them 3-0. However, there is very little to compare the Mickleover side from September to the one they put out to beat Stalybridge away on 21st December. Last Saturday they did what we managed in beating Celtic on their own patch. Mickleover secured a win with a goal from player manager John Mc Grath and two old goal getters each got a goal each with Stuart Beavon and from the bench Lee Hughes. I am sure those two will keep out defence on their toes and we will need to keep them quiet if we want to get much needed 3 points. The team we beat in September saw only 4 appear in the squad last Saturday, so it is a much-changed side that has slowly climbed up the table.

Mickleover travel to Marston Road in 14th place with 27 points. On their travels they have won 4, drawn 2 and lost 5. In away games at our potential relegation candidates they have beaten Buxton, lost to Bamber bridge and drawn with Gainsborough and Grantham.

I know many fans are disappointed with our current position, but it is through our support that can attempt to help the players perform to the best of their abilities to secure much needed points to climb away from the bottom. So please venture to Marston Road on New Years day wit a fresh new year’s resolution to make 2020 our year.

Games played on News Years Day this century.

2000 Blakenhall H 2-2 Southern Midland Division
2004 Worcester A 1-0 Southern League
2007 Burton Albion A 0-0 Conference
2008 Burton Albion A 1-2 Conference
2009 Telford A 1-0 Conference North
2011 Telford A 0-0 Conference North
2013 Ashton A 0-0 Northern Premier League
2014 Rushall Olympic H 2-5 Northern Premier League
2015 Leek H 1-0 Northern Premier Division 1 South
2018 Hednesford A 1-2 Northern Premier League
2019 Mickleover A 2-3 Northern Premier league

Nantwich Preview – Phil Bennett

Dec 23, 2019 | Club News

If you overindulge in Christmas food and frivolities, can I suggest the perfect antidote. Just pop up the A 51 to Nantwich. Tis game has in the last few years been on Easter Monday but speaking to the Nantwich secretary at the League AGM in the summer he was so fed up with us winning they’re on Easter Monday, that he has requested a change. So perhaps we can upset him even more by winning at Nantwich on Boxing Day.

That task however may be quite difficult as Nantwich have a very impressive home record of 6 wins, 1 draw and only 2 defeats. It is their away form that has left them down as they lie 11th with 28 points. At home their two losses were to high ranking Radcliffe and Warrington, and they have already taken points off the clubs around us in the relegation battle. Nantwich also carried the NPL flag into the FA Cup before losing 1-0 to AFC Fylde in front of 1,544 fans at the Weaver Stadium. At home in the league they have scored 19, conceding 12 keeping only 2 clean sheets. It is little facts like this that can give us the opportunity to spring an upset.

Traditionally Boxing Day fixtures often throw up unusual and unexpected results. Let us hope that the Weaver Stadium on December 26th will see such an event. Being Boxing Day there will be no public transport to the venue, so you must rely on cars. Post code of the ground is CW5 5UP with adequate car perking, unless there is a fair taking place as per our last visit. Can Jake repeat the last result to give us 2 wins at Nantwich in a calendar year?

 

Games played on December 26th this century

2000 Burton Albion A 0-0 Southern League
2002 Halesowen H 4-2 Southern League
2003 Hednesford H 1-1 Southern League
2004 Altrincham H 0-1 Conference North
2005 Worcester H 1-1 Conference North
2006 Kidderminster H 1-2 Conference
2007 Burton Albion H 0-3 Conference
2008 Telford H 1-3 Conference North
2009 Telford A 1-2 Conference North
2011 Nantwich A 0-2 Northern Premier League
2012 Hednesford H 0-1 Northern Premier League
2013 Nantwich A 1-4 Northern Premier League
2014 Chasetown A 2-0 NPL Division 1
2015 Chasetown H 2-1 NPL Division 1
2016 Hednesford H 2-1 Northern Premier League
2017 Stourbridge H 1-0 Northern Premier League
2018 Nantwich h 1-4 Northern Premier League

 

Message from The Board of Directors

Dec 23, 2019 | Club News

 

 

 During Saturday’s game against Lancaster City a complaint was made to the referee by one the Lancaster players that he had been the subject of a racist remark by a member of the crowd.  This allegation has now been reported to the FA who have instructed the club to file their response by the end of the month.  The directors of Stafford Rangers wish to make it quite clear to everyone attending a game at Marston Road that racist, sexist or homophobic abuse of any kind will not be tolerated.  Anyone identified as being responsible for such abuse will be ejected from the ground and banned for life.