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