New Management Team Announced

New Management Team Announced

Jan 26, 2025 | Club News

Unfinished Business

Neil Kitching

Image Courtesy of Nantwich News

Stafford Rangers Football Club are delighted to announce that Neil Kitching and Nick Amos have been appointed First Team Manager and Assistant Manager.

The announcement ends two weeks of speculation, and both will lead the team for the first time when we travel to Kidsgrove Athletic on Saturday 1st February. On Thursday 30th January Neil and Nick will take their first training session at the club.

A great performance saw us get 3 vital points in yesterday’s home match with Wythenshawe FC. We thank Graham Deakin and staff immensely and congratulate him and the team on their win. Graham and his coaching team will manage the away fixture on Tuesday 28th January at Runcorn Linnets. Neil Kitching is also delighted that Graham has agreed to stay on as part of his coaching staff going forward.

The appointment of Kitching and Amos is the culmination of two weeks efforts by the club who advertised for the job determined that they would carry out a professional process to ensure that not only did we get someone with the right credentials but equally as important the best fit for Stafford Rangers going forward. A shortlist of candidates was finalised at the closing date for applications and interviews arranged at the earliest opportunity.

The interviews were conducted by John Hayne, Andy Fearn, Carol Bailey, Mark Evans, David Montgomery and David Smith and the final decision to appoint Neil and Nick was unanimous. The club believes that the process was an honest and careful one and with the highest level of integrity and most importantly confidentiality.

We all fervently believe that we can keep Rangers in this division, it is not an impossible task, but it is a difficult one, but we believe sincerely that we have the right people in to give us the best chance.

Neil Kitching’s excitement is evident and palpable.

This is our football club and feels like it always has been. We are thrilled and excited to accept the challenge. We have unfinished business at the club and still have the fight, desire, and passion. In the short term the overwhelming objective is to retain our position in the league and get this squad performing to its potential. Stafford Rangers should not be in their current position, and everyone will do everything to change that. Every game will be a cup final, and I want everyone to now come together as we fight for the badge, the club, and the future.

Kitchings record at this club is a good one. Over 200 games,97 wins,49 draws with 54 defeats. Our headline when he joined us in May 2014 was ‘Kitching rises to the Challenge ‘after the club had suffered a third relegation in 6 years.

He did not let anyone down. A resume of 4 years at the club delivered league promotion in 15/16 back to the NPL Premier Division when we became champions of the NPL Division 1 South with 95 points. This was followed by a Staffs Senior Cup and a final in the Walsall Senior Cup, combined with a decent run in the FA Trophy and FA Cup. He left us at the end of the 2017/18 season, but the club had left its mark on both Neil Kitching and Nick Amos. They return together with their very focussed coach Ian Cooper (Coops) and are prepared willing and able to rise to the challenge once more.

Neil comments:-

We believe that Stafford has a squad of talented players and more importantly for the club good people. We have an affinity with the fans and feel that we have the skill to develop a winning mentality on the field and bring everyone in the club together. Now let’s get at it.

Welcome home and good luck.

Now is the time that we need to come together and pull together and ask everyone to now get behind the club, the badge, and the new management team. It’s going to be hard work and one of the many challenges we have faced over the years but together we can do it.

Thank you.

Stafford Rangers FC

 
Dale departs the Boro

Dale departs the Boro

Jan 9, 2025 | Club News

Time to say goodbye

Dale BelfordWe are sorry to tell you that team manager Dale Belford has decided to leave the club.

Dale has been with Stafford Rangers for the last 4 years. He was assistant manager before being appointed to his current role four months ago.

He has demonstrated a huge enthusiasm for the role and has done everything with a passion and determination to succeed that is admirable. We thank him hugely for all his efforts to turn around our fortunes and are incredibly sad to see him go.

Dale has decided that he has currently taken the club as far as he can. Despite a gargantuan effort and commitment on his part the results and consistency on the field have not been able to be delivered.

Dale states:-

I always believed that we could turn the corner, but that currently is not the case. I am proud to have represented the club, but I am acting in what I believe are the best interests of the football club in stepping down now to give someone else the chance and time to ensure that the club stays in this division. I have given my all to the club whilst I have been here and am proud of our efforts and the work that both the players and backroom staff have put in. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support. It is with a heavy heart that I leave the Rangers, but I know that the decision is in the best interests of the club, myself, and my family.

Football can be cruel as we all know and everyone thanks Dale for everything and for the integrity, he has shown in making this decision. He will always receive a warm welcome at Marston Road and wish him only the absolute best for the future. Subject to the match going ahead on Saturday, Dale will lead the team out for the final time when we play Bootle.

In the interim period Assistant Manager Graham Deakin and the coaching staff will continue to train the squad and take charge of the next few games as we try and find a replacement.

We will of course keep you advised of any developments and thank you all for the support you have shown to your club and Dale.

Stafford Rangers FC

 
New Director Appointed

New Director Appointed

Oct 8, 2024 | Club News

David Smith joins the Board

David Smith - New Director at Stafford Rangers FCDavid Smith has recently been welcomed on to the board as an Associate Director.

His wealth of experience in local sport, sports governance, and club development as a successful Board Chair both at Staffordshire Cricket and Milford Hall Cricket Club over the past two decades is highly respected both locally and nationally. His knowledge and experience will enable him to help advise and drive Stafford Rangers forward.

David has played a major part in the rise of Milford Hall CC, having taken the club from a South Staffordshire League one side to a regular Premier League title winning club. In 2023 he had the pleasure in seeing 20 plus years of work as Chair reach the ultimate prize. Milford Hall lifted the most prestigious Trophy at Lords winning The National Village Cup at the home of Cricket with a squad based on home grown talent. The club was extremely well supported on their journey to the final and David and the club have every ambition to repeat that success in the near future.

He has a strong belief in utilising local talent and developing structures that can drive players and the club forward whilst being an integral part of the community. Success at Milford Hall has seen huge growth on and off the field of play.

When David took over at Milford, the club operated with just 7 junior and senior teams and that more than doubled including a thriving women’s section with the main team playing in the Midlands Premier League. The ground and facilities have seen vast improvements, and the membership has quadrupled, with the drive to have a welcoming atmosphere. The club has healthy support of valued volunteers who work tirelessly sharing his vision for success.

As Chair of Staffordshire Cricket, David has rationalised the business by bringing together a very talented set of board members. In partnership the team has seen great expansion and success, and they are nationally recognised as a high performing board with excellent governance and a highly successful organisation.

David has great skills working within the community and building partnerships which has made both Milford and Staffordshire Cricket very successful. He is keen to see Stafford Rangers develop and move forward with a clear vision to ensure they prosper once again.

He said one of his main reasons for getting involved is his interest in developing local sport and knowing so many Rangers fans and their commitment to support the club and their desire for success.

Many of the challenges he has faced over the years reflect those that face the football club, and we believe that his experience will prove a huge asset to the Board and Stafford Rangers.

Welcome to the Boro David.

 

Club Statement

Club Statement

Oct 3, 2024 | Club News

A New Dawn

We would like to place on record our appreciation and respect for Dave Cooke, following his resignation as First Team Manager last Saturday. He worked tirelessly to improve performances on the pitch, but with a hefty injury list hampering team selection, results have not gone our way. Dave leaves willingly to allow time for the club to recover and move up the table. We thank Dave sincerely and he will always be welcomed back at our club.

Dale Belford has now been appointed First Team Manager. Since Sunday he has been in conversations with prospective backroom staff and players, he would like to bring to the club to bolster and improve the squad.

At the most recent training session, all existing players were in attendance with a couple of fresh faces. Prior to training the players were introduced to the new backroom team. Joining Dale as Assistant Manager is Graham Deakin. As a player Graham began his career with Walsall, before spells with Tamworth, Rushall and Sutton Coldfield. He has had two spells with Hednesford as Assistant Manager and Director of Football, and more recently as assistant Manager with Shifnal Town. His knowledge of the midlands football scene will be an asset to Dale. We welcome Graham to the club.

Rejoining the club as a coach is John Psaras, who has worked at the club under Alex Meecham and Matt Hill. John will bring an unbridled level of enthusiasm to the team. Andy Burns will continue in his new role of player-coach, complementing the backroom staff.

We wish them all well and ask for your unwavering support behind the team and its management, starting this Saturday away at Bootle FC.

With the backroom staff in place, new players will be added, and we can announce the first two players to come on board.

We have signed 25-year-old central defender Scott Wara, following his departure from Prescot Cables FC. Stoke based Scott started his career with Stoke City before signing for Leek Town, with whom he made over 60 appearances. A short spell with Finn Harps in Ireland was followed by a move to Stalybridge Celtic last season, before joining Prescot Cables FC this summer. With travelling an issue Scott has signed for the Boro and his experience at this level and above, will be invaluable.

We can also confirm the signing of 20-year-old midfielder Ashley Fallon from Darlaston Town FC. Previously at Shifnal Town, Ashley is a tenacious, industrious player. Ashley is well known to Graham Deakin and will come straight into contention for a place in the squad this coming Saturday. Welcome to the Boro Ashley.

It is hoped that further announcements will be made ahead of the weekend as Dale looks to refresh and improve the current squad.

Stafford Rangers FC

 
Club Communication

Club Communication

Oct 28, 2023 | Club News

Joe Dunne leaves and Statement from the Club

Joe Dunne

We would like to extend a much overdue thanks to our ex player Joe Dunne for his service to Stafford Rangers and apologise to him on a personal level for not communicating to you the fans in a timely manner. We were genuinely sorry to see you go but a decision was made to go down a different road by both parties, that is football. Both club and player must accept this and move forward. Joe, we wish you all the very best at wherever you play your football in the future and hope everything you do on and off the pitch meets your needs and goals.

Club Communication

Stafford Rangers Football club accepts that communication recently in terms of the team and players was poor and we apologise for this. We have tried over the last couple of years to ensure information gets out to fans as soon as possible highlighting issues both on and off the pitch that we believe you should be aware of, last week we failed due to several factors.

This lack of information then led to false rumours and interpretation on social media that enabled certain individuals to fuel the fire creating unnecessary tension and criticism of the club at an already difficult time. If information was provided quickly and clearly this may have diminished the hostile reactions and criticism we received, we will try our best to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Every player, manager, director, volunteer and fan are frustrated by our position in the league, everyone wants success, we understand your frustration and disappointment and share it. When things are bad, we need to stick together and get behind the club.

Your club is run, managed and driven in the main by people who give their time up for nothing and we do not have large numbers of people to call upon. It is always hard, always challenging. If you would like to be part of the solution, write to the chairman in the first instance, should you want to help on match days or want to join the board.

We understand passion and accept that everyone has a right to their views and can express them however nothing justifies the reaction during and after the Bamber Bridge game from a very small number of people acting in quite frankly an unforgivable and disgusting manner. Please do not let anyone justify using aggressive, inflammatory and appalling language and threatening behaviour that was evidenced at the end of the game by saying they are passionate about the club. That is simply not good enough.

Unacceptable threatening behaviour was used by several individuals at both the Bamber Bridge game and away at Radcliffe and staff, directors and team managers were abused. Those responsible should be ashamed of themselves, you know who you are!

We are now in the process of issuing banning orders against them and they will not be allowed entrance to the ground with immediate effect.

We are attempting to build a community club encouraging children to the rangers through one of the many junior football teams or encouraging them to visit through extremely favourable access. The actions of a minority will simply not be allowed to overpower the majority who mirror our visions and aspirations and want Stafford Rangers to reflect not just a football club that performs on the pitch, but a club built on respect. Without that we have nothing.

We have met with the team managers this week to establish a new process for getting information out to you by way of a regular newsletter, which will be posted on the website and social media and hope to get the first one out to you in the next couple of weeks.

We will also be looking at our whole media set up and looking at the various non-official channels, which operate using our badge and SRFC will tell you who is representing the club officially from that point on. Some individuals also seem to believe that they can also operate in a position within the club, an official channel, and then disrespect that position by using their personal voice on social media criticising the club, that will change, you can’t have it both ways.

We were appalled to see that some openly criticised stewards who do a thankless task for a pittance of a return. We thank them all for their continued support and we will also be looking at introducing further stewarding to ensure that everyone complies with our vision of a respectful ground, where our young supporters and their parents are protected from the side of football no one likes. This all comes at a financial cost within an organisation where the expenses are always greater than the income. Additional expense that we can’t afford.

This is not the type of post the club wants to make. We accept that a few mistakes have been made, but the actions of a few will not be allowed to diminish a club that so many support and so few work hard at making it a better place and a credit to the town it represents.

Thank-you.

Stafford Rangers Football Club