Winterton Rangers

Winterton Rangers FC is a non league club based between Scunthorpe and the Humber Bridge in North Lincolnshire. The club was formed in 1930 and spent many years in local football before becoming members of the Yorkshire League in 1970.













Rangers were champions three times of that league before becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982. They left the league for a couple of years from 1984 before rejoining. 


Rangers were prominent members of the league's top division for several years, lifting the title in the 2007-08 season, but refusing promotion to the Northern Premier League. At the end of the 2011-12 season the club announced it would look to become more community based and use the youth players to suit their budget.

For the 2012-13 season, Winterton Rangers FC will be playing in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.












My visit

I was going to watch the pre season friendly on Saturday 10th July between Barton Town Old Boys and Scarborough Athletic. I decided to travel up the day before using the excellent value Megabus plus deal which took me by train and bus to Scunthorpe. The previous evening I had fitted in the pre season friendly between Brigg Town and Grimsby Town.











I had originally intended to visit Winterton the previous day, but buses or lack of them tested out my resourcefulness. I arrived o











West Street was a very smart venue. There were small neat stands facing each other along the touchlines. One contained seats, the other was for standing spectators. The rest of the ground was neat open grass and concrete flat standing. The West Street End acted as a car park to the large clubhouse.I went on my way to try and get to the bus stop so I could have a few convivial pints in Barton before the match. I made it with a few minutes to spare as I listened to the One Day Cricket between England and Bangladesh, as a reminder to how ludicrously early the season was starting. The World Cup Final was to be played the following day.
n the Saturday lunchtime at Barton station to await my bus. The Fastcat service took me through the pretty village of Wintringham before the town of Winterton came into view.

I got off a little earlier than I should of so I had to take a brisk walk round to the ground as time was tight. I got a friendly welcome from an old guy measuring out the pitch who was more than happy for me to take some pictures.