Hall Road Rangers

Hall Road Rangers FC is a community football club based on the northern outskirts of the city of Hull that was formed in 1959 by a local man, Ted Richardson, initially as a local Sunday League side. The adult side folded after the 2022-23 season, with several junior and community-based sides continuing.

Rangers moved to Saturday football for the 1968-69 season, joining the Yorkshire League as members of Division Two. The league was extended a couple of years later, leading to Hall Road dropping down to the newly formed Division Three.

The main stand at Dunswell Park

Promotion was achieved in 1972-73 as the team lifted the Division Three title. The 1975-76 season saw them demoted once again before being crowned champions once again in 1979-80 to return to Division Two.

Hall Road remained in that division until the formation of the Northern Counties East League for 1982-83. Rangers were relegated at the end of the first season to Division Two North, before being restored to Division One North following league reorganisation in the summer of 1984.

Further adjustments to the league structure led to Rangers being placed in Division Three for the 1986-87 campaign; before that division was absorbed into Division Two a year later. The team went on to win that division in 1990-91, joining Division One a year later.

Martin Thacker was manager as the 2007-08 campaign saw Rangers win the Division One title and promotion to the NCEL Premier Division. Billy Heath took over as team manager towards the back end of 2010, as the club consolidated their position.

However, the side was relegated back to Division One in 2012-13. That would prove to be the least of their worries. Heath departed to take the manager’s job at North Ferriby United, with Thacker returning in his place, before being replaced by Andy Foster and then Lee Hastings.

Meanwhile, another local side, Hull United, moved in as tenants at Dunswell Park in the summer of 2014. Their chairman, Jamie Waltham, bought the ground, which would lead to Rangers being forced out of their traditional home.

In December 2014, Thacker took over as manager once again. He remained in charge until the summer of 2016, when he was replaced by former Selby Town and Scarborough Athletic midfielder David Ricardo.

Hall Road, under the leadership of Chairman Darren Sunley, sourced a new venue and moved into the former rugby league ground at Haworth Park, a mile or so away from Dunswell Park during the 2016-17 season. 

The move proved to bring fresh impetus as Rangers won the Division One title. Ricardo departed as manager in September 2017 to be replaced by Bill Gill. The side narrowly avoided relegation in their first campaign back in the top level of the competition. 

However, Rangers went down in 2018-19, with joint managers Leon Sewell and Chris Burke coming in from East Yorkshire Carnegie at the season's end. The following two seasons were lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. When things resumed in 2021-22, the team ended in tenth place in Division One.

Dave Reader took over as chairman, with the club running on bare bones. The decision was made to take a voluntary demotion to the Humber Premier League to save on costs. Hall Road ended the 2022-23 campaign in fourth place. However, it would prove to be the final season for the adult side.

Hull United took up residency at Haworth Park, while Reader resigned and moved with sole manager by this point, Chris Burke, to join forces with Westella & Willerby, who hoped to get restarted after going into abeyance in 2022.

Meanwhile, Paul Innes took over as chairman of Hall Road Rangers with the club moving to a base at St Mary Queen of Martyrs School in Hull, not far from their original homeland. The club reassembled and managed to field 25 underage boys and girls sides as well as a men's deaf team, as grants were obtained and awards won.

My visits

Hall Road Rangers 2 Scarborough Athletic 0 (Saturday 30th September 2007) Northern Counties East League Division One (att: 407)

I travelled to Hall Road Rangers by a combination of train and a lift from Hull. I met up with the Hull Seadog, Fred and Tony in the Admiral of the Humber pub, which is close to Hull Paragon station. 

The beer was typical Wetherspoon standard pub, the pub was a bit messy as the crowds had been on their way to the Hull City v Ipswich Town clash, which had kicked off early at the KC because Hull FC were entertaining Wigan Warriors in the Rugby League Playoffs in the evening.

We went for a few more drinks in the Princess Avenue area of the city before Fred had commandeered one of his mates to come and give us a lift before having his first taste of Scarborough Athletic in action in the North Counties East League Division 1. 

Dene Park was located on the outskirts of the city, off Beverley Road in Dunswell. We soon found the huge car park, which was in effect the other pitches belonging to the club, which was filling up, along with the large clubhouse, which was doing a good trade with the large away following. 

Admission was £3 to the basic venue. The entrance was behind the goal, where there was a small seated stand as well as the clubhouse and changing rooms with the club offices perched above a refreshment kiosk. Down the left touchline, there was the away team's dugout and a thin stretch of standing spaces. 

The far goal standing area was just a few feet wide with large trees and shrubbery, giving an enclosed feel to the ground. The other touchline was similar to the other side, only it had the home dugout, a couple of steps of terracing and 2 small shelters in case of rain. It is neatly kept but very small. 

I asked a local where the toilets were and I ended up in the changing rooms, having taken a wrong turning. Hall Road won the game 2-0 despite Boro having most of the play. The referee was incredibly poor, with even one of his assistants shaking his head and laughing at one point. The highlight was probably the half-time Guinness.

I consoled myself with a few more beers after the game at Parker's, which is the nearest pub to the KC. Fred was a glutton for punishment as a Hull FC season ticket holder and went to watch them lose to the Lancastrians. I went for a very moderate fish and chips supper near the station in Anlaby Road, which I don't recommend, before my train home.

I was sitting with an Ipswich fan who'd booked his train tickets well in advance of the rugby fixture being determined, so he found himself with a lot of time to kill in Hull during the day. His team got beaten, and he didn't like the city, but he soon cheered up when I told him the plight of my club!

Hall Road Rangers 1 Scarborough Athletic 0 (Thursday 28th April 2011) Northern Counties East League Premier Division (att: 227)

I had been back from a hectic and rather arduous tour of Thailand for a couple of days and was back in North Yorkshire to visit my Dad and the rest of the family. As luck would have it, or not have it, Boro had a rearranged game at Hall Road.

It was the thirty-eighth anniversary of the old club beating Wigan Athletic in the FA Trophy at Wembley, and there we were fitting in a game that had been abandoned twice earlier. One occasion had been because of the awful winter weather, but the other because Rangers had booked out their clubhouse for a wedding reception. Nothing could bring home just how far we'd fallen down the food chain.

I had an excellent six-mile walk with my Dad before Jamie Nunns picked me up for the journey to North Hull. There were just the two of us, showing how interest had just about faded for the season. Just over an hour later, we were in the Dene Park clubhouse joining plenty of other Seadogs.

I was looking forward to seeing the young Boro players whom new boss Rudy Funk had blooded as he planned for the following season. Some had been getting rave reviews on the fans Surfing Seadog forum, whereas more experienced watchers whose opinions I respected were a little more cautious.

The match was awful and very tetchy. The pitch was bone hard with many bald patches, and the wind blew down the pitch. The effort from the Boro players could not be faulted for effort and commitment, but there was a quite visible lack of quality from many on show.

The makeshift Boro back four were depleted soon after conceding the only goal, as Gary Hepples was harshly given a straight red card as the ref deemed he had been the last man when committing a questionable foul.

In the second half, Josh Clayton was deservedly given his marching orders for an awful challenge after losing control on the dreadful surface. This led to a mass pushing and shoving contest, which saw a home team winger also receive an early bath. Just how former Boro clogger Dave Ricardo stayed on remained a mystery to most fans in attendance.

Although the game was extremely ordinary, the Boro fans were generally optimistic, which gladdened the heart and got them behind the team. Much of this attitude emanated from the extremely optimistic new boss, Mr Funk.

We drifted away at full time, trying to digest the news that Mitch Cook was to become the new manager at our landlords, Bridlington Town. Let's just say there was a mixed reaction! It certainly promised much interest for the new season.

Hall Road Rangers 3 Scarborough Athletic 4 (Saturday 17th March 2012) Northern Counties East League Premier Division (att: 164)

I was up in Scarborough for the weekend, and my friend Colin Whelan had a spare seat in his car, so I jumped at the opportunity of a lift. We picked up Nigel Searle and Chris Brown and set off on a cloudy early afternoon to Dunswell.

We arrived at around 2pm, so we went straight to the clubhouse, where the usual unadventurous choice of smoothflow ales awaited us. I caught up with plenty of pals before paying a very reasonable £5 to enter the ground. There were no programmes available as the printer had let the club down. I bought some raffle tickets when the seller came round.

The pitch was absolutely shocking. Surely, there was a bigger argument for clubs to have help in installing an artificial surface so that it remains flat and all the clubs' sides can take advantage of the facility while learning to play without being worried about the surface. At least there wasn't a high wind. It was notable that there was quite a low turnout of Seadogs in attendance. There were still around 120, but a lot less than on my previous visits.

Boro took the lead with a Ryan Blott header following fine work from Adam Lee. Paddy Miller doubled the lead when he spotted the home keeper out of position when he ran up to take a free kick from wide on the right. Somehow, Boro still went down the tunnel level at half time thanks to some poor defensive work.

Unbelievably, Rangers went ahead straight after the break after Boro keeper Kevin Martin went to collect a punt, which then took a crazy bounce, allowing a home forward to tap the ball home. It took only three minutes for Boro to draw level through a fine Blott chip. He went on to complete his hat trick, cleverly disposing of a defender. 

During this spell, I was in a celebratory mood after my ticket had been drawn out as the winner in the raffle. Some of the players stopped to watch my over-the-top celebrations. With fifteen minutes remaining, Michael Birley in the home goal, who'd had an awful afternoon, decided to grab Boro skipper Tony Hackworth by the throat while a substitution was being made. 

Despite not even watching, the linesman told the referee that both players had been to blame, so both were dismissed. As I pointed out to the home bench, this was unfair as Birley's sending off strengthened them. They didn't disagree!

Just before the end of the game, Neil Towler was shown a red card for Rangers after he allegedly elbowed Daz Winters. I was standing with some home officials at the time, and I was most embarrassed as I thought the Boro defender had deceived the referee. The sending-offs spoiled what I thought had been a good game.

I told the official I had won the raffle. He asked me what flavour of crisps I liked! I was given the choice of a bottle of red or white wine. I returned to my Dad's in a good mood at a Boro away victory, clutching a bottle of red. 

My demeanour was soon brought back down to earth as we watched in horror as Fabrice Muamba collapsed during the Tottenham v Bolton FA Cup encounter in the teatime live game. We both feared the worst, as did the commentators. 

Somehow, a miracle occurred, thanks to the marvellous medical staff on hand, but I don't ever want to go through experiencing that again. Perhaps players feigning injury should have taken a long look at themselves in future?

Saturday 13th January 2018

I’d awaken reasonably early in my Gilson Hotel room on a cold and dull day in Hull. I’d stayed overnight with my roommate Dave Cammish and enjoyed an enjoyable meal and a few beers in some cracking old town pubs on our annual visit to the city.

I fancied some proper exercise rather than just sitting around, so I left my pal to catch up on some rest while I got hiking. I had my Tune In radio App for company, but I was slightly surprised just how long the walk was down Beverley Road.

Eventually, I passed Sutton Road and then did a right down Parkstone Road, walking through some residential streets before finding Dawson Drive. Initially, it looked as though my luck would be out as the metal fencing looked secure.

Therefore, I was delighted to see through a gap that a groundsman was painting the lines on an adjacent pitch to the main field. He’d unlocked the gate, so I had access to take some photos without going too far to attract attention.

It looked to me that Rangers had done rather well from the move. I was never a big fan of Dunswell Park with its rutted pitch and exposed location that always seemed to be windy. Haworth Park was far more enclosed.

The spectator facilities were down the entrance side, with the clubhouse and balcony above the changing rooms. A covered stand with bench seating stood alongside. The rest of the ground was made up of open flat hard and grass, standing, while all neat and tidy.

It was encouraging to see the pitch perimeter had lots of advertisement boards publicising local companies. The large dugouts were on the far side. The gaps between the goals and the fence gave away the fact that it had formerly been used for rugby.

I’d learned my lesson from the walk and returned to the city by bus. It had been a good start to the day and had got me ready for a fry-up and beers as I met some really good people to remember our old mate Nick Groombridge at our annual remembrance get-together.