Stafford Rangers FC
Ground: Marston Road
Capacity:
3,030
Club
Founded: 1876
League: Northern Premier League Division One West - Step 4/8th Tier (current level)
Stafford Rangers FC has a proud history, with fine FA Cup exploits and FA Trophy final appearances at Wembley to cheer the Marston Road faithful.
Club History
Early Years
Rangers are thought to have been formed in 1876. However, the early minute books were lost during World War I, so nobody is entirely sure. They played friendlies before competing in the Shropshire League, Birmingham League, and North Staffordshire League. The club moved into their Marston Road home in 1896.
After rejoining the Birmingham & District League in 1900-01, 'Boro' won the league title in 1926-27 as well as finishing as runners-up on two other occasions. Financial worries blighted the 1930s. The club's creditors were paid off after a successful appeal for donations.
The Golden Era
After rejoining the Birmingham & District League in 1900-01, 'Boro' won the league title in 1926-27 as well as finishing as runners-up on two other occasions. Financial worries blighted the 1930s. The club's creditors were paid off after a successful appeal for donations.
The Golden Era
Following World War II, Rangers spent six seasons in the Birmingham Combination before moving to the Cheshire County League. The club overcame further financial worries in the early 60s. Manager Colin Hutchinson's appointment improved fortunes. Rangers finished league runners-up to progress to the Northern Premier League (NPL) for the 1969-70 season.
Roy Chapman came in as manager as Rangers enjoyed their greatest spell. The team completed the NPL and FA Trophy double in 1971-72. Barnet were beaten 3-2 at Wembley in the final. Ray Williams scored forty-eight goals during the triumphant season. Wigan Athletic ended dreams of a return to the twin towers in the Trophy semi-final a year later.
The 1974-75 campaign saw Rangers reach the fourth round of the FA Cup. Stockport County, Halifax Town, and Rotherham United were eliminated before Stafford went out in front of 31,160 fans against Peterborough United at Stoke City's Victoria Ground. The following season the side were NPL runners-up and lost 3-2 to Scarborough in the Trophy final at Wembley.
Ron Reid managed the team to the NPL league title in 1984-85. Now a Conference club, as the non-league's elite division was renamed, Rangers won the Bob Lord Trophy. Stan Collymore was sold to Crystal Palace for a substantial fee to help with finances. In 1992-93, Boro reached the FA Cup second round once more, but success was thin on the ground.
Steve Bull was appointed in February 2008, but he couldn't prevent Rangers from being relegated to Conference North. Chris Brindley replaced him. In the summer of 2009, Rangers were close to closure. Fans again came to the rescue, raising the cash to pay an immediate £50,000 debt. Experienced pros Tim Flowers and Matt Elliott both managed the side.
 |
| My drawing of Marston Road, along with former Boro team kits. Click on the image to enlarge it. |
Cup Triumphs
Rangers also reached the FA Cup second round before Halifax Town exacted their revenge for the previous campaign. In 1978-79, the club won a second FA Trophy. This time, Kettering Town were defeated 2-0 at Wembley. Rangers became founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979, where they remained for four seasons.
Ups and Downs
The team was relegated to the Southern League at the end of the 1994-95 campaign. The club suffered a second successive demotion. Under Ian Painter, a free-scoring Rangers side won the Southern League Western Division in 1999-00. Phil Robinson followed Painter a couple of seasons later, looking to nurture local talent.
After a couple of good seasons, Rangers became a founding member of Conference North in 2004-05. A season later, they were promoted to the top flight of non-league after beating Burton Albion in the playoffs at the Pirelli Stadium. The club struggled to compete in the league. Robinson moved on after over five years at the helm.
In 2010-11 Rangers were relegated to the Northern Premier League. Greg Clowes became the new manager in May 2011, replaced three years later by Graham Heathcote. Neil Kitching was appointed after Stafford were relegated to the NPL Division One South. They returned to the Premier Division as champions in 2015-16.
.png)
Stafford Rangers 0 Scarborough 0
Scarborough were drawn away to Rangers in what would be the old club's final FA Cup appearance. They were having a terrible time financially, which would finish the club off, despite Mark Patterson doing a heroic job with his limited resources on the pitch.
Scarborough actually played very well and created a couple of chances against a Stafford team from a division above. However, once Rangers scored, there was no doubt they would win. Guy Madjo, the big centre forward, was a class above. At full time we walked back to the station down Marston Road and through the town centre.
.png)
After a succession of managers, Rangers were relegated to the NPL Division One West in 2023-24. Graham Deakin was appointed manager in January 2026.
My visitsStafford Rangers 0 Scarborough 0
Northern Premier League - Sunday 13th May 1979
👨👨👧👧 1,532 🎟️ Admission By Programme £0.30
Dad took Nick and me to this game on the Supporters Club coach. It would be the last game the teams would play before moving to the newly formed Alliance Premier League the following season. Rangers were to play at Wembley in the FA Trophy Final soon after, so excitement was high. The game was played in the early days of Sunday football in the UK.
Dad took Nick and me to this game on the Supporters Club coach. It would be the last game the teams would play before moving to the newly formed Alliance Premier League the following season. Rangers were to play at Wembley in the FA Trophy Final soon after, so excitement was high. The game was played in the early days of Sunday football in the UK.
The law said clubs could not charge admission. Instead, they produced a low-cost programme that fans bought to gain entry. I was still new to seeing other non-league grounds and compared them all to the Athletic Ground back in Scarborough. I remember thinking Marston Road wasn't that good, though hindsight has taught me that it was, in fact, an excellent venue.
The Main Stand had raised seating. The Lotus Side was a terrace with the centre section covered with a low roof. Behind the far goal was a small terrace with a cover and a programme shop at the rear. The programme shop did a bit of trade from me after the kind gent running it opened up.
The Main Stand had raised seating. The Lotus Side was a terrace with the centre section covered with a low roof. Behind the far goal was a small terrace with a cover and a programme shop at the rear. The programme shop did a bit of trade from me after the kind gent running it opened up.
That was about the highlight for me as a poor end-of-season game petered out without many chances. It would be the last time some of Scarborough's old heroes would pull on the red shirt, as they didn't fancy the travel involved in a national division the following campaign.
Stafford Rangers 3 Scarborough 0
Stafford Rangers 3 Scarborough 0
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round - Saturday 28th October 2006
👨👨👧👧 1,034
Scarborough were drawn away to Rangers in what would be the old club's final FA Cup appearance. They were having a terrible time financially, which would finish the club off, despite Mark Patterson doing a heroic job with his limited resources on the pitch.
I managed to get away from work at 11am and got on board the train at Euston with a couple of cans to quench my thirst. By the time I arrived, time was short, so I took a taxi straight to the ground and had a couple of pints with my Seadog mates. There was a good turnout.
Scarborough actually played very well and created a couple of chances against a Stafford team from a division above. However, once Rangers scored, there was no doubt they would win. Guy Madjo, the big centre forward, was a class above. At full time we walked back to the station down Marston Road and through the town centre.
Plenty of young chavs hung around doing their best to look menacing. It said something that the town's jail was the major tourist attraction. It was so bad that we didn't find a pub and ended up with a can at the station buffet, where, to our surprise, Mr Madjo pitched up. He was heading back to London on the same train as me.
