SRFC Match :- Preview
Posted on: Wed 05 Sep 2007
After a solid performance and a 1-1 draw in the difficult away fixture against Oxford United, the Shaymen face a much shorter trip to play Stafford Rangers on Thursday evening, in our first televised game on Setanta Sports.
Stafford Rangers' Marston Road ground was one of only three away venues last season where Chris Wilder's men recorded a victory on their travels, coming out on top in a thrilling 3-2 victory, with goals from Darryn Stamp and loanees Felix Bastians and Neal Trotman. This followed on from a commanding 3-1 victory at The Shay earlier in the season where a Lewis Killeen brace followed on from a 3rd minute debut goal for another loan signing, Nathan Joynes. This marked one of only two 'doubles' by the Shaymen last season - the other victim being Cambridge United
This time around Stafford will be desperate to move away from the foot of the League Table, where they sit with just a solitary point, earned in a 1-1 home draw against Altrincham. Chris Wilder's men, meanwhile, will be looking to follow up on some recent good form with a first away victory of the season.
A Bit About Our Opponents
When writing these sections, I often start by mentioning when the club in consideration was originally formed. However, this has proved difficult with Stafford Rangers as there seems to be some genuine dispute about precisely when the club began life, because all the club's early records were destroyed during World War One. The officially supported date is 1876, based upon mentions in the local paper, but a strong counter-theory argues that the side mentioned there is unrelated and that the club was actually formed a year later, with its origins in a local Bible Group!
What is more certain though, is that they have inhabited their Marston Road since 1896, spending the majority of their existence playing in the likes of the Shropshire League, Birmingham League, North Staffordshire League and the Birmingham Combination, though they temporarily disbanded at the outbreak of the Second World War.
After the war, they reformed, playing mainly in the Cheshire Football League, though the club was plagued by continuing financial difficulties. Like every club though, they had their moments: in a 1957 FA Cup Tie against Dudley Town the club recorded an 11-0 victory, with seven of the goals coming from striker, Les Box.
In 1965, the appointment of Colin Hutchinson as manager started an upturn in fortunes. The club progressed to the Northern Premier League and in 1971/2 recorded an impressive treble winning the title, the FA Trophy and the Staffordshire Senior Cup in a season where Ray Williams scored a club record 48 goals.
Three seasons later Rangers progressed all the way to the FA Cup Fourth Round defeating Stockport County, ourselves (see 'Stats of the Day' below) and Rotherham United, before finally succumbing to Stoke City in front of over 30,000 fans at Stoke's Victoria Ground.
Since the 70s, Rangers have drifted in and out of non-league's top flight, most recently winning promotion in 2005/06, beating Droylsden on penalties in the Conference North Play-Off Final at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium. They celebrated their promotion in style, with a tour of Stafford on an open-top bus, as many hundred's of local well-wishers cheered them around the Town. In their first season, they managed to narrowly avoid relegation, narrowly avoiding relegation by a single point.
Stats of the Day
Overall record against Stafford Rangers:
P-11 W-7 D-3 L-1 F-21 A-10
Stafford's only victory against us came in the FA Cup in 1974 on route to a Fourth Round appearance against Stoke City. Oddly enough, we were paired with Stafford in three consequetive seasons from 1974-6, triumphing on the other two occasions.
Full History of Results
17-2-07 League (A) W 3-2 Stamp, Bastians, Trotman
18-11-06 League (H)W 3-1 Joynes, Killeen (2)
7-2-95 League (A) W 1-0 Hanson
5-11-94 League (H) W 6-0 Prindiville, Lambert, Lancaster, Worthington, Kiwomya (2)
5-2-94 League (A)D 1-1 og
30-8-93 League (H) D 1-1 Paterson
18-11-89 FA Cup (A) W 3-2 Fleming P, Horner (2)
23-11-76 FA Cup (H) W 1-0 Phelan
20-11-76 FA Cup (A) D 0-0
13-12-75 FA Cup (A)W 3-1 McHale (pen), Downes, Gwyther
14-12-74 FA Cup (A)L 1-2 Gwyther
Town's Opening Matches:
Weymouth (a) 1-2
Altrincham (h) 2-2
Histon (h) 0-0
Ebbsfleet (a) 0-1
Droylsden (h) 3-0
Oxford (a) 1-1
Stafford's Opening Matches:
Farsley Celtic (a) 0-1
Kidderminster (h) 1-3
Woking (h) 0-1
Oxford (a) 1-2
Altrincham (h) 1-1
Torquay (a) 0-2
All the odds for the game can be found at Shaymenbet
Can't Get to the Game
Listen to commentary on Match Live whilst keeping a check on all the latest scores
Next Match
Town will be in action again at The Shay on Tuesday evening, 11th September, when we entertain Woking. Kick Off 7.45pm.
Stafford Rangers' Marston Road ground was one of only three away venues last season where Chris Wilder's men recorded a victory on their travels, coming out on top in a thrilling 3-2 victory, with goals from Darryn Stamp and loanees Felix Bastians and Neal Trotman. This followed on from a commanding 3-1 victory at The Shay earlier in the season where a Lewis Killeen brace followed on from a 3rd minute debut goal for another loan signing, Nathan Joynes. This marked one of only two 'doubles' by the Shaymen last season - the other victim being Cambridge United
This time around Stafford will be desperate to move away from the foot of the League Table, where they sit with just a solitary point, earned in a 1-1 home draw against Altrincham. Chris Wilder's men, meanwhile, will be looking to follow up on some recent good form with a first away victory of the season.
A Bit About Our Opponents
When writing these sections, I often start by mentioning when the club in consideration was originally formed. However, this has proved difficult with Stafford Rangers as there seems to be some genuine dispute about precisely when the club began life, because all the club's early records were destroyed during World War One. The officially supported date is 1876, based upon mentions in the local paper, but a strong counter-theory argues that the side mentioned there is unrelated and that the club was actually formed a year later, with its origins in a local Bible Group!
What is more certain though, is that they have inhabited their Marston Road since 1896, spending the majority of their existence playing in the likes of the Shropshire League, Birmingham League, North Staffordshire League and the Birmingham Combination, though they temporarily disbanded at the outbreak of the Second World War.
After the war, they reformed, playing mainly in the Cheshire Football League, though the club was plagued by continuing financial difficulties. Like every club though, they had their moments: in a 1957 FA Cup Tie against Dudley Town the club recorded an 11-0 victory, with seven of the goals coming from striker, Les Box.
In 1965, the appointment of Colin Hutchinson as manager started an upturn in fortunes. The club progressed to the Northern Premier League and in 1971/2 recorded an impressive treble winning the title, the FA Trophy and the Staffordshire Senior Cup in a season where Ray Williams scored a club record 48 goals.
Three seasons later Rangers progressed all the way to the FA Cup Fourth Round defeating Stockport County, ourselves (see 'Stats of the Day' below) and Rotherham United, before finally succumbing to Stoke City in front of over 30,000 fans at Stoke's Victoria Ground.
Since the 70s, Rangers have drifted in and out of non-league's top flight, most recently winning promotion in 2005/06, beating Droylsden on penalties in the Conference North Play-Off Final at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium. They celebrated their promotion in style, with a tour of Stafford on an open-top bus, as many hundred's of local well-wishers cheered them around the Town. In their first season, they managed to narrowly avoid relegation, narrowly avoiding relegation by a single point.
Stats of the Day
Overall record against Stafford Rangers:
P-11 W-7 D-3 L-1 F-21 A-10
Stafford's only victory against us came in the FA Cup in 1974 on route to a Fourth Round appearance against Stoke City. Oddly enough, we were paired with Stafford in three consequetive seasons from 1974-6, triumphing on the other two occasions.
Full History of Results
17-2-07 League (A) W 3-2 Stamp, Bastians, Trotman
18-11-06 League (H)W 3-1 Joynes, Killeen (2)
7-2-95 League (A) W 1-0 Hanson
5-11-94 League (H) W 6-0 Prindiville, Lambert, Lancaster, Worthington, Kiwomya (2)
5-2-94 League (A)D 1-1 og
30-8-93 League (H) D 1-1 Paterson
18-11-89 FA Cup (A) W 3-2 Fleming P, Horner (2)
23-11-76 FA Cup (H) W 1-0 Phelan
20-11-76 FA Cup (A) D 0-0
13-12-75 FA Cup (A)W 3-1 McHale (pen), Downes, Gwyther
14-12-74 FA Cup (A)L 1-2 Gwyther
Town's Opening Matches:
Weymouth (a) 1-2
Altrincham (h) 2-2
Histon (h) 0-0
Ebbsfleet (a) 0-1
Droylsden (h) 3-0
Oxford (a) 1-1
Stafford's Opening Matches:
Farsley Celtic (a) 0-1
Kidderminster (h) 1-3
Woking (h) 0-1
Oxford (a) 1-2
Altrincham (h) 1-1
Torquay (a) 0-2
All the odds for the game can be found at Shaymenbet
Can't Get to the Game
Listen to commentary on Match Live whilst keeping a check on all the latest scores
Next Match
Town will be in action again at The Shay on Tuesday evening, 11th September, when we entertain Woking. Kick Off 7.45pm.
