Around 130 Stafford Rangers shareholders and fans attended the ‘Q & A Meeting’ held in the Social Club on Tuesday. The new management team of Greg Clowes and Dorian Garner answered questions and it was clear they both have the passion and desire to rebuild the side after two relegations in three years. They asked the fans for time and patience. The new commercial team, and in particular Stuart Maun, presented their vision for the future, which was well received. Most people left the meeting feeling a lot more positive about the future of Stafford Rangers.
Yesterday (Wednesday), The Board issued a statement of thanks on the club’s official website (www.staffordrangersfc.co.uk) to those who attended: ‘We would just like to say THANK YOU to all who turned out to last [night’s] Q & A Meeting, the contributions from the floor helped to make the evening a [success] and this will now become a regular event with the next meeting scheduled for middle to late September’.
The subject of Rushden & Diamonds expulsion from the Blue Square Bet Premier and Bishop’s Stortford’s switch from Blue Square Bet South to North was raised. The picture will become clearer when Bishop’s Stortford’s appeal is heard this week, with a slight change the outcome could be a reprieve from relegation for Stafford Rangers. Both Chairman Mike Hughes and manager Greg Clowes both said a return to Blue Square Bet North would not pose a problem, in the unlikely event it happens.
Rangers have also confirmed the dates of eight pre-season friendlies:
Saturday 9th July - Home to Port Vale, kick off 3.00pm.
Saturday 16th July - Away to Kidsgrove Athletic, kick off 3.00pm.
Thursday 21st July - Away to Stone Dominoes, kick off 7.30pm.
Saturday 23rd July - Away to Rocester, kick off 3.00pm.
Tuesday 26th July - Away to Norton, kick off 7.30pm.
Saturday 30th July - Away to Market Drayton, kick off 3.00pm.
Tuesday 2nd August - Away to Ashton Athletic, kick off 7.30pm.
Saturday 6th August - Home to Woodley Sports, kick off 3.00pm.
Several members of last-season’s squad have moved to pastures new: Ben Mills (to Nantwich Town), Andre Francis (to Solihull Moors), Craig McAughtrie (to Hinckley United) and Danny Edwards (to Worcester City).
The annual Summer League Bill Redfern Cup Final takes place on Saturday evening (kick-off 7-00 pm) at Osmaston Polo Ground, a few miles south-east of Ashbourne. I’m producing the programme and the game pits the top two sides in the league – Bradley and Coach Rangers.
Finally, European Football Weekends has been nominated for a very prestigious award – website of the year at the FSF Writers Awards 2011 in association with Cult Zeros. It is described as ‘a must for any self-respecting Europhile with a list of match reports from the continent as long as Ian Ormondroyd’s legs’. Voting at http://www.fsf.org.uk/news... closes on Friday.
Coming up over the next few days: More rugby league, Bill Redfern Cup Final, Brocton’s successful night at the Midland Combination awards, the latest issue of Non-League Digest and a look at ‘goals for charity’.
