Stafford Rangers Prepare to Face Grimsby Town in FA Cup Showdown
Stafford Rangers will enter Sunday’s FA Cup first-round match against League Two side Grimsby Town as significant underdogs. As the lowest-ranked team remaining in this year’s competition, Rangers represent the eighth tier of the English football pyramid, while Grimsby currently sits sixth in League Two, a full four tiers above.
Reflecting on the club’s rich history, Stafford Rangers enjoyed considerable success in non-league football 50 years ago, having made three trips to Wembley. They won the FA Trophy twice in 1972 and 1979 under Roy Chapman, the father of Leeds United title winner and former Stoke City striker Lee. Additionally, the club managed to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup during that era.
Founded as a member of non-league football’s inaugural ‘fifth division’, the Alliance Premier League in 1979, the club experienced a downturn that hindered its progression. Once boasting average crowds of up to 4,000, attendance dwindled, and financial struggles caused the Rangers to lose their direction.
Rangers briefly returned to the fifth tier in 2006 under Stafford-born former Wolves and Stoke midfielder Phil Robinson, but after two seasons, the club descended once more with Wolves legend Steve Bull at the helm in 2008.
Currently, Rangers are revitalized and competing fiercely, particularly bolstered by a remarkable FA Cup run highlighted by their 5-0 victory over Gateshead in the fourth qualifying round replay.
“The feeling we have around the club is one of anticipation,” said chief executive David Smith on BBC Radio Stoke. “The place is buzzing. There are people everywhere working to prepare the ground – to make it the way we want to be.”
Smith acknowledged the challenge of being broadcast live on TV during the Sunday match. “The staff have put in many hours of service to be match ready. We’ve already had three full houses here of crowds over 3,000, so we’re almost getting used to it.”
From Chip Shop to the Touchline
Despite their successes, Stafford Rangers maintain their status as a part-time club. Assistant manager Alfie Marsden works in a chip shop, while head coach Graham Deakin emphasized their professionalism in preparations against Grimsby, who have won their last two matches by scoring nine goals.
Grimsby itself was a “cup giantkiller” just last year, eliminating Manchester United in the EFL Cup on penalties. “We’ve earned the right to be here with the run we’ve had,” Deakin remarked in an interview with BBC Midlands Today. He noted that the club has triumphed as underdogs before and had to navigate through eight matches, including multiple replays, to reach this stage.
“We’ve conducted thorough analyses of Grimsby, and we’ve reviewed all their games to prepare,” he added. First-team coach Alex Meakin shared the sentiment of excitement surrounding the tie: “There is an energy about us. We’ve got a job to do. That’s what winning games does, and it’s important we focus on performing well on Sunday to continue making people proud.”
Regardless of the outcome, there is a strong sense of forward movement within the club. Majority shareholder Nathan Owen, who is originally from Stafford but currently resides in the US, will be returning for the match. “What an incredible journey this has already been,” he expressed, hopeful for continued progress.
“For me, the vision was to make Stafford Rangers an integral part of the community. I am proud of the passion people have for this club. Seeing it reintegrated into the heart of the community is invaluable,” Owen added, noting the excitement among his friends in America, albeit regretting the time difference for some.
The local pub, The Kings Arms, is bustling with anticipation. Landlady Maxine King said, “We’re six-deep at the bar, and you can’t get through the door. I’ve had to put extra staff on because the crowd comes in before and after the match, creating a lively atmosphere with both away and home fans mingling together.”
