FC Rangers ready to kick-off again after 50 fabulous years

The Blackpool club based at Boundary Park operates teams at virtually every level from under-7s to open age and everyone involved looks forward to the grassroots and junior season on the Fylde coast starting this weekend.

Yet this extra-special year for the club formed in 1970 has become an unforgettable one for very different reasons because of the pandemic.

Steve Jackson, secretary of the club for more than 15 years, is looking forward to seeing FC Rangers teams kick off in the Blackpool and District Youth League, the Poulton and District Primary League and the Blackpool and Fylde Sunday Alliance.

And even if the 50th birthday party must wait, Steve told The Gazette that the club has plenty to celebrate.

He said: “We had a massive 40th celebration at Norcalympia and were wondering what to do this time, but then football was put on the backburner.

“It’s nice to be 50 and especially at Grange Park. We aren’t the most fashionable club because of our location but we have some of the best pitches on the Fylde and a good infrastructure.

“For the club to have survived so long is a testament to those who set it up – to the volunteers, the funders, the sponsors, Blackpool Council and others too numerous to mention. And thanks to Blackpool Coastal Housing, who let us have the community centre.

“We’ve had a really good team of managers over the years – Colin Cardwell has been with us for 25 years – and it’s nice to be one of the oldest clubs in town.

“Massive thanks are due to the people who set the club up. We are still in touch with the founder, Malcolm Richardson, who lives in Germany.

“We probably will celebrate when we all get back together.

“We are a community club and we’ll probably do something that’s more for the community.”

The club is still on the lookout for players in school years two, six and seven.

However, Steve adds that FC Rangers are entering the 2020/21 in a strong position.

He added: “We had a recruitment drive and got a good response through Christ the King Academy, so most of teams are getting full.

“We started with one or two junior teams and developed over the years, and 10 years ago we went into open age.

“Now with the Under-18s we have a progression from Under-16s to the open age team, which is a mixture of players who have come through the juniors and some managers, which I think is a nice touch.

“We have storage space and a minibus, and with our changing rooms, showers and toilets we have everything more affluent clubs have.

“There’s a FC Rangers cafe in the community centre, with disabled toilets, and games can be viewed from there in comfort.

“It’s great to have survived in this environment and it’s thanks to all the work that’s been done here at Grange Park over the years.”

For more information about the club visit www.fcrangersjfc.co.uk,