Black Country Rangers F.C.

History

The club was formed in 1996 by Gerry Clarke with help from club secretary Frances Tuzzio and magic sponge lady Jaine Fleetwood who was also programme editor. Clarke bought his first few players with him Luke Fleetwood, Ross Clucas and Andrew Dodds from his previous club. They joined the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two in 2007, and were crowned champions in 2009–10. In 2011 they were promoted to the Premier Division of the West Midlands Regional League after finishing top of Division One. As of the 2011–12 season the club ground-shares with Cradley Town at Beeches View. With Paul Garner keen to step away from the management of the senior side and in to a club development role, BCR would see a new management team in place for the 2012-13 season. Rangers recruitment drive started with the appointment of David Ball, previously Women's Team Manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Head Coach with Wolverhampton Sporting stepped in to the vacant Sports physio position and was followed by the experienced Nigel Birch and Ian Broad to oversee the management of the BCR senior side. Following a fifth-placed finish and retaining the Hunt Cup with a 4-3 win over Wolverhampton Casuals that season, the management team of Birch and Broad stepped down. The 2013/14 season saw the Rangers board moved swiftly, appointing David Ball as First Team Manager, who in turn, added long-term assistant Darren Turner to the fold. The season started well for new management duo with ten straight victories (a record for the club) and an F.A Cup run. Rangers secured a fifth-placed finish that season. Going into the 2014/15 season Ball's role developed to see him take on the reins as Director of Football. This move would see him work closely with Paul Garner (chairman), and Andy Harris (secretary), to assist with their work loads. However, Ball remained an integral part of the football side of the club. The summer of 2014 saw Ball bolster the management team to assist him with in his side of his role, recruiting Jon Turner as Head Coach, Mick Turner as Assistant First Team Manager, to work alongside Darren Turner and Avril Baker as Sports Therapist; alongside this, Rangers secured a new 4G training facility and sponsorship from Nuffield Health. The services of key players in Andy Price, Shaun Griffiths, Leon Miles, Phil McKerdy, Nick Turton and Jamie Hunt were retained and Rangers also added to their ranks by bringing in Simeon Townsend and Liam Hughes to add much needed firepower to the group and also Ross Miller and Nathaniel Lawson to add strength in depth. Rangers started the season well, however, before the turn of August, Ball had stepped down, experienced player Miller, would eventually take the reins at Rangers and guide them to a 10th-placed finish. Miller was officially announced as manager for the 2015/16 season. At the beginning of the 2016/17 season, Tony Maffei stepped down as manager after just three months in charge due to personal reasons, renowned non league manager and coach Steve Hinks was bought in by chairman Paul Garner, Hinks signed a number of players from various Evo Stik clubs with the likes of Brodie Williams and Tyree Clarke coming in from Halesowen whilst Josh Willis signed from Nuneaton to add some quality to the midfield. After just two months in charge Hinks stepped down from his post as manager to take the assistant mangers post at Sutton Coldfield with ex West Bromwich Albion midfielder Richard Sneekes at the helm. Black Country then swiftly moved to appoint Wolverhampton Sporting coach Lewis Jones as manager, at just 25 Jones is the youngest manager in the league but has already shown an in depth knowledge of the game in his short spells with Wolverhampton CFC and also understudy to Tony Maffei at the back end of the 2015/16 season.Black Country have finished in the top five twice since promotion to the Premier Division, whilst also winning and then retaining the JW Hunt Cup in 2011–12, and 2012–13.

Honours