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Club history

Risborough Rangers Football Club started in 1970 as a team of 12 year olds who wanted to play competitive football. The main motivators were Life Presidents Tony Elsey and Derek Wallace. The latter of which is still active within the club, currently holding the position of Fixtures Secretary. Derek was instramental in forming the Wycombe Star League that now provides football for hundreds of youngsters in the Wycombe area, and Risborough Rangers currently have teams at all ages ranging from the Under 10 to Under 16 playing in this league.

In the 1975/76 season, the previous years Under 16's went into the Wycombe & District League as a men's team, and in their second season in adult football won the 3rd Division. Unfortunately, the team then folded, after which the club provided only boy's football until the Under 16's of 1979/80, having won the United-Carr Cup, went into the Reading Youth League for two seasons, and then the Wycombe & District League. They won promotion in successive seasons, and were followed two years later by the following years Under 16's as a reserve team, who emulated the feats of their predecessor, ending up in the Ercol Senior League and the FA Walters Premier League consecutively. At around this time, Rangers moved to 'Windsors', their current ground. 'Windsors' had been the home of the now defunct Princes Risborough Town FC who used to play in the Hellenic league. Within several years, club members had managed to improve the ground substantially by building the clubhouse.

In 1989 Risborough accepted an invitation to join the South Midlands League Division 1. In the first two seasons the club found the level difficult and finished second from the bottom and therefore had to apply for re-election. The 1991/92 season saw a great improvement when Risborough finished in 8th position whilst also celebrating its 21st anniversary. In the 1994/95 season, they were promoted to the newly formed Senior Division, after finishing 4th under the management of Frank Carter and they consolidated with a mid table position in the next season. In the mid 90s, Bob Rayner became manager for the first time and saw the establishment of a sound youth policy with an Under 18's team in the Wycombe & South Bucks Youth League. After a reasonably successful spell, in which the club reached the semi-final of the Senior Division Cup and the quarter final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy, Bob was offered the job of Brackley Town manager in the Southern league and took the opportunity to test himself at a higher level.

After Bob left at the start of the 1998/99 season, former assistant Jon Franklyn took over as manager and maintained a consistent level of football at the club. After Jons' departure, the club began to struggle and were eventually relegated to Division two.

In 2005, chairman Richard Woodward pursuaded Bob Rayner to return to the club following his departure from Thame United. Finishing fourth in his first two seasons back and just missing out on the runners up spot in the final game in the second season, Bob has had to rebuild his side from the Rangers junior ranks. He has patiently waited for his young side to blossom and the patience began to pay off in the 2010/11 season when Rangers achieved a fifth place finish and also reached the semi final of the Challenge Trophy, losing 2-0 to the eventual winner and also Premier Division champions, Chalfont St Peter. On route to the semi final, Rangers beat four teams from divisions above them including division one champions Berkhamsted Town.

The 2011/12 season was Risborough's best season of late with a late charge securing runners up spot in the league, and a first cup final reached in over 20 years, losing the Anagram Records Trophy final 1-0 to Baldock Town of the Hertfordshire County Senior League. The next season brought two good cup runs. Risborough's progress in the Anagram Record's Trophy was halted in the Semi Final by Baldock Town. The rematch of the previous seasons final ended up with the same scoreline as Baldock went on to defend the trophy. A second cup final in two years was achieved via the Division 2 cup, although the prospect of lifting the cup once again aluded Rangers, this time losing 2 nil to Aston Clinton. A league finish of fourth was achieved, and with the hardwork off the pitch, including securing the funding for floodlights which were erected in time for the 2012/13 season.
 
In 2016 Risborough finally won some silverware, after several near misses over the last few years. The Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup was claimed after a 2-1 AET win over United Countied League Olney Town. 


Sponsors

MAIN CLUB SPONSORS

LLoyd Latchford Insurance Consultants Ltd
Dove Decor
Rayner Gas Services
Ridge Rentals
Askett Nurseries
Putnam Paving
Coles & Blackwell
RotiGrill
Popes Pig Roast
R.S Agace & Sons
Spruced Up
Risborough Rangers in The Community

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Risborough Rangers FC in The Community

Risborough Rangers Community Scheme Run an Anti-Racism Football Course
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Molten Website

Molten - Proud Sponsors of the Spartan South Midlands Football League