Clifton Rangers JFC
Clifton Rangers JFC
The Club was formed in the summer of 1977 after two Stanley Junior School boys persuaded their fathers to form a team and enter the Poulton & District Primary League. One of the dad’s was John Turner, who many years later became stadium manager at Blackpool Football Club, the other was Peter Booth who became the first club secretary.
John Turner wanted blue and white as the Clubs colours like his favourite team Everton, but Peter Booth’s wife, Alison wanted colours that were different from all the other Junior Clubs in the Fylde. Amber and Black stripes were chosen. However, these colours lasted only about 4 or 5 seasons, as they were not liked by the majority within the club, in particular Brian Street, who was the manager of one of the teams. He suggested yellow shirts, black shorts and socks. This was adopted in 1982/83 and is still the clubs colours (July 2019).
The club has always struggled to find a permanent home to play football. Firstly in 1987 we purchased a large Scouts Hut on Council owned land at the rear of Kipling Drive, and the existing Council lease was transferred to us. After a lot of time, effort and money was invested this agreement came to an end.
In 1999 the club moved and used the pitches and changing rooms at the Co-op Club on Preston new road. Again over a period of 4/5 years alot of money and time was spent in developing this for the club but the relationship came to an end.
The council then offered us the use of Sandhams Green on Clifton Road Mereside with the use of the changing room’s once refurbished, and brought up to health and safety standards. In the end with the time being taken by the council to decide on what to do, the building fell into disrepair and eventually pulled down.
The club now have links with 2 local schools, St Mary’s, which is currently being used for all our games during the season and St Georges, which is used during the summer months for training and friendlies.
Over all these years successive committees have tried to progress the Club whilst continuing the day to day running of the teams and keeping our name in the forefront of local junior football. Progress was made when Peter Hoey rejoined the Club. He quickly learned the frailties and problems we were experiencing and hindering our progress. Even before joining the committee, he was actively involved in the Club’s development and how we should go about it. He was appointed Chairman in 2005, but in 2006 emigrated to Australia.
The progress and development came to a halt, until Darren Holt took office as Cairman and, having the same progressive ideas, drive and enthusiasm as Peter, resurrected the dormant plan with a vengeance. He has introduced a coaching plan and policy that has seen the employment of coaches in several schools that has created a fruitful link with these schools benefiting our Club in so many ways. He has also pushed anyone and everyone so as to fulfil all the stringent conditions to achieve Charted Standard Development status, which was officially granted in April 2009. He galvanised everyone, in an official capacity within the Club, to bond in such a way, that the Club is more important than any particular team, so we are progressing and working together as one.
The club has continued to grow under the new leadership team of Andy McDonald (Chairman) and Chris Snell (Club secretary). Andy McDonald joined the Executive Committee in 2011 as Secretary, and has been the Chairman since 2017. Chris Snell joined the Executive Committee as Secretary in 2016. With a hardworking committee to back them up, the club has grown massively in terms of numbers and influence within the area. With a major emphasis on getting the coaching right from a young age group the success of the older teams and the growth on player numbers show the processes in place are working.
During 2017/2018 Clifton had a digital transformation which streamlined the registration process becoming the first “paperless” club on the Fylde Coast. 2018/2019 Saw the launch of our mobile app, becoming the first club in Lancashire to have a bespoke mobile app. Andy and Chris were the spearheads for this transformation bringing the Club up to date with modern technology, and this would not have been possible without the support and assistance from one of the Managers Darren Spedding.
The club have played a major part in girls football in the area and were founder member of the league set up by the PDPL. Girls football continues to grow at the club and in the local area.
So, everything is in place, the Club is running progressively and efficiently, but we are still without a home, however, there are plans and verbal negotiations ongoing whereby, after so many years of hard work, frustrations and disappointments hopefully we may fulfill our objective.