HISTORY OF SOMERSALL AND MANOR RANGERS

Somersall Rangers Football Club is one of the oldest clubs in Derbyshire having played its first match in 1961 under the name of Chesterfield Law Society. It was formed by Roger Woodhead who was one of the original players, and he was club secretary, chairman ( and continued to play !) for over 40 years until he ceased his involvement with the club in 2005. After playing two seasons of friendly matches under this name, it changed its name to Somersall Rangers in 1963 after the park where they played. It then entered division 1 of the Mansfield and District Sunday Football League as at that time there were no Sunday Football Leagues in Derbyshire.

Despite the long travelling distances in those early days, the club prospered and maintained its place in division 1 until 1967 when it decided to join the newly formed Chesterfield and District Sunday League, and again played at the top level in division 1. In 1970 a second team was formed which played in division 5 and for most of the seasons since that time there has been two adult teams, with both playing in division 1 in recent years.

On 21st September 1980 it was decided to invite any boys under the age of 12 living in the area, to go along to Somersall Park for friendly games of football. Nineteen boys of various ages and ability attended the first session and over the next six months numbers grew until there were eighty boys attending who wanted to play competitive football. As a result, the club formed its first junior teams in 1981, entering an under 11’s and an under 12’s team in the Rowsley and District Youth League, and over the next three years they enjoyed considerable success. The clubs philosophy in respect of junior football has always been to provide an opportunity for boys to play football commensurate with their standard, a philosophy which still applies today.

In 1984, the club moved its junior teams to the more competitive at that time Sheffield and District League. This League would now allow an A and B team to play in the same league under the name of Somersall Rangers, so it was at this point that Manor Rangers was formed, although both clubs have continued to be operated together from that date. Training facilities had historically been provided to the club by Manor school, hence the name of Manor Rangers.

From 1984 to date the joint clubs have operated at least two senior teams in the Chesterfield and District Sunday League, and junior teams at all age groups in either the Sheffield and District Junior League or the Rowsley and District Junior League. In more recent years, a youth team has also played in the Sheffield Youth League, and a Nursery squad has been successfully formed to provide coaching for boys and girls from the age of six.