Over the last 20 or so years there have been a number of news items about Stafford Rangers on BN. Most relate to Hereford players moving to Stafford.
So with the two clubs meeting in the FA Cup tomorrow evening a look back.
July 16th 2002:
Meanwhile, ex-Hereford attacker Danny Davidson has linked up with Stafford Rangers, under the management of Phil Robinson.
Feb 1st 2006:
Ex-Bull Phil Robinson won the Conference North award for Stafford Rangers, while Gary Roberts won the award for crisis-hit Cambridge City in Conference South.
Stafford, who have been under Robinson's charge since the summer of 2002, are three points clear at the top of Conference North
May 3rd 2006:
Meanwhile it looks quite possible that former Hereford United player/coach Phil Robinson could be leading Stafford Rangers into the Conference.
June 14 2006:
Matt Clarke, another former Hereford United full-back, has returned to Redditch. He spent part of last season at Stafford Rangers with another ex-Hereford United player Phil Robinson who is the manager of the club.
Oct 10th 2006:
Stan Collymore has rejected overtures from Stafford Rangers' boss Phil Robinson, saying that he will only consider moves to the Premiership or Championship.
Nov 26th 2007:
Stafford have released assistant manager David Oldfield due to financial constraints. Rangers, one of the last part-time clubs in the Conference, had cut their budget by 12% during the summer to reflect falling gates but further falls have prompted the move. The club have only one home game scheduled in seven weeks.
Dec 1st 2007:
Former Bulls player-coach Phil Robinson has quit as manager of Conference side Stafford Rangers.
Robinson, who has been playing again with the club short of money and players, lost the services of assistant David Oldfield last week and supporters have been critical of him as the side struggle at the wrong end of the division.
He was in charge at Stafford for five and a half years, getting them back into the Conference in 2006, but the part-timers were unable to match the financial clout of the bigger sides and have struggled to break-even.
Dec 3rd 2007:
Ex-Bull Neil Grayson is one of the two caretaker managers at Stafford Rangers.
Feb 11th 2008:
Steve Bull is the leading candidate for the managers job at Stafford Rangers.
The former Bulls player-coach is hoping to succeed Phil Robinson at Marston Road, ending his matchday hosting duties at Wolves. The 42 year old, four months younger than current Stafford caretaker/player Neil Grayson, has management aspirations but his only coaching stint so far has been with the Bulls.
He was at Edgar Street for the 2000/01 season, initially in a casual coaching role as he looked to gain his badges alongside his Molineux work. He eventually pulled his boots back on two years after retiring, making six substitute appearances and scoring twice.
Feb 17th 2008:
Steve Bull is hoping he will be offered the managership of Stafford Rangers later this week. Bull would follow another former Hereford United player Phil Robinson if he gets the job.
"We will have a meeting early next week and I will have a listen to what they come up with. It is still on the table," Bull told the Express and Star.
"It would be a good step for me to start in management at Stafford. I live close by and I have always wanted to do it.
"I don’t want to look back in 15 years time and say I wish I had had a go.
"They told me the plans and what they want over the next two, three or four years – a new ground somewhere maybe – and I’d like to be part of it."
Whilst at Stafford yesterday Bull went to a Betfair betting shop to meet customers and help support the Promise Dreams charity (Bull has helped Promise Dreams, of which he is a patron, raise more than £2 million over the last six years and help more than 700 children.)
He was given a free £100 bet which he put on Crack Away in a race at Sandown. The horse came in at 11-4.
Feb 21st 2008:
Steve Bull has been confirmed as the new boss of Stafford Rangers this morning.
The former Bulls player-coach will be initially assisted by caretaker pair Neil Grayson and Kevin Street. Grayson told the press: "It will be a big boost for the club and he will get my full backing."
Bull will continue his work at Molineux as and when his new job allows, and wants some Wolves fans to follow him to Marston Road: "If Wolves haven't got a game and Stafford has then it would be good to see some fans from Molineux coming and giving me a bit of support."
Mar 4th 2008:
At Agborough, Alex Jeannin started, and Brian Smikle came on as Kiddie overpowered Steve Bull's Stafford Rangers 6-0.
June 4th 2008:
Ex-Bull Neil Grayson has joined Unibond newcomers Glapwell. The Nottinghamshire side are in the Unibond League for the first time ever after progressing through the County leagues. Grayson, 43, leaves relegated Stafford Rangers after four years and fifty goals in 150 games.
The Old Bull network appears to be working well as far as Stafford Rangers are concerned.
Their old Bull, Steve Bull, has been in touch, with Keith Downing another old Bull who is now doing scouting work.
Bull is short of strikers at Stafford as one has gone to Fleetwood and another is currently spending time in prison. However Downing has found a striker at Nottingham Forest who could go out on loan.
"Keith called me yesterday and asked me what I was looking for, so I told him and he told me to leave it with him. This morning, he left me a number and I spoke with Colin (Calderwood, the Forest manager)," Bull told the Express and Star.
"I have put the feeler out and now Colin will let me know. I played against him during my Wolves days, so I know what he is about and we are on pretty friendly terms."
Bull, who is in his first management job, was grateful to Downing for his help.
"Keith is a friend and it is great that he is helping. We friends in football stick together."
December 12th 2008:
Former Bulls player/coach Steve Bull has quit as manager as Stafford Rangers after just nine months in the job.
The Wolves legend leaves as the squad he assembled is demolished due to cost cutting at the club. Two players had already left the Marston Road club with three more departures announced immediately after Bull's exit, dropping the 23 man squad to just 18.
The club's board have confirmed it was a financial decision for Bull's departure, with more departures expected.
January 7th 2009:
Conference club Stafford Rangers has had its problems recently. The current directors have cut expenditure to the bone which has meant, amidst others, that former Hereford United player Steve Bull, who was the manager, has parted company with the club.
However, despite the gloomy predictions for football club takeovers, a group of un-named supporters have put in a bid to buy the club.
According to the Express and Star a letter has been sent out by Birmingham based accountants Law & Co to the 407 people listed as shareholders. The letter says that the group is considering “making an offer for your shares at a price of 50p per share (par value) in Stafford Rangers Football Club Limited.”
“As a result the proposed purchasers wish to acquire control of the company in order to save it from further embarrassment and possible further financial problems,” says the letter, signed by Keith Peters of Law & Co.
The group says it wants to involve fans and would arrange for one to be on any new board.
However Phil Bennett, secretary of Stafford Rangers Independent Supporters, appears wary of the possible motives behind the bid.
"If they are true supporters and we know and can trust them that is fantastic and the fans will be behind them," said Bennett.
"What we have to be wary of is at the moment is we are in recession and if some group came in and acquired a majority shareholding what happens five years down the line, when we are out of recession and prices escalate? Would they then want to pull out and sell the ground? The last thing we want is houses on Marston Road."
The ground is said to be worth about £3m for housing.
June 17th 2009:
Ex-Bulls backup keeper Lee Evans has joined Stafford Rangers from Chasetown. The 23 year old was one of former goalkeeper coach Bernard Day's pet projects and had several short stints as a benchwarmer at Edgar Street inbetween spells at a variety of clubs.
Jan 11th 2011:
Stafford Rangers boss Tim Flowers has quit the club after just nine games in charge as he was 'not enjoying the job'. Assistant Matt Elliott, the former Leicester defender has been put in charge.
Mar 9th 2011:
Stafford Rangers are to cut their wage bill for a second time this season after gates slumped further. The Conf North side had been averaging 500 through the doors, but managed just 260 for last night's 4-0 loss after a 5-0 home loss on Saturday.
May 25th 2011:
Former Bulls striker Lee Mills has quit his manager's job at Bridgnorth Town and set his sights on managing Safford Rangers. The 40 year old has had an impressive first season in charge working without either pay or a playing budget. Stafford are looking for their third manager in eight months after Matt Elliott quit following their relegation.
Dec 20th 2013:
Stafford Rangers have asked current and former Directors of the club to convert over £500,000 in outstanding loans to shares in a bid to balance the club's books.
Feb 5th 2014:
Ex-Bull Brian Smikle is reported to have joined Stafford Rangers following his release by Altrincham.
June 14th 2016:
Former Bulls loanee James Bowen will join Northern Premier League side Stafford Rangers once his current contract with Cheltenham Town expires at the end of the month.
Aug 7th 2016:
Two former Hereford United players have joined Stafford Rangers.
Kyle Perry who fell out with Worcester last week is the one and Michael Townsend who joins from Rushell Olympic is the other.
May 30th 2020:
A grandson of a former Hereford United manager has moved from Stafford Rangers to National North Club Farsley Celtic.
Jake Charles is the grandson of Welsh international striker John Charles who managed Hereford United towards the end of a long career.
Jake scored 27 goals in 71 games for Stafford but his contract had recently ended.