Rangers host bottom of the table Shirebrook Town this Saturday, a game that could bring another valuable 3 points to Brett Whaley’s side. Rangers will be hoping a win here could put them 15th 7 points above the relegation zone.
Shirebrook Town were founded in 1985 initially called Shirebrook Colliery. They were put straight in the Central Midlands League second division which they won in only their second season as a club. They had success in the early 2000s, but their form has really taken a worse turn in more recent years.

They play their games at Langwith Road having previously played at Warren Terrace. Their record attendance (2200) came in a friendly against now EFL League One side Mansfield Town.

A different story has unfolded this campaign however, they sit in 20th place with 21 points to their name, bottom of the table. Points have been especially hard to come by as of late. The visitors have picked up just 2 points in their last 5 games.

A huge game for both sides with Rangers wanting to build on a 1-0 win against Newark Town with a valuable 3 points.

Club History

Shirebrook Town Football Club formed in 1985 when the then very successful Sunday side decided it was time to try their hand at the more professional side of non league football. Back then they were known as Shirebrook Colliery but when the colliery closed in 1993, they changed their name to Shirebrook Town.

Warren Terrace was the venue for home games, but they soon realised that it was not suitable for the level of football they was hoping to attain. With this in mind, Langwith Road became the new home and with local sponsorship the first task was to erect the floodlights. This was the first major phase of ground improvements with a tick list to pursue.

With the majority of the ground improvements being done through hard work and voluntary dedication, The Langwith Road Ground became a fortress and with a squad full of local talent the success flowed.

2002/2003 Shirebrook made their debut in the Northern Counties East Division 1 where they finished 2 nd , the following season they finished champions and made their debut at Step 5 in the Northern Counties East Premier Division where they stayed until relegation saw them back in Division 1 in 2010/2011.

The club hit hard times on and off the field with financial difficulties seeing many managers come and go and the club faced many seasons in the bottom half of Division 1 fending off relegation.

2019/2020 the club was laterally moved to the East Midland Counties League with covid curtailing the league before the finish all records where squashed.

After Covid had swept the country football resumed in 2021/2022 with further shake ups at the FA Shirebrook returned to the NCEL Division 1 where they finished the season in 15 th place.

2022/2023 was by far the most challenging season of all on and off the field, with the club spending best part of the season in the bottom 3 relegation was looking at us square in the face with no way out. Every week watching results going through every permitation of what ifs and buts.

February 2023 the club was of interest of British Truck Racing Champion Ryan Smith after several meetings he became the new chairman with Martyn Snell departing from Gainsborough Trinity to become vice chairman, with a major shake up from top to bottom plans had been made on how the club was to move to forward.

When the news came that we had been reprieved from relegation and we would remain in the NCEL Division 1 there was no time to rest, and work commenced. So, let us see what the future holds for us in 2023/2024.

The build up to the 2023/24 season was a remarkably busy period with major ground improvements to start the new era at Shirebrook Town, on field the management started to build an incredibly competitive side and the aim was promotion.

With a shakey start to the campaign this saw players coming and going until we got it right, as the season progressed, we were always in and
round the play-offs and when the season came to an end we finished in 3 rd so a home tie v Wakefield. Due to circumstances out of our control it was the first time in the club's history that we were unable to play at our home ground and the tie had to be played at Parkgate. This did not phase the squad and we came away with a 4 v 0 win and a trip to Beverley in the play-off final.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, after drawing back level in the 2 nd half we could not find a winner and eventually lost on penalties. We thought we was in for another season at step 6 but we received the news from the FA the on PPG average we had earnt a promotion place and we would be a step 5 club going into the 2024/25 season and due to lateral movement this would mean we would be playing in the UCL Premier Division North and after 8 years we had gained a place back in the FA Cup.

Off field due to major strains with the football club and social club our Chairman Ryan Smith felt he was not the man to be at the helm and resigned from the position, without Ryan the management also felt it was their time to stand down. The committee pulled together and after
everal meetings appointed the well experienced manager of non-league football Rudy Funk.

Rudy got straight to work and his first job was to appoint his back room staff which consisted of ex-professional footballer Miguel Llera and experienced coach John Knapper these three now had a very hard task of putting together a squad with not one player left from the promotion side they was literally starting with nothing but as pre-season got under way we had a young group of players who was all up the task which lies ahead.