PREVIEW | KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE VS DEEPING RANGERS(h)

THE MINERS AIM FOR THREE POINTS ON THE SEASON OPENER

UP NEXT, after a tough final away friendly match at Clipstone last weekend, the first team open their new campaign at the Stag Ground, where they welcome Deeping Rangers.

After losing just one match out of six friendlies, and some impressive displays along the way, the miners will look to take all three points in this very early first match of the new season.

Deeping Rangers make the ninety odd minute trip to the Stag from just North of Perterborough at Market Deeping. With a very similar preseason results wise, Deeping Rangers last match was a 12 goal thriller in a 6-6 draw with Boston united u23’s at their Towngate ground.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The last time the two sides met was in December at the Stag. Elliott Foster and Josh Sennett gave Deeping their second 2-0 victory over the miners of the season.

In August of the same season, Deeping took all three points at home via the same scoreline. This time Taylor Duthie and Avelino Vieira did the damage.

The 2022-23 season saw Kimberley smash five past Deeping in their own backyard towards the end of the season. Daniel Davy and James Shaw bagged a brace each, accompanied by a goal from Ryan Whitehurst for 5-0 to the miners.

Earlier in the season, the home match at the Stag was a much closer affair. Will Bird bagged twice for Deeping as did James Shaw for Kimberley. Louis Nicholson made the difference with a goal to make it 3-2 to Kimberley.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Deeping Rangers Football Club was formed in 1958 and originally played at Maxey Road until 1982, but did not move to Outgang Road until 1985; the move was due to a rent dispute with the landowner.

The facilities at Rangers' Maxey Road ground were deemed inadequate for Premier Division football. As a consequence, the club found it difficult to hold on to their best players, and the division-winning side dispersed[citation needed]. In 1979 Rangers were relegated to Division Two but they bounced back at the first attempt. That same year saw Rangers lose the use of the Maxey Road ground; they played at the Deepings Leisure Centre until moving to their own ground in Outgang Road in 1985.

Rangers finished runners-up in the Peterborough League Division One in 1985 and were duly promoted to the Premier Division. In 1995-96 Rangers were runners-up in the Premier Division, and again in 1998–99, under the management of Mel Landin. This earned the club promotion to the United Counties League.

During these seasons, Deeping Rangers developed a reputation for finding and developing excellent young players. Their most notable alumni include Malcolm Christie (who moved to Derby County and then Middlesbrough) and Ben Wright (who later played for Viking Stavanger in the UEFA Cup and was also on the books of football league club Lincoln City).

In their debut season in the United Counties League, Rangers almost pulled off a promotion double, narrowly missing out on the runners-up slot in the final game of the season. That year saw the installation of floodlights at Outgang Road, which made the club eligible to enter more cup competitions. In 2000–01, manager Chris Beckett took Rangers into the Premier Division by way of the Division One runners-up spot, to accompany the club's first success in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup "B".

Rangers made an immediate mark in the Premier Division, finishing tenth after their first campaign. In 2001-02 Rangers made their debut in the FA Vase followed a year later their first ever FA Cup match. The club finished that season fifth in the Premier Division.

The club had a succession of managers in the following seasons, and mixed fortunes on the pitch. However, for the start of the 2006–07 season, Deeping Rangers appointed Tuncay Korkmaz as manager. The club won two matches in the FA Cup and set a League record by playing 28 consecutive undefeated league games. The run was ended by a 1–0 defeat at the hands of Yaxley. As a result, Rangers led the league by twelve points in February 2007, and went on to win the Premier Division championship for the first time. Not surprisingly, Korkmaz was named the League's Manager of the Year. The following season was a time for consolidation, but the club has the stated ambition to win the UCL Premier Division title again and join near neighbours Stamford at a higher level of football.

FINALLY

A hug thank you to our partner club, Priory Celtic, who have very kindly sponsored the weekend’s match. Their under 7’s hoops are also the mascots for the day.

For anyone who would like to sponsor a future match, please get in touch. It will cost just £50

Both teams will be wanting to kick off the season with three points in what should be a great game of football.

Admission prices are as follows

Adults £7
Concessions £4
U16s free with a paying adult

Please come along and support the lads