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Notts Rangers Football Club was an English football club, founded in 1868 under the name Nottingham St James. They became Nottingham Rangers in 1880[1] and by 1886 were habitually referred to as Notts Rangers.

Notts Rangers

Full name	Nottingham Rangers Football Club
Founded	1868
Dissolved	1890
Ground	the Meadows
Home colours

History

A founder member of the Midland Football League, Notts Rangers participated in the FA Cup in 1885–86 to 1889-90.[2] The club's first FA Cup campaign ended in acrimony, with the Rangers' half-back Knight suspended for the season for insulting the umpire after the loss to Notts County.[3]

The club's best run in the Cup was in 1887-88, which also saw the club's best FA Cup win, 10-1 over Jardines before a crowd of 2,000.[4] The club had previously recorded a 14-0 win over Castle Rovers in the fourth round of the Notts Cup in 1885-86.[5]

The club was a founder member of the Combination, and completed its required 16 games with a record of 11 wins, 1 draw, and 2 defeats, with a goal record of 47 for and 28 against; this was especially strong given the club only played 6 games at its Meadow Lane home. Of the clubs that played the full complement of 16 games, the Rangers had the best record, although Newton Heath had 1 point fewer from 14 games. The biggest win was a 7-2 home victory over Long Eaton Rangers.[6] The club also won the Nottingham Senior Cup twice, although after the introduction of professionalism this was not a competition of great prestige (the runners-up both times were the obscure Ruddington side).[7]

There were however ominous signs as the club was struggling to attract decent crowds (even the 1887-88 Notts Cup semi-final with Mellors had a mere 600 in attendance)[8] and, with two bigger, older, and more prestigious clubs in the town, the Rangers did not apply to join the new Football Alliance,[9] instead joining the Midland League. As Notts County was playing in the League and Nottingham Forest in the Alliance, the Midland League was a definite third choice; the Rangers lost a number of players, and the support, never high, dwindled to almost nothing.[10] The club won once in 15 matches, lost 7-2 at home to Lincoln City in an FA Cup qualifying round match, and was unable to complete the season, its last match being a 1-0 home defeat to Rotherham Town.[11] By 31 May 1890, the club had ceased to exist.[12]

Successor club

A new club started with the same name soon afterwards, but played junior football at a low level. The second club's final season was 1913-14, in which the club finished 11th out of 14 in the Notts Football Alliance, two places above Notts Olympic.[13]

Colours

The club originally played in white, changing to pale blue and cardinal by 1884.[14] In 1886 the club changed to black and white.[15]

Famous players

• Charlie Shelton was the club's only England international player, earning one cap in 1888.[16]

• Fred Geary, future League champion with Everton.

• Albert Smith,[17] England international.

• Alfred Shelton, who would go on to earn international honours whilst playing for Notts County.

Honours

Nottinghamshire Senior Cup:[18]

• Winners: 1887-88, 1888-89
• Runners-up: 1885-86

References

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