Geelong Rangers FC
| Full name | Geelong Rangers Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rangers, Dark Blues | ||
| Founded | 1955 | ||
| Ground | Myers Reserve, Bell Post Hill, Victoria | ||
| President | Tim Santalucia | ||
| Coach | Michael Bothwell and Troy Hardy | ||
| League | State League 2 Nth-West | ||
| Website | https://geelongrangersfc.com/ | ||
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Geelong Rangers Football Club is an Australian soccer club based in Geelong, Australia. The club currently competes in the Victorian State League Division 2 North-West, the fifth division of the Australian soccer league system.
History
The club was started in 1955 by Bill Dorris Snr, Bob Barclay and John Barr under the name Geelong Scottish.[1]
Their first home ground was cleared out of the waste ground and scrub at Hamlyn Park in Hamlyn Heights.[2]
In early 1960's, the club expanded to two teams, the second team being named Hamlyn Rangers.[2]
In 1975, the club moved to its current ground at Myers Reserve.[1]
Geelong Rangers claimed the 2008 Victorian State League Division 3 championship with 43 points, five points clear of second placed Sydenham Park, and were promoted to the Victorian State League Division 2 for the 2009 season.[3]
Upon the club's relegation from the Victorian State League Division 2 North-West to the Victorian State League Division 3 North-West in 2010, the club appointed former South African footballer Dale Harris as the first-team coach.
Rangers finished the 2011 season in bottom place of the Victorian State League Division 3 table and were relegated to Victorian Provisional League Division 1 North-West for the 2012 season.[4]
The club debuted in the FFV State Knockout Cup in the 2012 tournament, where Rangers defeated Warrnambool Wolves in a 5–2 home victory in a second round fixture on 17 March.
Divisional history
- Victorian State League Division 2 North-West (2016–)
- Victorian State League Division 3 North-West (2014–2016)
- Victorian State League Division 4 West (2013)
- Victorian Provisional League Division 1 North-West (2012)
- Victorian State League Division 3 North-West (2011)
- Victorian State League Division 2 North-West (2009–2010)
- Victorian State League Division 3 North-West (2006–2008)
- Victorian Provisional League Division 1 North-West (2001–2005)
- Victorian State League Division 3 North-West (1997–2000)
- Victorian Provisional League Division 1 North-West (1995–1996)
- Victorian State League Division 4 (1989–1994)
- Victorian League Division 3 (1988)
- Victorian State League Division 2 (1985–1987)
- Victorian Metropolitan League Division 3 (1984)
- Victorian Metropolitan League Division 4 (1982–1983)
- Victorian Provisional League Division 1 (1977–1981)
- Victorian Provisional League (1973–1976)
Recent seasons
Honours
- Victorian State League Division 3 North-West: 2008, 2016
- Victorian Metropolitan League Division 3: 1984
- Victorian Metropolitan League Division 4: 1983
- Victorian Provisional League Division 1 North-West: 2005
- Geelong Advertiser Cup/Geelong Community Cup: 1987, 2009, 2019
- FFV State Knockout Cup: Zone Semi-Finals (2012)
International representatives
Australia
- Johnny Gardiner, member of the Australia national soccer team
Scotland
- Frank Munro, member of the Scotland national football team[7]
References
- ^ a b "Club History". Geelong Rangers. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ a b Hay, Roy (1994). "Post war soccer in Geelong" (PDF). The Investigator.
- ^ Punshon, John. "2008 Victorian State League Division Three North-West Table". ozfootball.
- ^ Punshon, John. "2011 Victorian State League Division Three North-West Table". ozfootball.
- ^ "Rangers close in on their holy grail". Geelong Advertiser (Australia). 9 September 2005. p. 45.
- ^ BIESKE, SARAH (3 September 2008). "Promotion earned, now for the title - Rangers on rise". Geelong Advertiser (Australia). p. 37.
- ^ Hay, ROY (17 February 2005). "The Geelong Advertiser Cup 1981 - 2005 - It's the cup of stars". Geelong Advertiser (Australia). p. 42.