Stafford Rangers revive youth set-up

Stafford Rangers today revealed an under-17 side will be coming under the club's umbrella for next season with a view to developing more homegrown players.

An under-16 side used the Stafford Rangers name for the last campaign but were not affliated to the club, although they will now play their part.

The members of that team will comprise the new team along with players picked from an open trials day on Sunday June 24 at Shugborough FC.

That's where the new set-up will be based next season under the guidance of Chris Curtis, a former Rangers first-team coach under Phil Robinson.

Not since Robinson's Rangers were a part of non-league football's top tier from 2006 to 2008 have the club had an official youth side.

But a new breed will be entered by the club in a variety of competitions next season, such as the Staffordshire Floodlit Youth Cup.

They will play league games at Shugborough on Sunday afternoons under Curtis and his assistant Ger Krol, says first-team boss Greg Clowes.

He explained: "Myself and Chris are committed to developing local talent that will serve the club in years ahead.

"We want to see local players with the club at heart in the first-team within the next five years."

A new youth set-up is just what the club needs, Clowes believes, to see that the town's folk have players of their own in the first-team.

He said: "It's another small step that we feel is going to benefit the club and, of course, the players who are involved with it.

"These players will be invited to train with the first-team from time to time, as a few of the under-16s were last season.

"We are building up a great community spirit in Stafford, that's been very clear, and this is another part of it.

"There has been great strides in the 12 months I have been here, I feel."

Players interested in attending the open trials at Shugborough on June 24 MUST register with the club beforehand.

For more information, call Chris Curtis on 07737 555 809.