The Mount Druitt Town Rangers, or Mt Druitt Rangers, are a soccer club from Mount Druitt in Western Sydney, Australia. The club was incorporated in 1970. The team currently plays in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men's, the highest league in the state and second highest in the country after the A-League. Winning promotion having won the League in 2024 season from NSW League One.
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| Full name | Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC | |
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| Founded | 1970 (inc.) | |
| Ground | Popondetta Park | |
| Capacity | 4000 | |
| Owner | Mark Robertson | |
| Chairman | Mark Robertson | |
| Manager | Andrew Montgomery | |
| League | NPL NSW | |
| 2024 | 1st of 16 (Promoted) NSW League One | |
| Website | https://mdtrangers.com.au/ | |
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History
editThe Mt Druitt Town Rangers Soccer Club was incorporated in 1970 and has developed a strong association with the district and the states governing body, Football NSW.
Since 1970, the Rangers has provided football opportunities for the youth of Western Sydney. Founded by two Scots of opposing religions and the fiercest of football rivalries, they overcame their differences to unite the green of Celtic, the Rangers name, and the gold of Australia - their new home.
Sadie and Jackie Wilson (Celtic) and Joseph Martin (Rangers) kicked it off in the late 1960s. Jackie somewhat reluctant at first ended up door knocking the local streets where many Scottish expats had settled, quickly the club gathered a strong base that built the foundations of the club we have today. Over the years many cultural backgrounds have been welcomed to Popondetta irrespective of their race, colour or creed. In 2012 Rangers first entered the FNSW Girls program.
The Rangers play in the FFA FNSW National Premier League (NPL) 1st Grade, 20s, FNSW Boys's Youth League Two u18s, u16s, 15s, 14s, 13s, Skills Acquisition League u12s, 11s, 10s, 9s and Women's NPL 1, Res and FNSW League Two Girl's 16g, 15g, 14g. MDTRFC also have an Inclusive /Special Needs/ AWD program. Town Rangers also offers community football opportunities in the local Blacktown District Soccer Football Association.[1]
The Rangers regularly feature in the highly respected invitational Portuguese International Tournament hosted by Vila Franca do Rosario. Over the years VFR has included some of the superpowers of European football's youth academies such as regulars Sporting Club Portugal, SL Benfica, Porto FC, as well as other international guests Sheffield Wednesday, Real Betis, Malaga, Dynamo Moscow. In 2017, the Skills Acquisition Program also toured Portugal and played in the Algarve New World Youth Cup, where the Rangers team was awarded the Fair Play Award. That same year, the Rangers made the National Premier League 2 1st grade grand final against the league winners and highly respected Marconi.
In 2024, Blacktown City Council completed a major upgrade to the Popondetta Park precinct of $5 million development of a synthetic field and additional amenities for players and spectators.
Club colours and kit
editThe club's home kit is based on the Australian national jersey/shirt is predominantly gold and shorts bottle green, the socks are gold. The away kit is shirt bottle green, shorts black, and socks black.
Current squad
editAs of Season 2024"[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
edit- 2024 Men's League One (Formally NSW NPL2) - Winners
- 2024 Women's League One - Club Champions
- 2018 National Premier Leagues NPL2 - Winners
- 2018 NPL2 Senior Club Champions
- 2015 NPL2 Youth Club Champions
- 2014 Boys Youth Club Champions
- 2013 Boys Youth Club Champions
- 1993 Men's Division One (Pre-NPL2) Premier
- Round of 32 2019,2020,2021
- Round of 16 2023
With over 700 clubs entering each year the Australia Cup is the largest participation tournament in Australia.
References
edit- ^ "Blacktown and Districts Soccer Football Association Incorporated". Blacktown and Districts Soccer Football Association Incorporated. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ Stavroulakis, Mark (16 December 2022). "The only way is up for the Mt Druitt Town Rangers". NPL NSW Men's. Retrieved 18 December 2022.