A Non League club in South Bucks has unveiled its new family stand to the public.
Risborough Rangers, who play their home games at the B.E.P Stadium in Horsenden, revealed the facility ahead of the club’s home match against Arlesey Town on Saturday, September 3, which the Reds won 5-3 as they secured their first victory of the season.
An eight goal thriller at the #BEPStadium yesterday afternoon with four goals in either half.@jlouislee9 @LIAM_E_M and @_GavinJames were all on the scoresheet for Rangers as it finished:@RRFC_1971 5@ArleseyTownFC 3@Ollie_Bayliss @CatlingCarl @NonLeagueCrowd @Wycombe_GC pic.twitter.com/L6TL0fCRvy
— Risborough Rangers FC (@RRFC_1971) September 4, 2022
Stephen Burnett, whose father was one of the founding members of the club in 1971, said: “After being with my humble club since day one, it's great to see our new 100-seater family stand up in all its glory yesterday [September 3].
“An amazing achievement by everyone involved to make this happen.
The Richard Woodwar Family Stand is named after the club's chairman
“Made even sweeter with Risborough Rangers F.C winning 5-3 on this special day.”
Named after the club’s chairman, the Richard Woodward Family Stand now means the Reds have matched the Football Association’s [FA] requirements if they were to gain promotion into a higher league this season.
During the 2021/22 campaign, Risborough, along with New Salamis, gained promotion out of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (the ninth tier of English football), to the Isthmian League [the eighth tier of English football], as the two clubs finished in the top two places in the table.
The impromptu Hurricane fly past was an added bonus for the unveiling of the new Richard Woodward Family Stand yesterday.
— Risborough Rangers FC (@RRFC_1971) September 4, 2022
Thank you to all our friends and sponsors❤️#BEP #FIFAR @baldwin_al #ATW @kamtechgarage @SOLegalUK @LtdEdenbeck #LloydLatchford #SESLtd #RisboroughSprings pic.twitter.com/FtTwzOcgWV
However, despite amassing 93 points and losing just three league games all year, Rangers’ promotion was denied as their facilities did not match the conditions for the tier above.
READ MORE: Non League team from Bucks miss out on equalling Bayern Munich's unbeaten league record
This was in spite of a planning application being submitted to Buckinghamshire Council in August 2021 and having a grant given to them by the FA.
They learnt of the news ahead of their final game of the season which was coincidentally against New Salamis.
Stephen Burnett's father was one of the founding members of the club back in 1971
The latter won 2-0 in front of Rangers’ highest crowd of the season (410 spectators), before Risborough revealed to the public that their achievements for the campaign were in vain.
They also confirmed that they had lodged an appeal which turned out to be unsuccessful.
READ MORE: Risborough Rangers beat Arsenal's unbeaten record
Instead, Hadley took their position in the Isthmian League after they finished third.
Rangers are currently 14th after winning one, drawing one, and losing two of their opening league games so far this season.
They went 52 league games unbeaten between April 2019 and January 2022, eclipsing Arsenal’s record of 49 and finishing just one short of Bayern Munich’s 53.
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