A non-league football club have achieved promotion one year on from their season finishing.
Risborough Rangers, who play their games at the B.E.P Stadium in Princes Risborough, finished top and unbeaten in the 2019/2020 UHL Sport Hellenic League Division One East season, but due to the pandemic, the campaign was made null and void.
This meant that Rangers’ efforts for the season were not rewarded.
Six months later, the club won all of their six league games in the same league but again, just weeks after starting the new football season, the campaign was curtailed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the club received the brilliant news that following their stellar campaign in 2019/20, on top of their 100 per cent start in 2020/21, they have been told that promotion has been confirmed and that they will be playing in the fifth level of non-league football for the first time.
The club, which is celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer, will play several derby games against the likes of Aylesbury Vale Dynamos and Tring Athletic, as well as Arlesey Town, Baldock Town, Broadfields United, Crawley Green, Dunstable Town, Harefield United, Harpenden Town, Leighton Town, Leverstock Green, London Colney and Oxhey Jets.
The team from the 2019/20 season
It was also revealed that Milton Keynes Irish and New Salamis have been promoted from Step 6 Spartan South Midlands Division One.
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Swapped into the Division in sideways shifts are Flackwell Heath and Holmer Green from the Hellenic League Premier Division and Cockfosters and Hadley from the Essex Senior league.
Manager Mark Eaton said: “It’s been a long wait before we could see a reward for the amazing effort of our players in the last two years.
“To go unbeaten in the league for such a sustained period takes incredible determination, commitment and focus and they should rightly get the credit they deserve.
“The promotion has of course been achieved by the decision from the FA to calculate the last two seasons via points per game, making Rangers the number one team.
“I hope this will be acknowledged by the Hellenic League and some kind of trophy will be awarded to recognise the Team’s achievement, which is no more than the players deserve.
“We go into a new league, which does look a tough challenge but one we will relish. Risborough Rangers is in a great position to kick on.
“The recent success of the Club has been a real team effort on and off the pitch.”
The club began pre-season on June 24, and have now released their friendly fixtures for the month.
The fixtures are as follows:
Saturday, July 10 - Pitstone & Ivinghoe (away) 3.00pm
Thursday, July 15 - Egham Town (At the ASM Stadium on 3g, Thame United) 2.00pm
Saturday, July 17 - Rushden & Diamonds U23s (home) 3.00pm
Tuesday, July 20 - Beaconsfield United (home) 7.45pm
Tuesday, July 27 - Thame United (home) 7.45pm
Saturday, July 31 - Aylesbury United (home) 3.00pm
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