Fans hand over anniversary funds

Organised by STRIPES, the Stafford Rangers Supporters Trust, last Friday night's event at the Lotus Suite at Marston Road raised £1000 after former Rangers player and manager Berry was asked to help mark the milestone.

STRIPES member Sue Bennett is pictured presenting Rangers chairman John Bromley with a cheque for the profits before their 2-2 draw with Warrington Town in the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight on Saturday.

Although Rangers cannot confirm a definite date for their first game after their records were destroyed in the First World War, supporters chose last weekend to kick off the EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division club's celebrations as it is thought to have been played around the end of October or in early November 1876.

Berry, now a commercial executive at the Professional Footballers Association after once combining playing with carrying out the same role at Marston Road, lived up to his reputation for straight talking at the £25 a head dinner. After kicking off with a light-hearted question and answer session for fans, he later turned to more serious subjects including his own experiences of racism in the game.

Delighted officials say the event also saw a great turnout of former players and their families and a spokesman said: " A very good evening saw a total of £1000 raised which was handed over by Sue to the chairman before kick-off the following day.

"After the three course meal George took part in an enthralling question and answer session using questions prepared from the attendees. He did not skirt the issue of racism in football and gave very honest responses, even recalling some of his own personal experiences."

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