Match Preview: Boro Rangers (a)

We took a look at our friends and rivals from Boro Rangers.

Redcar Athletic finally return to action after a two week break, a trip to Phoenix Park no easy way to edge back in to the title fight.

Boro Rangers sit fourth in the Northern League, harbouring plenty of attacking talent, not least the division’s top goalscorer in Stuart Rose.

WHO ARE YA?

Boro Rangers

Formed in 2003, Boro Rangers have contested the senior footballing pyramid for as little as ten years.

In such time, the club have known nothing but success, seven straight North Riding Premier League titles brought to an end by a fairytale promotion, and a double one at that.

Division Two proved the briefest of stops for the Middlesbrough outfit. Rangers topped the league at the first time of asking, defeating title rivals Horden CW on the final day of the season to lift the coveted trophy.

Now plying their trade in Division One, the club somewhat recently opened the doors to their new home on Lacy Road in Middlesbrough.

The ground boasts a £500’000, state-of-the-art 3G pitch, and also houses the well-esteemed T6 Academy, in which Redcar coach Dave McTiernan is heavily involved.

Known as Phoenix Park, the ground is the first to host Northern League football in Middlesbrough for over 100 years.

CURRENT FORM

That’s NINE unbeaten for Redcar Athletic in 2025, including a penalty-shootout victory against this afternoon’s opponents in the North Riding Senior Cup.

Admittedly, the Steelmen have been out of action since a 3-0 win over Tow Law Town, so Phoenix Park may not be the easiest destination to ease back into the title fight.

Boro Rangers drew with West Auckland Town at the weekend, their first points dropped in four games in the league.

The Middlesbrough-based outfit still have a game in hand on Redcar, but are not – currently – within striking distance.

FIXTURES

See our full fixture list.

PREVIOUS HISTORY

If there’s one thing that can be guaranteed this afternoon, there will be plenty of action.

Games between the two Teesside rivals are rarely boring affairs, with red cards, goals, strong tackles and plenty of drama.

One such occasion would take us back to Phoenix Park on Boxing Day in 2023, when goals from Donny Holdsworth and Lewis Ritson were cancelled out by a Stuart Rose brace.

REDCAR ATHLETIC 0-5 BORO RANGERS

Click below to read the report.

This season, both clubs have been involved in a dramatic title fight.

There’s many twists and turns to come, but perhaps the first came at the B&D Interiors Stadium, when goals from Adam Boyes and Callum Guy saw the Steelmen leapfrog Boro Rangers for top spot.

REDCAR ATHLETIC 3-0 BORO RANGERS

Click below to watch the highlights.

TEAM NEWS

It’s good news on the fitness front, as Carl Jarrett admitted he expects a full squad to travel to Phoenix Park this afternoon.

Of course, Mark Anderson remains suspended following his dismissal in Birtley, but Priestley Griffiths, Bryan Taylor and Kevin Burgess may be in line to make an appearance.