Renishaw Rangers is a football club formed in 2011 by Sharon and Martin Baxter who wanted to provide football for the children of their local Derbyshire village. The village, Eckington, is well known for, Renishaw Hall, the "seat" of the famous Sitwell family. More of that later.
The boys' team (and possibly girls?) was started with the aim to mature into an adult team in a handful of seasons. The local Sitwell Arms Pub and school club provided sponsorship for the kit and tracksuits.
These young lads played as members of the Sheffield Sunday Sports' League, competing with teams from local settlements around the Steel City such as Stannington, Handsworth and Oughtibridge. They now have grown up and play in the Chesterfield and District Sunday Div 4.
The club also plays in the Saturday based Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League.
This is Level 11 on the Pyramid having the same status as the Sheffield and Hallamshire League Premier Division, presently including Hepworth United, my local club.
The club's latest match on August 3rd was the Central Midlands Invitation Cup Final, which brought Rangers together with Netherseal St Peters, Rangers securing the trophy with a 3-1 win.
Renishaw plays its Saturday fixtures in the Central Midlands F.L. Black Dragon Div 1 North, alongside Retford Utd, Staveley Miners Welfare and Newark Town, spanning several counties.
Last season Retford won the division, Retford United came 4th and Renishaw Rangers 5th.
Now for the SITWELLs! who built and lived in Renishaw Hall, a Grade 1 listed building, the family being in place for 400 years. The local population worked on the land, the lucky ones employed in rural pursuits on the Renishaw Estate and others in the local iron and coal industry, from the 11th Century. The coal pit closed in 1989.
Renishaw Hall, built by George Sitwell, who was the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, made a family fortune from the local resources from 1625.
DH Lawrence used the estate as his inspiration for "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and the Hall was used for the BBC TV series "Pride and Prejudice" in the 1980s.
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