1884 - 1912 - Hartlepool Rangers RFC's

 Images of the Rangers Club that played for several years but neither photographs nor records of their exploits appear to have survived. Interviewed by the “Mail” in 1938, Mr. Henry Kaiser (of 60 Montague St) recalled he was a founder member, playing centre when a Rugby team used only 3 threequarters, before the four 3 three quarter system evolved. They were formed around 1883/4 just after the amalgamation of Rovers and Hartlepool, and played initially on a field where Montague Street now stands. Shortly after, they were at Hart Warren, on land later acquired for housing, (Near the Tram Depot) and though enjoying some success,including a player in the County XV, they folded in 1892 as their Hart Warren site had been taken over for housing.

They reached the Final of the 1890 Senior Cup losing to Rovers and then won the Second Teams Cup (in 1892).  That year proved fatal for the Club for at the 1892 AGM the club ceased existence with the "shortage of a field" given as the reason and at the Annual Dinner held at the Fleece it was announced that the club would fold as the ground was needed for building sites! The dinner was a formal affair with speeches on aspects of Rugby & Commercial life and then Mr. Heppinstall, the Club Captain, was last to his feet to formally announce the end of the club.

Though the Hartlepool Rangers name fades from the records in the 1890s, an age grade club played under the Rangers name later in the decade, 

The Rangers named revived again in 1903 when like their namesake, the new club played near the Tram Sheds, Joining the Pyman League from the outset in 1903, they won the League title in 1905, 1908 and 1909, the Second Teams Cup was annexed in 1910 and the Durham County Junior Cup lifted on two occasions namely 1906 and 1908. The County Junior Cup and Pyman Cup double of 1908 was remarkable as Rovers also won the Senior, 2nd and 3rd Teams Cups that season, all five trophies were on display in a clothier’s shop in Hartlepool. Further, Rangers lost their opening Pyman match against West that season but then carried all before them that season in an unbeaten run. 

The success did not continue, and they faded away in a few years, clues to the decline and disappearance may be that in the 1910 Pyman Cup playoff (refereed by H E Pyman himself) they declined to play due to a dressing room dispute. Whether the game was played is not recorded but Greatham are recorded as winners on the Cup plinth. Rangers continued in the League only for another season before disappearing in 1912, but despite their bust up (not uncommon in those days!) they were promoted to Senior Status in the County, Mr Walter Robinson Bowring, (1878-1934),  a prominent Rugby administrator in his day became their County Rep in 1910. Many of the names in the Rangers ranks at this time, are also to be found in the teams of the very successful Red Rose sides that emerged at this time, probably the Red Rose arose from the decline of the Rangers. By February 1912 Rangers failed to turn up at Blaydon for a Senior Cup tie and were fined and in April that year a team called White Hart Rangers played Red Rose, which indicates more upheaval and a change of name, the White Hart being the HQ of both the Rangers and Red Rose at this period

Gallery images

• 1886 - Hartlepool Rangers - Spennymoor Cup Winners.
• 1887 - Hartlepool Rangers v North Durham - On the Friarage field
• 1889 - 1891 - Hartlepool Rovers or Rangers - 2nd Teams Cup Winners
• 1890 - Hartlepool Rangers - Fixture List
• 1890 - Hartlepool Rangers - Raising their banner high!
• 1890 - Hartlepool Rangers v Bradford Trinity
• 1890 - Hartlepool Rangers v Houghton - Tit for Tat
• 1890 - Hartlepool Rangers v Stockton
• 1890 - Hartlepool Rovers v Hartlepool Rangers - Senior Cup Final.
• 1891 - Hartlepool Rangers v Gosforth
• 1892 - Hartlepool Rangers - The demise of the Club.
• 1896 - The Fleece - HQ of the Rangers.
• 1903 - 1908 - Crusaders v Rangers Juniors
• 1910 - Hartlepool Rangers v Pyman League & Galleys Field Old Boys
• 1912 - Hartlepool Rangers