Exclusive interview: US-investor targets Stafford Rangers revival, inspired by Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham journey
Inspired by movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham, a US-investor has begun an ambitious new chapter at Stafford Rangers.
The club has endured years of struggle on the pitch and is currently battling through another difficult campaign in step four of non-league football.
A lengthy winless run has left Rangers inside the Northern One West relegation zone, once again testing the patience of a loyal fanbase.
But while performances have faltered, hope has arrived from across the Atlantic.
Inspired by the Hollywood-fuelled rise of Wrexham, US-based businessman George Bruneau has begun his own ambitious journey with Stafford Rangers - at a crucial moment in the club's history as they celebrate their 150th anniversary.
Bruneau, a 37-year-old financial investment professional from Dallas, Texas, has made an initial six-figure investment in the club, a figure he revealed to the Express & Star. And his stake is expected to grow over time, eventually making him a substantial shareholder.
"I am a huge fan of sports, but owning a team in the United States just was not realistic," Bruneau told the Express and Star.
"Welcome to Wrexham on Disney got really popular. The ability to take a team from non-league and then compete in Football League is an amazing story, and that drew a lot of interest.
"I made an anonymous post on a non-league Facebook page saying 'I'm looking to get involved - who wants some money?'
"The response was pretty shocking, people called me a scammer. But some did take it seriously, including Mark Alcock at Stafford."
What followed was a lengthy process that took more than a year to complete. Bruneau interviewed 10 to 12 clubs across the country, eventually narrowing it down to Stafford Rangers and another club in Cambridge.
"It came down to two," he explained. "It wasn't the board, Marston Road or anything else, but seeing the passion of the fans, even though the team has been in a downward spiral."
That passion was on full display when Bruneau and his family travelled more than 6,000 miles to attend their first Rangers match on New Year’s Day. A a 6-1 defeat to Nantwich Town did little to dampen his enthusiasm.
