‘Hope the TV comes’ - Stafford Rangers owner’s FA Cup dream after historic triumph

An FA Cup run was high on Stafford Rangers’ new owners’ wish list - and it has quickly become reality.

When Nathan Owen and George Bruneau invested in Rangers earlier this year, they dreamed of a memorable cup run.

Now, the club have reached the first round proper for the first time in 20 years and will welcome League Two side Grimsby Town to Marston Road. For US-based businessman Owen, it is still sinking in.

“I’m trying to process it,” he told the Express & Star. “When I do something, I don’t mess around and I became a little bit obsessive about this at the start of the year.

“Every night, I was dreaming it, sleeping it, thinking how can I help this club? How do we, first of all, avoid relegation? How do we get it back on its feet?

“But you never dream of this. This is down the road like ‘maybe we can get into the first round?’

“Just saying that, we’re actually in the first round of the FA Cup proper. We’re not just ball number 51, we actually are the winners of this tie.

“I guess Grimsby are not going to be very happy tonight, looking at this, and thinking: ‘What on earth?’

“It’s mind-blowing. It’s going to take time to process.”

And, with a glamour tie on the horizon, Owen hopes television bosses have been watching.

“I’m an optimist and believe in the team,” he said on Rangers’ first round tie.

“I am very up for it. It’s the FA Cup. I hope that the TV comes here and sees what we’ve got going on, because the fans and the players deserve it. And we’ll absolutely take anybody on here at Marston Road.”

Rangers have a rich history as non-league giants, particularly during their golden era of the 1970s, but recent years have brought their share of struggles.

Fresh investment has helped breathe new life into the club, improving its infrastructure and facilities while contributing to a sensational start to the season on the pitch.

The FA Cup run has also sparked a buzz around Stafford, with more than 3,100 supporters turning out for Tuesday night’s famous triumph over Gateshead.

“Every player on the pitch, in both games, has been absolutely outstanding,” Owen said.

“As for the fans, what a noise, what a racket, the support non-stop.

“I knew this could be a special place again, but I didn’t think it would happen within six months of the AGM. It’s crazy, long may it continue.

“We’ve got to figure out how to get more people in here now! It’s only the hottest ticket in town, but that’s a nice problem to have.”

And the cup adventure has also meant plenty of time in the air for Owen, travelling between Stafford and the US. But he hopes the trips will keep coming.

“I may as well put a tent in the centre of the pitch, it might be easier,” he laughed.