Clubs > Brighouse Rangers > The new Century
The new Century
The first game on the new pitch in front of the new clubhouse was refereed by well-known referee, Tony Martin O.B.E.
It was at this time that Brighouse Rangers appointed their first coach from outside the club. This was a big move for a club which had always appointed former Rangers players. The person they chose was Andy Hancock who had played professional Rugby League at Halifax. Jeff Greenwood explained;
“Andy shook up the club and did wonders”.
Rangers went from strength to strength, being crowned Pennine League Division 1 Champions in 2005.
Despite serious opposition from within the club, Brighouse Rangers applied to join the National Conference League and were elected to membership in 2006. Rangers stayed in the NCL for two seasons – 2006-07 and 2007-08 but this was an unsuccessful time for the club. They played against some good sides but never had the success they were looking for.
It was a difficult time with travelling problems arising as well as financial difficulties from paying players. These players disappeared as soon as the money ran out and abandoned the club. The final straw was playing an ineligible player in an NCL game with Normanton Knights which resulted in Rangers being expelled from the NCL in 2008.
Rangers moved immediately back to the Pennine League where they played until 2018.
The 2010’s saw success at the club as they featured in the Halifax Cup Final three times in five years. They were winners in 2012 and again in 2014 (pic below) and runners up in 2015 losing in extra time to Illingworth.
Again in 2014, Brighouse were in the Pennine League Championship 1.
More cup success would come in 2017 when Brighouse reached the Pennine Cup Final being played at Odsal Stadium. They were victorious and lifted the Pennine Cup for the first time.
In 2018 the club decided to enter the Yorkshire Men’s League and enter the world of summer Rugby League. Brighouse Rangers joined the YML Division 3 under coach Tom Andrews. There fist game of the season was a 30-10 victory against Kippax Welfare. This set the scene for the whole season. Rangers had one of their best seasons ever remaining undefeated in the division winning all 10 games and finishing as Champions. They were promoted to Division 1 for the 2019 season.
In that year, coached by Glenn Barraclough, they finished runners up in Division 1 to local rivals Elland as they continued this successful period. The Yorkshire Mens Division 1 Final was held at Post Office Road, Featherstone and Brighouse finished their season with a 34-10 loss to Elland. After the enforced Covid break in 2020, Rangers were in the YML Premier Division.
Rangers soon found their feet in this higher grade. They ended the year in 4th place in a competitive division including Siddal Academy, Cutsyke and East Hull. The next two seasons , 2022 and 2023, Ranger held their own in the Premier Division finishing in mid table 5th (6/16) in 2022 and 7th (4/14) in 2023. In 2023, former professional player, Lee Gilmour had joined the coaching team.
That saw them relegated for the 2024 season when they played in Division 2. This level obviously suited the team as they won 11 of their 14 games to finish again a Division Champions.
In 2024 the club were in the Yorkshire Men’s League Division 2.