At this time Rangers were playing their home games at Spring Lane, Wivenhoe. The First Team had Green & Red Quarters (or Emerald & Scarlett as recorded in the minutes) as their colours, although the Reserves played in Blue & White Quarters. Judging from the above photograph not every shirt had the club’s “Ranger” flower badge sewn on to it !. At that time, like the first team, each player would make a payment of 1/- for every home game they played in to cover match expenses and raise funds to help keep the club running. Team line-ups were picked by the club’s committee which included J.Harris (Chairman), T.Wise (Vice-Chairman), W.Hill (Secretary/Treasurer), W.Sparrow (President), E.Howard, A.Pullen, R.Kemble, R.Harvey, D.Green, A.Turner, E.Turner, C.Taylor, A.Perry, P.Sainty, and W.Hammond. The selection Committee voted Alan Pullen Reserve Team Captain while Bill Braddock was appointed Vice Captain for that season.
Although they were knocked out of both Cup competitions at the First Round stage, the Rangers second string had a fairly good season in their Division of the Colchester & East Essex League finishing in 5th place in the table (out of 14 clubs) with a playing record of Played 26 Won 13 Drawn 4 Lost 9 Goals For 63 Against 62 Points 30.
Clive Butt finished leading scorer with 28 goals from just 15 appearances, although at one point during the season it appears that he incurred the displeasure of the club’s Committee when he did not play for the First Team after being selected leading to E.Howard to propose on 4th January 1960 that ” If Mr C.Butt does not wish to play for the 1st X1 when chosen, he should not be selected for any future matches. ” It seems that differences were sorted out as Clive was back in a Rangers First Team shirt just over two weeks later. Goalkeeper Dennis Kemble was the only ever present in the Reserves line up throughout the campaign.
Rangers Reserves face the camera on 6th May 1960 before a 3-1 Colchester & East Essex League victory away to Clacton Monarchs.
Back Row (left to right) Ron Kemble (Committee member), Alan Pullen, Clive Butt, Dennis Kemble, Les Green, Mick Martin, Mick Harris, Pat Hatch, Jack Harris (Chairman), Ted Howard (Committee Member).
Front Row (left to right) Alan Green, Derek Cain, Bill Braddock, Ivan Payne, Bill Hill.
RESERVE GOALSCORERS SEASON 1959/60.
28 – C. Butt, 5 – W. Braddock, 5 – D. Cain, 4 – P. Hatch, 4 – M. Martin, 3 – A. Green, 3 – P. Oakley, 2 – J. Bines, 2 – T. Hammond, 2 – K. Moore, 2 – P. Skeet, 1 – M. Ames, 1 – D. Bull, 1 – G. Dadds, 1 – M. Green, 1 – M. Hammond, 1 – I. Payne, 1 – A. Pullen, 1 – L. Sainty.
TOTAL = 68
LEADING APPEARANCES (Maximum = 28)
28 – D. Kemble, 25 – I. Payne, 24 – M. Harris, 24 – W. Hill, 22 – A. Pullen, 19 – D.Cain, 18 – W. Braddock, 17 – P. Hatch, 15 C. Butt, 11 – P. Skeet, 10 – C. Cudmore
RESERVE TEAM RESULTS & SCORERS 1959/60
Aug.
22 Alresford Colne Rangers H 2-4 M.Green; Dadds;
Sept.
1 Paxmans ‘A’ a 3-1 Bull; Cain; Pullen;
12 Great Tey a 2-2 Butt 2 (1P);
26 Hedinghams H 4-1 Butt 3; Braddock;
Oct.
3 Greenstead a 2-5 Hatch; Skeet;
10 Spottiswood H 3-1 Hatch; Cain; M.Hammond;
17 Lawford H 3-5 Cain; Oakley (P); Skeet;
24 Hedinghams a 1-1 Butt;
31 Great Tey H 0-2
Nov.
14 Lawford a 4-3 Butt 2 (1P); Cain; Hatch;
21 St.Mary Magdalen ‘A’ H 5-3 Butt 5;
Dec.
5 Greenstead H 2-5 Hatch; Bines;
19 St.Mary Magdalen ‘A’ a 0-3
Jan.
2 Courtaulds H 1-1 Moore;
9 Stoke-by-Nayland (LC) a 2-3 Sainty; Moore;
23 Halstead H 1-3 A.Green;
30 Colchester Wanderers (BC) a 3-4 T.Hammond 2 (1P); Braddock;
Feb.
20 Alresford Colne Rangers a 5-1 Butt 4; A.Green;
27 Post Office H 3-1 Butt 3;
Mar.
5 Halstead a 0-4
12 Paxmans ‘A’ H 3-1 Butt 2; Oakley;
26 Post Office a 3-7 Butt 2; Martin;
Apr.
2 Fordham H 3-1 Oakley; Bines; Martin;
9 Courtaulds a 3-3 Braddock 2; Ames;
16 Spottiswood a 3-1 Butt; Braddock; Martin;
18 Clacton Monarchs H 1-0 Martin;
30 Fordham a 3-2 Butt 2 (1P); Payne;
May
6 Clacton Monarchs a 3-1 Cain; Butt (P); A.Green;
LC = Lexden Cup, BC = Bromley Cup
