Croydon Rangers

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Croydon Rangers
Croydon Logo
Full name Croydon Rangers Gridiron Club
Nickname Rangers
Strip Dark Green Jersey, Silver Pants and Helmet
Founded 1984
Sport Gridiron (American Football)
League Gridiron Victoria
First season 1984
Ground Springfield Reserve
Croydon Victoria
Club song NA
President/Chair Kevin Collins
Coach Mark Fairweather
Captain Tom Kinloch
2006 2nd of 8

The Croydon Rangers are an American football team from Croydon, a Melbourne suburb of Victoria, Australia, who compete in the Gridiron Victoria league.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1983 at Monash University a group of students and friends formed the Monash Vipers gridiron club. Monash Vipers made contact with two other clubs in Victoria: the Melbourne Steelers and Frankston Outlaws. The first organised game in Victoria was between three teams who played against New South Wales team. The first Victorian game was between the Vipers and Steelers, with Vipers winning 8-7.

In the late 1983 early 1984 the Monash Vipers Committee, having little response from the University (with regards to grounds and assistance) moved to Croydon, as the Croydon Council were able to provide them a playing ground. In early 1984 Croydon - together with the Steelers, Outlaws and Geelong Wildcats - formed the Victorian Gridiron Football League with 1984 being the inaugural American Gridiron Football season in Victoria.

The Rangers played their first season at Ainslie Park in Croydon. The first year was played without pads or helmets with Outlaws defeating Rangers 12-0 in the inaugural Vic Bowl.

January 1985 the first fully equipped (pads, helmets etc.) game was played at VFL Park in front of 30,000 plus crowd between Victoria and New South Wales (Victoria winning 16-6) as a curtain raiser to the Wyoming Cowboys and Utep Miners.


[edit] Club records

  • VIC BOWL's: 1997 (Vic Bowl XIII), 1998 (Vic Bowl XIV), 2004 (Vic Bowl XX)
  • Championships: 1995 (Gridiron Association of Victoria)
  • Riddell Bowl (Junior Championships): 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005
  • Games Record Holder: Tom Kinloch 205 (1990 - Present)
  • Most Club MVP Awards: Steve Churchill (6)[1]; Michael Smith (6)[2]


[edit] Team MVP

Steve Churchill a six time team MVP for the Croydon Rangers (2000-2005).
Steve Churchill a six time team MVP for the Croydon Rangers (2000-2005).
Year Player
1984 R.Bencraft
1985 R.Bencraft
1986 M.Smith
1987 M.Smith
1988 K.Raines
1989 M.Smith
1990 M.Smith
1991 C.Francisco
1992 M.Smith / C.Buckle
1993 M.Lumley
1994 M.Smith
1995 A.Douglas
1996 B.Bowe
1997 C.Buckle
1998 C.Bowe
1999 C.Bowe
2000 S.Churchill
2001 S.Churchill
2002 S.Churchill
2003 S.Churchill / J. Davidson
2004 S.Churchill
2005 S.Churchill
2006 M.Ursu


[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Steve Churchill MVP for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  2. ^ Michael Smith MVP for 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994

[edit] External links