The Story So Far
20 May 2008

Landsdowne Rangers are a local Basildon side first formed in January 1991 by Tony Bush, and Simon Burchell, they had both just left another local club that had folded, but wanted to continue playing. They then both came together and decided to put a team together, the name of the club, ‘Landsdowne Rangers’ came from a road that Simon lived near in Leigh-On-Sea, and team would play its home games at Oakwood park, Southend. Simon left the club after three years after an injury finished his playing career, despite this the team continued playing, and Martin Bell took over his duties within the club.

Landsdowne are not just your average beer swigging local side as you might have realised, they have also done there fair bit of charity work in the past, on their ten year anniversary they played against ‘Basildon and Thurrock Healthy Hero’s’ in which all gate receipts went to Basildon Neo-Natal clinic, and in march 1999, 12 of the first team had there hair bleached for there yearly tour which raised £1,500 for Basildon Hospital special baby-care unit.

For this team winning is not everything as you will read, however the team is very active socially, and have been going on football tours for many years, visiting most countries in Europe including, England, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, and Italy. they lost there unbeaten run abroad after 6 years to Racing Banenc ‘second side’, Manger Pete Smart said about the game “I can’t believe we drew with there first team, and lost to there second, maybe I should have banned the beer on last night and drunk for the whole team, but winning is not what these tours are about, its more about spending time with the team and bonding as a group”. Striker Tony Bush remembers his best goal being scored on foreign soil “my best goal was in Prague in 2003, I scored an angled header from outside the box, and I have never seen us play so well, I often think we should pack are bags and play in a foreign league as we play so well abroad, but that might just be the beer over here”.

Season 1991 - 92
There first season saw the team placed 6th in division six of the Southend Sceptre league, scoring 50 goals, 13 of them scored by Simon Burchell.

Season 1992 - 93
This next season they were put into the 4th division but only managed to finish 9th after a disastrous start to the season, which saw them lose five games out of six.

Season 1993 - 94
The following year Landsdowne managed to start better and finished 4th gaining them promotion into the 3rd division.

Season 1994 - 95
Landsdowne Rangers finished around mid-table in the 3rd Division.

Season 1995 - 96
Landsdowne Rangers finished around mid-table in the 3rd Division.

Season 1996 - 97
Landsdowne Rangers finished around mid-table in the 3rd Division.

Season 1997 - 98
Landsdowne Rangers finished around mid-table in the 3rd Division.

Season 1998 - 99
Landsdowne Rangers finished a club record (at that time) of 4th place in the 3rd division as Martin Bell scooped player of the year, and Tony Bush scored a club record of 42 goals, and the league promoted them directly to the premier league.

Season 1999 - 00
The Premier League was to be a stage to high for the premier newcomers, as they finished 9th and were relegated, conceding a club record of 103 and only one win throughout the whole season.

Season 2000 - 01
The players took relegation well and bounced straight back up into the premier as they finished runners up in division 1. Cente Half Mark Hart took the player of the year trophy, as Landsdowne looked to the future in the premier league again.

Season 2001 - 02
Newly installed manager Peter Smart was optimistic at there chances in the premier and felt he had the strength to do well, he says “We had a really good side that year after promotion, and at one stage I thought the we would finish champions, but we was happy to finish runners up and gain promotion, I feel we have a good enough side to stay up, and maybe push for mid-table”. Unfortunately the optimism of the manager didn’t rub off onto the players as the they again finished ninth, only to stay in the premier league due to another side being banned from the league for gross-misconduct.

Season 2002 - 03
This year shaped up to be better, despite knowing they should have been relegated the players battled throughout the season and finished a respectful 8th and showed to themselves that they deserved to be in the premier league as this time they stayed in the division on their own merit.

Season 2003 - 04
The club now needed a change and the board decided to move into the Southend Sunday league, in Landsdowne Rangers' first season they were placed into the 3rd division and finished 10th place, as Paul Bush received the player of the year, but also decided that things could be done better his way, and left the team to start his own, eventually taking others with him later down the line, including the clubs top goal scorer of the season Graham Rix, and the skilful, but lazy attacking midfielder Gavin Mayo.

Season 2004 - 05
This season turned out to be a wash out too, and as the season grew on players new it was time for another change, but it was not manager Pete Smart who was for the chopping board, a new chairman was installed as player Brian Butler was given the keys to the golden office, and despite changes being made within the club they only managed to finish 8th, and after a team vote the team decided to again move league.

Season 2005 - 06
This year the club opting to be closer to home, and decided to join the illustrious Basildon Sunday league, but this would also mean leaving their home ground of 14 years, Oakwood Park, vice captain Danny Sarling said “although in are hearts we loved that place, it was one of the worst pitch’s I’ve ever played on, and I have played on it for ten years, no wonder we had the worst home record in the league last year, our pitch had no grass on most on it”.
With a new training programme in place and of all people...... chairman Brian Butler now taking training the club looks on the up, Dean Weaving talks about the future of the club “Some of these guys are getting a bit old for it, but some such as Tony Bush just seam to get stronger, and better, we have a lot of new players in the squad this year, and Pete can finally put players under pressure which he hasn’t been able to do before, and we look stronger as we now have more depth, when Rixy left at the end of last year I was a little worried, but we got his brother Dave playing up front now and he is just as good and his finishing is second to none so I’m defiantly up for the challenge”. So with a tough training programme and new league ahead, and Landsdowne having signed their first foriegn player in the name of Dariusz, the lads look like they are ready for the new season, would 2005-06 be the year Landsdowne produce the goods, or as it has done before, it could all just go wrong. The season didnt go as well as we all hoped and managed to finish bottom on Div 3(The Bottom League) confirming that Landsdowne Rangers were infact the worst team in Basildon - although they got good results against the top 2 sides in the division in 2 of the last 3 games.

Season 2006 - 07
Manager Pete Samrt now knowing what is required to succeed in the Basildon Divisions, Pete Smart brought in 4 new signings, and also brought back the much loved (or is that the loved up) Gavin Mayo and Graham Rix. with an already great team spirit and the base from the season before, could the 06-07 season be Landsdownes season??
YES YES YES, Landsdowne won promotion and achived Runners up spot in Division 3 only missing out on topping the league on goal difference. Manager Pete Smart told a reporter "This year has been unbeelievable, to lose our first 2 games, then go on a Landsdowne Rangers record breaking 10 leafue wins in a row, has been fantastic, its a great achievement for, me, the boys and also all the supporters who turn up every week wind, rain or shine"

Season 2007 - 08
With the promotion to Division 2, Landsdowne, after a slow start managed to push all the way up the table, finally reaching there highest point of 3rd place, which they secured in a 3 - 3 draw on the last game of the season, meaning back to back promotion was gained for the first time in the clubs history. With this season spelling the end of the line (barring vets football) for Tony Bush, Danny Sarling, Pete Smart, Mark Hart and Brian Butler, it was only fitting that Landsdowne achived such a goal in there final season together.