Ambitious 9th tier club Risborough Rangers appoint manager Mark Jones who has spent much of career at National League level.
They finished the 2023/24 Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North campaign sitting 10th with 51 points from 38 games and 10 points from the playoffs.
The club say they are looking to progress with an excellent infrastructure from junior right through to senior teams, and searched for a leader with a record of managing high performing teams at least at step 4 and 5 of non league.
Also in their search for the new manager, before choosing Mark Jones, they said the candidate should be dynamic, enthusiastic with a proven track record of strategic planning, player recruitment and development and fostering a winning mentality who can demonstrate integrity and honesty that aligns with the club’s vision, values, and long-term objectives.
“Risborough Rangers has made great strides in the last 5 years and is now established has one of the best semi-professional football clubs in the local area. This is an outstanding opportunity for the right person to push the club on to the next level and beyond.”
The timing is right and the football bug never leaves you so I’m delighted to be back and working again with the brother at a good local ambitious club. Looking forward to getting started and meeting some familiar and new faces ⚽️. https://t.co/LJO2w9w44s
— Dan Jones (@Jonah8990) May 24, 2024
CLUB STATEMENT:
The club are delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Jones as our new first team manager.
Mark brings a wealth of experience having spent the majority of his managerial career at National League level. Mark started his playing career as an apprentice at Watford FC, after leaving Watford moved into non-league football at Aylesbury United, Thame United and Oxford City,
His coaching career also flourished gaining his A licence which enabled him to work full time in academy roles at Stevenage and Watford. In 2014 he was back in non-league football at Oxford City as assistant manager eventually taking the reins where he progressed their league position and enjoyed great FA Cup success winning away at league 2 Colchester United and notable games against Notts County and Tranmere Rovers which were televised nationally.
Mark has also worked in a coaching role at Yeovil Town and in recent times has managed Banbury United and Hemel Hempstead Town both in the National League North and South.
Mark Eaton commented:
The club was overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of the applicants and carried out a rigorous selection process and would like to thank everyone who applied especially those applicants who made the shortlist and met the selection committee.
In going through this process Mark emerged as the outstanding candidate and we are delighted he agreed to join. It is a measure of the club’s progression in recent years that we have attracted a manager of Mark’s calibre, and we look forward to working with him and his team to achieve the club’s objectives and believe we have exciting times ahead.
Mark Jones commented:
I would like to thank Mark Eaton and the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to become Manager at Risborough Rangers.
The club has big ambition to progress to the next level. Hopefully, I can use the experiences I have had to build a competitive group for the coming season. I have heard many good things about the people at the club and I am looking forward to working together in our aim to produce a winning team on the pitch.
The hard work starts immediately.
Past seasons at Risborough Rangers
| Season | League | Level | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Pos | FA Cup | FA Vase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 32 | 64 | −32 | 21 | 15/16 | – | – |
| 1990–91 | South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 26 | 37 | 97 | −60 | 22 | 17/18 | – | – |
| 1991–92 | South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 61 | 65 | −4 | 53 | 8/20 | – | – |
| 1992–93 | South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 86 | 55 | +31 | 84 | 4/22 | – | – |
| 1993–94 | South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 40 | +9 | 41 | 6/14 | – | – |
| 1994–95 | South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 47 | 68 | −21 | 24 | 12/14 | – | – |
| 1995–96 | South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 35 | 56 | −21 | 28 | 9/14 | – | – |
| 1996–97 | South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 37 | 8/14 | – | – |
| 1997–98 | Spartan South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 50 | 65 | −15 | 33 | 10/16 | – | – |
| 1998–99 | Spartan South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 42 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 41 | 97 | −56 | 30 | 19/22 | – | – |
| 1999–2000 | Spartan South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 36 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 44 | 73 | −29 | 25 | 16/19 | – | – |
| 2000–01 | Spartan South Midlands League Senior Division | 10 | 36 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 57 | 73 | −16 | 42 | 11/19 | – | – |
| 2001–02 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 51 | 11/20 | – | – |
| 2002–03 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 35 | 139 | −104 | 16 | 19/19 | – | – |
| 2003–04 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 32 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 75 | 28 | +47 | 64 | 4/17 | – | – |
| 2004–05 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 63 | 33 | +30 | 62 | 4/16 | – | – |
| 2005–06 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 70 | 72 | −2 | 41 | 12/18 | – | – |
| 2006–07 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 62 | 51 | +11 | 52 | 6/16 | – | – |
| 2008–09 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 31 | 11/15 | – | – |
| 2009–10 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 32 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 42 | 10/17 | – | – |
| 2010–11 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 53 | 52 | +1 | 37 | 10/16 | – | – |
| 2011–12 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 49 | 21 | +28 | 53 | 5/15 | – | – |
| 2012–13 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two | 11 | 26 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 80 | 26 | +54 | 59 | 2/14 | – | – |
| 2013–14 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 53 | 59 | −6 | 43 | 14/20 | – | – |
| 2014–15 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 40 | 21 | 9 | 10 | 78 | 51 | +27 | 72 | 5/21 | – | QR2 |
| 2015–16 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 62 | 7/20 | Prelim. | QR2 |
| 2016–17 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 40 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 93 | 58 | +35 | 71 | 6/21 | – | QR1 |
| 2017–18 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 89 | 49 | +40 | 61 | 8/20 | Ex. Prelim’ | QR1 |
| 2018–19 | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | 10 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 78 | 74 | +4 | 60 | 7/20 | – | QR1 |
| 2019–20 | Hellenic League Division One East | 10 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 12 | +55 | 63 | – | – | Round 1 |
| 2020–21 | Hellenic League Division One East | 10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | +22 | 15* | – | QR2 | Round 2 |
| 2021–22 | Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division | 9 | 38 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 101 | 23 | +78 | 93 | 2/20 | Prelim. | Round 2 |
| 2022–23 | Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division | 9 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 10 | 100 | 56 | +44 | 74 | 3/20 | Ex.Prelim’ | QR2 |
| 2023–24 | Combined Counties League Premier Division North | 9 | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 70 | 64 | +6 | 51 | 10/20 | Ex.Prelim’ | QR1 |
2019–20 and 2020–21 abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic. Promotion achieved by PPG over the two seasons. *3 point deduction for fielding ineligible player
Records
Highest League Position: 2nd in Spartan South Midland League Premier Division (Step 5) 2021/22.
Best FA Cup Performance: Second Qualifying Round, 2020/21
Best FA Vase Performance: Second Round, 2020/21, 2021/22
Biggest Win: 13-1 Old Bradwell United (H) – Spartan South Midlands Division Two – 10 April 2004
Biggest Defeat: 1-12 Welwyn Garden City (A) – Spartan South Midlands Division One – 12 April 2003
Consecutive League Matches Unbeaten: 52 games, 09/04/2019 – 15/01/2022
See more on Risborough Rangers’ history HERE.
Fans reacted as the ambitious 9th tier club appoint manager Mark Jones who spent much of his career at National League level…
@LeeCotton1: Blimey, RRFC aren’t mucking about next year!
@pbonham_AFC: Corrrr some signing that , shows some real intent for 2024/25 💪🏻💪🏻 All the best @markcjones_79 🙌🏻.
@NashManBlues: Wow bit of a drop ,This guy has managed National North and South!
@Bakler1: Good luck mate 👍👍👍
@the_jobber: WOW…… what a signing, what a top man too.
@tudorarmyfan: What an appointment this is for you lads 👏
@markhudsonjones: That is some catch for you guys! A manager with proven success at Step 2! A very nice bloke too.
@paulcotterell8: Well done Mark. Wishing you all the best.
@SpencerReds: All the best @markcjones_79
@richardkeil32: That is a great appointment. Mark is a top top fella and Manager. You did very well getting him in. Good luck mark I can see big things coming 👏
@brianba56550814: All the best Mark..❤💛
@PopcornCorky: @markcjones_79 congratulations mate. All the best.
@Jp_Spurs22: This league going to be a very competitive league. Quality appointment this one good luck for the season ❤️⚽️
@DLocke168: Big appointment that 👏🏻
@YashRomeo: Massive Coup 🙌🏿
@jamleeroberts: Great appointment 👏
@Padz86: Well in @markcjones_79 👏🏻
@BeckinghamJames: Excellent appointment
@TonyMasell59638: That is some appointment! Step 3 to step 5. I smell something cooking..
Corr, talk about a statement for @RRFC_1971.
I’m a big fan of @markcjones_79 + have been banging the drum for him for a good few years as far back as his #OCFC days.
He’s always struck me as a top personality + someone who always conduct himself with real class +humility; the… https://t.co/Vi6mTTjNfK
— Off The Line Blog (@OffTheLineBlog) May 24, 2024
Completely lost for words🤯🤯 https://t.co/aOmnc2NnyL
— Glenn Alcock (@alcock_glenn) May 24, 2024
Just very unexpected but I’m far from knowledgeable on these things. Magnificent appointment
— Glenn Alcock (@alcock_glenn) May 24, 2024
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