Controversial Nile Ranger makes a plea to clubs and speaks on future plans within football, in an interview with Echo News this week.
The former Newcastle player as quite the bumpy past, previously being jailed in 2017 for fraud and has a lengthy charge sheet of misdemeanours, however, aimed to turn his career around with Boreham Wood.
At one time, he was tipped to be the next big thing with Newcastle. But he never realised his potential and headlines on his antics was based on his chequered legal history, rather than his performances on the pitch.
Nile Ranger on Southend United, Boreham Wood, his regrets, being punished for past mistakes and his hopes for the future https://t.co/zsvurz4dtR
— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) December 14, 2022
Ranger joined the Magpies in 2008 age 17, after leaving Southampton. But after playing as a regular for United for two seasons, he then went on a downward spiral that resulted in him being jailed in 2017 for fraud.
He posed with a replica gun, a failed drug test and a fine from the Football Association for making homophobic comments.
His list of indiscretions is no doubt longer than the list of clubs he has played for.
As well as Newcastle, he has also had spells with Swindon, Blackpool, Southend (twice), Spalding and had loans with the likes of Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday.
Ranger’s two spells at Southend were largely marred by off-field run-ins with the law, the first stint ending in 2018 due to what the club said were “recurring disciplinary issues”.
His second ended after the club cut ties with the footballer after he failed to attend physio sessions to cure a long-standing groin complaint.
In a tell all interview with FourFourTwo back in 2020, Ranger reflected on his career and his antics.
He said: “I’m treated as the Osama bin Laden of football.
“(But) I can’t blame anyone else – it’s all been self-inflicted and I’ve had more than my fair share of chances to change.
“I know I don’t have time to waste. I hope and pray I’ll get one last chance. If I do, I’m ready to grab it with both hands.”
“I’m keeping myself ticking over ready for my next club and I know I will get one, I just need to get that hunger back,” said Ranger via Echo News more recently.
“It’s there ish at the moment but when I get a chance I know I’ll get fit and really give it my all but it’s disheartening when clubs just say no.
“I’m not being arrogant but I’m better than the strikers they have at their club and they’re saying no to me because of my past and something that happened so long ago.
“They’re not looking at me now.
“I’m 31 now and I’m a dad, so I’ve grown up.
“They’re not looking at what I can do for them on the pitch they’re just thinking ‘oh same old Nile’ and looking at what happened in about 1983 or whatever it was.
“It’s the past and it’s silly because they know what I can do on the pitch and I do too.
“I’m keeping myself fit.
“I train on my own and I play football with my mates as well so I’m ready for my next chance.”
“It was a blast,” said Ranger to Echo News when reflecting on is time at non league Southend United.
“I had a real blast at Southend and the fans were great with me.
“I think they had about three songs for me and I’ll always have a soft spot for them.
“I had a break from football before going to Southend and they got me my love back for football.
“It brought me that spark back and it was a special place for me.
“I’ve had good times in my career elsewhere but Southend gave me a spring in my step again.
“I fell out of love with football but Ron Martin and Phil Brown gave me a chance and I think I took it with both hands.”
“I started to mess round again,” said Ranger on past regrets at the Roots Hall outfit.
“I had my stint in jail when something old caught up with me but Southend showed loyalty and kept me.
“They gave me a new contract but I got too complacent.
“I started getting lazy and I do have regrets about it because my career could’ve taken off again from there.”
“I got 11 minutes and then got injured,” Ranger adds on his return to Southend, a second spell, which ended much earlier than he had liked due to injury.
“I still think about it now and it was so annoying.
“I got the injury just slipping but straight away I knew it was bad.
“I had to have surgery and then it got sceptic but that was my fault too.
“I didn’t take my medication at times and I didn’t rest up enough with it either.
“But I’d just had my son and everything was changing but I should have looked after myself better.”
On a brief spell with Boreham Wood, the last club he played for, before leaving at the end of last season: “I don’t know what it was but I didn’t ever really play.
“You would think because of that and the manager not picking me that I wouldn’t like him but Luke Garrard is a top guy and a really good manager.
“He had his team and they were doing well but I didn’t ever really get a chance.
“I came on for a couple of minutes in the cup but never played a single minute in the league.
“They made me feel welcome there and I like the chairman Danny Hunter there too but I wasn’t getting the minutes a player like me should’ve done so it didn’t work out.”
Ranger’s last appearance in football came for Boreham Wood when they took on Everton in the FA Cup back in March.
On his future: “I haven’t actually called Southend about coming back but maybe I will.
“I think maybe I’ve done my time there but you never know what can happen in football do you?”
This is what fans said as Nile Ranger makes a plea to clubs and speaks on future plans within football…
@ReganEveringha1 (Replying to @CJPhillips1982): His biggest issue seems to be everything comes with a “but then” he says he’s trying to get back into football “but then” he has been working hard “but then” he got offered a chance at a club “but then” it’s boring even though it’s not always his fault, you just know it’s coming
@BenTatam1: how many times have we heard this though
@marcus_ingramuk: But football’s finished with him.
@cjblues2505: I always liked Nile Ranger at Southend, however seriously doubt he can still do it with his long time out of the game. His off field behaviour, we’ll never know what really went on
@MattyMarr17: Don’t call us about coming back please 👍🏻
@preshedge2: SOUTHEND… YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
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