Nile Ranger
Encyclopedia
Nile Ranger is an English
footballer who plays for Barnsley
on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United
as a striker.
. He began his football career at Crystal Palace
Football Academy and was at their development centre from a young age. He was with the Protec Football Development School for a few weeks before being scouted by Southampton
. His career was almost over before it began, whilst playing for the club he was sentenced to 11 weeks in a Young Offender's Institute for his part in an armed street robbery in Muswell Hill
committed before signing for the club. He returned to Southampton after completing his sentence, but was eventually released as a player with a bad reputation. He was offered terms by Swindon Town
after a successful trial before Newcastle snapped him up.
of Newcastle, Dennis Wise
brought him to Newcastle United. Ranger made his academy debut against Leicester City
on 23 August 2008 and made his debut for the reserve team against Sunderland
at St James' Park
on 1 September 2008. He impressed hugely in these levels, finishing with fifteen goals for the Under-18s and seven for the reserves in his first season on Tyneside. That resulted him in winning the "Wor Jackie Milburn Trophy" in 2009. He was subsequently rewarded by then-manager Alan Shearer
with a new and improved three-and-a-half year contract.
Ranger's Newcastle debut came as a second-half injury-time substitute for Shola Ameobi
against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship
on 8 August 2009.
He made his first senior league start against Leicester City
on 31 August 2009, where he won the man of the match
award. He played just over 84 minutes before been substituted and received a standing ovation from fans. He scored his first senior goal for the club in a 2–0 win over Coventry City
on 9 December 2009. Ranger scored his second goal of the season in a 2–0 home win against Crystal Palace
.
After appearing as an unused substitute in the first two Premier League games for Newcastle, Ranger was awarded with starts in the Football League Cup
wins over Accrington Stanley
and Chelsea
. He scored the first equalising goal in the game at Stamford Bridge
, appearing in a right-wing berth, as Newcastle went on to triumph 4-3.
Ranger made his Premier League debut on the 16th October 2010, coming off the bench in the 89th minute to help Newcastle to a 2-2 draw against Wigan. Ranger made a host of substitute appearances for Newcastle after that, notably in the 1-0 away win to Arsenal
. Ranger turned Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny
and was through on goal before the Arsenal player tugged him down and received a red card. Ranger signed a new five and a half year contract on 3 December 2010, keeping him at the club until 2016. He also started several games after, for a while, being the club's only fit striker after the sale of Andy Carroll
to Liverpool
and injuries to Shola Ameobi
and Leon Best
.
on 25 March 2009 against the Czech Republic
U19s and missed a wonderful opportunity in the dying minutes of the game with a weak shot that hit the post. He finally got his first goal for the Under-19s in his second match, against Bosnia and Herzegovina
, with a headed effort. He helped his team to the final of the UEFA U-19 Championship
but his team eventually lost the final to host nation Ukraine
2–0.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
as a striker.
Early days
Born in North London, Ranger attended Alexandra Park SchoolAlexandra Park School
Alexandra Park School is a Specialist Science and Maths School in Haringey, North London.The school provides a comprehensive education for students aged 11–18. Since opening in 1999, the school has continued to grow and develop; gaining specialist schools status in 2005. Its headteacher is Michael...
. He began his football career at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
Football Academy and was at their development centre from a young age. He was with the Protec Football Development School for a few weeks before being scouted by Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. His career was almost over before it began, whilst playing for the club he was sentenced to 11 weeks in a Young Offender's Institute for his part in an armed street robbery in Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a suburb of north London, mostly in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated about north of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. Muswell Hill is in the N10 postal district and mostly in the Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency.- History :The...
committed before signing for the club. He returned to Southampton after completing his sentence, but was eventually released as a player with a bad reputation. He was offered terms by Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
after a successful trial before Newcastle snapped him up.
Newcastle United
In July 2008, then Director of FootballDirector of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
of Newcastle, Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
brought him to Newcastle United. Ranger made his academy debut against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on 23 August 2008 and made his debut for the reserve team against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
on 1 September 2008. He impressed hugely in these levels, finishing with fifteen goals for the Under-18s and seven for the reserves in his first season on Tyneside. That resulted him in winning the "Wor Jackie Milburn Trophy" in 2009. He was subsequently rewarded by then-manager Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
with a new and improved three-and-a-half year contract.
Ranger's Newcastle debut came as a second-half injury-time substitute for Shola Ameobi
Shola Ameobi
Foluwashola "Shola" Ameobi is an Nigerian footballer who plays for Premier League club Newcastle United as a forward. Born in Nigeria but raised in Newcastle, he played for England at under-21 level. He is the older brother of fellow footballers Tomi and Sammy...
against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
on 8 August 2009.
He made his first senior league start against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on 31 August 2009, where he won the man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
award. He played just over 84 minutes before been substituted and received a standing ovation from fans. He scored his first senior goal for the club in a 2–0 win over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 9 December 2009. Ranger scored his second goal of the season in a 2–0 home win against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
.
After appearing as an unused substitute in the first two Premier League games for Newcastle, Ranger was awarded with starts in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
wins over Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. He scored the first equalising goal in the game at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, appearing in a right-wing berth, as Newcastle went on to triumph 4-3.
Ranger made his Premier League debut on the 16th October 2010, coming off the bench in the 89th minute to help Newcastle to a 2-2 draw against Wigan. Ranger made a host of substitute appearances for Newcastle after that, notably in the 1-0 away win to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Ranger turned Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny
Laurent Koscielny
Laurent Koscielny is a French footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal. He primarily plays as a centre back but he can also play as an right back, a position where he started his career. Koscielny is a youth product of Guingamp. He is described as an aggressive, uncompromising and...
and was through on goal before the Arsenal player tugged him down and received a red card. Ranger signed a new five and a half year contract on 3 December 2010, keeping him at the club until 2016. He also started several games after, for a while, being the club's only fit striker after the sale of Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll
Andrew Thomas "Andy" Carroll is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team....
to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and injuries to Shola Ameobi
Shola Ameobi
Foluwashola "Shola" Ameobi is an Nigerian footballer who plays for Premier League club Newcastle United as a forward. Born in Nigeria but raised in Newcastle, he played for England at under-21 level. He is the older brother of fellow footballers Tomi and Sammy...
and Leon Best
Leon Best
Leon Julian Brendan Best is an English-born Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League team Newcastle United and the Republic of Ireland national football team. Best represented Ireland at under-21 level and won his first full international cap against Nigeria on 29 May 2009.Best...
.
International career
Ranger made his debut for the England U19England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
on 25 March 2009 against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
U19s and missed a wonderful opportunity in the dying minutes of the game with a weak shot that hit the post. He finally got his first goal for the Under-19s in his second match, against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, with a headed effort. He helped his team to the final of the UEFA U-19 Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-Top goalscorers:4 goals Nathan Delfouneso3 goals Henri Lansbury Danijel Aleksić Denys Harmash-External links:*...
but his team eventually lost the final to host nation Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...
2–0.
Personal life
On 27 August 2011 he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a man in Newcastle city centre leaving the victim unconscious in the street. In October 2011 he was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Newcastle's Cathedral Square. The charge came only days after Ranger had been reinstated to Newcastle United's first-team training after a three-month exile in the club's reserves.Career statistics
| Club | Division ! colspan=2|League ! colspan=2|FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... ! colspan=2|League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... ! colspan=2|Play-Offs Football League Play-Offs The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion places within the Football League. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is... ! colspan=2|Total |
Discipline |
|---|
| Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |  |
 |
| Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 25 |
2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – ! 30 |
> 1 | 0 |
| Premier League | 24 |
0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | – ! 28 |
> 2 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – ! 0 |
> 0 | 0 |
| Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 1 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – ! 1 |
> 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Newcastle United
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
(1): 2009–102009–10 Football League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship season 2009–10 is the sixth season of the league under its current title and eighteenth season under its current league division format...
External links
- Profile on Newcastle United official website
- Premier League profile