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At 125 years old, Rangers is the oldest football club in the Channel Islands, and that will be celebrated this weekend with the re-enactment of the team's first ever game.
The Guernsey Rangers Football and Athletics Club was set up in 1893, when they played a match against the 5th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers who were based at Fort George.
The army won 4-1.
The following year, in February 1894, representatives from both sides met in what was Stedman's Café in Fountain Street where they decided to form a committee, which later became The Guernsey Football Association.
That committee decided to create a competition with a cup to play for - which was part funded by a Mr Priaulx, who the league is still named after today.
Pictured: Rangers in action last season.
The 125th anniversary is being celebrated with a re-enactment of that first game, but this time Rangers will take on a team from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, also known at The Tigers, which are the local Regiment of Guernsey after the amalgamation between the Royal Hampshire regiment and Queen’s Regiment in 1992.
"We wanted something to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the oldest football club in the Channel Islands and so it’s incredible that the Tigers have found the time to come to Guernsey to help us mark the occasion," said president of Guernsey Rangers Guy Hardill.
"That game, which ended in a 4-1 win for the Fusiliers, was the start of competitive football in the island with representatives from Rangers and the Fusiliers coming together a few months later to form what became The Guernsey Football Association. Since then, tens of thousands of young people have been involved which is why we wanted to celebrate with something not seen in Guernsey in living history."
Mr Hardill said the visitors will also be taking part in some other events while in Guernsey before the game on Sunday afternoon.
"Not only will we re-enact the game but the match ball will be delivered to KGV by The Tigers freefall Display Team who will do a free fall display over KGV from 13:30 until 14:15 which will be a real spectacle for all to see."
Before that, the Tigers will also have fired the noon day gun at Castle Cornet on Saturday 20 October.
On Sunday, the match kicks off at 14:30 with gates open from 13:00.
Pictured: Rangers take on the Army this weekend at the KGV.
"We want this to be a real celebration and so the focus is on family and football fun. As well as the match, there will be food and drink, charity stalls and children’s activities. Entry is free but we will be collecting donations to help ex-service personnel through The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Benevolent Fund," said Rangers treasurer Lorraine Ellis.
Captain Lee Gidalla from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment said it was an honour for the team to be coming over.
"The Tigers have a long and proud association with Guernsey through our links with Elizabeth College and our status as Guernsey’s local Regiment. We are very much looking forward to it and hope as many people come out to celebrate this milestone for Rangers."
Ravenscroft has helped cover the cost of a special trophy as well as a commemorative gift for the players and officials.
Pictured: The 2017/18 Rangers team.
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