Rangers ready for Premiership bow

The moment has almost arrived. The magnificent memories of last season may be still fresh in the mind but that temporary triumphant reign as the biggest fish in the small pond is over. Now they are the minnows swimming amongst the shark-laden waters of top-flight football – and their new life as the underdogs kicks in at Cliftonville on Saturday.

It’s not just a new season and a new experience for the Carrickfergus club, of course, it’s an entirely new era because their motto will hopefully be ‘plastic is fantastic’ because Solitude is not the only venue which will see Rangers show their silky skills on a 3G surface, as the revamped home pitch will be reputedly perfect for football.

So, what’s the target? According to club chairman David Hilditch, the answer is always going to be predictable given the immensity of the task confronting a club attempting to do what no other intermediate side has managed.

“It’s got to be retaining our place in the Premier League,” he said. “Portadown, Glenavon and Crusaders all managed to stay up after arriving from the First Division or Championship, while Donegal Celtic did it last year. But they all had experience of the top-flight before. It’s all new to us and the sports writers seem to have their minds made up that we have no chance.

”But I believe we can surprise a few people, if we get off to a confident start and stick a few points on the board early doors. It’s all about avoiding the build-up of pressure and I think we are in the right frame of mind; preparations having gone pretty well.”

Read the full story in this week’s Carrick Times