The End Of An Era At Kirk Deighton Rangers
- KDRAFC Media
- May 28, 2022
- 9 min read
As the referees at Barr Field and The Recreation Ground blew the final whistle to bring both games to an end, it signified the season close for both teams but ended one era and started another in the club's history!
As the Rangers and Rawdon players started to leave the field of play, they stopped and formed a guard of honour and applauded a visibly emotional duo of Dan Marshall and Ben Lawrence off the pitch after their final game in charge, along with Dave Campbell.
With a combined five decades at Deighton behind them, and with trophy wins, promotions and the achievement of their ultimate goal of getting Rangers into the West Yorkshire Premier League, Dan, Ben and Dave have decided to bring their managerial roles to an end. Thankfully, James Harrison's second-half equaliser meant Rangers avoided defeat against a team that all three have enjoyed great battles with since day one!
It certainly has been a ride of ups and downs, but no one can deny it's not been exciting. Thank you, Dave, thank you, Ben, and thank you, Dan, for all the memories.
On behalf of the football club, I would like to express our eternal gratitude to Dan, Benji, Cammy and never forgetting Fenny (Paul Fenton). I was a player at the time, but we set a goal to try and reach the Premier Division of the West Yorkshire League, which would be the highest level of football this club will have ever played. This year we achieved that goal after many years and tireless effort driven by these four.
The sacrifices made are taken for granted. To be a manager or on the coaching staff of a grassroots football team means you are now a part-time cleaner, bar staff, groundsman and much more. This level of selflessness is indescribable and to do it year in and year out for no gain other than for the love of the game and the love of the club is why we have been so very fortunate, and we are truly grateful.
I would also like to thank Ange, Claire, Jess, Karen and the children for not having your husbands/fathers on a Saturday for all these years and possibly taking the brunt of frustration when the team hasn’t performed as planned.
These lads are the epitome of this football club, either born into it from their fathers, played alongside brothers or played for countless years and have progressed and climbed the management ranks. They bleed blue blood and can be very proud of their achievements. They leave the club at the top, and I hope they look back from time to time to recognise how much of an achievement it is for such a small club.
A huge thank you from all of us at the club, past and present.
Rich Strike, Chairman
Dan Marshall
I would personally like to say congratulations to Dan for everything he has achieved at the club for so many years, We have been friends for many years, and I owe a lot to him for a give me the encouragement to play football again after I had recovered from my broken back/pelvis when I was 19. He got me down, and I went to play alongside him for a season when he and Dan Jones were doing the second team and had many good Saturday afternoons battling in the Harrogate league with some strong teams. I then went to be his captain for a bit as he took charge after Dan jones stepped down, to which, may I add, it ended up with me having my best goal-scoring season with 11 goals (all penalties).
Whilst doing this, I was running the Sunday team when Dan decided to step away from Saturday football to spend more time with his lovely wife and kids. Knowing Dan, I knew he wouldn't stay away from football for that long and yes; you guessed it, he came to be my assistant on a Sunday along with Eddie Collings, and this is where we really started to work well together, it wasn’t long before the first team managers role became available and I knew he had itchy feet and wanted to take it on!
For many years Dan, Cammy and I worked to try to get a successful team together to win the Harrogate league, and we all continued the hard work behind the scenes to improve the team season after season. It wasn’t long before we got our rewards by winning the treble: what a season and what a cracking bunch of lads. I remember after we won that treble, Dan and I were talking, and we said: "Lets apply to go in the West Yorkshire League and take this team to the West Yorkshire Premier."
We set ourselves a target of achieving West Yorkshire Premier League status within five years, we did in four, well five, but a season was cancelled for Covid. It's been an emotional ride, and it has been an absolute pleasure to share so many great memories with Dan and all the lads over the years.
Well done Dan
This journey isn’t the end for us! We will be back one day: we have got a Whitworth cup to win!
Ben Lawrence
KDR the Marsh Years
Where to start? I am probably one of the lucky few lads to say that I have been there for pretty much all of them, the first one being twenty years ago now in the glory of the Harrogate league (how far we have come). The early day is a bit too long ago for me to remember details now, although I recall a few questionable car journeys! I know that I had a good few years, although not many trophies were won!
After the birth of his second child, Marsh took a few years out, and I left to try better different ventures, but roll on a few years, and I got a call from him saying he was taking over the First Team and wanted me back. This move worked out pretty well, and I was happy to go back home with my gaffer. Harrogate League football again, but some glory years winning the league, and I even had a treble-winning season! These meant more to me than the West Yorkshire Premier titles I had won with Bardsey for personal reasons and because it was with my mates and Marshal as Manager.
We then made the step to the West Yorkshire League, and Marsh told me we would get the team to be a Premier League side, then we could both retire: little did I know he was serious!
What twenty years! From starting in the Harrogate league playing in farmer's fields to finishing mid-table in the West Yorkshire Premier League: what an accomplishment and one KDR would not have achieved without the tireless work that Dan has put in over the last two decades. This success has been reached with help from a hell of a lot of special people, including Ben, Fenny, Cammy and Keith, to name but a few. The biggest thanks must go to Angela though for putting up with him through all those years of football!
The last thing to say is to thank you, Dan. I wouldn’t change a thing. You didn’t just build a team: you built a KDR family #6nwards
Jonty Smith
Dan has helped me personally with my transition from player to manager and has done an amazing job in creating fantastic squads that achieve success time and time again. I’ve been lucky to have Dan as a coach and know first-hand how good his man-management is, and that is why he has had the success he has.
John-Paul Williams
I absolutely loved my time playing for Dan and Ben. In a great team, Dan was absolutely brilliant at man-management and knew how to get the best out of players and had a knack for keeping the whole squad motivated and playing for him, which is difficult, as naturally, you have lads not playing each week.
Danny Grannon
I’m not sure there are many words that I could use that describe what Marsh has done during his time at Deighton. Countless trophies, finals, and promotions just show the impact he has had on the club. Dan has managed me for nine years at the club and been responsible for some of my most successful seasons as a player, not to mention making me captain for his final season. But, it’s not only his work on the pitch: every Saturday, he is the first to arrive and the last to leave. This work ethic can’t be replaced, and the club will forever be grateful to him. We wish him all the best as he steps away from football, but we know it won’t be too long before he’s back down at Barr Field, this time taking a well-earned rest and enjoying the football as a KDR fan.
Rob Holliday
Ben Lawrence
Ben first came to play for Dan Jones and me when we managed the Saturday seconds around 20 years ago. He had just recovered from a very serious accident which he’d been told he may never walk again, let anyone play football. I believe Ben decided he was going to play every game like it was his last, his commitment and desire to win was second to none, and he quickly become a leader and our captain.
Our journey then continued to the first team, and he was a key member of the team which won the double (league & cup) in my first season back.
Ben was always keen to make the transition to management and did this with our Sunday team. He built a very successful side which won multiple cups and the league going all season unbeaten, and I had the pleasure of helping him for a year.
Ben should be very proud of what he has achieved away from KDR, becoming a UEFA B coach and working for Leeds United for a number of years shows his commitment to the game and to giving something back.
Like Cammy, Ben joined my staff six years ago in our last season in the Harrogate league, which saw us win a treble.
We always had a dream of taking KDR into the West Yorkshire League and to the Premier and talked about this a lot. When we achieved this last year, it made us both very proud, and Ben has to take a huge amount of credit for this achievement.
It has been an amazing journey, and seeing this through with him makes it extra special.
Dan Marshall
Ben is a great guy and always enjoyed the tactical side of things. Like Dan, he was a great man-manager and very approachable. I'm really happy I finished my senior playing career under them, and you will be hard pushed to find a better management team at this level anywhere.
Danny Grannon
Mr football!! There isn’t much this man doesn’t know about football, his exploits with Leeds show this. An incredible insight into the game, he’s been improving me as a player for countless years. But a very personal thank you to Ben for the time he has taken to improve me off the field in my own coaching role. He always has time to talk and is always wanting to improve others. His passion and knowledge for the game will be missed by all at KDR!
Rob Holliday
Ben was a huge help to me as a player with his superb training and advice, something I hope to try and emulate with the club. He has gone from strength to strength with his coaching, and is thought of in the highest regard by everyone at this club.
Both of them deserve huge plaudits, and hopefully, we will see their faces down back at the club soon.
John-Paul Williams
David Campbell
My KDR journey with Cammy (or Cindy as he was known during our playing days) started in a very successful side nearly 30 years ago.
I once (drunk) made the mistake of telling him he was the best player I’d ever played with! I put this down to being young and naive, however, he’s never let me forget this.
Cammy returned to KDR six years ago during our final year in the Harrogate League as part of the first team management. That year, we had our most successful season, winning the treble and repeating what we both did as players.
Cammy, it’s been a pleasure. Thank you for all your assistance and support during the past six years.
Dan Marshall
Another man who words probably can’t describe. His influence at Deighton has been massive. He’s always the first man to stick a smile on your face on a Saturday, usually by telling you a story of how he beat five players and then stuck it in the top corner when he played and, obviously, there were no witnesses to the event!
I would describe Cammy as a real behind the scenes man who somehow was in the spotlight every game! He may have been the warm-up man, linesman, water boy or team motivator, but he would always be the first to back his players up. He will be missed around the club!
Rob Holliday
As a club, we move into a new era, but we will never forget what all of them have done for Kirk Deighton Rangers.
Dan and Ben have played a huge part in this clubs success over the years and will be greatly missed. What they’ve achieved is nothing short of brilliant and they leave a legacy behind that will not be forgotten.
John-Paul Williams
We will be bringing you an exclusive final interview with Dan and Ben, as they look over their careers at Kirk Deighton Rangers. It will be fun, it may be frank, but it will be emotional - you won't want to miss it!
We would also like to say a big thank you to the staff and players at Rawdon Old Boys for their very classy touch of the bottle of champagne given to Dan, and the Guard Of Honour they formed along with the Deighton players at the end of the game.
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