Western City Rangers FC

Western City Rangers FC
Founded1970 (1970)
Ground
Capacity4,000
CoachWarren Grieve
LeagueFNSW League One
2025NPL NSW, 16th of 16 (relegated)
Websitemdtrangers.com.au

Western City Rangers FC, formerly known as Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC, are a semi-professional soccer club based in the suburb of Emerton in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales. Incorporated in 1970, its senior men's team competes in Football NSW League One, in the third tier of the Australian league system, and its senior women's team competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women's, in the second tier.

History

The Mt Druitt Town Rangers Soccer Club was incorporated in 1970 and has developed a strong association with the district and the states governing body, Football NSW.

Since 1970, the Rangers has provided football opportunities for the youth of Western Sydney. Founded by two Scots of opposing religions and the fiercest of football rivalries, they overcame their differences to unite the green of Celtic, the Rangers name, and the gold of Australia - their new home.

Sadie and Jackie Wilson (Celtic) and Joseph Martin (Rangers) kicked it off in the late 1960s. Jackie somewhat reluctant at first ended up door knocking the local streets where many Scottish expats had settled, quickly the club gathered a strong base that built the foundations of the club we have today. Over the years many cultural backgrounds have been welcomed to Popondetta irrespective of their race, colour or creed. In 2012 Rangers first entered the FNSW Girls program.

The Rangers play in the FFA FNSW National Premier League (NPL) 1st Grade, 20s, FNSW Boys' Youth League Two u18s, u16s, 15s, 14s, 13s, Skills Acquisition League u12s, 11s, 10s, 9s and Women's NPL 1, Res and FNSW League Two Girl's 16g, 15g, 14g. MDTRFC also have an Inclusive /Special Needs/ AWD program. Town Rangers also offers community football opportunities in the local Blacktown District Soccer Football Association.[1]

The Rangers regularly feature in the highly respected invitational Portuguese International Tournament hosted by Vila Franca do Rosario. Over the years VFR has included some of the superpowers of European football's youth academies such as regulars Sporting Club Portugal, SL Benfica, Porto FC, as well as other international guests Sheffield Wednesday, Real Betis, Malaga, Dynamo Moscow. In 2017, the Skills Acquisition Program also toured Portugal and played in the Algarve New World Youth Cup, where the Rangers team was awarded the Fair Play Award. That same year, the Rangers made the National Premier League 2 1st grade grand final against the league winners and highly respected Marconi.

In 2024, Blacktown City Council completed a major upgrade to the Popondetta Park precinct of $5 million development of a synthetic field and additional amenities for players and spectators.

In December 2025, Mt Druitt Town Rangers rebranded to Western City Rangers. The rebrand was done to broaden their reach and represent the greater Western Sydney area. Popondetta park will also get lighting upgrades, and the clubhouse will be refurbished.[2]

Club colours and kit

The club's home kit is based on the Australian national jersey/shirt is predominantly gold and shorts bottle green, the socks are gold. The away kit is shirt bottle green, shorts black, and socks black.

Current squad

As of 18 February 2026[3][4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  TLS Dylan Niski
2 DF  AUS Marcelo Martellotta
4 DF  AUS Paolo Bonanni
5 DF  AUS Ryan Devine
6 MF  AUS Rocco Fragale
7 FW  AUS Shayden Sampow
8 MF  AUS Jordan Gomez
9 FW  AUS Hugo Cornish
10 MF  AUS Thomas Lopez
11 MF  AUS Kye Hickman
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 MF  AUS Rocco Pelle
13 GK  AUS Isaac Farrugia
16 MF  AUS Charlie Daniels
17 FW  AUS Cooper Coskerie
18 DF  AUS Jared Macerola
19 FW  AUS Dimo Dimo
25 DF  AUS Ryley D’Sena
27 DF  PHI Shayden Sampow
97 MF  AUS Jamal Belkadi

Honours

  • 2024 Men's League One (Formally NSW NPL2) - Winners
  • 2024 Women's League One - Club Champions
  • 2018 National Premier Leagues NPL2 - Winners
  • 2018 NPL2 Senior Club Champions
  • 2015 NPL2 Youth Club Champions
  • 2014 Boys Youth Club Champions
  • 2013 Boys Youth Club Champions
  • 1993 Men's Division One (Pre-NPL2) Premier

References

  1. ^ "Blacktown and Districts Soccer Football Association Incorporated". Blacktown and Districts Soccer Football Association Incorporated. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ Stavroulakis, Mark (4 December 2025). "Mt Druitt Town Rangers Announce New Era as Western City Rangers FC". Football NSW. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2026.