Ex-Newcastle prospect Nile Ranger makes brief cameo in FA Cup upset

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The big upset from Sunday’s FA Cup ties was National League side Boreham Wood knocking out Bournemouth. Former Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger came off the bench in the 93rd minute. The Wood from the National League won 1-0 against the Championship club.

It may have been a brief substitution, but Ranger is technically a part of one of the biggest wins in the history for Boreham Wood. Some Newcastle fans will vividly remember the now 30-year-old striker. It seems like only yesterday he broke into the Magpies’ first team from the youth side.

If you’d asked some fans what would’ve happened to the English forward, I highly doubt any of them would say that he would be playing for Boreham Wood in 2022. Unfortunately, it never worked out for Ranger.

How Ranger has fared since Newcastle exit

After leaving Newcastle in 2013 by mutual consent, Ranger would go on to have six stints at five different clubs. Playing for Swindon Town, Blackpool, Southend United (twice), Spalding United and currently Boreham Wood.

However, Ranger was never able to find his feet. With the Magpies. He was highly rated by ex-manager Kevin Keegan. In a True Geordie Podcast episode, the forward said how he highly rated him.

“What a player, I’m definitely going to have him involved very soon.”

These were the words Keegan said about Ranger.

Furthermore, Ranger believes that had the legend stayed in charge of the Toon it could’ve faired better. He stated, “I reckon if Keegan stayed, he would have been onto me, I would have shut straight up and I would have got my chance, definitely.”

Unfortunately, Ranger found it difficult leaving Tyneside. He struggled to find the net on a consistent basis. His first stint at Southend was his best period. Where he scored 10 goals across two seasons for the Seasiders.

The forward joined Boreham Wood last December. He will hope he can turn it around and have a late-career resurgence.

It’s not been the career many expected for Nile Ranger. At Newcastle’s academy, he was seen as one of the next big prospects to break on the scene. It didn’t work out however and struggled to make an impact in the Football League.

He’s now part of Boreham Wood history as they knocked out Bournemouth last weekend. But Ranger will hope there’s time for a late-career peak. There’s no doubt he’s got the ability, so it’ll be interesting to see how his career in Hertfordshire fairs.