Ranger hoping to put chequered past behind him in last chance with FA Cup heroes

Nile Ranger has had his fair share of bad press throughout his troubled career.

And most of it has been justified.

At one time, the striker was seen as the next big thing with Newcastle United. But he never realised his potential and headlines surrounding him tended to centre on his chequered legal history, rather than his performances on the pitch.

Ranger joined Newcastle in 2008 at the age of 17, after leaving Southampton.

But after figuring as a regular for United for two seasons, he then went on a downward spiral that resulted in him being jailed in 2017 for fraud.

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Ranger's string of misdemeanours also include posing with a replica gun, a failed drug test and an FA fine for making homophobic comments.

His list of indiscretions is even lengthier than the list of clubs he has represented.

As well as Newcastle, he has also played for Swindon, Blackpool, Southend (twice), Spalding and had loans with both Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday.

Now, the 30-year-old is aiding Boreham Wood in their remarkable FA Cup run.

That run continued on Sunday thanks to an eye-raising win away at Championship side Bournemouth. It helped set up a mouth-watering fifth round clash away at Frank Lampard's Everton.

Ranger came off the bench for the final minute of the fourth round upset at the Vitality Stadium, adding to similar cameos in previous FA Cup victories over Wimbledon and St Albans.

Remarkably, he has yet to feature in Wood's National League campaign after joining them back in December.

Speaking about the capture of the former Newcastle man, Boreham Wood chief Luke Garrard said: "We've had Nile in the building for three months.

"He's come in and proved his fitness.

"He's now at the level we can benefit from him and there's no question about his ability."

Ranger's two spells at Southend were marred by off-field run-ins with the law. His first stint in Essex ended in 2018 due to what the club said were "recurring disciplinary issues".

His second spell ended last summer after the club severed all ties with him after he failed to attend physio sessions to cure a long-standing groin complaint.

Former Southend boss Phil Brown said at the time: "When I arrived back at the club I did enquire about Nile Ranger.

"The reply was that he was on the books so I asked as to what level and where he was with regards to his fitness.

"I spoke to the physio, the doctor, the chairman and Ricky Duncan and every one of them was saying he was back for treatment on his groin.

"We provided a platform and an opportunity for him to get fit and stake a claim for a contract for next year.

"He was on a three strike scheme meaning if he was late for three appointments, which he is notoriously renowned for, he would be out.

"That was verbalised to both himself and the PFA.

"But the very first three appointments he never showed for. Never mind being late he just never showed at all so that shows you what you were dealing with.

"Consequently we severed all ties and all relationships with him."

Ranger refuted Brown's claims, saying that Southend were not funding his travel to the sessions.

In a revealing interview with FourFourTwo back in 2020, Ranger reflected on his career and the many errors he has made.

He said: "I'm treated as the Osama bin Laden of football.

"(But) I can't blame anyone else - it's all been self-inflicted and I've had more than my fair share of chances to change.

"I know I don't have time to waste. I hope and pray I'll get one last chance. If I do, I'm ready to grab it with both hands."