THE dream of football supporters up and down the country is to claim bragging rights as they live in the hope this year could be their year.
Every so often a club exceeds all those expectations.
Last season the country was treated to the Leicester City 'journey'
Winning English football's ultimate prize against insurmountable odds, was beyond even the most ardent Foxes fan's dreams.
They finished a modest 11th in the Premier League the year before having flirted with relegation for most of that season.
The football world claimed the story was a fairy-tale and could not be repeated.
Little did they know, at a much more tranquil setting of Haworth Park, a club was waiting to make its own little bit of history.
Having finished in 17th position in the NCEL First Division last season, a new era was underway for Hall Road Rangers.
The club replaced manager Martin Thacker, who had performed well under a spell of uncertainty for the club having overseeing the transition to Haworth Park.
In came Dave Ricardo, who had played for the club during his playing career and always held the club in high regard.
Ricardo was unfortunate to be cast aside at Selby Town five months earlier.
Undeterred however, the appointment made a statement that Rangers chairman Darren Sunley was looking to take the club forward.
Ricardo began to set his own mark on the club.
He re-acquainted himself with Bill Gill, his assistant from Selby Town, a knowledgeable, yet quiet figure who is well respected not only locally but within the NCEL.
The playing staff received a huge over-haul also.
In attack the club set up a mouthwatering partnership.
They landed both Scott Phillips and Chris Spinks, two highly rated players.
Phillips arrived from Barton Town, keen to prove a point after missing the last season through an achilles injury.
Phillips had also represented Scarborough Athletic and Bridlington Town previously.
Spinks meanwhile took the more unconventional route.
Another that had played for the club previously.
Spinks built his reputation at Westella & Willerby, netting over 70 goals in three seasons and after a brief spell with Hull United, returned to Westella to play an important role in their first ever season at Step six level.
The duo joined Craig Muirhead and Josh Tennant in a potent new strike force.
There was also a return for target man Jamie Reeson
The midfield was also boosted with a number of new faces.
Tom Bennett a player Ricardo and Gill had at Selby Town, and James Piercy originally a young midfielder with bags of potential from Hull United, and would later become a cornerstone of Rangers defence were both added, both proving to be consistent performers.
Joe Cooper also returned to the club, youngster Jake Vernon joined from Goole and Jamie Forrester also signed forms.
The defence also received a complete makeover.
Sam Belcher and Danny Norton were added after spells with Barton Town.
Norton was also familiar with Ricardo after the two had also been with Beverley Town.
Another familiar face for Ricardo and Gill was that of central defender Dane Mortimer who joined from Selby.
A major coup though came in the form of Ash Dexter who followed Belcher and Norton from Barton.
Dexter came with real pedigree having won the NCEL Premier Division with Bridlington Town, and was a member of the Barton Town team that won promotion from the First Division.
Dexter was made club captain.
In goal Jordan Douglas left to be part of North Ferriby's historic first season in the National Conference, so Ricardo signed another familiar face in Adam Stevens.
Stevens would compete with Jody Barford a stopper with experience at Evostik level, and joined from Brigg Town.
With an air of optimism around Haworth Park, a target was set.
A now infamous 61 points which was hoped would be enough secure a top six place.
All pre-season expectations were reached and exceeded in a memorable season for Hall Road.
The pre-season spell in terms of results was less then favourable though.
All the new players showed individual promise but were still trying to get to grips with each other and gel as a unit.
A 5-0 home defeat to Conference side North Ferriby United was somewhat expected considering the gap between the two clubs in the pre-season opener.
A 0-0 draw with Bridlington Town followed before further home defeats to Sculcoates Amateurs and Long Eaton United left Rangers winless until a Craig Muirhead double saw Rangers record a 2-1 win over Bottesford Town, seven days before the start of the new season.
Things came together at the right time however and when it mattered as Rangers would win their opening two league games.
A 3-2 home success over Glasshoughton Welfare was followed by an identical scoreline at Winterton Rangers to leave them with a 100% start to the season.
The cup also brought success as a 4-1 League Cup win at Eccleshill United would follow, a brace each from Spinks and Dexter would see Rangers through.
The first test of the character of this new-look Hall Road side would come four games into the season, when a crushing home defeat against Hallam could have allowed doubt to creep in.
This wasnt the case though as Rangers ended the month of August with a 5-0 win at Westella.
The goals didnt come until twelve minutes from time though.
Scott Phillips netted on 78 and again six minutes later before completing a nine minute hat-trick on 87.
The game was given a more comprehensive look to it through a Mike Hewitt own goal, and a Dane Mortimer goal deep in added time.
Another five star show this time at home to NCEL new-boys Ollerton Town came next before Rangers reached the NCEL First Division summit for the first time in the season.
They had to recover from going two-down at Eccleshill though, eventually wining 3-2 on an autumnal Wednesday evening in West Yorkshire.
In recent times, the FA Vase has not been a competition the club had exceeded in.
The furthest they reached was in 1999, crashing out at the third round proper stage.
They would go to within one round of that this time round, providing some memorable days in their four game run.
Rangers started their Vase campaign with a 2-0 win at West Allotment Celtic.
A first half strike from Jamie Forrester was followed by Chris Spinks 52nd minute goal which saw Rangers advance to the second qualifying round.
After a draw at Knaresborough, which again saw Rangers recover from a two goal deficit and defeat at home to Emley, they slipped from the top of the division and back into the pack, however a 4-1 home win over Yorkshire Amateur restored confidence before another Vase win this time in dramatic fashion at Silsden saw Hall Road move into the first round proper, and the foundation was set for a promising campaign.

The second part is available from 9am tomorrow morning...