Miramar Rangers make key signings to mount challenge to Wellington Olympic

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Led by new head coach Kale Herbert, Miramar Rangers are building a squad they hope will challenge the capital’s current top club Wellington Olympic.

Rangers have already signed a number of new players for their 2023 campaign, as well as re-signed members of their National League squad from last season.

Main photo: Joe Harris … moves from Hamilton Wanderers to join Miramar Rangers. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

New signings include:

Jonty Roubos (20) who was with the Central League-winning Wellington Olympic last season, helping them reach the Grand Final of the Men’s National League. He has previously played for Christchurch United and Wairarapa United.
Blake Inder (18) who has returned to Wellington after a season with Eastern Suburbs, for whom he played in the Chatham Cup final. Inder has previously played for the Wellington Phoenix academy, Lower Hutt City and Western Suburbs. Inder is a former Rangers junior player and will help coach at the Rangers academy.
Joe Harris (29) will re-unite with his former head coach at Hamilton Wanderers, Kale Herbert, having moved to the capital from the Waikato. Harris has previously played for Petone and he’s worked with Herbert as a coach at the Ricki Herbert Football Academy. His brother Jake is already with Rangers.
Seb Barton-Ginger (18), a forward who has played for the Wellington Phoenix reserves and has represented New Zealand at age group level.
Blake Chandler (19), another local player who has been part of the Phoenix academy set up and has played for Lower Hutt City and, more recently, North Wellington.

Rangers have ensured the return of two experienced players in Sam Mason-Smith and Andy Bevin.

Mason-Smith returns, having reached his 100 first-team appearance milestone last year. He has scored 92 goals for the club.

Experienced Andy Bevin has committed to another season, after making 82 appearances for Rangers since his debut in 2016.

Spencer Cameron, who made his National League debut last year, will return after recovering from injury.

Other players returning for Rangers include Michael Kennedy, Hunter Wilson, Harry Chote, Jake Harris, Tiahn Manuel, Jack De Groot, Liam Wood and Scott Midgely.

Rangers will be without first-team regular Max Falconer who has left for the United States to play college football.