In 1942 NP Old Boys formed to allow ex high school boys the opportunity to carry on playing football after they had left school. After the war many immigrants arrived in New Plymouth strengthening clubs like Old Boys and Moturoa, this provided some excellent football seen at Western Park.
1969 saw Old Boys enter the Central League. Unfortunately due to sides progressively getting weaker the team was withdrawn from the Central League around 1973. At this time a combined side was formed with the Central City AFC club and duly entered into Central League under the name of Taranaki United.
The Taranaki Football Co. was formed consisting of eight clubs, these being Old Boys, Moturoa, Central, Fitzroy, United, Inglewood, Opunake plus one other South Taranaki club. Each club provided a Director to sit on the board of Taranaki Football Co.. This concept lasted until 1984/5 when lack of funds and clubs not releasing players finally put a halt on proceedings. Highlights of that time would be the elevation of Frankie Van Hattum and Glen Dodds being selected for the All Whites for the 82 World Cup.
1985 saw the Central League position taken up by Old Boys again with success coming relatively quickly, and in 1988 finished joint top of Division One, only to lose out on promotion on goal difference. This served only to galvanise the side who made no mistake in 89, with sponsorship being provided by K Force Kawasaki it was no surprise the opposition were left for dead by the green machine from New Plymouth.
Success in the Central League brought promotion to the National League, a highly sought after prize. The next two years saw the side competing with the best in New Zealand football with home matches being played on the magnificent Pukekura Park. When the National League was divided into three regions at the end of 92 Old Boys found themselves in the Central Region once more.
For the start of the 93 season things had changed, Old Boys had merged with NP United who had been having plenty of success in the lower Central League Divisions gaining successive promotions. With the two clubs merged under the NP Rangers banner two teams were fielded in the Central League for 93.
The following year the club once again fielded two teams, but a lack of playing numbers often meant the second side was stretched for resources and struggled through the season culminating in the withdrawal of that side for the 95 season. With only one team in Central League it was hoped to mount a serious challenge for honours under the guidance of Johnny Russell as coach. The team made the Quarterfinals of the Chatham Cup only to lose out to Christchurch in a penalty shoot-out here at Merrilands.
For 96 Rangers had a new coach but lacked depth in playing strength, this was to be a major factor on many weekends with the coach desperately seeking players just to make up a squad. The writing was on the wall for Rangers in Central League football, having seen Hawera, Moturoa and Woodleigh all withdraw from the same competition. At the end of the season the decision was made at a special AGM to withdraw from Central League football. So ended an era, over 25 years involvement in Central League football in one guise or another, a feat many bigger clubs could not match.
In more recent years, Rangers has won the Taranaki Premier League on numerous occasions as well the Duff Rosebowl. In 2016 the club ventured into the Federation Leagues again winning the Western Premiership on its first attempt and getting promoted to the Central Federation League. In 2017, Rangers finished 2nd behind Havelock North in the Federation League hopefully setting the foundation for a title and promotion in the coming years.
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