AUGUST marked the start of the competitive season for the Rangers Academy.
In the latest instalment of our Academy Monthly series, we reflect on a hugely exciting last month in the Gers youth ranks.
At first-team level, Findlay Curtis continued his strong start to the campaign in front of goal by netting in both the Premier Sports Cup triumph over Alloa Athletic and league outing against St. Mirren last month.
The 19-year-old has featured prominently under Russell Martin and he was rewarded with his first Scotland Under-21s call-up during the recent international break.
“He’s been amazing,” Martin said of the teenager. “Findlay’s probably disappointed he hasn't played so much.
In the meantime, Academy graduate Bailey Rice was given the nod from the off against Alloa at Ibrox, while the teenager was joined in the first-team squad by both Josh Gentles and Zander Hutton for the side’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Indeed, the latter duo will spend the campaign on loan in search of valuable senior experience as Gentles linked up with Scottish Championship outfit Raith Rovers as part of the loan co-operation agreement, while Hutton recently joined Hamilton Academical on a season-long loan.
The Rangers Academy also count Alloa Athletic and Stirling Albion among their loan co-operation clubs for the season ahead, with midfielder Calum Adamson linking up with the Wasps in League One in his first spell in a senior environment.
The 18-year-old made his debut against Inverness before jetting off on international duty with Scotland Under-19s after featuring for the side last season.
Adamson was joined in the squad by a strong Gers contingent as Rydnn McGuire, who captained the team, Alfie Halliwell, Aiden McCallion and Lewis Stewart represented their country with distinction.
Elsewhere, Gentles received first Wales Under-19s call-up, while Max Cameron, Aiden Crilly and Ben Hutton were part of the Scotland Under-17s set-up.
Further down the international age groups, Rangers were represented at the Scotland Under-15s training camp by Otis Henderson, Baxter Anderson, Nathan Brown, Josh Callaghan, Jay Kilbane, Ollie Masterton, Cody Mensing, Charlie Miller and Kai Urban.
At the Under-16 training camp, meanwhile, Ruaridh Hall, Ashton Scally, Luca Rankin, Kyle Glasgow, Coben Fergusson and Lewis McGahey were from the Gers youth ranks.
Back at the Rangers Training Centre and Stevie Smith’s Under-19s side kicked off their CAS Elite League campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Hearts.
“I’ve been in this environment a long time so I know that winning is important, but we must win in the right way,” Smith said of the triumph.
“I thought we done that for a lot of the game. I asked them to start the season well and they done that.”
Next up for the side in league duty is a trip to face Hibernian following a positive performance, albeit in defeat, against League One outfit Queen of the South in KDM Evolution Trophy league phase action last weekend.
The Under-17s, in the meantime, have made a 100% start to their league campaign with wins over Celtic, Aberdeen and Dundee United, with a trip to face the latter in Scottish Youth Cup action later this month.
Malky Thomson’s squad was bolstered last month by news that Conor Owen, Jaden Millarvie, Calum Young and Ashton Patton have all signed their first professional contracts at the club.
Elsewhere, the Under-16s enjoyed a positive tournament at the Craig Brown Memorial Cup, finishing in third place as Coben Fergusson scooped the Player of the Tournament and Charlie Miller the Top Goalscorer award.
It was a third-place finish, too, for the Under-15s in Augsburg, Germany, while the Under-17s and Under-16s enjoyed strong tests against Manchester City as part of the Academy’s cross-border games programme.
The age groups squared off against Newcastle United as the Under-9s, Under-10s and Under-12s look forward to facing Manchester United this weekend.
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