MAY marked a positive month in the Rangers Academy as the professional season was brought to its conclusion and the strong tournament programme for our younger age groups continued.
In the latest instalment of our Academy Monthly series, we reflect on the last month throughout the ages at the Light Blues.
Indeed, it was a month in which several Academy graduates came of age, with 18-year-old Bailey Rice featuring in every post-split fixture for the Gers.
Having established himself in the first-team squad earlier this year, the teenager ended the campaign with 12 senior appearances in all competitions.
There was also success for Academy graduate and full-back Robbie Fraser, who helped lead Livingston to promotion back to the Scottish Premiership through the play-offs.
The 22-year-old played every available minute for David Martindale’s side in their four play-off outings, which was capped off with a dramatic 5-3 aggregate victory over Ross County in the second leg of the final.
Speaking to the official Rangers website to reflect on his loan spell in the Scottish Championship, Fraser said: “I thought the level of the Championship was extremely high.
“It’s a really demanding league and very competitive, as you could see from the outside.
“I really needed to learn the physical side; long balls and second balls.
“I feel in a much better place in all parts of my game.
“I was also able to stay fit when I was out on loan, which is important for any manager coming in and seeing that I’m fit and available.
“I’ve got the games under my belt and have experience, so I’m in a good place to go and kick on at Rangers.”
The 2024/25 campaign proved a breakthrough one for the likes of Findlay Curtis, Paul Nsio and Mason Munn, while Aiden McCallion, 16, and Zander Hutton, 18, were also regularly involved in the first-team group in the latter months of the season.
Elsewhere, the month of May also signalled the end of the Scottish League One campaign, with Josh Gentles, on loan at Alloa Athletic, and Blaine McClure, on loan at Kelty Hearts, narrowly missing out on a play-off spot.
McClure, who joined up with Northern Ireland Under-18s for a recent training camp alongside Callum Burnside, said of his loan spell in the lower leagues: “I definitely took more confidence from my game, especially playing against more experienced players.
“I feel as if I’ve proved myself as well, going out and getting men’s football.
“I also feel as if I’ve added a streetwise element to my game, because going there, if you’re one or 2-0 up and going for the win, you need to be more streetwise than at Under-18s level.
“Those players have been in the game a long time and they drill it into you. I feel more confident after going out and testing myself.”
An Under-19s outfit also played out their final game of the campaign, losing out to a strong Club Brugge side at the Rangers Training Centre.
Lewis Stewart was on the scoresheet for the young Gers, with Stevie Smith, although disappointed with the scoreline, insisting his players will be all the better for the 90 minutes: “I thought [Club Brugge] were excellent. I said to the players after the game that they were everything that I would like us to be.
“There were parts of the first half which I was pleased with, but I actually enjoy watching them suffer because it can’t be all plain sailing.
“When you’re playing against top teams and you’re not at the level you need to be technically, you’re going to suffer.”
A week prior, Smith’s Under-18s side wrapped up their CAS Elite Under-18 League campaign with back-to-back victories over Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, which confirmed a second-placed finish.
On the international front, Findlay Curtis was part of a Scotland Under-20s side which fell to a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia, while the Gers Academy had seven players involved in a Scotland Under-19s training camp, which included McCallion, Alfie Halliwell, Calum Adamson, Chris Eadie, Connor Campbell, Jack Wyllie and Rydnn McGuire.
16-year-old McGuire recently chatted to the official Rangers website about his first year as a professional having been involved in the first-team squad for both legs of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club in April.
He said: “The goalkeepers were top with me. As a young goalkeeper you feed off them and you learn as much as you can.
“I was a little bit nervous going round [to train for] the first time with Allan McGregor. He’s actually quiet and not what people perceive him as.
“He did give me a few tips, but he left it to Jack [Butland] a lot. I would say Jack probably coached me the most.
“He was playing at the time while I was starting for the Under-18s, so getting that education from Jack about in-game situations was really good.”
The Academy’s younger age groups have also competed at a host of prestigious youth tournaments around the globe in recent weeks.
The Under-15s pitted their wits at the Norhalne Elite Cup in Denmark, which included the likes of OGC Nice and FC Midtjylland.
Elsewhere, our Under-14s side had a busy month on the tournament front as they competed at both the Cairo Montenotte in Italy and Dr. Nimmrichter Gedenkturnier in Austria where they reached the last four.
It was an exciting few days, too, for the Under-12s as they competed at the ARC Heitinga Cup in the Netherlands, named after former Ajax youth product and now current manager, Johnny Heitinga.
In the meantime, our Under-10s pitted their wits at the ninth edition of the Rood-Wit International Tournament, which included, among other sides, Manchester City, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.
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