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 featured in the side’s draw with Dundee United at Ibrox, while there was European exposure in the matchday squad for the midfielder and Academy graduate Bailey Rice, alongside 17-year-old midfielder Aiden McCallion.
Further down the divisions, both Josh Gentles and Paul Nsio appeared for Raith Rovers in their promotion quest in the Scottish Championship, with the latter earning his first start for the side last weekend.
In League One, Zander Hutton played every available minute for Hamilton Academical who sit at the summit of the division, Jack Wyllie continues to be an instrumental piece of the Kelty Hearts backline, while the trio of Callum Burnside, Calum Adamson and Lewis Stewart all contributed to Alloa Athletic’s positive run of form.
Chris Eadie’s goals, meanwhile, helped Stirling Albion into the next round of the Scottish Cup, as did the contribution of Lyle Wark and Cormac Christie at Forfar Athletic. Alfie Halliwell also featured for Albion Rovers in both the Scottish Cup and Lowland League.
The loan co-operation agreement can be seen in the involvement of Stewart, Connor Campbell and Arran Kerr for the Gers Under-19s side last month, who were victorious in league action against Motherwell and also lost out narrowly to League Two outfit Dumbarton in the KDM Evolution Trophy League Phase.
In the meantime, our Under-18s side advanced to the fourth round of the Scottish Youth Cup with a resounding 9-0 win over Darvel, headlined by a hat-trick from summer recruit, Zebedee Lawson.
Forward Chris Condy was also on the scoresheet and says the side aren’t hiding their ambitions of wanting to get their hands on the trophy: “I think that is what you need to do at the football club, so it is just about continuing that.
On the international front, midfielder Adamson was on the scoresheet for Scotland Under-19s in their friendly clash against Italy with a terrific volley into the top corner.
There were also appearances for Stewart and Halliwell, while Rydnn McGuire was called up to the squad before being recalled by the club due to a spate of injuries in the goalkeeping department.
Blaine McClure, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, represented Northern Ireland Under-19s alongside Burnside, who also penned a contract extension until the end of 2026/27 season with the club.
Wales Under-19s duty beckoned for Josh Gentles, while Aiden Crilly and Max Cameron featured for Scotland Under-17s in their recent European Championship qualifiers.
Domestically, our Under-17s maintained their winning start to the league season with a 4-1 triumph over Kilmarnock at the Rangers Training Centre, courtesy of a brace from Condy and strikes from both Luca Rankin and Kyle Glasgow.
The latter two formed part of a seven-strong Rangers representation in the Scotland Under-16s squad in their recent training camp, which also included Ruaridh Hall, Ashton Scally, Coben Fergusson, Corey Ngwenya and Carson McGauley.
At the Scotland Under-15s training camp, meanwhile, Nathan Brown, Josh Callaghan, Ollie Johnston, Ollie Masterton, Cody Mensing, Charlie Miller and Kai Urban all represented the Academy.
Elsewhere, RangersTV spoke to Under-17s Head Coach, Malky Thomson, recently, who spoke about the development of his young players and the need to instil a winning culture at an early age.
“We have a hybrid group whereby the players are still at school,” he said. “Our training week looks like Monday and Tuesday evenings, Thursday when we have the boys on day release from school, our game on Friday, and we have them all day on Sunday.
“It prepares them ready for coming in, and if they do get a professional contract, then they’ve been broken into it in a sense.”
At the same time, the Academy invited the teachers of our Under-17s players to the Rangers Training Centre to witness a day in the life of our young prospects, which is available to watch now on our official YouTube channel.
Down the age groups and there were excellent cross border games contested with Manchester City between the Under-9s to Under-12s, Newcastle and Derby County between the Under-13s to Under-15s, Sunderland between Under-10s to Under-14s, and Liverpool between Under-13 and Under-16 level.
Our Under-11s also participated in the prestigious Faro Cup in Portugal, with the young Gers enjoying strong challenges against both Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon.
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