Academy Trio RYDC Q&A Highlights

RYDC hosted a Twitter Q&A with Rangers Academy trio Charlie Lindsay, Tony Weston and James Graham today – check out the highlights.

All three joined the Light Blues this summer and are working hard to develop under the guidance of the talented coaching staff at the training ground.

Attacking midfielder Charlie is already well known to youth staff having impressed for Rangers in the prestigious Al Kass tournament earlier this year.

He had become the youngest player to feature for Irish side Glentoran and the Northern Ireland youth international is delighted to join the team he has supported all his life.

Striker Tony Weston joined from Blackpool in the summer and scored 14 goals for the youth team last season before being promoted to their first-team squad.

And fellow striker James Graham, also a boyhood Rangers supporter, joined from Ross County to complete a hat-trick of impressive youth signings.

They were delighted to answer fans’ questions earlier today. Check out the highlights of their session:

Q - Jamie Hare – What are your hopes for the coming season?

CL – Just to keep developing my game, I want to play at the highest stage possible and keep enjoying my football.

TW – I just want to work hard and become the best player I can in a short space of time. And score goals.

JG – I want to add as many things as possible to my game and keep improving as a footballer.

Q - Who’s your favourite current players - at Rangers and at other teams?

CL – Messi – a no brainer. For Rangers, Steven Davis.

TW – Messi and Hagi and Kent. They put on a show when they are on the ball.

JG – Aubameyang – he plays in the same position and has the same style as me. Ryan Kent at Rangers.

Q - What made you choose Rangers as the place to develop your career? All the best!

CL – From the first day I came I was made to feel so welcome. I am a Rangers fan and we have a great history. It is a childhood dream come true.

TW – I idolise the manager. He played for Liverpool, the team I supported all my life and used to live in the same street as me. It’s a great environment to be exposed to here and I can hopefully kick on.

JG – I was a Rangers fan growing up so it is a dream come true.

Q – Debz Lawson - Are you enjoying your start to life at Rangers?

CL – It’s been brilliant so far and I have been loving the training. Everyone at the club, players and staff, have welcomed me really well and I am excited about the future.

TW – It’s been great. It’s a big move coming from Liverpool but I have had a warm welcome. I am enjoying it and the training has been good.

JG – It’s a big step up from Ross County but I have settled in really well so far. The boys and all the coaches have all really welcomed me and I am enjoying it.

Q – Ross McRobert – Who do the 3 lads mould their style of play on?

CL – Eden Hazard – he loves dribbling and using his pace to his advantage. He has a low centre of gravity and even though he is small he is very strong and powerful.

TW – Luis Suarez – heh gets into clever pockets and makes good runs. His movement is first class and he scores lots of goals.

JG – Aubameyang at Arsenal. He has the same style as me so I try and base my game on him.

Q - Tom Miller - Charlie - How influential was Phil Cowen in getting you to Rangers?

CL – Phil played a massive role in me signing for Rangers. I could ask him anything at any time and he was a good link with the club. He always treated me as a Rangers player and not a trialist. That was so important for my confidence.

Q – Tom - Tony - it’s a big step from Blackpool where you were in and around the first team. What is your personal plan to push on now you are a Ranger?

TW – As I said before, I just want to work hard and become the best player I can in a short space of time. And score goals. Q – Tom - James - how are you adapting to life in Glasgow and what set Rangers apart from the big English clubs you had trials with?

JG – I have settled in well. It is a big difference to come from an island to a big city like Glasgow. I chose Rangers because it’s the team I support and my boyhood club. I felt Rangers was the right club for me.

Q – Graham McGraw - Charlie - What’s your best position, 8/10, 8 & a half?

CL – I don’t really mind. I can play anywhere in midfield or off any wing. I just want to affect the game and score goals. As long as I am playing that’s the most important thing.

Q - All - who were your hero’s growing up (non-Rangers & Rangers) and how’s the training been so far?

CL – Steven Gerrard for his obsession to get better and become the best. A great mentality and attitude to the game. My favourite Rangers player of all time would be Paul Gascoigne, the player I look up to the most is Steven Davis. Captain of my country and a great player and person. He is the player I look up to and aspire to be like.

TW – Steven Gerrard when he was playing for Liverpool. The whole city looks up to him for his professionalism and mentality. He didn’t just score and create goals, he did the other side of the game too. Working hard for the team and putting his body on the line day in and day out.

JG – Ronaldo because of the amount of goals he has scored for club and country. His mentality just gets better every day and he always pushes himself. He has won so many trophies for clubs and at international level and also so many individual awards. And Kenny Miller. The first ever football game I went to with my dad was an Old Firm game and he scored two goals in the win so I look up to him.

CL - We are not in training as normal but there has been a lot of pre-season work. We have all worked really hard and pushed ourselves to the limit to be ready for the start of the new season.

Q – Wilf Marshall - Has it been beneficial for you all to join the Club at the same time? Does it make settling in easier?

TW – It has been good to train with the new players as we all joined at the same time. It makes us all feel more comfortable.

Q – Nick - Hi guys, what would you say is the most important thing you’ve learned since joining Rangers this summer?

CL – I was over at the start of July and did some work with the B team. That was a great learning curve, you see all the extra work that goes on at the training centre and what you have to do to play at the top.

TW – It’s a new club so I have learned how to adapt to my new surroundings. The sessions are a lot more intense compared to what I did at Blackpool.

JG – The playing style of Rangers. I have not played that style before so I am learning to play the Rangers way.

Q – Stuart - How do you feel when you walk into the Training Centre each day and see you’re actually part of the world’s most successful club? And have you walked up the famous marble staircase yet and glimpsed the heritage of this great club?

CL – I’ve always known about the history of the club. It’s a great club. Even though I’ve joined it’s academy level it’s a brilliant feeling and I am very proud to sign for Rangers. We have all been to Ibrox and seen the trophy room

TW – I knew Rangers were interested in me and I was told great things about the club. It’s a great environment to come to and although I was nervous at the start everyone has made me feel welcome and I am settling in well.

JG – I am a Rangers fan so I knew about the club. When I heard they were interested it was a no brainer. Coming down the first week and seeing the facilities was great. It’s a great place and all the boys and staff have been really good with me

RYDC has provided more than £8.5 million to the Rangers Academy since 2002 with profit from their portfolio of products.

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