Lily Boyce: Rangers Is My Main Focus

Lily Boyce is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead after signing her first pro deal at Rangers.

The 17-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Gers, as she’s rewarded for her recent development involved with Leanne Crichton’s side.

Speaking to RangersTV, she’s looking forward to what’s to come for herself and the group this campaign: “I am very confident; the players that we have brought in have shown great quality already in training, and I think the players that we had last season are definitely hungry for silverware this season.

“UWCL? That will be very exciting; it is something that I have not had the chance to do before.

“Hopefully we can do well, and we just have to push and do what we know we can do in training.

“We do it all the time; I am really confident, and I am excited for that.

“I think I am very used to the club because I have been here for so long. I really like the style of play that Leanne tries to implement.

“The most important thing is just all the girls and how well we get on. I am just buzzing to be staying here for more years to come.”

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Having been on a journey through the youth ranks at the Gers, the youngster reflected back on recent years, saying she is grateful for those around her for where she has got to today.

She continued: “Obviously I have been at the academy for a while. At Under-16s we won the Scottish Cup, then we won the Under-18s league which was really exciting.

“That first kind of pre-season it was scary, but it was really enjoyable. Since then I have made my debut, been on loan a few times and really the last six months I have tried to put my place in the team.

“Every single coach I have had I have learned something different from.

“Also, my loan clubs at Queen's Park and at Motherwell for getting given my first taste of senior football.

“As an academy player coming through this is the main aim is to get a professional contract.

“Seeing how successful other players have been before me, such as Kirsty Maclean or Mia McAulay going down south.

“Right now Rangers is my main focus, and I am absolutely delighted to be part of that pathway.

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In the last 12 months, 17-year-old Boyce has experienced the whirlwind of a loan spell at Motherwell to starting in her first Old Firm game. She paid tribute to her Head Coach and says it just drives her on to be involved in more moving forward.

She added: “At Motherwell we were playing tough games and I just feel like that really helped me physically and also mentally.

“In the women's game it can be challenging at times, but I feel like all the girls there were very supportive and they really looked after me when I was there.

“I think that was definitely a really good stepping stone in my journey.

“Leanne? She is a very good coach, and she is very personable. I feel like I can go to her anytime, and even on the pitch too she is very good for advice.

“These are the games that you want to be playing in. Especially that Old Firm game, it was one of the highlights of my football journey so far, especially getting the win and playing the way we did it was so special.

“I think playing in big moments really does prepare you, and especially for this season there is going to be a lot of those, so I think that really helped me.”