RANGERS Academy graduate Steven Smith enjoyed a successful playing career with the Light Blues and is delighted his journey has come full circle as he is now back working as a youth coach at the training ground.
In an exclusive interview with The Rangers Youth Development Company, recorded before the latest lockdown, Stevie discussed his own Academy experiences - which were assisted by annual RYDC donations.
Almost £9 million has been provided to the Academy since 2002 and players like Allan McGregor, Charlie Adam, Alan Hutton, Chris Burke and more recently Nathan Patterson have all benefitted from that support.
Stevie, who had two spells at Ibrox playing under Alex McLeish, Paul le Guen, Walter Smith, Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall and Stuart McCall, also featured for Norwich, Aberdeen, Portland Timbers and Kilmarnock during his playing career and he is now making his mark in the coaching world.
He has a wealth of knowledge to pass on to young players at the Academy and is grateful to the club for giving him the platform to do so.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview on his Academy journey and Rangers career for RYDC, he said: “I’m loving it. I had talks with Craig Mulholland and staff at the Academy about coming in when I retired but at that point but I didn’t feel I was quite ready for it.
“Now I have my ‘A License’ and I have been coaching for nearly two years and I am now in the position where I am more confident and ready.
“Things are a little bit different obviously because of the Covid problems but the club have been fantastic in dealing with the young players.
“First and foremost is player welfare and mental health and there have been so many Zoom calls and online masterclasses. I have been so impressed with the Academy. The work they are doing is outstanding.
“I have experience of everything the young players are going to face in their playing careers as I signed my first professional contract in 2002 and had been in on work experience before that.
“We weren’t playing many matches then but we would train three times a week and it was always fun.
“I remember making my debut against Hearts at Ibrox in 2004. It was a great experience and we won the game 3-2 and went top of the league that day.
“It was always my ambition to play for Rangers and it meant so much to my family.
“It was all learning at that stage of my career and I was learning every single day.
“We had players like Barry Ferguson and Dado Prso in the dressing room and they helped teach you what it means to be a Rangers player. Now I can help do the same with our young players.
“We had a good group of young players in and around the squad and that helped me make the transition when I broke into the team. Guys like Chris Burke, Mo Ross, Alan Hutton, Charlie Adam, Bob Malcolm and Stephen Hughes and they all made you feel a little more comfortable.
“I also got the chance to play against Villarreal in the Champions League and it was probably one of the biggest games I ever played in.
“It was incredible and I hadn’t watched it back until I retired and only then did I realise what a massive occasion it was.
“I came into a successful team under a successful manager and I will always be grateful to Alex McLeish for giving me my debut.”
Steven has always been a huge supporter of RYDC and has praised the independent organisation for making such a positive contribution to youth development at the club.
He added: “£9 million is an outstanding amount and everyone at the Academy is grateful for the funds.
“You see the quality of the pitches and the quality of the equipment and that is down to RYDC.
“I think the club will be forever grateful for the funding that they get and it is a great partnership.”
Enjoy an extended interview with Stevie here and for more information on RYDC and their products visit www.rydc.co.uk
RYDC has also just launched a new weekly Rangers Quiz product and all profits go to the Academy. Visit www.rangersquiz.com for full details.