In the first instalment of our Academy Monthly series, we reflect on the last month throughout the age groups.
The emphatic Scottish Cup victory over Fraserburgh at Ibrox marked a number of significant breakthroughs for the Academy.
18-year-old Mason Munn celebrated his first senior appearance and start for the Light Blues as he kept a clean sheet for the second time this campaign against the Highland League side.
For Munn, it was an experience he reckons has whet the appetite for more, and he believes he’s in the perfect environment to learn off the experience of Jack Butland and Liam Kelly.
“I am proud of myself that I have made my debut,” he told RangersTV after the game.
"It was a good day; there are definitely things to improve on, but I am still learning. I am only 18.
“They are both very experienced goalkeepers. Learning off them is a massive thing for me and I try to take small things from them every day.”
The cup victory also marked a first Gers appearance for Findlay Curtis, 18, who was a second half substitute and helped create goals for Cyriel Dessers and fellow Academy Ross McCausland, before the teenager celebrated his European debut four days later in the UEFA Europa League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
There were further appearances, too, for Bailey Rice and Leon King, with the former having recently made the full-time transition into the first-team dressing room.
Paul Nsio, meanwhile, marked his league and European debut for the Light Blues – three years after making his senior Gers bow in a League Cup clash at Ibrox – in the respective victories over Dundee United and Union Saint-Gilloise.
There was great news on the contract front, too, as Academy graduate Curtis committed his future to the club by penning a contract extension.
It was reward for the teenager’s progression this season after his initial exposure to the first-team in the pre-season training camp in the Netherlands, saying: “It’s a proud day for myself, my family and friends, and it’s a good feeling to commit my future to the club.
“The manager has been so helpful with me and he has given me the confidence to keep on pushing. He said to me that my chance would come and to be patient.
January also saw movement in the transfer window as several players hoping to make a first-team breakthrough in the near future headed out on loan to clubs in the Scottish football pyramid.
Archie Stevens will be hoping to make an impression in the Scottish Championship after joining Dunfermline Athletic, while 18-year-old defender Leyton Grant will spend the remainder of the campaign with Stirling Albion of League Two as he samples his first experience of senior football.
In addition, Josh Gentles, who turned 17 in September, has made the switch to League One side Alloa Athletic for the remainder of the campaign, where he will square off against fellow 2007-born player Blaine McClure who has joined Kelty Hearts on loan.
Meanwhile, defender Kristian Webster joined Dumbarton on loan until the end of the season as the 19-year-old hopes to help the Sons navigate a route from relegation trouble in League One.
Jack Harkness and Johnly Yfeko all continue to gain valuable minutes at their respective loan sides, while Academy graduate Robbie Fraser has enjoyed a positive start to life on loan at Livingston in the Scottish Championship.
LOAN REVIEW: Published weekly, reviewing how each player is getting on and you can read the latest instalment here.
Elsewhere, an Under-19s side competed at the Mercedes-Benz Junior Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, in a unique six-a-side format.
The young Gers concluded the trip with a fifth-place finish, ranking as the best foreign side at the tournament as hosts VfB Stuttgart ran out eventual winners in a pulsating final against Bayern Munich.
17-year-old forward Gentles netted five times across the tournament, helping the side to victories over Manchester United, Borussia Monchengladbach and Servette.
The young Gers were also in Glasgow Cup action in January as they produced an impressive Old Firm triumph at Ochilview Park.
Curtis doubled his side’s advantage in a 3-1 victory, while it was a special moment for 17-year-old McClure who marked his competitive debut in the competition with a fantastic strike from the edge of the penalty area.
“It’s good to get a goal, but most importantly the team won and got three points on the board,” the Northern Irishman commented afterwards.
“Personally for me, it’s good to get the goal as this was my first competitive start, and I’m happy it was against Celtic too.”
Elsewhere, Steven Smith’s Under-18s side continued their league campaign following the winter hiatus with a 1-1 draw away to Kilmarnock.
Rydnn McGuire, Aiden Crilly and Jack Caldwell, all of whom have formed part of the Under-18s squad this term, also put pen-to-paper on their first professional contracts in what was sure to be a proud day for their families.
The Under-15s travelled to London to compete in the Reece James Cup, hosted by Chelsea, as part of the Academy’s strong Tournament Programme, with six of the 2010-born side also featuring for Scotland against Australia Schoolboys.
The Foundation Phase squads also attended festivals hosted by Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle United as part of the Additional Games Programme, while the Under-12s & Under-13s competed in the five-a-side Katoni Cup hosted by Aberdeen.
Closer to home, we hosted the Glasgow Cup festival for the Under-10s which also included Burnley and Newcastle United from south of the border.
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