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Welcome all to the start of the new season. Last season was the first for the blog which I started in October and the feedback shows there is is sufficient interest to keep it going for the new season. Last season was to end in disappointment for the Ibrox youngsters, missing out on both league and cup in the final weeks of the season. Hibs were worthy winners of both trophies although I think we deserved the lottery of a penalty shoot out in the cup final. It was also disappointing to drop to below Hearts in the league having won both league encounters against them.
So its an interesting season ahead with champions Hibs losing almost their entire side. Rangers potentially have the bulk of last season’s side available but one or two could be pushed on, limiting their appearances for the youth side. All will be revealed in the coming weeks and we will see which sides will be challenging for the honours.
The Under 19’s play their home games at Murray Park, with an occasional game played Ibrox. The focus will be on news and reports on this group. Although I will touch on Reserve and Under 17’s games if possible.
The club starts development games against the other Scottish clubs from Under 11’s, with squads at 12’s, 13’s, 14’s, 15’s and of course 17’s.
The two younger age groups play 7-a-side, with the 12’s moving to 11-a-side after the winter break. They normally play four 7-a-side games across the park, two being played simultaneously. The games are usually played on a Saturday with one age group at home while the other plays the same club away.
The four older age groups usually play on Sundays, two at home and two away, again against the same club. These games are 11-a-side and usually consist of three 30 minute periods, players can come on and off through out. Directions to Murray Park are shown below.
No results are recorded or points awarded at any of the age groups, the focus being on (allegedly) player development. The clubs are discouraged from publishing any details/scores from these games. If there is any major news or developments from the younger age groups I’ll post them here.
October 8, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Good wee site. I have it bookmarked now so I will check it out frequently.
Good luck the wee Gers.
October 22, 2008 at 8:54 pm
my liitle bother plays for the gers 12s team:)
good site:)
October 23, 2008 at 11:36 am
Why does it not include all age groups from u11s up?
Why only start at u17s?
October 23, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Hi Kate,
Thanks for the comments.
As the title and the first paragraph indicate the blog is aimed at providing news and reports on the Under 19’s. The 17’s could all potenially feature in league and cup games for the 19’s. Most of the 17’s are now full time at Murray Park, so that is why they are included.
I am not sure it would be appropriate to name players at the younger age groups. This is unofficial site and just a supporter’s view of the youth setup.
The clubs are discouraged by the authorities from publishing details and results from the development leagues. So although the results on these games are sometimes available, I won’t publish them unless the situation changes.
The knowledge I have of the younger age groups is a bit limited as I don’t get to see them as often.
October 28, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Good site mate.
Keep up the hard work got it book marked so i can keep up to date.
Cheers
November 5, 2008 at 9:30 am
Excellent source of info mate.
Thanks for that.
PS: Do you have a contact email or can you contact me please?
November 5, 2008 at 10:41 am
Hi Frankie,
You can contact me at rfcyouths@btinternet.com
November 7, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Great site mate.
Keep up the good work.
November 13, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Are you Robert McElroys mate
November 13, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Does Robert have any ?
November 17, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Great site to keep up to date. Now bookmarked
November 18, 2008 at 10:14 am
quality wee site you have mate, keep up the good work, site now bookmarked !
November 19, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Very nice site. Always keen to know how the kids are going. Thanks.
December 10, 2008 at 10:54 am
Hello mate.
Do you have any info on the Youth Cup Final against Killie that was played at Rugby Park in 2004?
Was thinking if you’re looking for stuff to fill the site with, you could do a “where are they now” on the boys from that night. I was looking up Warren Jacmot the other day…
Hi,
As I mentioned yesterday I have a few ideas and just started on a wee piece on the former youth players playing in the Irish League. Then I will do a bit on some of the foreign players that have played for the youths . Its just finding a wee bit of time at the moment.
December 10, 2008 at 4:27 pm
can you tell me about dylan mcgeoughs goal scoring record?
December 10, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I am afraid the short answer is no. Two reasons there firstly I haven’t managed to see much of the Under 17’s this season and the Under 17’s play in the Development Leagues, the results, scorers etc from thes games are not published.
What I can say is that Dylan McGeough is an excellent prospect, but more of a playmaker than a goalscorer. He played in all Scotland’s Victory Shield games so you may have seen him on Sky. He has been a substitute for the under 19’s a few times this season, but he is still Under 16 so his time will come.
December 16, 2008 at 11:11 am
I was just interested because he used to go to my school.
December 18, 2008 at 10:16 am
Who is the biggest prospect you have in.
December 18, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Greetings from Iraq, Ross gave me the link for the site, brilliant, well done. I’ll keep an eye on it, hope it’s a success, should be we’ve been crying out for something like this for years. Next Question, who in the RTL is behind it?????????? In reply to Thomas Morley I would say Archie Campbell, as he is banging them in regularly. But he still needs more time.
December 18, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Lots of prospects, at different age groups. But things change from season to season, players improve and others take a wee step back. I won’t name anyone at the younger age groups, but we have a lot with “chances” playing 19’s. I could make a case for quite a few, but in my opinion I would say Jamie Ness and Danny Wilson have a real chance.
December 19, 2008 at 11:12 am
whos youth team is better rangers or celtic??
December 19, 2008 at 11:54 am
As Rangers have won both League & Cup the last two seasons then it has obviously been Rangers. Prior to that Celtic won the league four years running.
But is this how you measure who is best ? I would say the real measure is how the players progress. For example, in the first ever Youth Cup Final Celtic beat Rangers 2-0, but three of the Rangers team went on to play at full international level. So who had the best team that year ?
Rangers are currently 9 points ahead of Celtic having played a game more. This season there isn’t much between all the teams, and Hibs (3 points ahead of Rangers) look like the team to beat.
January 9, 2009 at 11:23 am
are the two youth player that Hamilton have recently signed until the end of the season, good prospects for the future?
Replied via e-mail.
January 16, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Dylan McGeouch from Rangers was at Celtic before but he was let go of because his position clashed with Celtic youngsters Islam Feruz(said to be the best in Scotland at Youth level) and Paul George another great prospect and for fairness clubs try to keep small squads so Younger players can step up sometimes. Dylan supports Celtic and his brother Darren was at Celtic before to but also released, Darren’s now at Greenock Morton I think. Just thought i’d say.
January 16, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Not quite true Declan, Celtic were very keen to keep Dylan. I am not privy to the reasons he wanted to leave and join Rangers but we are pleased to have him. I believe Rangers had to pay compensation to get him, he is at the younger end of the 19’s squad more likely to feature from next season.
February 16, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Excellent blog, keep up the great work .
February 25, 2009 at 3:37 pm
any news on rising star dylan mcgeogh ?
February 25, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Dylan is a first year under 17 and is playing regularly at under 17’s. He has already appeared as a substitute at Under 19’s this season. It is likely he will feature in the 19’s on a regular basis next season.
February 27, 2009 at 11:00 am
Excellent site mate, good to see one that is focused on the development of the youth. Now finally remembered to add to my favourites.
March 4, 2009 at 12:03 am
Great site mate, i was just wondering do you know if any young ulster born players are coming through the ranks apart from andy little – i think its a big un-tapped market over here
Also i’ve seen that celtic have been very active signing young players for next season from england and europe – do you think rangers will also be going down this route ? Cheers
March 4, 2009 at 9:18 am
Hi,
At the moment Andy Little is the only player from Northern Ireland on the books. There are always players over from Northern Ireland that Rangers are looking at, if you check the “Youths Go Top ” post, there is a small report as a footnote on an Under 17’s friendly the previous Friday. Two of the three trialists were from Linfield, both of who played in this year’s Victory Shield for Northern Ireland.
Rangers are always looking at players from anywhere and the other trialist that night was a young Latvian. I am sure any signing made will be judged on whether they think the outlay is justified. We have went down that route in the past. Barjam Fetai, Jani Kaupilla, Luigi Riccio are a few names that spring to mind, and only Rino Gattuso would considered a real success.
March 6, 2009 at 11:37 am
Is It true that dylan mcgeogh scored midweek for the under 19’s?
March 6, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Dylan came on a as sub for the 19’s and scored in last Sunday’s league game against Hamilton Accies. See “Comfortable Win For Youths” post.
March 8, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Great work mate! Bookmarked.
March 18, 2009 at 9:36 am
This has to be the best Rangers site ever. One thing that this does highlight bearing in mind the manager’s background with Dundee Utd
Is that , we never give youngsters a run in first team, whereas Dundee Utd &Aberdeens great teams of the 80’s played their youngsters to find out how good they could be i.e give them enough games to get the pace and see how they make out, then know what they have.
In this time of financial problems at the club I wish the manager would have the nerve to try one or two of these prospects,ok I do not see them day in and day out! but! seeing them play is where it counts.
May 12, 2009 at 12:26 am
Quality site sir. excellent for keeping informed when I’m all these miles from home. its bookmarked and I’ll be a regular
keep up the good work
cheers
Graeme
June 16, 2009 at 2:29 am
Watched the Scotland u19’s in Sheffield and Doncaster and thought that the lad Stephen Stirling was a stickout any info on him ?
June 16, 2009 at 7:29 am
Stephen is from Paisley and been a youth team regular the last couple of seasons. He had a great start to the season and was flying for the first few months, he then had a wee dip in form but finished the season strongly and did have a good tournament for Scotland. One of the few of last season’s squad that is now too old for the Under 19’s so now steps up to the reserves and could possibly go out on loan for a wee spell.
September 4, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Great site like reading Rangers news always like to here about the young kids from 11s upwards keep it up difrent class,
October 3, 2009 at 1:30 am
Many thanks for your excellent site. I have been very impressed by your sentiments as regards the younger players.
At younger levels, results are not important. You are looking for nuggets of gold amid the rubble. It’s all about development.
A Rangers “legend” told me two years ago that the only young player he thought would make the grade (at the very top level) was Jamie Ness.
Even Fleck is finding it hard to make the step-up from playing against undisciplined kids (many of whom will end up chucking the game or find a team in the lower leagues or Junior football) and facing very fit adult professionals who would gladly break your leg to protect their bonus cash.
As you say, results at Under-19s mean nothing.
How many trophies did Hibs win? But their players ended up at Celtic, Rangers and the Premiership.
Best wishes to you, Sir!
October 12, 2009 at 6:25 am
I have been following the rangers youth teams alot recently and also the celtic side, i have to say the young boy who plays for the 17s and sumtimes for the 19s Dylan McGeouch is a great player so composed on the ball, confident can score goals can run at teams, i watched him at murray park a while back and he controlled the whole game for the 17s and hit the post from about 30 yards! absolute quality player!
Dylan is definetly a player for the future this kid has it all! i cant beleve he came from celtic of all places!! haha good site you have here keep up the good work
October 15, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Will there be no match report on the under 19’s game against Stirling Albion? Great site!
October 15, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I took the opportunity of the International week to take a short break, so unfortunately it meant missing this a game. So no report I am afaraid, just the lineup and goalscorers
November 19, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Great Site!
I used to Watch alot of the youth games on Rangers Tv before the collapse of Sentanta!
This is the best oppertunity any Rangers young player will get at breaking into the First Team and there is definetly some great Talent coming through.
Really looking forward to seen the likes of Ness,Wylde who look to have a promising future. Archie Campbell is continuing to bang in the goals and hopefully he might break into the first team in the next year or so.
Where is Rory Loy? I know he had a great season in the reserves last year before going off to the Pars on loan.
December 7, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Great site Will be looking at it more often
CHEERS
Harmac
December 11, 2009 at 12:03 am
This is a great wee site.
Year-on-year, the youth development operations at Rangers are going to get increasingly important in my opinion.
It is nice to have a source of information such as this.
December 26, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Youth football is something that is very close to my heart after spending quite a number of years coaching the boys.
Chuffed to bits that i’ve found this site & a huge round of applause for all your efforts in keeping us informed in what effectively should be core to our future.
Great work & bookmarked
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