Rangers Youths

The blog is now entering its 16th season so a refresh for the home page.  I’ve decided to keep it going for the coming season although I’m not getting any younger and will need to stop sometime. I’m now watching some players, who if they make the first team I’m crossing fingers I’ll still be around to see them.

Starting with a brief explanation of what the blog is. It was started to fill a gap in the clubs youth coverage and I try to provide updates and reports on any youth games I attend. This can be any 11-a-side age group from Under 13’s to Reserve/Under 20’s. What it isn’t is an opinion on the merits of players at the various age groups. My opinion on players is irrelevant and I think I am quite successful in keeping my reports opinion free. I would always encourage anyone to come along and form their own views on the youth teams and players.

There has obviously been big changes in the academy with Craig Mulholland leaving and Zeb Jacobs recently appointed as Academy Director. Time will tell if these changes are what’s required to drive the academy forward.

Withdrawal from the Lowland League is also a major change, anyone who has followed the blog will know I wasn’t much of a fan of the Lowland League, Post COVID Rangers really didn’t have much of a choice and playing at that level was the only realistic option available.

Competitive football for post U18’s for the season ahead as it stands is the Challenge Cup and Glasgow Cup. The knockout Challenge Cup really depends on the opposition and the team they put out, some clubs use it to provide game time to fringe players. Rangers will be away to Spartans in their first tie.

The Glasgow Cup was a great idea in theory a round robin phase where Rangers and Celtic U21’s will take on the senior teams of Partick Thistle, Clyde and Queens Park. Last season the proposed home and away ties, became one off games, Clyde withdrew from the competition and Partick Thistle and Queens Park fielded reserve teams as they prioritised their league campaigns.

Successful navigation of the Champions League qualifiers would also see a Rangers U19 side compete in the UEFA Champions Youth League and guarantee six games against quality opposition. Last season was a great if challenging experience in the group with Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli and I managed to attend all six games.

The plan outwith these competitive games is a series of challenge matches and possibly play in some more continental tournaments. This was reasonably successful in the season’s before COVID hit, so hopefully that can be replicated.

Rangers will of course compete in the U18 Elite League in the season ahead which with the inclusion of Kilmarnock and Queens Park is now up to eleven clubs. There is a whisper that with such a big U17 group they will be the basis of Rangers Under 18 League squad.

Below U18’s all age groups have now come away from the calendar year and back in line with the regular Scottish football season.  The younger age groups do not play for any points and there is no league structure. Not 100% sure if this is the case for U16’s who played in a six month league under the calendar  year system. There is a CAS Cup competition for 13’s through to 16’s which is played in two groups leading to a final.

The CAS (Club Academy Scotland) fixtures are nominally set as follows. U11’s, U13’s & U15’s will play on Saturday’s with the U12’s, U14’s & U16’s  playing on Sundays. There should be at lease one 11-a-side age group at home each day at the weekend, although all these games are subject to change..

Directions to The Rangers Training Centre are shown below. The Rangers Training Centre is situated on Auchenhowie Road.