I really need football back, any football, professional, academy , boys club. By this time of year I really should have games to go to, closed door TV games doesn’t do it for me. It’s also a struggle to keep the blog ticking over.
So I looked back to this day in 2018 we were half-way through the King’s Lynn tournament, although with Rangers playing their games on 20th and 22nd July, it was a filler watching Mansfield Town v Sheffield United on this day. Two years earlier it was a trip to Newcastle United’s academy with a total mismatch of a game age wise with Rangers 3-0 up after eight minutes.
But I have decided to go back to the game ten years ago today where Rangers Under 19’s beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in their season opener, match report on the link below.
https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/youths-win-pre-season-opener/
So I thought I would have a look at where the players are now, unfortunately I never managed to get the Wolves lineup or the name of the trialist Rangers had in their ranks that day.
Alan Smith – Alan signed for Rangers in July 2010 from Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United and was the regular youth goalkeeper for a couple of years. When he was released at the end of the 2012/13 season he seemed to have a break from football before signing for Cork City in January 2015. His career seems to have ended following a three year stint at Cork City.
Ewan McNeill – Ewan came up through the age groups when he was recruited from St. Mirren Boys Club. During his five and a half year spell at Rangers he spent three months on loan at Airdrie where he made nine appearances. On his release from Rangers he was scouted and signed by Norwich City and spent two season at Carrow Road. He then returned to Scotland and turned out for Brechin City, Berwick Rangers, Clyde, Stirling Albion and was last seen at Pollok 2018/19 season.
Chris Hegarty – Joined Rangers on a free transfer from Millwall in July 2010, Rangers drop to the fourth tier saw him break into the first team and play regularly in League Two. The following season saw his first team involvement drop to just two appearances. He left Rangers at the end of 2013/14 season and signed for Linfield, he has since spent a couple of years at his first club Dungannon and is now at Crusaders.
Chris Scott – Centre back Chris joined Rangers as a thirteen year old, after signing a professional contract he decided football was not for him and left to work as a kitchen porter. After a six month sabbatical washing dishes he got a second chance and returned to the club. Not sure when he finally left the club but doesn’t appear to have been involved in professional football since.
Steven Hetherington – Signed for Rangers after being spotted at an FA Exit Trial having been released by Hartlepool. On his release from Rangers in 2011 he signed for Motherwell, during his two years at Fir Park he made three appearances with a further fourteen on a loan spell at Airdrie United. A spell in English non league with Celtic Nation and Crook Town followed before returning to Scotland and Alloa Athletic where he is now entering his seventh season.
Dylan McGeouch – Rangers paid Celtic a development fee when he was fourteen and arguably the best player in the country at his age group. A top performer in the youth team Rangers allowed his contract to run down and he signed a pre-contract with Celtic in January 2011. He now has over 150 senior appearances at Celtic, Coventry City, Hibernian, Sunderland and now Aberdeen. He was capped twice by Scotland in 2018.
Andy Mitchell – Andy joined Rangers in July 2010 on a free transfer from Man City who he joined from Greenisland Boys Club. He made his Rangers debut in a Premiership game against Dundee United in 2011/12. Played a few games the following season in League Two before moving to Annan Athletic for 2013/14 season, with the move made permanent in January 2014. A move to Southport followed before returning to Annan on loan. On leaving Annan he returned home and signed for Crusaders and has since played for Linfield and now Larne.
Gordon Dick – Another who came through the academy age groups joining the club from Mill United. Midfielder Gordon joined Albion Rovers on his release from Rangers in July 2012. Stints in the Juniors with Cambuslang Rangers and Wishaw followed but now appears to be out of the game.
Kamil Wiktorski – Polish recruit Kamil joined from Zawisa Bydgoszcz in July 2009 after a successful trial. On his release from Rangers he returned home and has since turned out for six clubs in Poland. He now has around 100 appearances in the Polish second tier where he plays for current club Chojniczanka Chocjnice.
Christiano Kisuka – Christiano had been on the books of Aberdeen and Queens Park before he joined Rangers. On leaving the club he had a spell at Beith Juniors before turning out for Syrianska IF in Sweden. It appears he was last seen in Junior football with East Kilbride Thistle.
Anthony Marenghi – Joined Rangers from Celtic at the same time as Dylan McGeouch but no development fee was paid in this case. A skilful left sided player who I thought was better than his game time in the youth team suggested. Joined Ayr United on leaving Rangers and with stints at Stranraer and Stenhousemuir he was close to 100 senior games. Last seen at Lowland League club East Kilbride in 2016/17 season.
Nicky Main – Unfortunately Nicky was in the headlines for non football reasons when diagnosed with a brain tumor and retired from football at the age of 19. Son of former St.Johnstone and Dundee United keeper Alan Main he faced a long battle to over come the illness. His progress was such that he returned to the football pitch with Lossiemouth United in 2014.
Kyle McAusland – Joined the club as a striker at a young age from Ayr United, a club he returned to on loan on no fewer that three occasions. As he moved up through the age groups he reverted to defence. When Rangers were competing in League Two Kyle was turning out in the division above for Ayr United. He made a handful of first team appearances for Rangers the following season before returning to Ayr United on loan. He also had a loan spell at Brechin City and on leaving Rangers he signed for Dunfermline Athletic, he also played for Alloa Athletic and has spent the last three season in the Juniors with Cummnock.
I can’t remember too much about the game or indeed the trialist, but I know he wore the number 9 so I assume he was part of a front two with Christiano Kisuka.
Rangers Youths 
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