Academy Loan Players 26th – 29th April 2021

The highlights from the midweek games were Chris McKee scoring his first senior goal and decent game time for our Academy players on eight occasions.

There were  fifteen opportunities for game time for our Academy loan players this midweek, with two opportunities of game time for some of them.

There were five ninety minute appearances, three got a decent amount of game time, three played twenty-five minutes or less and four were unused subs.

Six were in winning squads, seven in losing squads, and two in squads that drew.

26th April 2021

Scottish Cup

Kilmarnock 3 St.Mirren 3 (Kilmarnock won 5-4 on penalties)

Although Danny Finlayson remained on the subs bench this week’s news that he has signed a pre-contract with St.Mirren for next season shows he is highly rated by Jim Goodwin. 

Former Academy player Greg Kiltie scored Kilmarnock’s second goal and another former Academy player Kyle McAllister scored St.Mirren’s winning penalty.

Scottish League 1

Cove Rangers 2 Partick Thistle 2

Kieran Wright returned to the Thistle squad after a few weeks out but as sub keeper remained on the bench. Former Academy player Zak Rudden continued his scoring run by notching Thistle’s opener.

Scottish League 2

Cowdenbeath 0 Brechin City 2

A rare win for Brechin and the highlights were Chris McKee scoring his first senior goal and along with Harris O’Connor recording another ninety minutes. Adam Devine made an injury time cameo appearance replacing Bobby Barr. Nicky Hogarth continues to play every minute between the sticks for Cowdenbeath.

Stranraer 1 Elgin City 4

It was good news for Murray Miller making his senior debut replacing Russell Dingwall with twenty minutes remaining.

29th April 2021

Scottish League 1

East Fife 1 Peterhead 3

Ninety minutes for Cole McKinnon but a disappointing home defeat.

Forfar Athletic 2 Clyde 1

A start for Jack Thomson but he was replaced by Marky Munro at the break.  Zac Butterworth got fifteen minutes after coming on for Ross Cunningham.

Partick Thistle 5 Falkirk 0

Not a great night for Kyle McClelland and his defensive colleague as they lost five goals, but he did play the full game. Once again Kieran Wright was Thistle’s sub keeper as he returns from injury. Former Academy player Zak Rudden continues his great scoring run with another goal.

Scottish League 2

Brechin City 0 Annan Athletic 3

Following Tuesday’s win it was back down to earth for Brechin with a home defeat to Annan. Harris O’Connor played the ninety minutes, while Chris McKee played seventy minutes before being replaced by Scott Reekie and Adam Devine got the second half coming on for Connor Coupe.

Former Academy player Nathan Flannagan continued his recent scoring run for Annan.

Elgin City 3 Stirling Albion 1

No game time for Murray Miller this time as he remained on the subs bench.

Academy Loan Players 24th April 2021

The highlight today was Nicky Hogarth recording his fourth clean sheet in five games. Also Lewis Mayo, Ben Williamson, James Maxwell and Rhys Breen continue to play the full ninety minutes.

There were  fourteen opportunities for game time for our Academy loan players today.

There were seven ninety minute appearances, two got a decent amount of game time, three played twenty-five minutes or less and two were unused subs.

Three were in winning squads, six in losing squads, and five in squads that drew.

Scottish Championship

Ayr United 0 Queen of the South 0

Stalemate at Somerset Park and I’m getting used to reporting that James Maxwell and Rhys Breen have played the full ninety minutes for Queen of the South, by contrast Jamie Barjonas remained on the Ayr bench.

Dundee 2 Raith Rovers 1

It was disappointment for Kai Kennedy and not just the defeat to Dundee, he was replaced just before the hour mark by Lewis Vaui

Dunfermline Athletic 4 Arbroath 3

A seven goal thriller at East End Park and both Lewis Mayo and Ben Williamson played the whole game. The former won the bragging rights as Lewis’s Dunfermline side edged out Ben’s Arbroath.

Hearts 3 Inverness CT 0

Inverness CT were well beaten at Tynecastle but on a positive note Aaron Lyall played thirty-five minutes as a substitute for Nikolay Todorov.

Football League Division 2

Carlisle United 1 Harrogate Town 1

In different times I might have taken this game in since no Rangers team had a game today. It was another ninety minutes for Josh McPake as the spoils were shared. 

Scottish League Division 1

East Fife 2 Dumbarton 1

It was a win for Cole McKinnon’s East Fife but the Rangers loanee only came on as an injury time replacement for Liam Newton.

Falkirk 2 Cove Rangers 2

A draw and ninety minutes for Kyle McClelland as Falkirk were held by Cove Rangers.

Peterhead 3 Clyde 0

All three Rangers Academy players started on the Clyde bench. Jack Thomson got twenty-five minutes when he came on for Kevin Nicoll, for Kane Ritchie-Hosler it was twenty minutes when he replaced Ewan Otoo. Zac Butterworth remained on the bench.

Scottish League Division 2

Stenhousemuir 0 Cowdenbeath 2

As well as another ninety minutes Nicky Hogarth made it four clean sheets in five games. A superb stat for Cowdenbeath who are sitting second bottom on the league.

 

Academy Loan Players 20th – 21st April 2021

Not a great midweek for our Academy loan players, the highlight being full games for Josh McPake, Cole McKinnon, Kyle McClelland, Harris O’Connor, Chris McKee and Nicky Hogarth. With goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth notching another clean sheet.

There were  fifteen opportunities for game time for our Academy loan players over the last couple of days.

There were six ninety minute appearances, seven got a three came on for a cameo appearance and six were unused subs.Five were in winning squads, four in losing squads, and six in squads that drew.

Tuesday 20th April 2021

Football League 2

Harrogate Town 0 Oldham Athletic 3

Not a great night for Harrogate Town as they were well beaten at home, but the positive not was that Josh McPake played the whole game.

Scottish Championship

Inverness CT 1 Dundee 1

It was an eventful game which saw Inverness CT finish with nine men, but Aaron Lyall remained on the subs bench.

Scottish League 1

Airdrie 2 East Fife 0

Another ninety minutes for Cole McKinnon but it was a defeat for East Fife. Former Rangers Academy player Callum Gallagher grabbing one of Airdrie’s goals.

Forfar Athletic 1 Clyde 3

All three Rangers loan players started on the bench, Zac Butterworth got twenty minutes coming on for Ross Cunningham, it was only a ten minute cameo for Jack Thomson replacing Ally Love. Kane Ritchie-Hosler never got off the substitutes bench.

Peterhead 0 Falkirk 0

A goalless draw and Kyle McClelland was at the heart of the Falkirk defence for the whole game.

Scottish League 2

Annan Athletic 5 Stenhousemuir 1

Sub keeper Brian Kinnear never got on as was expected. Another goal for former Academy player Nathan Flanagan.

Brechin City 0 Cowdenbeath 0

Ninety minutes for Brechin’s Harris O’Connor and Chris McKee along side Cowdenbeath’s Nicky Hogarth who recorded another clean sheet.

Queens Park 0 Elgin City 0

Murray Miller’s frustration continues as he remained on the subs bench.

Wednesday 21st April 2020

Scottish Premier League

Hibernian 2  Livingston 1

As substitute keeper Robbie McCrorie remained on the bench as expected.

Ross County 1  St.Mirren 3

Danny Finlayson made his long awaited St.Mirren debut when he replaced Richard Tait, but it was deep into injury time and he played barely a minute. Game time for Stephen Kelly appears to have stalled as once again he didn’t get on the pitch. Former Academy player Jordan White scored Ross County’s goal.

Academy Loan Players 15th to 17th April 2021

The weekend highlights were goals for Josh McPake, Ben Williamson and James Maxwell with Josh’s being a late winner for Harrogate Town.

The weekend saw twenty-seven opportunities for game time for our Academy loan players, some in more than one game.

There were eleven ninety minute appearances, seven got a decent amount of game time, four came on for a cameo  appearance and five were unused subs.

Eight were in winning squads, nineteen in losing squads.

Thursday 15th April 2021

Scottish League 1

Clyde 0 Dumbarton 1

Not a great start to the weekend in terms of game time for our Academy loan players. All three at Clyde starting on the bench, Jack Thomson coming on for Kevin Nicoll with twenty minutes remaining, seven minutes for Zac Butterworth replacing Ally love for the final seven minutes, but Kane Ritchie-Hosler remained on the bench.

Friday 16th April 2021

Scottish Cup

St. Mirren 2 Inverness CT 1

Not a good tie for game time for the Academy players, Aaron Lyall got a couple of minutes of injury time for Inverness after coming on for Sean Welsh, while Danny Finlayson remained on the St.Mirren bench.

Saturday 17th April 2021

Scottish Cup

Aberdeen 2 Livingston 2 (Aberdeen won 5-3 on penalties)

The Scottish Cup again was a disappointment in game time with Robbie McCrorie remaining on the bench.

St. Johnstone 2 Clyde 0

It was the bench for Glenn Middleton in St.Johnstone’s comfortable home win against Clyde but he did get twenty minutes replacing Guy Melamed. All three Rangers loan players got game time for Clyde, Jack Thomson playing the whole game, thirty-five minutes for Zac Butterworth replacing Marky Munro and twenty-five minutes for Kane Ritchie-Hosler who came on for Ross Caunningham.

Football League 2

Harrogate Town 2 Bradford City 1

Not just another ninety minutes for Josh McPake but a last minute winner. Not only did it secure Harrogate Town’s first win in eight but mathematically ensures they will play in Football League 2 next season.

Scottish Championship

Alloa Athletic 1 Raith Rovers 2

Raith Rovers came from behind to secure the points with Kai Kennedy playing eighty minutes before being replaced by Jack Smith.

Arbroath 4 Ayr United 0

It was a great day for Ben Williamson, not just another ninety minutes but grabbing a goal in Arbroath’s comfortable home win over Ayr United, for who Jamie Barjonas started but was replaced by Josh Todd at the break.

Dunfermline Athletic 3 Queen of the South 1

A game that saw the involvement of five Rangers Academy loan players. Lewis Mayo, Rhys Breen, James Maxwell and Dapo Mebude playing the whole game, Ciaran Dickson  was replaced by Aidan Fitzpatrick just after the hour. Dunfermline’s win gave Lewis Mayo the bragging rights while James Maxwell will have been pleased to grab Queen’s consolation goal.

Scottish League 1

Cove Rangers 2 Falkirk 0

Defeat for Kyle McClelland’s Falkirk but the young Ranger got another ninety minutes under his belt.

East Fife 2 Peterhead 1

A win and a late cameo appearance for Cole McKinnon, replacing Danny Swanson with seven minutes remaining. A special mention for former Academy player Scott Agnew, scoring the winner in what was his 500th senior appearance.

Scottish League 2

Annan Athletic 3  Brechin City 0

Another defeat for Brechin but good game time for our young players there. Harris O’Connor and Adam Devine playing the whole game, Chris McKee got eighty minutes before being replaced by Michael Paton. Brian Kinnear remained on the Annan bench for whom former Academy players Nathan Flannagan grabbed one of the goals.

Cowdenbeath 1 Stirling Albion 5

It was back down to earth for keeper Nicky Hogarth, following a couple of consecutive clean sheets it was a contrast losing five goals. On a positive note it was another ninety minutes.

Elgin City 2 Albion Rovers 5

Heavy home defeat for Elgin and Murray Miller’s frustration continues as he remained on the bench.

Academy Loan Players 13th April 2021

To put these updates together I use a variety of sources, club websites, BBC, LiveScore to name a few. Occasionally the information may not be 100% accurate but I put it out in good faith.

Highlights were the five players in the Queen of the South v Raith Rovers game and all playing eighty+ minutes. Josh McPake scoring the equaliser for Harrogate Town and Nicky Hogarth recording another shutout.

Last night saw players in squads with fourteen opportunities of game time.

There were eight ninety minute appearances, three got a decent amount of game time, two came on for a cameo  appearances and three were unused subs.

Only Kai Kennedy was on a winning side, eleven in losing squads and three in squads who drew.

Tuesday 13th April 2021

Scottish Championship

Dunfermline Athletic 0  Dundee 0

Goalless at East End Park with Lewis Mayo getting twenty-five minutes coming of the bench for former Rangers Steven Whittaker.

Queen of the South 0  Raith Rovers 1

Kai Kennedy got the better of his four Ibrox colleagues with Raith edging the win at Palmerston. Almost a full ninety minutes too, being replaced Dylan Tait with six minutes remaining. James Maxwell, Rhys Breen and Dapo Mebude all played the full game for Queens. Ciaran Dickson almost made the full ninety but was replaced by former Rangers Academy player Niyah Joseph.

Football League 2

Harrogate Town 2 Leyton Orient 2

An equalising goal and a full ninety minutes for Josh McPake as Harrogate shared the spoils at home to Leyton Orient.

Scottish League 1

Partick Thistle 2 Clyde 0

The Rangers contingent at Clyde fell to a double from a familiar name in Zak Rudden. Jack Thomson almost completed the game but was replaced by Mark Lamont with six minutes remaining. The flip side of that was a late substitute appearance for Kane Ritchie-Hosler replacing Josh Jack for the final twelve minutes. Zac Butterworth remained on the bench.

Scottish League 2

Albion Rovers 0 Cowdenbeath 0

Another shutout and another ninety minutes for Nicky Hogarth as he continues to impress at Cowdenbeath.

Edinburgh City 2 Brechin City 1

Minutes on the pitch continues to be good for the Rangers youngsters at Brechin with both Harris O’Connor and Adam Devine playing the whole game. Chris McKee missed the game due to suspension.

Queens Park 1 Annan Athletic 0

Great to see Brian Kinnear finally take his place between the sticks for Annan unfortunately it was a narrow defeat to Queens Park.

Stenhousemuir 2 Elgin City 0

Not just a defeat for Murray Miller and Elgin, he again failed to get on the pitch.

 

 

 

Academy Loan Players 10th April 2021

Highlights today were the four Queen of the South players playing ninety minutes as they compete for a playoff place and Nicky Hogarth continuing to cement the goalkeeping slot at Cowdenbeath and recording a clean sheet.

This weekend saw players in squads with twenty-two opportunities of game time.

There were eleven ninety minute appearances, six got a decent amount of game time, one came on for a cameo  appearance and four were unused subs.

Only Kyle McClelland and Nicky Hogarth were on winning sides, ten in losing squads and ten in squads who drew.

Scottish Premiership

Celtic 6 Livingston 0

Not a great day for Robbie McCrorie he may have got ninety minutes but losing six goals cannot do much for his confidence.

Kilmarnock 2  Ross County 2

It was only fifteen minutes for Stephen Kelly in Ross County’s draw at Kilmarnock coming on for Ian Vigurs.

Motherwell 1 St.Mirren 0

It way be a defeat for St.Mirren but that will be secondary for Danny Finlayson as the frustration he will feel again remaining on the bench.

St.Johnstone 0 Aberdeen 1

A start for Glenn Middleton and he lasted seventy minutes before being replaced by Stevie May in Saints home defeat to Aberdeen.

Scottish Championship

Ayr United 1 Dunfermline Athletic 1

Jamie Barjonas and Lewis Mayo both played the full ninety minutes for their respective clubs as the spoils were shared.

Queen of the South 1 Inverness CT 1

Queen of the South has been a great source of game time for our Academy players with James Maxwell, Rhys Breen, Ciaran Dickson and Dapo Mebude all playing the full game. By contract Arron Lyall may feel playing in the U18 League would be more benefit than being stuck on the Inverness bench.

Raith Rovers  Arbroath 2

Draws are a common theme in the games involving Academy players in The Championship with Kai Kennedy and Ben Williamson both playing the full game at Starks Park.

Football League 2

Bolton Wanderers 2 Harrogate Town 1

A defeat but three quarters of the game on the pitch for Josh McPake before being replaced by Brendan Kiernan.

Scottish League 1

Falkirk 2 Clyde 1

Both Kyle McClelland and Jack Thomson pretty much played the second half, with the former replacing Ben Hall just after the break, while Jack replaced Kevin Nicoll at half-time. Zac Butterworth remained on the Clyde bench.

Scottish League 2

Annan Athletic 1 Stirling Albion 2

As expected sub keeper Brian Kinnear remained on the Annan bench as they lost at home to Stiling Albion. Former Academy player Max Wright scored the home side’s goal.

Brechin City 2 Albion Rovers 4

It may be a defeat but good minutes on the pitch. The whole game for Harris O’Connor, it would have been the same for Chris McKee but for an injury time second yellow and subsequent red. Adam Devine played seventy one minutes before being replaced by Michael Paton.

Cowdenbeath 1 Elgin City 0

Bit of a contrast in this game, not just another ninety minutes but a clean sheet for Nicky Hogarth in the Cowdenbeath goal. Murray Miller still waits on his Elgin City debut.

Academy Loan Player 5th to 8th April 2021

This midweek saw players in squads with twenty opportunities of game time, some in more than one game

There were twelve ninety minute appearances, two came on for a cameo  appearances and six were unused subs.

Over the piece three were in winning squads, nine in losing squads and eight in squads who drew.

It looks in terms of game time the loans to both Queen of the South and Brechin City have been the most successful.

Monday 5th April 2021

Football League 2

Harrogate Town 0 Port Vale 2

Well Josh McPake did get another ninety minutes under his belt but was on the losing side as Harrogate Town lost at home to Port Vale.

Scottish Cup

Queen of the South 1 Hibernian 3

From a Rangers loan player perspective the highlight was probably James Maxwell’s solo consolation goal for Queen’s. He of course also completed the ninety minutes along with team mates Rhys Breen and Ciaran Dickson. Dapo Mebude got around fifteen minutes when he came on to replace Connor Shields.

It was also good to see three former Academy player in the Queen’s side in Rhys McCabe, Niyah Joseph and Stephen Dobbie.

Tuesday 6th April 2021

Scottish Championship

Ayr United 0 Dundee 3

Not a great night for Ayr or Jamie Barjonas with a three goal defeat and only an eleven minute cameo as a sub for Andy Murdoch.

Morton 1 Inverness CT 4

I’m sure he is happy with the win but Arron Lyall will be disappointed to remain on the bench.

Scottish League 1

Airdrie 2 Falkirk 1

From the high of ninety minutes at Parkhead to the low of a defeat and being stuck on the bench for Kyle McLelland.

Clyde 1 Cove Rangers 1

All square at Broadwood, ninety minutes for Jack Thomson but Kane Ritchie-Hosler was an unused sub.

East Fife 2  Partick Thistle 2

Another drawn game but it was another ninety minutes for Cole McKinnon.

Scottish League 2

Brechin City 1 Stenhousemuir 1

Games are tough for Brechin but a good point tonight and its been a good move for the Rangers Academy players with Harris O’Connor, Adam Devine and Chris McKee all getting the full ninety minutes.

Edinburgh City 1 Annan Athletic 1

I suppose when your are the sub keeper it’s unlikely you will get on, that was the case for Brian Kinnear in tonight’s draw.

Elgin City 2 Stranraer 1

Murray Miller still awaits his senior debut remaining on the Elgin City bench tonight.

Queens Park 3 Cowdenbeath 0

Difficult night for Nicky Hogarth losing three goal but he continues to bank ninety minutes experience every game.

Thursday 8th April 2021

Scottish League 1

Clyde 3 Forfar Athletic 0

A comfortable win for Clyde but unfortunately Jack Thomson was not one of the five subs used and remained on the bench.

Dumbarton 2 East Fife 1

Another ninety minutes clocked up by Cole McKinnon although he was on the losing side.

Scottish League 2

Stenhousemuir 1 Cowdenbeath 0

If you have been following these updates you will probably know that Nicky Hogarth got another full game under his belt, couldn’t quite prevent a single goal defeat.

Academy Loan Players 1st to 3rd April

To summarise we had nineteen players in the squads of several clubs over the weekend, some players involved in two games.

In total there were twenty- players involved in squads over fourteen games. Ten played ninety minutes, two got reasonable game time (twenty minutes or more),four came on for a cameo  appearances and seven were unused subs.

Over the piece ten were in winning squads, eleven in losing squads and two in squads who drew.

To show the impact Rangers Academy has had on the Scottish game I have indicated former Academy players involved in these game.

Thursday 1st April 2020

Scottish League 2

East Fife 1 Clyde 0

The bragging rights in this game went to Cole McKinnon, with the midfielder playing the ninety minutes for East Fife. In the opposite camp Jack Thomson came on at the break replacing Jamie Bain, It was another brief appearance, twelve minutes, for Kane Ritchie-Hosler replacing Barry Cuddihy. Zac Butterworth was an unused sub.

Of the former Academy players Scott Agnew was on the bench for East Fife while Scott Rumsby played the ninety minutes for Clyde.

Friday 2nd April 2020

Scottish Cup

Ross County 1 Inverness CT 3

Stephen Kelly was on the wrong end of a “Giant Killing” but he did play ninety minutes, Aaron Lyall was an unused sub for Inverness CT.

Former Academy player Jordan White came off the Ross County bench.

Football League 2

Walsall  0 Harrogate Town 0

It was off the bench at half-time for Josh McPake in Harrogate’s goalless draw, replacing Aaron Martin.

Saturday 3rd April 2020

Scottish Cup

Ayr United 0 Clyde 1

In a tie that involved quite a few current and former Academy players it was a surprise that the Clyde boys came out on top. Jack Thomson playing the ninety minutes but Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Zac Butterworth remained on the bench. Jamie Barjonas only got a late cameo replacing Michael Miller with a couple of minutes to go.

The Ayr squad included former Rangers Academy players Jack Baird, Tom Walsh, Jordan Houston, Andy Murdoch and Michael Hewitt, while Scott Rumsby played the full ninety minutes for Clyde.

Dundee 0  St.Johnstone 1

Although Glenn Middleton came on for the final twelve minutes replacing Stevie May, the story of the game involved two former Rangers Academy players. Saints keeper Zander Clark conceded a penalty but made a fine save from Charlie Adam’s spotkick.

Dundee United 2 Partick Thistle 1

It was disappointment for Kieran Wright, a mix up between him and former Rangers Academy player Mouhamed Niang gifted Dundee United an injury time winner. Former Rangers Academy players Andy Rodden, Zak Rudden and Gopsel Ocholi were part of the Thistle squad.  Nicky Clark came on and grabbed the winner for United and was joined by Jamie Robson and Lawrence Shankland who had an extended trial at Rangers.

East Fife 1  Morton 2

With a late Morton equaliser taking the game into extra time it meant decent time on the pitch for Cole McKinnon coming on for Liam Newton with twelve minutes of normal time remaining. He was joined in the East Fife squad by Scott Agnew, the Morton squad had former players Aidan McAdams, Brian McLean, Kyle Jacobs, Gary Oliver and Lewis McGrattan.

Hamilton Accies 0 St.Mirren 3

Unfortunately for Danny Finlayson he again remained on the bench, where he was joined by former Academy player Kyle McAllister.

Livingston 2 Raith Rovers 1

It took extra time for Robbie McCrorie’s Livingston to overcome Kai Kennedy’s Raith Rovers. Goalkeeper Robbie played ninety minutes and Kai almost, being replaced with a minute remaining by Danny Armstrong.

Celtic 3 Falkirk 0

It was a young Falkirk side with Kyle McLelland at the heart of defence for the ninety minutes. A great performance and a fantastic experience for the young centre back.

He was joined by 18 year old Euan Deveney who was released by Rangers at U16’s, he is on loan at Falkirk from Kilmarnock. In addition former Rangers Academy player Charlie Telfer came off the bench.

Scottish Championship

Arbroath 2 Alloa Athletic 1

A win and ninety minutes for Ben Williamson’s Arbroath as they edged out Alloa. He was joined in the Arbroath squad by former Academy player Carlo Pignatiello with Steven Hetherington turning out for Alloa.

Dunfermline 0 Hearts 0

Goalless at East End Park but it was another ninety minutes for Lewis Mayo in the Dunfermline lineup. Former Academy player Craig Halkett played the full game for Hearts.

Scottish League 2

Annan Athletic 0  Elgin City 3

Both Rangers Academy players remained on the bench, Brian Kinnear for Annan Athletic and Murray Miller for Elgin City. Annan’s squad included former Academy players Ryan Sinnamon, Nathan Flannagan and Max Wright.

Cowdenbeath  0 Albion Rovers 1

It now goes without saying that Nicky Hogarth played the ninety minutes, he was joined in the Cowdenbeath squad by former players Ryan Finnie, Iain Russell, Kyle Hutton and Robbie Buchanan and Sam Jamieson was in the Albion Rovers squad.