Rangers defender Nathan Patterson will be joined at Euro 2020 by former Ibrox Academy team-mate Billy Gilmour as the talented youngsters look to impress on their maiden call-up to the senior Scotland squad – and Steve Clarke’s decision to put faith in Patterson and Chelsea wonderkid Gilmour is proof the Gers’ are finally getting things right with their youth development.
Fans have had to endure a number of false dawns after promises of a conveyor belt of young talent when the club initially opened up the Academy at the Gers’ Auchenhowie training base 20 years ago but the success stories have been few and far between.
Since Craig Mulholland took the reins things have started to look much more promising for Rangers though and the inclusion of Patterson and Gilmour in Clarke’s 26-man squad for the Euros should set a benchmark for youngsters looking to break through.
After looking for innovative ways to improve the development of the youngsters at Auchenhowie, Mulholland and his staff have done a fantastic job of getting the Gers producing quality young talent who can seriously challenge for a regular place in the Ibrox side.
While Gilmour may have opted to try his luck south of the border with Chelsea, the young midfielder owes part of his success to his time at Rangers and his rapid acceleration through the age groups really helped push him on.
It remains to be seen whether either will be able to force their way into Steve Clarke’s this side but for any young player working their way through the ranks at Rangers, it must be promising to see how quickly things can take off.
Patterson has also massively benefited from being pushed up through the age groups and the Gers must feel that it strengthens their position on Colt teams and the benefits of exposing young players to competitive, first-team football at a younger age.
With a host of young players looking to make the step from the Academy into Steven Gerrard’s first-team at Ibrox, the ascent of Patterson and Gilmour from children to members of the first Scotland squad to reach a major finals since before either were born, Mulholland, Graeme Murty, Kevin Thomson and the rest of the Academy staff don’t have far to point to show the opportunities that are available.
The success of the Colts in last season’s Challenge Cup, losing to Inverness CT in the semi-finals after beating Stranraer, Ballymena, Solihull Moors and Wrexham was another outstanding achievement by the young Gers.
An impressive run in the UEFA Youth League was further proof of just how well the Ibrox youth system is being run, with Gilmour and Patterson’s Euro 2020 place just another sign of the incredible job done by Mulholland and his staff since taking over.
If Rangers can keep on the path they are heading, it won’t be long at all before there are more homegrown youngsters playing important roles for club and country.
In other news, Rangers teen Euro 2020 spot hailed by former Scotland boss after wowing for Gers
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