The Rangers Youth Development Fund have donated a further £300,000 to the Auchenhowie academy to help the next generation of Ibrox stars.
More than £12.5million has been handed over to the youth department since 2002 and the likes of Findlay Curtis, Mason Munn, Calum Adamson, Callum Burnside and Lewis Stewart are among the most recent graduates to benefit directly from RYDC funding.
Read more:
- Rangers move to within three of Hearts, Skov Olsen opens account, Naderi verdict
- Issame Charai gives inside story on Tuur Rommens, Rangers move and what to expect
- Meet Oliver Antman - Barcelona interest, feet 'like drumsticks', vocal and motivated
Colin Stewart, RYDC director of operations, presented the latest cheque alongside first team coach Steven Smith, himself a former academy starlet, on Thursday morning.
“It is a great pleasure to present another £300,000 to the Rangers Academy," Stewart said. “A huge thank you to the Rangers fanbase who continue to back us by investing in our products on a weekly basis. That incredible support has allowed us to generate another significant six-figure sum for the Academy.
“We have been working tirelessly for the past year to raise funds for our youth department and we have now provided £12.5 million since 2002.
“Every single penny of profit from our online store, Rangers Lotto, The Union Jackpot and Stadium Bricks is given to the Academy to help the development of our youth players and it is always a thrill to see homegrown players making it into the first-team.
“RYDC has also given away hundreds of thousands of pounds in prizes to fans and in the last year – our supporters shared over £300,000 in prize money, which includes our bumper Big Blue Jackpot prize of at least £12,000 at the end of each month.
“We will continue to work as hard as we can to generate more funds for youth development at the club.”
Keeper Liam Kelly was also on hand to show his support for the extraordinary work that Stewart and his team do to raise funds for the club.
Kelly is in his second spell at Ibrox after progressing through the ranks as a kid and could land the Premiership title as part of Danny Rohl's side this term.
“I had a great grounding at Rangers when I was a youth player and now I have played for the first-team thanks to support from RYDC," Kelly said.
“They’ve donated so much money to the Academy and that contribution has helped so many people for so many years. I came through that system and the more money they get then the more opportunities there are for younger players to progress.
“RYDC serves the club really well and hopefully we can see more players coming through to the first-team.”
Share