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Many young boys want to be footballers or rock stars when they grow up, Rangers Academy graduate Tom Walsh is living that exact dream and has enjoyed a taste of both worlds.
The 29-year-old had the privilege of pulling on the famous blue jersey when Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall, Stuart McCall and Mark Warburton were in the dugout and now he is the frontman, songwriter and guitarist for rock band Heavy Heads.
Tom started the group with school friends Callum McKenna and Ross Cooper and their line-up is now complete with the recruitment of drummer Kevin Borland.
They released debut single Sam earlier this year and followed it up recently with Barrels – both written by Tom – and he combines his love for music with his current job as a Health and Fitness Instructor for Ayrshire Council.
Walsh first joined Rangers when he was 9 and progressed through the youth ranks before earning a debut against Stirling Albion at Ibrox in December 2012 when he was just 16 – a moment he will never forget.
A loan move to Stenhousemuir followed and he featured more regularly when he returned, particularly when 9-in-a-Row legend McCall was appointed manager.
It was a difficult time for the Light Blues as they made their way back through the leagues but Tom still made a contribution and remains immensely proud to have played for Rangers.
A series of unfortunate injuries sadly blighted his time here, but he was capped at Scotland under 16, 17 and 19 level and went on to play for Dumbarton, St Mirren, Limerick, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ayr Utd in a more than worthy career.
In a wide-ranging interview as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company – who have donated more than £12 million to the Academy so far – Tom discusses his football journey, life after Rangers and future hopes for Heavy Heads.
He said: “I was playing for Hurlford Boys Club and I got scouted by Rangers and a few other clubs and joined when I was 9.
“I was absolutely buzzing and was training three nights a week, then four nights a week when I got older.
“It was absolutely brilliant. Greg Statt used to pick us up in Kilmarnock to take the boys to training and Andy Kennedy and Alan Boyd were my first coaches.
“They were brilliant for me. Early on, I remember going to France and winning an under-10s tournament and we beat Arsenal and Lyon and it was an incredible experience for a 9-year-old.
“Brilliant memories.
“I worked with a lot of great coaches like Tommy Wilson and Billy Kirkwood when I was at the Academy and I was delighted to sign a pro contract at Rangers.
“Kirky, Gordon Durie along with Tommy, Craig Mulholand and Jim Sinclair were there when I was full-time.
“The club was going through a tough time going back up the leagues but I was so happy to be there.
“Not long after I signed my full-time contract Tommy told me I was going to train with the first-team.
“It was incredible. Senior players like Lee Wallace, Lee McCulloch and Neil Alexander were there and it was an amazing experience.
“Ally, Durranty and Kenny were the management team of course and it was a pleasure to be round there.
“Everyone loves Ally, his patter is just amazing and he was a great player for Rangers, but he has a serious side too.
“I remember he gave me a telling off after a closed-door game and I needed that boot up the backside. You need to be on it every day in training and in bounce games and I didn’t do as well as I should have and he let me know that!
“He gave me my Rangers debut and that was incredible. I was just 16 and my legs were like jelly but it was such a proud moment and I will never forget it.
“Looking back at the pictures now I was just a wee scrawny guy but I came on and just wanted to do myself justice.
“I had a couple of injuries after that and a loan at Stenhousemuir but when I came back Kenny McDowall gave me more games when I was older and a bit stronger.
“Kenny played me in his last game as caretaker which I was very grateful for as without that, Stuart McCall might not have come in and played me from the start.
“Playing under him, heading into big pressure Play-Off games on the TV was a great experience. It builds your character as you have to be able to play under pressure.
“Despite the results unfortunately not going our way I was grateful to Stuart for playing me in those games, he was brilliant for me.
“He really put trust in me and I had a good run in the team. I played in his first few games then I was injured for a Hibs game that was live on the TV. I remember being gutted at missing that.
“But Stuart played me a lot and I am grateful to him. It was a brilliant period for me personally.
“A lot of Academy players were playing – guys like Lewis Macleod, Barrie McKay, Fraser Aird and others – and it was great as they had been through the same journey as me.
“You want to play more, any player does, but I was so young. I was just 16 when I made my debut and wanted to play more but the manager has to protect you too.
“They say it is a ‘heavy badge’ at Rangers but when you are young you are fearless.
“I just wanted to get the ball and move forward. I was a winger and just wanted to get up the pitch, that’s what the fans want to see.
“It’s sink or swim at a club like Rangers and I wanted to do as well as I could.
“Mark Warburton also played me. I had a good pre-season when he joined and he started me in the first league game against St Mirren at Ibrox – that was some atmosphere that night.
“Guys like James Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn were just in the door and it was great to start under the new manager.
“Running out the tunnel at Ibrox when the stadium is full and you hear Simply The Best is the best buzz you will get.
“I played a cup game against Ayr after the St Mirren game under Warburton then did my ankle in training so I was out for a while and then went on loan to Dumbarton.
“I was gutted to leave Rangers but I was still proud to play for them and nobody can ever take that away from me.
“You get to the stage where you need to play games but I had so many good memories at Rangers.
“I’m really grateful to have played in the games that I did.
“I went on to have great times at Inverness, then Ayr Utd was the Covid season – which was obviously different – and I had a few injuries there but I still played in a lot of games since I made my debut at 16.
“I played with Limerick briefly then Stevie Aitken took me back to Dumbarton and then Inverness. I had two bad knee injuries. It was brutal and has stopped my career.
“Whether I get back or not I don’t know. I’m fit now and Andy Graham offered me a deal at Alloa. He was amazing with me but I am not sure if I want to get back playing. In a way that is good as I am making my own decision.
“You never say never but I am enjoying what I do now.
“I am a Health and Fitness Instructor for Ayrshire Council and take classes for all ages but mostly the elderly.
“I work with people who have various conditions. It could be cardiac issues, strokes, cancer or even people who just want to lose weight and feel fitter and stronger. It is really rewarding.
“When you come home, you feel you are doing something worthy with your day.
“I’ve been doing that for almost a year and a half and I really enjoy it.
“I love what I am doing and I love my music too.
“When I was playing at Inverness the first time the boys used to play Call of Duty. I don’t mind a bit of that but I wanted to do something I could get my head into.
“So I bought a guitar. I love my music, I always have and my mum and dad and uncles always played a lot of music around the house.
“So I thought I would go and learn the guitar and try to sing and it has just snowballed from there.
“I had written a few songs and got in touch with my mate and now we have a full band and it’s great.
“I love jamming with them.
“I love music and it was fantastic to get our first song out. It was cool to hear Sam on Spotify.
“We have two songs out now – Sam and Barrels – and we have more to come so we will just keep chipping away and see where it takes us.
“I really enjoy it. I’ve written a few songs playing basic chords then the guys take it on with more intricate stuff and the drums adds a new level to it.
“I really enjoy the creating process.
“We are constantly practicing and the next step is to do some open mic nights and do some gigs.
“We really enjoy it and we’ll see where it takes us.
“I love music, I always have and it was great to see Oasis, Richard Ashcroft and Cast at Murrayfield in the summer.
“That was the number one gig for me.
“When I was a wee guy I would listen to Oasis on my MP3 player and when they came back I just had to get tickets.
“It was surreal to be there. It was an amazing gig and there were people in their 50s crying. It was incredible.
“You won’t get any greater inspiration than watching them and Richard Ashcroft. He is an amazing artist.
“So I am working away with the band and we will see what happens.
“Looking back I was very lucky to have a career in football and I enjoy what I am doing now.
“There were so many lessons I learned at the Rangers Academy that I still use today.
“It’s about standards and how you conduct yourself. I was given real lessons for the future.
“How you treat people is always important.
“I’ve had a great experience in football, I was fortunate enough to play for Rangers and have a couple of nice goals playing with different teams that I can look back on.
“It could have been more as I had a few serious injuries but I certainly appreciate the career I had.
“I’m really grateful to all my coaches for helping me develop and improve as a player as I came through the ranks during my school years.
“So many people helped me along the way, especially Alan Boyd who I had on different occasions and he is still there developing players now.
“Kirky and Tommy, Craig and Gordon Durie along with Sinky were all instrumental in my development.
“Ian Durrant was also massive for me as I worked with him at Rangers then Dumbarton when he was assistant under Stevie Aitken.
“They helped me get my career back on track and that got me my move to Inverness and back playing full-time. I always felt they got the best out of me as a player and let me go and play with freedom.”
Listen to Heavy Heads on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube and follow them on X and Instagram
Tom’s career development was assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12 million has already been provided.
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