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Zebedee Lawson was thrilled to make his first-team debut in the recent Scottish Cup win over Annan at Ibrox and the Rangers Academy winger says that experience has given him extra motivation to earn further appearances for Danny Rohl’s side.
The 17-year-old Englishman, who joined the Light Blues last year after impressing with Brighton’s youth teams, was given a run-out in the second-half against the League Two side and more than held his own in the 5-0 win.
As you can imagine, he was proud to pull on the jersey for the first time and he had little time to be nervous as his inclusion in the matchday squad was only confirmed late on.
Oliver Antman missed the tie through illness and Zeb was given the shout to take his place.
Thankfully he had just enough time to contact his family to make sure they made the journey to Ibrox and were sitting in the stand to witness his professional debut.
In a wide-ranging interview as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company – who have donated more than £12.5 million to the Academy so far – the young forward reflects on his first senior game and tells us about his journey in football so far.
A journey that has included positive conversations with former Rangers captain David Weir when they were both at Brighton and Weir was their Technical Director.
Lawson said: “During the summer a couple of clubs came in but Rangers was the one where I thought, yeah, I’ll get the most first-team opportunities out of and it’s already happened.
“I got a good feeling about Rangers right away. I remember coming to visit around June and I loved the place.
“I think I’ve settled in well and everyone around me has been supportive and friendly.
“When I joined I just made sure I stayed the same person. I kept being myself then people naturally gravitated towards me and I think it just helped me with everything.
“I share digs with (Academy goalkeeper) Rydnn McGuire. He’s helped me a lot and the rest of the players at the Academy have been really friendly.
“There are a few English boys in the first-team like Mikey Moore, Jayden Meghoma and Manny Fernandez and they’ve helped me settle too.
“I knew a fair bit about the club before I moved here, the Old Firm is one of the biggest derbies in football so I knew how big the club was.
“There are great facilities here and it’s a great place for my development.
“I will work hard on my game as I want to fully adapt to first-team football and play at a high level permanently.
“Hopefully that can happen soon.
“I’ve already made my Rangers debut and that does feel good but I think it flips a switch in you where you think, oh, I want this feeling every week.
“So, you start putting your head down and working even harder than you were before to make sure you’re in the right side of the building every week.
“I was privileged to train with the first-team at Brighton as well a couple of times so when I came to train with the Rangers first-team I think I was still full of confidence.
“You just need to play your own game and try to impress the coaches and as long as you do that then I guess you show your quality and they take a liking to you.
“The players were all encouraging me and before the Annan game the coaches were just telling me to make sure I play my football.
“Obviously, Ibrox is a massive stadium and very loud but you just need to make sure you don’t fold under the pressure and gladly I think I did that.
“I came on sooner than I thought I would, around the 50th minute, and I was just so gassed when I ran on.
“I was so happy and the first time I received the ball I knew that this was for me. I think I could have scored too, their keeper has made a good save.
“My family were there to see my debut and that was a proud moment for them.
“When I found out I was in the squad I’ve gone straight onto the phone to tell them they need to come up.
“My brother was actually in Bristol at the time so he came up on a different flight from the rest but they made it.
“I remember going back into the Player’s Lounge after the game and my mum was just the loudest person in the room, she was just over the moon.
“They were all happy with my performance and I was happy too.
“It was a good moment and a great thing to play but you don’t let it go to your head.
“Now is the time to buckle down and really show what I can do.
“Playing for the first-team gives you such a big energy boost and it has given me so much more motivation to push forward, put in extra work and continue doing what I’m doing.
“When I first joined Steven Smith was my coach at the Academy and now he’s with the first-team and that has helped me a lot.
“It’s a big bonus he is there as he knows the Academy players and he helps give us confidence to play our game.
“It would be great to play more games for Rangers. I would cherish that.
“When I first signed I was watching a match at Ibrox and you see how big the club was and that the fans love their club.
“It makes you want to get out on that pitch and help them as much as you can.
“I’m only 17 but I’ve had a great journey so far.
“I played for a local team and when I was 8 I had trials with Brighton and Portsmouth.
“I was grateful to get offered the chance to join both but I picked Brighton.
“I actually started off as a left-sided centre back but I was always going forward and played high up the pitch. The coaches realised that and stuck me up there.
“I really enjoyed my time at Brighton and I got to know David Weir. He’s a really nice guy and he helped a lot. He told me a lot of good things about Rangers.
“Now my target is to get on that first-team pitch more. Starting games for Rangers is the goal.
“This is a great club. It’s a huge club and you have to handle it.
“I have good people around me. I have a great family, a great agent and there are great coaches here at the club. That means you are able to just calm down and realise you’ve been brought here to do what you do.
“Everyone’s in the building because they’re good enough to be here. So, I think that settles everything down and helps you realise that you’re just here doing what you love – which is playing football.
“I think I’ve been showing my skillset on the pitch. I like to beat players in 1v1s. I’m an attacking player and I like creating chances, taking people on, arriving late in the box and just scoring goals in different ways.
“I’ve played for the first-team and now I will keep working hard to play more. I got to know the squad even more when I was involved in the Annan game and that has really helped me.
“It meant I could go on, get the ball and do what I do rather than just playing it safe.
“When I signed one of my first destinations was to visit the Rangers Museum
“It was really nice to see the history of the club and that was important.
“It gives you more passion because you learn more about the background and you can see how much Rangers means to people.”
Zeb’s ongoing career development will be assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12.5 million has already been provided.
Profit from our online store and products like Rangers Lotto, Stadium Bricks and The Union Jackpot draw all go to the Academy, while profit from Museum Lotto is donated to the club for the upkeep and maintenance of the Rangers Museum.
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