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Teenage winger Archie Stevens was wanted by a host of top clubs last summer but he opted to move to Scotland after being blown away by the history and stature of Rangers.
The 17-year-old was recruited from AFC Wimbledon last June after he visited a number of prospective clubs, but once he made the trip to Glasgow and was given a tour of Ibrox and the training ground he knew there was only one club for him.
The Englishman started his Academy journey impressively and was given an early taste of first-team action when he made his debut late on in the 3-1 Viaplay Cup win over Queen of the South.
It was an experience Archie will never forget and now he has had a taste of playing for the Light Blues in a competitive match, he is determined to earn more opportunities to play on the hallowed turf.
Discussing his time in Scotland as he helped promote The Rangers Youth Development Company and their continued commitment to the Rangers Academy – RYDC have provided more than £10 million to date and donated another £400,000 in February – Stevens said: “I moved here last June from AFC Wimbledon and when this opportunity came up, I just couldn’t turn it down.
“It’s an exciting move for me and it has gone really well so far.
“It’s a big thing to move to a new city at such a young age. I was only 16, but Glasgow is lovely and the club have made it really easy for me to settle here.
“I settled straight away to be honest. There were a few players who joined in the summer at the same time as me and we have all settled together.
“I had options but Rangers really stood out.
“It is such a massive club with the history and fanbase and there is a pathway to the first-team.
“The facilities, the training and coaching just stood out for me from the first day.
“A lot of big clubs think they have the best facilities but when you come up here, look around and see what is on offer, it is something you can’t turn down.
“I just love the history of the club and it’s something I haven’t really seen before.
“I knew straight away how big the club was and it amazed me when I actually came here.
“There are a lot of clubs with modern stadiums but you can feel the history as soon as you walk into Ibrox. I had never seen anything like it and me and my family really loved that about the club when we first visited.
“The Hall of Fame Board, the Marble Staircase – it’s all incredible.
“I know what I am playing for. It’s a massive opportunity for me here and was something I just couldn’t turn down.
“The club has really looked after me and the digs here are brilliant. The club has done really well to pick families who look after and support the young players.
“When I first saw Ibrox Stadium I knew this was where I wanted to be and getting on at Ibrox in the cup game was a dream.
“To be involved in a first-team game so early in my Rangers career was amazing, to play at Ibrox in front of the fans was a great experience and I hope to get many more opportunities in the future.
“It has given me a taste of it and I will work as hard as I can to get more chances.
“It was incredible to play against Queen of the South at Ibrox and the fans gave me a great reception, they were unbelievable that night, and it also was great that my family were able to come up to see me do it.
“It was massive for them to see. They have put in so much work to help make me a professional footballer. It was a big moment.
“Training with the squad for the first time was also a buzz. I have shared a pitch with the first-team squad at training and you have to think you are good enough to be there.
“It is a great environment here and it’s always great to learn from the older players.
“Training with them is a fantastic experience and I will always work hard to earn more chances like that.
“Academy players like Leon King, Adam Devine, Alex Lowry and Zak Lovelace have all featured for the first-team and there is a pathway there.
“You don’t get that at all clubs and that was another one of the things I liked about Rangers.
“I look at the first-team side of the training ground and that’s where I want to be.
“The Academy is an amazing environment but every player wants to graduate and make it to the first-team.
“That’s the goal for me. The training facilities here will make players thrive and it really is top drawer.
“Unfortunately, I missed five months of my debut season with an injury so I was working with the physios a lot, but my main coaches so far have been Steven Smith and Cameron Campbell and B Team coaches David McCallum and Brian Gilmour.
“The coaches here are all brilliant and I am learning every day.
“Steven Smith has been really helpful as he has been an Academy player and a first-team player so I am always asking him questions.
“He also helped me through my rehab as he had injuries in his career and I talked to him a lot. He gave me a lot of good advice and it’s great to have someone like that looking after the young players.
“I have to catch up on my fitness because I was out for a while but I will hit the ground running in pre-season and be ready to push on next season.
“The club has looked after me on and off the pitch and it has been easy for me to settle in.
“I want to make a name for myself at Rangers. I signed a three-year contract so I am looking forward to kicking on next season.
“The club are giving me great opportunities here and I will work as hard as I can to be a success.
“I have enjoyed the games I have featured in so far. I play on the wing and my main attributes are my dribbling and speed.
“I am a positive player who likes to get forward and I like to think I am quite exciting to watch when I have the ball.”
Players like Leon King, Nathan Patterson, Alex Lowry, Adam Devine, Billy Gilmour and more recent graduates like young debutants Bailey Rice, Zak Lovelace and Archie all develop thanks to RYDC support.
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