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Academy forward Callum Burnside enjoyed an impressive loan spell with Alloa Athletic last season and he hopes his move to Airdrieonians for 2026/27 will be just as successful.
The 19-year-old Northern Irishman thrived in League One last term, alongside youth team-mates Calum Adamson and Lewis Stewart, and he finished the campaign as top goalscorer for The Wasps.
He was part of the Rangers first-team squad for pre-season training in Spain during the summer and now he has taken the next step in his development by joining Airdrie – where fellow Academy prospect Josh Gentles has also joined him.
Head coach John Rankin, whose son Luca is with the Light Blues Academy, convinced Callum to sign for the Lanarkshire side and is confident he can make an impact with The Diamonds.
Findlay Curtis, Ross McCrorie, Liam Kelly, Ross McCausland, Zeb Lawson, Ashton Scally and Aiden McCallion – all Rangers youth products – have featured for the first-team in recent times and Burnside is determined to follow in their footsteps one day.
Speaking as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company, who have provided more than £12.5 million to Academy to date, Callum is vowing to do everything he can to succeed at Ibrox and feels Airdrie provides the perfect platform for him to showcase his talent.
He said: “I had a few conversations with different teams, but the one I had with John Rankin stood out to me.
“He’s giving me a platform here and hopefully I’ll go and kick on again this year.
“Last season at Alloa was amazing for me, it was my first loan and it was everything I could have wanted.
“I learned a lot and I’m grateful to Andy Graham for taking me there. He was amazing with me.
“I played 33 games last season, was top goal scorer and I loved every moment of it.
“I learned so much and experienced highs and lows and being in and out of the team.
“We won play-off games, we lost play-off games and finished fourth in the league.
“I went to Alloa to score goals and try to help out the team, and I definitely thought I did that.
“There was a point in the season where it wasn’t in the team, so I got to experience a bit of everything. Playing and having to be patient on the bench.
“Alloa were pushing for promotion all season so losing in the Play-off was disappointing but I learned every day and it was a very successful season for me personally.
“They put a lot of belief into me and I think I delivered for them.
“Lewis and Calum were with me and it was amazing just having boys there that I knew so well.
“I feel I settled in really quickly and I definitely enjoyed the move.
“Hopefully Airdrie can be just as successful for me this season.
“My aim is always to get into the Rangers first-team. That’s my dream.
“I was with the squad for pre-season and it was brilliant. I’m learning every day and the gaffer was really good with me.
“It was good to be involved in both the pre-season games in Spain and I could see what it’s like to be around the first-team close up.
“The manager spoke to me and the other Academy boys on the trip every day and told us what we were doing well and what we were doing wrong.
“He was trying to make us better players, so that was really good.
“Players like Findlay Curtis have graduated from the Academy and done well with the senior team and I would love to do the same.
“He’s achieved so much already in his career and 2026 has been amazing for him as he did well at Kilmarnock and went to the World Cup with Scotland.
“Now he’s back at Rangers and involved in most games.
“He gives me and other Academy players inspiration as he has progressed to the first-team by working so hard and taking his chance.
“Findlay has shown it’s definitely possible to make it here.
“Academy graduates like Liam Kelly and Ross McCrorie have followed the same path and I hope to do that too.
“That’s everyone’s dream here so hopefully someday I can do it.
“A lot of players from Northern Ireland have done well at Rangers before and I can take inspiration from their journeys.
“Steven Davis and I are actually from the same area so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps and do well here too.
“He is a hero in Northern Ireland and my dad always told me to watch him when I was growing up as he was an unbelievable player.
“He was captain of the country for so many years as well. Doing that and being so successful at Rangers is genuinely the dream.
“Northern Ireland boys live and breathe Rangers.
“You are expected to come here and do well so hopefully I can be the next one.”
Airdrie head coach John Rankin is delighted to add the Northern Irish youth international to his squad and expects him to flourish this season.
He said: “We’re delighted to get Callum on board.
“It’s been a long process getting this done, so thanks to Rangers for helping us get it over the line.
“Callum obviously played in this league last year and had a huge bearing on a successful Alloa team.
“I’ve known him for a number of years, and it was important that we got him in the building.
“He’s got imagination at the top end of the pitch, can play in a number of different areas, and he’s got a hunger to hurt the opposition.
“He’s a willing runner who wants the ball at his feet – I’m sure that the supporters will warm to him straight away.”
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