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It was a disappointing domestic campaign for Rangers but season 2024/25 is one Academy graduate Findlay Curtis will never forget as it marked his competitive debut for the club he loves.
Curtis joined the Light Blues when he was 6 and he has worked tirelessly with a number of coaches to achieve his dream of playing for the first-team.
He joined the squad for pre-season training in Holland last summer – on the back of a series of positive performances for Steven Smith’s Academy side, who won the Scottish Youth Cup Final win over Aberdeen at Hampden – and he has since signed a long-term contract with his boyhood heroes.
Findlay featured for the first time in January’s Scottish Cup win over Fraserburgh at Ibrox and he followed that impressive appearance with a European debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford a few days later.
Barry Ferguson then handed the 18-year-old his first start against Aberdeen in the 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last month and it was an occasion he will remember forever.
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 since 2002 – the young attacking midfielder/forward said: “I’ve loved every single minute of my time here. It is the stuff of dreams to play for the Rangers first-team.
“I signed a new contract in January and I am delighted to extend my stay here. I want to push on and play in as many games as I can.
“I had a feeling I would make my debut against Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup.
“We were 3-0 up when I got the call and I was just ready to go and show my quality.
“I went on, did my bit and managed to get an assist as well.
“To contribute gave me a lot of confidence. I just wished I could have scored a goal in front of the fans at Ibrox that day.
“I’ve obviously played a lot of Academy games but it is different when you run onto the pitch at Ibrox.
“It’s a great feeling and I felt like I was finally a Rangers player.
“There were about 40,000 fans there and I enjoyed every second of it.
“I had a good week of training before the game so I had a chance of getting on.
“When I got the shout to go on I was absolutely delighted.
“My family, my girlfriend and my friends were in the stand and I was absolutely buzzing they could see me making my debut.
“I’ve been here since the age of 6 so, as I said before, it really is the stuff of dreams to play for the first-team.
“Not long after Fraserburgh I was playing against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“I was ill during that week actually. I was ill on the Monday and missed a few training sessions then we travelled down on the Wednesday.
“I wasn’t expecting to get on but I did and it was a great atmosphere, Old Trafford is an iconic football ground and I enjoyed the experience.
“I played about half an hour in the second half and when Cyriel Dessers scored the equaliser I just wanted to celebrate.
“I was absolutely loving it, it was a huge match to play in.
“When I went on I was told to do the same as I did against Fraserburgh and the club believed in me.
“I feel like I did that.
“I think we deserved more from that game but football is cruel sometimes and you need to take it on the chin and move on.
“I’m learning all the time and I’ve played at different grounds now – Ibrox, Tynecastle, Old Trafford and Pittodrie for example.
“I am always delighted to get onto the pitch so I will keep on working hard in training and hopefully the rewards will come.
“At the start of the season, I said I hoped to earn a few first-team training sessions and build on that and hopefully make my debut.
“I have achieved much more than that now and I train with the first-team most of the time.
“I started by going away with them for pre-season training and it has progressed from there.
“Football is dog eat dog and everyone wants your jersey. You have to earn a start and I was delighted to get my first against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
“You have to be ready to take your chance and show your qualities every day to succeed.
“Now I want to try and establish myself, you always have to look forward.
“It was unbelievable getting that first start against Aberdeen, it wasn’t the result we wanted because we wanted the three points, but I was delighted to get that first start and the assist as well which was good.
“I found out at training on the day before that I would be starting. On the Saturday night my mum and dad kept on phoning me just trying to calm me down, I was buzzing but I loved every single minute of it.
“My dad and my brother got up to the game, and my mum was crying in the house watching it, she is like that!
“The gaffer got his first start at age 18 as well, so I think it is just about learning off of him, the coaching staff and the players around me as well.
“I am taking in all the information that has been given to me, and I just need to keep on working hard.
“I’m happy to play anywhere and I am comfortable across the front three positions.
“I’ve started on the left side recently but I am a versatile player and I will play wherever the manager wants me.
“I’ve had so much help from Academy coaches and I can’t thank them enough. I am very close to Brian Gilmour and he has given me so much help and advice.
“I always try and come in early and work as hard as I can to get better and now that I have had a taste of first-team football I am eager for more.
“You can’t miss any opportunities when they come. You have to take it and now it’s about pushing on.
“Liam Kelly and Mason Munn have also made their first-team debuts and that is great to see.
“They have come through the Academy like me and both have helped me so I can’t thank them enough.
“Since the start of the season, all of the boys have helped in different ways and it has been so helpful to get to where I am now.
“I feel more comfortable, in July I was a wee kid still, but I think I am growing and I am loving the environment.
“I have definitely noticed a difference off the pitch, with the way I eat, the way I prepare myself for games. It is just all the information the first-team staff and players have given me and it’s so beneficial.
“For me, I need to keep impressing in training and hopefully I can keep progressing.
“It’s all about pushing forward now, trying to get more starts and establishing myself in that first-team.”
Findlay’s development is assisted by our annual donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12 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 museum.
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