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Academy forward Josh Gentles enjoyed a successful loan spell with Alloa in the second-half of last season and says his time with The Wasps was a terrific learning experience.
The 17-year-old joined the League One side in late January and scored his first senior goal against Dumbarton on his first start.
He thrived in the competitive environment and was delighted to get 14 games under his belt.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Josh said: “I felt like I adapted a lot.
“I came on in the first game against Inverness and felt personally that it would be a really big challenge.
“But then after I made a few starts, I began to become more used to it and it became easier to play at the level.
“It was tough at times. The games against top half teams were always really good games, but the matches against sixth or below were always different challenges.
“Every game was tough and there was no easy games.
“It was very different. I’m used to training at 10 o’clock every day so training in the evening was a big change, especially when you’re not getting back until 11pm and training again the next day.
“It was different, but I got used to it and I learned a lot from Conor Sammon who has played in the Premiership.
“He was showing me things in training. One of my goals came from his advice – not standing still and just moving five yards one way. He helped me so much.
“Every player helped me in different ways that I hadn’t been used to coming from an academy environment.
“It was good to get out and play games, at a good level as well, and I think I’ve improved from it.
“The first thing I wanted going into it was to become a better player at the end of it.
“I think the loan has put me in good stead. It was successful in terms of minutes, and I felt I made a good impact in the team, so I think I’m ready to make the step up.”
Josh signed his first professional contract with Rangers in February 2023 and has progressed positively with the Academy in recent seasons.
The Welsh youth international has loved every minute of his Rangers adventure so far but, like all young players, he dreams of making the grade at first-team level and has already enjoyed a taste of training with the main squad.
That experience has given him a snapshot of what it takes to play at the highest level and he is eager for more.
Speaking as he showed his support for RYDC – who have provided more than £12 million to the Academy since 2002 – Gentles recalled his time at the club so far.
He said: “I was playing at St Mirren when I was younger and I moved to Rangers when I was about 7.
“I was playing a year above my age group at St Mirren but coming to Rangers was still a big jump up in terms of standard and it’s about 10 years I’ve been at the club now.
“When I was younger I worked with top coaches like Drew Todd, Malky Thomson, Jim McNee and Greg Statt and the last few years I have been with Cameron Campbell and Stevie Smith.
“It has been great to learn from all of them.
“The training ground is a great place to develop and I love coming in every day to work hard. You can’t ask for any better than here.
“The facilities are amazing, the coaching staff are great and everything about this place makes you want to work as hard as you can every day.
“I am a good technical player, I am tidy on the ball and I can score goals.
“You have to win at Rangers, every game you need to win.
“I enjoyed working with Steven Smith at 18s level, he know what he is doing and what it takes to play for Rangers.
“He gave me great advice and he is easy to talk to.
“Stevie has been on the same Academy journey as me and I am here to try and make it to the first-team too.
“It’s great to play with the 18s and the B Team after that but we are all here to try and progress to the first-team.
“It is great to get experience at the Academy but nobody is here to just be an 18s player. We all want to develop and make it at the highest level we can.
“To achieve that, you have to do all you can every single day. There is no point just being in the middle, you have to get to the top and be ready for any chances that come your way.
“Everything is here for me to develop and the club looks after us so well. Coaching, Sports Science, Health & Wellbeing – everything is here for the young players to progress and I feel I am doing that.
“Scoring the winning goal in the Scottish Youth Cup and scoring in the final of the under-16s SFA CAS (Club Academy Scotland) Cup are two of my playing highlights with Rangers so far and I’ve also had the chance to train with the first-team.
“I’ve done it a few times now and you can feel the step up in terms of speed and quality right away.
“You have to be on it all the time and match the intensity of established players.
“I am on a journey and it will not come easily but one day I want to play for the first-team and do as well as I can here.
“I’ve had a great grounding so far with the Academy. I am working hard and training to a good standard every day and I will keep doing that and try to earn my chance with the first-team.
“I am still young but you have to be ambitious.”
Josh’s development is assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12 million has been provided so far.
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