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Academy defender Kristian Webster hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and have a positive career in football and his incredible work ethic, thirst for knowledge, love for out and out defending and leadership qualities already stand him in good stead.
His dad, Scotland centre back Andy Webster, was unlucky with injuries during his time with the Light Blues under Walter Smith but he still enjoyed a successful career winning 28 caps for his country plus the Scottish Cup with Hearts and Dundee Utd.
Kristian, 20, possesses an exceptional willingness to learn every day and he joined Dumbarton on loan recently to gain first-team experience.
Before he moved he was always asking youth coaches like Steven Smith, Kevin Thomson and David McCallum for advice in a bid to glean as much information as he possibly could about the game.
The coaches clearly think highly of him as he has captained the B Team in the past and loves that responsibility but he also gets a buzz from pure defending – winning tackles, headers and helping his team keep clean sheets.
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 defender discusses his journey with the club so far.
He said: “I first came here when I was 4 or 5 and was involved with the Football in the Community coaching sessions.
“I then moved down south when my dad moved to England to play and I got into the Coventry academy.
“When we moved back to Scotland Rangers asked me to come in again and I’ve been here about 9 years now.
“People like Greg Statt and Kieran Reilly were my coaches when I started and it was exciting.
“There are only so many opportunities and I have been quite lucky with the ones I’ve had so far. So many people would love to be in my shoes so you can’t ever take it for granted, you have to appreciate the opportunity to be here.
“You have to work hard and it’s great to learn from the coaches here and people like Steven Smith, Kevin Thomson and Lewis Macleod who have been in my shoes before.
“They’ve played the game and know exactly what is expected and what you have to do to give yourself the best opportunity to play for Rangers.
“Day-to-day they set and demand standards that should be expected here.
“They have seen it all first-hand and that rubs off on the players.
“You have to tap into their knowledge as much as you can and keep asking questions.
“Every detail matters. You just need to stand out and try and get yourself noticed and once you get an opportunity you need to make the most of it.
“Football is a contrast because you are an individual trying to succeed but you have to work in a team.
“Everybody is on a different pathway but you still need to work for yourself and the team and I think I’ve progressed well here. When I moved up from the 16s to the 18s I had to find my feet but I made that jump easier for myself as I worked hard.
“I had a lot of self-reflection on the areas I needed to improve on and how I can earn my place in the team.
“I always work hard to gain the opportunity to play in Academy games and I also really enjoyed my loan spell with Cumbernauld Colts last season.
“It was a great experience to play men’s football. We were playing for 3 points in every game and you have a responsibility to the manager, the other players and the fans so it was great to experience all that.
“You have to have the mentality to go out and do it every week.
“The expectation here is to win every game and that’s what you need to do every time you go out onto the park.
“I have captained the B Team this season and I love that responsibility. Having the armband shows what people think of me as a player and a person.
“Being a leader isn’t just on the pitch, it’s off it too. You have responsibilities that the coaches give you and that does mean a lot to me.
“It’s about being a role model and trying to lead the team.
“We’ve had good experiences this season and the B Team did well to get to the quarter-final of the SPFL Trust Trophy and win the Glasgow Cup.
“Playing in any competition against a good level of opposition is always a learning experience.
“We learn in every game and when we played Utrecht for example they play a different style to Manchester United who play a different style to an Aberdeen.
“There are loads of different opportunities to learn here. There isn’t just one style, there are lots of different ways to play football and we have an insight into how teams play in different countries.
“The training ground is a great place to come and work every day. You have everything available to you at any time.
“We train and play on beautiful pitches every day and it is a wonderful environment to be in.
“I’ve trained with the first-team this season which is good because you can see how they train and what their ability is compared to ours.
“The standard is high then you try and replicate that when you come back to the Academy.
“You never know, you could have an unbelievable training session one day and that can change your whole career.
“One opportunity is all it takes in football and Ross McCausland did that last season.
“One good performance or one good training session can totally change your career.
“It’s about making the most of the opportunities you get and all the first-team players have been in my situation before.
“Everybody here wants to play in the first-team.
“I can talk to my dad all the time and he gives me advice on what I need to do.
“That’s really helpful because he obviously had a good career and has been in my situation before. I’m just trying my best to follow in his footsteps.
“I’d love to become a better player than him, that’s my main goal and he says the same.
“He would love for me to be a better player than him and he just wants the best for me.
“He has seen so many sides of the game, when it has gone well and not so well. He also had the experience of being injured when he first came here and had challenges to overcome.
“So he can give me advice on all sides of the game.
“When he played in the Scottish Cup finals with Hearts and Dundee Utd I was on the pitch with him after the game. I was quite young but you don’t forget these experiences. It was surreal.
“He was a defender too of course so it is in my blood, I am open to playing different positions obviously but at heart I am a defender.
“I love the ugly side of the game that not many people enjoy.
“I love making a tackle, winning the ball and keeping a clean sheet.
“That is more important to me than scoring a goal from central defence.
“I’m motivated to strive on and be the best player I can be. This is the best opportunity I will get and many people would want to be in my shoes.
“You have to make the most of it and hopefully I can progress into the first-team here.
“It’s never plain sailing in football you never know what is around the corner so it’s all about taking the opportunity when it’s there.
“I also hope to win another contract here, that is my main goal.”
Kristian’s development is assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12 million has already been provided.
Profit from RYDC’s 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.
CLICK HERE to play Rangers Lotto
CLICK HERE to play The Union Jackpot
CLICK HERE to buy Rangers Bricks
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CLICK HERE to play Museum Lotto
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