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Rydnn McGuire has trained regularly with the first-team for the past 18 months and the Rangers Academy goalkeeper says working with Jack Butland and Liam Kelly on a daily basis has helped accelerate his development.
McGuire, who turns 18 in October, joined the Light Blues when he was 14 and was thrilled to sign his first professional contract with the club last January.
He has progressed positively ever since and memorably played a key role in two penalty shoot-out victories over Celtic with the under-19s – last season’s Glasgow Cup Final triumph at Firhill when Steve Smith was taking the team and a recent success at Lennoxtown under coach Malky Thomson.
He was also in the squad for last season’s Europa League games against Athletic Club from Bilbao – Kelly started and Butland joined him on the subs bench in both legs – and he has benefitted from those experiences.
Football is undoubtedly in his blood as dad Phil played for Aberdeen, Dunfermline and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Rydnn hopes to follow in his footsteps one day and forge a successful career of his own.
Learning from Academy graduate Kelly and Gers Number 1 Butland will certainly assist his cause and Rydnn is grateful to be able to train with them at such an early age.
Speaking as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company – who donated another £300,000 to the Academy in February, making it more than £12.5 million so far – the young goalie said: “It’s great to work with Jack and Liam.
“Liam has graduated from the Rangers Academy and he is big on giving me advice in terms of having a personality.
“And look at the career Jack has had. He’s been fantastic and he gives me tips on how to move around the goal. He’s a big, powerful lad and I’m a similar size and I know I can use that to my advantage.
“Jack has been fantastic with me since I started training with the first-team and there is no one better to look up to.
“His tips are fantastic and exactly what I need. Getting an education from Jack about in-game situations is really good.
“He gave me a tip in training once when we were doing a finishing drill and I felt so different after.
“I took it into youth games and felt so much better. I was making saves that I wouldn’t ordinarily make.
“So, I get two different sides of teaching from him and Liam and I appreciate both of them.
“I also had the chance to work with Allan McGregor last season. I was a little bit nervous going round the first time with him but he’s actually quiet and not what people perceive him as.
“He did give me a few tips, but he left it to Jack a lot so I would say Jack has probably coached me the most.
“I did the warm-up for the league game against Celtic recently and that was some experience.
“I was the first one out the tunnel and the atmosphere was incredible. It was probably the first time I had been recognised by the fans and experienced their applause.
“I’ll never be able to properly describe how good that was. It was quite an experience.
“I’m a Rangers fan and I’ll always work hard and give my best for the club.
“It was a dream come true to join Rangers and I have worked with a lot of great coaches here.
“Graeme Smith, who actually brought me to Rangers, James Wood and Connor Brennan have helped me a lot at the Academy and now I’m training pretty much all the time with the first-team.
“I trained with them for the first time when Philippe Clement was the manager. I had broken my finger and was out for about 4 weeks then I got the call from Connor and I was right into it.
“Mason Munn picked up an injury when Barry Ferguson became manager and I was training a lot with them. I was involved in a few matchday squads and was on the bench in the Europa League.
“That in itself was a dream come true and I feel I’m developing really well.
“Last year, I was probably quite a naive young boy not expecting this to happen so quickly so I think I have definitely surpassed my expectations.
“I didn’t expect to do half the things I’ve done already with Rangers and I’ve improved massively.
“I’ve experienced some amazing things here and it was great to win the Glasgow Cup Final last season against Celtic. Winning a trophy at Rangers is a dream at any age.
“It was actually my debut in the competition and we won on penalties. We beat Celtic on penalties at Lennoxtown recently too and that was a great night for me as I saved three.
“Jack has a great penalty record and I have learned from what he does.
“You work hard all week then go and put that into practice on a game day and when that pays off, like the penalty shoot-out at Celtic, it’s the best feeling.
“I just love playing games and I guess the next step is to look at going on loan to get more experience. It has to be the right move though so we will see what happens next season.
“I’m grateful to be in the position I’m in and I enjoy coming in and training every day.
“I’m learning from so many good people and my dad helps me too.
“He had a very good career and made a lot of appearances for Aberdeen, Dunfermline and Inverness.
“He just keeps me grounded and has a lot of experience to pass on too.”
Rydnn’s career development is assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12.5 million has already been provided.
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