Rangers Soccer Schools NI launched their new Advanced Centre for the North West of the province at Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, Ballymoney on Sunday 5th January, an exciting programme giving an unique opportunity to local football stars of the future.
The Advanced Centre programme will allow Rangers the chance to work with talented players in the North West area, without the pressure of always being in Belfast, giving the players opportunities to receive high professional standards of football, allowing a possible pathway into the Rangers FC Academy set up.
This centre will continue to be held at the Joey Dunlop leisure Centre in Ballymoney, which is a premium venue providing excellent facilities for this long term project with plans to expand via soccer schools in various other locations across the borough already being discussed.
The Talent ID event was open to both outfield players and goalkeepers born 2012-2006 providing Glasgow Rangers the chance to access local players who may be interested in their programme.
Local DUP Cllr John McAuley who attended the Launch ID day commented:
“this is a fantastic opportunity for young people with aspirations to ‘Be Simply The Best’ and train with a world class club in the form of Glasgow Rangers, the most successful football team in the world.
“Rangers Soccer Schools NI have already provided local talent like Jake Wallace from Portstewart with the opportunity of progressing to the next stage of a professional football career by securing trials with Glasgow Rangers Academy and I sincerely hope some of the 219 kids registered today follow him all the way to a successful career at the famous Ibrox Stadium.
“I am delighted to see this project finally over the line and ready to start after many months of planning and correspondence with Phil Cowen (Glasgow Rangers Soccer School Executive & Academy Scout), in order to secure Ballymoney as their Soccer School base outside of Belfast, with initial discussions taking place between us as far back as 2017.
“This new Advanced Centre will be co-ordinated by Mo McDowell, who is well known and respected within the Northern Ireland Football scene both as a player and coach, and I would personally like to congratulate him on securing this very important role with the project and wish Mo and his coaching team the best of luck with Glasgow Rangers Soccer Schools NI.”
