The Rangers Youth Development Company have broken through the £11million donation barrier after handing over another six-figure sum to the Auchenhowie academy.
The RYDC have been hugely significant and sustained backers of the youth system since 2002 and profits generated from items such as the Rangers Lotto, The Union Jackpot half-time draw, Stadium Bricks and Scratchcards all contribute to the development of the next generation of Ibrox stars.
Colin Stewart, the RYDC director of operations, presented a cheque for £400,000 on Monday afternoon as supporters once again saw their cash being invested into the club. And new academy director Zeb Jacobs is appreciative of the backing of the fans as he seeks to bring more players through the Ibrox ranks in the coming years.
Jacobs said: "On behalf of the staff and players at the Academy I thank The Rangers Youth Development Company for their latest donation of £400,000. Thanks to their generosity, and the generosity of Rangers supporters, the Academy has received more than £11 million - which is an incredible level of financial backing. We are all extremely grateful for that continued level of support and it makes a positive difference to our work on a daily basis.
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“We aim for our Academy players to contribute to a winning Rangers, and Ross is a great example of this. We're creating a culture with a really strong football alignment, thanks to our Football Board and strong communication between Brian Gilmour, the manager and myself.
"However, our Academy is more than only getting players to the first team. Everyone in our building is on a different journey, at a different speed and with a different outcome. We want to create the best possible experiences for every talent.”
Ross McCausland was also on hand for the cheque presentation after he continued his upward trajectory in the game by helping Philippe Clement's side to victory over St Mirren on Saturday. The winger recently signed a new long-term contract at Ibrox just weeks after making his international bow for Northern Ireland.
The likes of Robby McCrorie, Leon King, Adam Devine and Nathan Patterson have also benefitted from RYDC funding in recent seasons and Stewart has paid tribute to the supporters who continue to invest in the future of the club.
“RYDC is delighted to present another £400,000 to The Rangers Academy and we have now provided more than £11 million to the Rangers youth programme since 2002," Stewart said. “It’s a truly remarkable amount and credit should go to the Rangers supporters yet again who continue to back us by investing in our products each week. Every penny of profit from Rangers Lotto, The Union Jackpot, Stadium Bricks and Scratchcards is given to the Academy annually to help the development of our young players and it is always heartening to see young players like Ross McCausland making an impact with the first-team.
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“RYDC has also given away millions of pounds in prizes to fans and in the last year alone, supporters shared over £300,000 in prize money. The Academy and supporters all benefit from RYDC and I’m looking forward to working with Zeb and his staff throughout 2024 to help increase awareness of our products. I thank him, David and Ross for their support today as we confirm yet another hugely significant donation.”
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