Rangers F.C. Under-20s and Academy
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| Full name | Rangers Football Club Academy |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rangers Swifts |
| Ground | Murray Park |
| Capacity | Unofficial (All-standing) |
| Website | Club home page |
In addition to the first-team, Rangers Football Club also operate a football Academy which contains a number of football teams culminating in an under-20 side, which plays in the SPFL Development League and the Scottish Challenge Cup.
Historically, the club's second side was known as the Rangers Swifts. In the 2006–07 season the under-20s won their league and the Scottish Youth Cup, ending rivals Celtic's run of six consecutive league titles and defeating them 5–0 in the final of the Youth Cup at Hampden Park.
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, all competitive football in Scotland was suspended. During this time there was special wartime football in the form of regional league competitions with Rangers playing in the Southern League. The regionalisation also saw Scottish reserve football postponed as the war effort put a major strain on the resources and playing staff of clubs with many of them serving in the Armed forces and some seeing active service abroad. The reserve side were crowned champions of their league in 1939 before seeing the following season abandoned.
With the end of hostilities in 1946, Rangers returned to play competitive football again with the reserve side featuring in the Scottish Reserve League. This was to continue unchanged for almost three decades until the first of many reconstructions were made to football in Scotland.
The formation of the Scottish Premier League in 1998, resulted in a significant change in youth team football in Scotland. The SPL began a league for members clubs youth players aged under-18. This was alongside the Reserve league, which had been revamped into a league primarily for under-21 players. Rangers would go on to win the under-18 league three times, first in 2001–02 then in 2006–07 and most recently in 2007–08.
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