Scarborough teen signed by Scottish giant Rangers FC

[ian1964 10,761]

Like countless other Canadian-born kids with parents who hail from Europe, Fraser Aird inherited his favourite sports team.

 

Rangers FC was the choice in Aird�s Scarborough home, the inevitable byproduct of having both a father and a maternal grandpa who were longtime season ticket holders at Ibrox Stadium, the club�s Glasgow ground.

 

Growing up, it meant regular, early-morning outings to see Scottish Premier League games on satellite. There were live looks too, when the team made pre-season tours to Toronto. Annual conventions were also part of the mix, as his parents belonged to the North American Rangers Supporters Association.

 

But in addition to becoming a diehard Rangers fan, Fraser Aird also developed into a talented soccer player. So good, in fact, that the 16-year-old is off to Scotland Sunday after signing a professional contract with the club.

 

ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s a childhood dream,ââ?¬Â Aird says. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve always wanted to do this.ââ?¬Â

 

An attacking midfielder with speed and an eye for goal, Aird will initially join Rangers� Under-17 side. But club officials expect him to move quickly to the Under-19s, which is the third squad behind the first team and reserves.

 

ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s a talented footballer with good technical ability,ââ?¬Â says Jim Sinclair, who as director of the Rangersââ?¬â?¢ Murray Park Academy oversees all club sides but the first team.

 

ââ?¬Å?He has a wee bit of the Scot in him. Heââ?¬â?¢s gritty. Heââ?¬â?¢s direct.ââ?¬Â

 

But in addition to liking Airdââ?¬â?¢s playing style, Sinclair said by phone from Glasgow that the Rangers staff also feels heââ?¬â?¢s the type of person who will ââ?¬Å?relish the challenge and hard work aheadââ?¬Â in adjusting to life as a young pro.

 

ââ?¬Å?Thereââ?¬â?¢s no point in bringing him across such a distance and being unsure how resilient heââ?¬â?¢ll be,ââ?¬Â Sinclair says.

 

Aird, a Grade 10 student at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, has already shown a fair measure of resiliency in pursuing an overseas soccer career. Rangers is the third club he�s been on trial with.

 

Thanks in part to the connections of Sanford Carabin, his agent and one-time coach, Aird had a trial in 2008 with Celtic FC, who�ve engaged Rangers in a century-old, cross-town rivalry that has sometimes blurred sports with religion (Celtic is known as a Catholic club, while Rangers has Protestant roots).

 

The trial at Celtic, and a first with Rangers last October, were funded by the Aird family. A 2009 trial with second-tier English side Burnley FC and a second trip to Rangers prior to the contract offer were paid for by the clubs.

 

ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s got a chance that a million other kids would love,ââ?¬Â says Bill Aird, 59, a transportation engineer with the City of Toronto. ââ?¬Å?Now, itââ?¬â?¢s up to him to make the most of it.ââ?¬Â

 

Before immigrating to Canada in 1987, Bill Aird spent a half-dozen years attending every Rangers game, home and away, including European competitions. He says the prospect of his son playing for the club is ââ?¬Å?unbelievable, really.ââ?¬Â

 

The elder Aird, a Protestant, insists he would have been thrilled if Fraser signed with any club, including Celtic, as this has always been about sports, not religion. The key is the young man gets to pursue his dream.

 

ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m very proud of what heââ?¬â?¢s achieved,ââ?¬Â says Bill Aird, who rarely misses one of Fraserââ?¬â?¢s games or practices. ââ?¬Å?The fact heââ?¬â?¢s going to Rangers is doubly good for me but as a family, we feel itââ?¬â?¢s an opportunity that he needs to take right now.

 

ââ?¬Å?We donââ?¬â?¢t want to look back a few years from now and say: ââ?¬Ë?What if?ââ?¬â?¢Ã¢â?¬Â

 

After two training stints with Rangers, Fraser Aird knows that�s where he wants to be. In addition to billeting with a family and continuing his high school education, he�ll train each day at the same facility as the club�s stars.

 

ââ?¬Å?It pushes you more because thatââ?¬â?¢s what you want to achieve,ââ?¬Â he says of watching the first team train, or lifting weights alongside its players.

 

Aird began playing at age 3 at North Scarborough Soccer Club, suiting up with older brother Cameron and other five-year-olds. He continued to play against older kids until joining the Markham Lightning in the 2008 season.

 

ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s just clearly one step ahead of everybody at all times,ââ?¬Â says Dino Cramarossa, who coached Aird for three seasons from 2008 to 2010, including 2009 when the Lightning won the league, playoff and Ontario Cup Under-14 titles before losing the national final in Nova Scotia on penalties.

 

ââ?¬Å?For most guys, the game speeds up when they get around the 18-yard box. For him, it slows down and thatââ?¬â?¢s a gift.ââ?¬Â

 

Cramarossa says Aird, who is 5-foot-8 and 145 pounds, is tremendously quick with the ball, and thrives on running at opponents and beating them one-on-one. He adds that Aird can not only score with both feet but is also mentally tough, very independent and ââ?¬Å?just hates to loseââ?¬Â.

 

ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s got everything it takes,ââ?¬Â Cramarossa says.

 

Fraser Aird knows there�s still a long way to go � and a lot of hard work to do � before he�s ready to trot out with the first team at Ibrox. But, in addition to being anxious to get his Rangers career started, he�s also looking forward to being a regular at the stadium, indulging his passion for the club as a fan.

 

ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢ll be fun. Iââ?¬â?¢ll sit there and watch and think: ââ?¬Ë?One day, that could be me.ââ?¬â?¢Ã¢â?¬Â

 

 

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/936640--scarborough-teen-signed-by-scottish-giant-rangers-fc

[Zappa 0]

Welcome to Rangers Fraser!!

[pete 2,499]

Such a big thing made of his Rangers supporting family but he was on trial at Celtic first. Supporting a team goes out of the window when it comes to your child turning professional. Danny McGrains family went from the most bitter Rangers supporters to the most bitter Celtic supporters with one signature.

[metlika 0]

Such a big thing made of his Rangers supporting family but he was on trial at Celtic first. Supporting a team goes out of the window when it comes to your child turning professional. Danny McGrains family went from the most bitter Rangers supporters to the most bitter Celtic supporters with one signature.

 

Modern times it doesn't seem to be happening, see Danny Wilson.

[pete 2,499]

Modern times it doesn't seem to be happening, see Danny Wilson.

 

Possibly also to do with the circumstances. The McGrains were totally pissed off that Rangers would not sign Danny for what they believed was to do with his name.