It is a testament to where Rangers are as a club right now that you cannot sit as a fan and say the present looks anything other than murky and grey. Over the past four months we have watched the club capitulate on and off the park, culminating in the destruction of reputations and division within the fanbase. With all that, you’d be forgiven for drawing the curtains and waiting for the dark skies to disperse, but behind the clouds there is a brightness fighting to shine through. Let me tell you why.

Colt teams within formalised domestic league structures is far from a revolutionary concept. They have existed in more 'go-ahead' countries for decades, such as Valencia’s B team who have competed in the same formalised league structure as the first team since 1947.

Even in Scotland, the idea is not as novel as some may think having previously been floated in 2013 by then head of the SFL David Longmuir, who suggested that Old Firm colt teams could form part of a restructure. Since then, work has been going on behind the scenes to build the case for the inclusion of B teams, with Stewart Robertson confirming in May 2019 that it was something the club were working towards.

It would be a year later the decision to invite Rangers and Celtic B teams into the Lowland League was supported and agreed upon by the majority of member clubs.

It was billed as a “one season only” experiment, with the teams unable to achieve promotion into the SPFL. Nevertheless, it was a win for the future of youth development in Scotland, a country that has seemingly required to be dragged kicking and screaming into 2022 despite being decades behind countries such as Spain and the Netherlands in our approach.

This breakthrough provided a golden opportunity to present academy players with a new challenge – the opportunity to play with a Rangers team, with a Rangers style of play against fully developed men. 

Watching this B team is not the same as watching the first team. That statement in and of itself may seem painfully obvious and simplistic, but it has a deeper meaning, one that has grown and developed over the course of this season both domestically and in Europe.

There is an intimacy that following the B team has provided that cannot be matched elsewhere. Over the course of the season, charting their journey up and down the country from Cove to Gretna, it is difficult not to feel a growing bond with this team, the management and what they are building towards.

Everyone - from the coaches to the talented team of analysts and RTV reporters - is deeply passionate about the development of the players and that enthusiasm shines through on the pitch.

Leading the journey is the dynamic duo of David McCallum and Brian Gilmour, two men who over the course of this season have had their own challenges to face when being asked to take the first team for the League Cup Semi-Final. That was a day to forget, but it doesn’t take away from their work with a squad to remember in the Lowland League.

There is a genuine chemistry between the two which is evident from their interactions on the touchline. They trust each other to interchange the delivery of messaging to the players and are always in constant dialogue. Certain buzzwords have become ingrained in the heads of the youngsters over the course of this season, such as “get ready to serve” being communicated to either full-back when the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch, ensuring that they remain switched on to the game-state and are ready to assist the team at all times.

Over the course of the season and in post-match interviews, it has been apparent in every single one of them they are instilling Rangers values into the young players. Even after a 9-0 thumping of Clyde in the City of Glasgow Cup recently, McCallum was quick to stress that while he was delighted with the result and the performance, the players had to keep their feet on the ground and move on to the next test (something which we will come back to later).

Those challenges have come in varied forms over the course of the season, and that has been a core theme of the development plan for this B team squad – if you diversify the challenges that they face, then you diversify their development.

Within the Lowland League, various teams have asked different questions to the B team than they would otherwise have gotten against their own age group. What needs to be remembered is that these kids are coming up against fully developed and street-smart men in that league who treat playing against the B team akin to playing the Rangers first team.

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There are various reasons for that, their own club allegiances being one, but playing against the B team for those players has a big game feel about. This is due to the size of crowds that come to watch, with record-breaking attendances for clubs in the league providing them with a much-needed boost in income.

One game in particular that springs to mind was a 2-0 defeat away to Dalbeattie Star in November, where the B team struggled against the compact low block of a side who were clinical when their limited chances came.

At full time, the management team spoke about using that game as a learning opportunity. After all, if they are to make the step they will need to deal with such situations in the first team - and find solutions.

This side has also gone deep into every cup competition that they have played this term, something which the management have been delighted about due to the different level of challenges that come in each.

The UEFA Youth League has provided the B team with the opportunity to play against teams their own age – but at a standard that provides a much sterner test. Wins against Hammarby remain one of the performances of the season. Knocking out Bulgarian outfit Septemvri Sofia was also impressive. Sevilla were to prove too strong and knocked the young Gers out of Europe once again, but it was a run to be proud of.

Some challenges have overwhelmed the players and it would be untrue to say it's all been plain sailing. The B team travelled to face League One leaders Cove Rangers in the Quarter Finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy in late November and were blown away, with the Aberdonian side 2-0 up inside the first five minutes.

It is still the most frustrating game of the season, as while there was obviously going to be a disparity with a side that are, for all intents and purposes, at Championship level, the manner in which the goals were conceded was a major frustration and contributed to a bruising 5-1 defeat.

That was the low point, but there is an incredible group of young players there who have contributed to some fantastic highs. One player on the lips of many as being a potential candidate for promotion to the first team is top goalscorer Tony Weston.

The eighteen-year-old has scored 36 times already this season across all competitions and has shown his versatility and flair throughout. Weston sees himself as a number 10 but can play anywhere across the front three and is particularly effective through the middle. A large part of what has worked well for the B team this season is getting the ball in behind defenders quickly for him to get on the end of, turning the opposition backline.

When that isn’t possible (such as when playing against a low block) Weston’s movement to help drag defenders out of position and create space has led to numerous goals. The diversity in the finishes is also particularly pleasing, ranging from tap-ins to long-range curling efforts. He is an incredibly exciting talent and one to keep an eye on.

The captain’s armband within the B team has been flexible and interchangeable throughout the season, with different players getting the honour at different points. The two full-backs have made a particular impression in this role and have put in some outstanding displays both as individual players and as captains. Adam Devine, a right-back, has Tavernier-like qualities with his enthusiasm to get up the pitch and deliver quality balls into the box.

On the opposite side, Robbie Fraser is a versatile player who has also been able to move seamlessly into the middle of the park. Like his right-sided counterpart, his final ball throughout the season has been noticeably impressive and his almost telepathic relationship with Weston has resulted in a left-back to striker partnership Barisic and Morelos at their best would be proud of.

The standout has, of course, been the talk and toast of the support and that is Alex Lowry. There are times when you can watch a player, at any level, and be hypnotised by what they can do with a football – Lowry is one of those players and then some.

He has been a driving presence the other players around him look up to and have faith in to create big moments. Not long before he burst into the first team, he scored a particularly impressive brace in a 2-2 away to Caledonian Braves. With the side toiling, Lowry took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored a wonderful individual goal to get his team back level at 1-1 and after falling behind again, stepping up and scoring a penalty with the last kick of the game to get the draw.

It was obvious even then that Lowry carries himself with a confidence of someone who not only wants to be looked to as the main man, but he actively thrives on the responsibility. The skill and the bravery on the ball that he possesses is genuinely frightening and he is the success story of the season. Alex Lowry is the future, but he is also the present as well.

The undisputed highlight of the season for the B team, after all their travels from the lowest of the lowlands to then depths of Eastern Europe, was at Ibrox against Celtic. The club arranging for the fixture to be played at the famous old ground gave the first league meeting between the two colts teams the sense of occasion that it deserved.

In the scorching sunshine amid a record-breaking crowd, the kids rose to the occasion and battered their Old Firm rivals, with Ross McCausland scoring after just 15 seconds to leave Celtic shellshocked. Lowry would score a breathtaking curling effort after carrying the ball from the middle of the park to double the advantage and Weston killed the game before half-time after going through one-on-one with the keeper.

Everything from the record crowd to the scoreline and performance perfectly encapsulated what the B team are building towards – an academy that brings through players that are ready to make the step up and hit the ground running in the first team. In doing that, it must be said that they are off to a great start.

While it may provide little in the way of immediate solace to the support still licking it's wounds from Old Firm defeat, it should provide a level of comfort to know that there is a sun poking its way out from behind the grey skies.

How long they will take to clear in the present I don't know, but I will promise you one thing – the future is bright.