Nathan Patterson has opened his heart on his dream season at Rangers – and the key role skipper James Tavernier has played in his top team breakthrough.
Patterson was a nine-year-old kid just starting to take his first touches in the Rangers Academy when the Ibrox club were last crowned champions of Scotland in 2011.
Fast forward a decade and the teenager has played a key role in the club’s unbeaten run to the title and last 16 of the Europa League, making a total of 14 appearances and chipping in with two goals.
It was enough to see Patterson included in Scotland’s squad for Euro 2020.
And he told the Rangers official souvenir magazine: “It has been a long wait and we’ve worked hard to get where we are, but we deserve it and this is where the club deserves to be.
“Being a fan it is that wee bit more special. The club has been through a lot and for me, when your family are all Rangers supporters, it is great. Everyone is buzzing.
“The manager made a pathway for me and I’ve just taken it.
“I’ve been working under Tav and the manager and all the boys have helped me through it. It was just a great opportunity for me this season and I’ve really enjoyed it.
“Tav is a great role model. He has really helped me this season and he has taken me under his wing.
“Every time I’ve started he’s always been there, telling me what to do and helping me.
“When I’ve come in at half-time he tells me what I can improve on, so he’s been great and even just watching him from the sidelines is great for me.
“I just try to take in what he does and try to add that into my game, so it’s been really beneficial for me.”
The 19-year-old was thrust in at a critical time of the season when Tavernier was sidelined by injury in February but rose to the challenge as he helped secure the title a couple of weeks later with a 3-0 win over St Mirren.
Other highlights included a league debut against Kilmarnock in August, two Old Firm appearances - including a start in May’s 4-1 win at Ibrox - and five Europa League appearances with a first start away to Lech Poznan in December and a goal against Royal Antwerp in February.
He said: “Making my league debut for the club I love was amazing. I have been working hard all my career to get that moment, so to go on and get a good bit of time on the pitch was just great.
“It was obviously brilliant playing in the Europa League at a young age. It was a big game (Poznan) and we got the 2-0 win, but just to get that first European start was great.
“I think I was a wee bit nervous before the game but I kind of thrive on the pressure and being at a big club you have got a lot of pressure on you. It’s great, especially at a young age.
“Playing in Old Firm games has been a dream come true and it has been a good learning curve for me.
“I didn’t really think I would get a lot of game time, I was just willing to work hard and take anything that came my way.
“But I’ve just really enjoyed this season and I’ve played a good part in it. To win the league shows it has been a fantastic season.”
