Nile Ranger
signs for Newcastle Utd FC
Congratulations to Nile Ranger
NILE RANGER signing for Newcastle
United
In July 2008, then Director of Football of
Newcastle, Dennis Wise brought the raw talent to Newcastle United.
Ranger made his academy debut against Leicester City on 23 August
2008 and made his debut for the reserve team against Sunderland at
St James' Park on 1 September 2008. He impressed hugely in these
levels, finishing with fifteen goals for the Under-18s and seven for
the reserves in his first season on Tyneside. That resulted him
in winning the "Wor Jackie Milburn Trophy" in 2009. He was
subsequently rewarded by then-manager Alan Shearer with a new and
improved three-and-a-half year contract.
Ranger's Newcastle debut came as a second-half injury-time
substitute for Shola Ameobi against West Bromwich Albion in the
Championship on 8 August 2009. He made his first senior league start
against Leicester City on 31 August 2009, where he won the man of
the match award. He played just over 84 minutes before been
substituted and received a standing ovation from fans. He scored his
first senior goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Coventry City on 9
December 2009. Ranger scored his second goal of the season in a 2-0
home win against Crystal Palace.
Ranger made his debut for the England U19 on 25 March 2009 against
the Czech Republic U19s and came very close to breaking the deadlock
in the dying minutes of the game with a shot that hit the post. He
got his first goal for the Under-19s in his second match, against
Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a fine headed effort.
He helped his team to the final of the UEFA U-19 Championship but
his team eventually lost the final to host
nation Ukraine 2–0.
Ex-Barnet Protec student a big hit at Newcastle
9:20am Thursday 12th February 2009
Barnet FC are unlikely to be short of young talent in the future.
The Protec football academy, from which a number of the current Bees have graduated, continues to go from strength to strength.
The football/education-based scheme, which has been running 12 years, has produced a number of professional and non-league players.
Former graduates Joe Devera, Joe Tabiri, Luke Medley and Elliott Charles have all seen first-team action for the Bees this season, with Devera being named the club's player of the season last year.
Other ex-students are plying their trade elsewhere, and making an even bigger impact.
Among them is Nile Ranger, 17, who is now at Premier League Newcastle United and earning rave reviews.
Manager Joe Kinnear is following Nile's progress closely.
He said: "Nile is certainly one for the future and is making rapid progress. We could have a very good player on our hands."
Ranger left Barnet's Protec academy to join Southampton's academy in September 2007, before being signed up by the Magpies in August 2008.
He has just netted four goals in three matches for Newcastle's reserve and youth teams in the space of a week. Earlier in the season, he made the first-team squad, being on the bench for the Carling Cup tie against Coventry City.
Newcastle United coach Richard Money added: "He can progress to a good level - and maybe the highest level. Hopefully, that highest level will be with Newcastle."
Barnet Protec academy director Pete Edwards said: "Nile applied himself at Protec and we secured him a contract at Southampton. He now has a two-year contract at Newcastle United and we're delighted that the skills he learned with us are still standing him in good stead. He is a striker who will entertain the Toon fans, who enjoy watching great, attacking players."
Copyright to Barnet Borough Times