''Blue Heaven'' is a Scottish television documentary series filmed by
BBC Scotland which followed aspiring young footballers at
Rangers Football Club
Rangers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in the Govan district of Glasgow which plays in the Scottish Premiership. Although not its official name, it is often referred to as Glasgow Rangers outside Scotland. The fou ...
as they tried to forge a career in football. The series was originally broadcast in the winter of 2003 with a follow up episode in 2011.
Background
The building of Rangers' new training facility in July 2001 was the catalyst for the filming of a six-part television series by
BBC Scotland. The show documented the hopes and aspirations of a group of young footballers as they try to make the breakthrough at Rangers.
The production company, Saltire Films, was given unprecedented access for two years, the series begins during the
Dick Advocaat
Dirk Nicolaas Advocaat (; born 27 September 1947) is a Dutch former football player and coach who is currently the head coach of Eerste Divisie side ADO Den Haag.
Advocaat was successful as a football player and as a coach, including three stint ...
era and continues through to the
Alex McLeish
Alexander McLeish (born 21 January 1959) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player. He played as a defender for Aberdeen during their 1980s glory years, making nearly 500 League appearances for the club, and won 77 caps for ...
's reign. The length of filming allowed for the following of particular youngsters.
Some of those would go on to graduate to the first team,
Chris Burke for example. His Rangers debut covered during the series. Other players never made it as a professional footballer at all. Rangers-daft David Ford and his family's story is covered as Ford struggles to make an impact due to his lack of height and slight frame. The Head of Youth Development, Jan Derks, is replaced part-way through filming the series and is replaced by George Adams. Derks was seen deciding on the futures of young players, including Kevin Morrison, who was eventually released by the club.
In May 2011, a follow up episode was broadcast featuring several of the trainees from the original documentary.
Episodes
List of footballers which appeared
Players who graduated to first team
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Charlie Adam
Charles Graham Adam (born 10 December 1985) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Adam started his senior career with Rangers. He spent much of his early senior career on loan to Ross County and St Mirren. ...
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Steven Smith
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Chris Burke
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Jordan McMillan
Players who made careers with other clubs
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Steven Campbell
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Calum Reidford
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Peter Leven
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Scott Agnew
References
External links
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Locate TV
Rangers F.C.
BBC television documentaries
2003 Scottish television series debuts
2003 Scottish television series endings
2000s Scottish television series
BBC Scotland television shows
Association football documentary television series
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