Blackpool coach on Rangers V Celtic decision, career regret, and future hope

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Blackpool coach Stephen Dobbie states it was a dream to represent Rangers as a youngster - but admits leaving the club proved to be the right thing for him.

The 41-year-old progressed through the ranks at Ibrox but never made a senior appearance for the club, before making a move to Hibernian.

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Dobbie would eventually end up playing in both the EFL and the Premier League, with his career also including four loan stints at Bloomfield Road, during which time he scored 15 goals in 56 games for the Seasiders.

The former striker admits Rangers were always a big part of his life, but did have the option to join their Glasgow rivals.

“My grandad and my dad used to take me all of the time, and then I signed at U11 and went all the way through to the reserve team,” he said. 

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“I was Hearts, and I was scouted by Celtic and Rangers on the same day. 

“They both went up to my dad during a game, and he said yes to one and no to the other straight away, so it wasn’t even a conversation. 

“We travelled the world, going to Australia, Bermuda, Chile. You get to see the types of things you’ll experience if you make it. 

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“Being a Rangers fan and representing them at different levels was obviously a dream for me. 

“When I became a scholar there would always be one or two players that would help out with the first-team, and I was one of them. I was a boot boy, which I loved as well. I would travel and help the kit man. 

“I was very proud of every minute I had at Ibrox. It was hard leaving the club I’d known for so long, but at that point you think about your own aspirations and where you want to go. You get to the point where you want to experience first-team football and challenge yourself.”

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Dobbie admits he would’ve loved to have represented his boyhood club at senior level at some point, with his ambition now transferred to his coaching career.

Discussing what he would change from his playing career, he stated. “Playing for Rangers, or Scotland, one of the two. Even when Rangers went down the leagues, I don’t think there was an opportunity.

“I don’t think I was free to go at any point. I would’ve gone for very little money just to pull that shirt on and score a goal to feel what it would’ve been like to play for the first-team. 

“The aim is to be in the dugout one day, I’ve told my little boy to give me at least 15 years and we’ll see.”

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