Rangers Left-Back James Penrice Says He Nearly Quit Football

During the summer transfer window, Rangers made the move to sign Scottish left-back James Penrice on loan from Greek side AEK Athens, following an injury to Tuur Rommens that would be set to keep him sidelined for two months.

Truth be told, there wasn’t much excitement from the Ibrox faithful. Ok, sure, a body through the door that was needed, but not much beyond that. He hadn’t really proved to be more than above average in the Scottish Premiership previously (Livingston, Hearts), and AEK were happy enough to discard him.

However, he has so far proven to be nothing short of an excellent addition. He provided the game winning assist for Ryan Naderi in the Scottish League Cup semi final (albeit quite possibly from a shot), and followed that up with a very assured display in the important win away to St. Mirren last time out.

Owing to this form, he has received his maiden call up to the Scotland senior team, for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

At 27-years old, and having to take the long way round to make it this far in his career, Penrice is an inspiration to any young footballer who may feel like their development is not going as they had planned.

The full-back touched on this himself in an interview with Sky, saying: “It’s kind of been a slow rise, don’t get me wrong,” said Penrice. “When we [Partick Thistle] dropped down to League One, there was part of me that thought I was done.

I'd been part-time and, especially when Covid hit, I was looking at courses and stuff like that and trying to think about life after football,” he reflected.

"From then, I got my head down and then I went to Livingston and that was kind of the super bolt.

Davie Martindale [the Livingston manager] said that it was kind of the last chance I had for full time football and I grasped it there.

The move to Hearts was a good personal season for me. Then obviously I moved to Greece, so it's been a bit mental from where I was at 20. It makes it more interesting, doesn't it!” 

Fair play to him, a great story, and you hope he can make his senior debut during this break - so long as he doesn’t get injured, as Derek McInnes and Rangers clearly need him this season. 

At this rate, you get the impression that there is a good chance the loan move will be made into a permanent one next summer, particularly if the team can get over the line in the Premiership. But well, let’s wait and see.