Former Cheltenham Town loanee Jack Butland has revitalised his career at Ibrox with his experience making a “huge impact”.
The former England international spent the 2011/12 League Two season on loan at the Robins, a year in which the Gloucestershire outfit made the playoff final at Wembley, ultimately losing out to Crewe Alexandra.
Butland wasn’t at the showpiece occasion having been recalled by Birmingham City before the end of the season but has since played in multiple big fixtures for Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Rangers.
The goalkeeper joined the Gers in 2023 and has taken over Allan McGregor’s position as number one after he retired at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Rangers season ticket holder Craig believes that replacing Rangers legend McGregor was crucial in allowing for a smooth transition.
“He’s made a huge impact” he said. “He’s added a lot of experience into the side because we were lacking it after losing McGregor, so to bring in an experienced goalkeeper, you need that here because of the pressure of playing at Ibrox.
“Having that sort of big game experience has calmed down a lot of the younger defenders that we have had.”
When captain James Tavernier isn’t in the side, the Rangers backline has an average age of 23 years old, but Butland has still managed to keep 10 clean sheets in the 23 league games so far this season.
Rangers currently sit second in the Scottish Premiership four points behind Hearts and two clear of Celtic and the side remain in the Scottish Cup with a home clash against Stranraer.
“I don’t think people realise how much pressure there is being a goalkeeper here,” Craig said. “He’s probably not got as much to do as what he did when he was in the Premier League.
“Having that ability to handle knowing he may only have to make one save a game, it’s a lot of pressure keeping your concentration levels up.”
The goalkeeper’s time at Cheltenham Town was so successful that he ended up getting picked to play for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics after going to Euro 2012, the only player to get permission to go to both tournaments.
He then went on to play for England nine times, making his first appearance only having played senior football for Cheltenham but cruelly missed out on an opportunity to start for his country at Euro 2016 after an injury in Berlin against Germany.
When Butland joined Cheltenham at the age of 18, speaking to the Gloucestershire Echo in 2011, he was set on taking his opportunity if it became available.
“I just want to continue the way I’m playing,” Butland said. “If I do get a chance then I need to take it. They’ve (Birmingham) have not seen me in this kind of arena yet so that’s the main thing for them to see how I adapt to league football,
He has since had 360 league appearances over nine different clubs and at the age of 32, he definitely has a few more years in him.
