Rangers stars are helping to take learning into a different league for thousands of Glasgow students.

They're getting a real kick out of weekly lessons in a £180,000 purpose-built 'supporters' centre at Ibrox Stadium.

The Rangers Study Support Centre, the first of its kind in Scotland, was co funded by the club's first team, with players using their own money to buy computers. Experts believe that teaming football up with lessons is the perfect way to enable youngsters to achieve their goals.

The Centre is kitted out with 21 PCs with broadband Internet access and a library of reading materials provided by Walkers Crisps. There are also project areas, a reading zone and a celebrity interview area.

At its launch in November, First Minister Jack McConnell, then Education Minister, said:

"I would like to see young Glaswegians taking their studies as seriously as their football. Through this new centre, Rangers Football Club and Glasgow City Council are taking out-of-school learning into a new league."

The Study Support Centre will enhance Rangers' highly successful education programme 'Ready to Learn' which has already reached thousands of children throughout the city.

The programme consists of a resource pack and health and fitness video, as well as matchday visits for 30 children for every Scottish Premier League home game and weekday stadium tour.

Lessons at the centre - staffed by full-time teacher Michelle Sweeney - focus on key skills, such as reading, writing, maths and computers. The City Council has already carried out research into schemes such as Rangers', and has highlighted the key benefits of the PASS (Pupil access to Study Support) programme:

• PASS has improved general attendance - with 100% attendance on days students visited the stadium centre.
• Players' involvement had a powerful motivating effect, with youngsters looking up to them as role models.
• Links with football encouraged many parents to become interested in studying too.

Rangers Commercial Director Martin Bain commented:

"The Rangers Study Support Centre clearly demonstrates the Club's commitment to its young supporters and the wider community. It is hoped the centre will in future be open to adults as well."

This story appeared in the February 2002 issue of TLF Scotland, and on the Scottish University for Industry (SUFI) website.