HIS aspirations were never realised at the Theatre of Dreams. Now Jordan Thompson has new ambitions with his boyhood heroes.

As the door at Old Trafford closed on Thompson’s career with Manchester United, another opened that has lead him to the realisation of a lifelong aim.

The Northern Irishman didn’t have long to ponder his next move when his time in England came to an end 12 months ago.

READ MORE: Jordan Thompson hopes former Rangers hero Steven Davis can inspire Northern Ireland at Euro 2016

Within weeks, he was being courted by Ian Durrant and Craig Mulholland and within days he had signed for Rangers.

The rest is history, and the midfielder hopes his future is bright as he looks to become a key player at Ibrox.

Thompson never got the chance to show what he could do in the famous red shirt, now he is determined to impress every time he pulls on the blue one that means so much to him.

“I moved over to United when I was 14 and I was there for four years,” Thompson said.

READ MORE: Jordan Thompson hopes former Rangers hero Steven Davis can inspire Northern Ireland at Euro 2016

“It was unbelievable to be there every day. I hardly went to school to be honest! We got out early.

“I met loads of great staff who helped me along the way and it was a great experience for me.

“They told me that I wasn’t going to get another contract but they helped me out with a few clubs in England and I went on trial. But as soon as Rangers came in there was only one choice for me.

“It was near the end of the season so I had a few games left for them. They were probably the best games that I played for them.

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“Once I got released, there were a few clubs in for me. I finished up, went home for a few days to get my head right and I was training to keep fit as well, then I signed for Rangers.

“I knew that it was the right choice for me. Being a Rangers fan, it was a dream come true. When I got the chance to sign for Rangers, I knew it was for me.”

READ MORE: Jordan Thompson hopes former Rangers hero Steven Davis can inspire Northern Ireland at Euro 2016

The big breakthrough Thompson dreamed of at United may never have materialised but his time at Old Trafford has given him a solid grounding in the game.

The 19-year-old showed his promise in his outings against Alloa and Dumbarton earlier in the campaign, before a loan spell at Airdrieonians gave him a run of first team games.

His focus is on the future and Rangers, but he looks back with fondness on his time south of the border.

READ MORE: Jordan Thompson hopes former Rangers hero Steven Davis can inspire Northern Ireland at Euro 2016

“When I signed, there was a game at Old Trafford and I went in and had a meeting with Alex Ferguson,” Thompson said.

“I met him and my mum and dad were there. My mum was in bits! It was great to meet him.

“I didn’t really have much to do with Louis van Gaal playing youth football but it was a great feeling playing for United.

“I worked with Paul McGuiness and Warren Joyce mainly and there were others in doing different sessions with us. I learned a lot from them.

“Growing up I was a Rangers fan and my dad liked to follow United as well so it couldn’t have gone any better for me to have been with both clubs at this stage of my career.”

Thompson’s first season at Ibrox may have only yielded two competitive outings for the Gers but it was a promising campaign overall for the midfielder.

There are occasions where he could, and probably should, have been given more match time before injury cut short his spell in League One with the Diamonds.

READ MORE: Jordan Thompson hopes former Rangers hero Steven Davis can inspire Northern Ireland at Euro 2016

Thompson was one of the Murray Park kids that boss Warburton repeatedly highlighted earlier this term and he is satisfied at life in Light Blue at present.

Thompson said: “I am pleased with how the season has gone for me. I came in last July and I made my debut in my first year. It has been unbelievable and really special for me.

“When Durranty and Craig came over to speak to me, they said I had a good chance of being involved but I didn’t expect to be round training with the first team so quickly.

“I was down at Spurs in pre-season with them and played against Burnley at Ibrox, which was unbelievable. I didn’t expect it to be this early but it has been brilliant and hopefully there is more to come.”

The campaign may have come to an end but Thompson is already thinking about what lies ahead next term as he looks to catch Warburton’s eye and force his way into the first team squad on a regular basis.

The step up to the Premiership and the added competition for places at Ibrox will make his task even tougher.

But it is a challenge he is determined to rise to as he attempts to make his mark and ensure he remains at Ibrox for the long-term.

Thompson said: “There are always going to be good players coming in at Rangers but if I keep working hard then hopefully I will get another chance.

“Hopefully I have done enough in the game time I have had and in training and I will work hard in pre-season to try and hit the ground running next year.

“We are all team-mates at the end of the day but we have to do our best individually as well. Hopefully I can get more game time and get another contract at the end of the year.”

*Jordan Thompson was pictured promoting the Rangers Youth Development Company and their new Youth Members Club - which costs £25 a year and gives fans the chance to get closer than ever to the Rangers Academy.

Members could enjoy Youth Player/Coach ‘Meet and Greet’ sessions, access to selected youth training sessions, competitions to win season tickets, tours of Ibrox and Auchenhowie, a monthly members newsletter and much, much more. ?Rangers fans can continue to support RYDC in a variety of ways – full details on Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars, Scratchcards, Stadium Bricks and the Youth Members Club can be found at www.rydc.co.uk, emailing rydc@rangers.co.uk or calling 0141 427 4914.