Rangers FC Player Profile - James Tavernier

James Henry Tavernier was born on All Hallows’ Day, 31st October 1991 in Bradford, England. He began playing football at local club Farsley Celtic in West Yorkshire before joining the youth ranks at Leeds United in 2001, aged nine years old.

Marcus Tavernier, his younger brother, plays for Bournemouth in the English Premier League as a midfielder or winger.

Move to Newcastle and the Half-Dozen Loan Spells

Tavernier moved north to Newcastle United in 2008, and played for the U-18s before making his senior debut in September 2009—playing right back in the 2-0 defeat away at Peterborough United in the third round of the League Cup.

However, he struggled to break into the first team, and made just one further senior appearance—in the League Cup again, during the 2010-11 season, away at Accrington Stanley where he played in central defense in the 3-2 win.

In January 2011, Tavernier joined Gateshead FC on loan in the Conference Premier, and made 13 appearances.

Tavernier joined League One side Carlisle United on loan in August 2011. He made 17 appearances for the Cumbrians before returning to Newcastle in November. Just five days later, he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan, and made eight total appearances for the club—six in League One, and two in the FA Cup—during his one-and-half-month spell.

On January 31st 2012, Tavernier made his third loan move of the season, once more to League One, with Milton Keynes Dons. He provided one assist in seven matches before the end of his spell in April.

Tavernier found himself more involved with the first team back at Newcastle United during the 2012-13 season. Alan Pardew gave him six appearances in all competitions, including the UEFA Europa League.

However, he was on the move again in summer 2013, joining Shrewsbury Town for a short loan spell where he made just two appearances.

In November, Tavernier joined Rotherham United in League One for the sixth and final loan spell during his time at Newcastle. He scored five goals and provided six assists for the Millers in 31 appearances, and helped them win promotion to the Championship.

Wigan Athletic and One More Loan

Tavernier left Newcastle United permanently in June 2014, and joined Wigan Athletic in the Championship. He made his debut in August, the first of 13 total appearances for the Latics.

One final loan spell to League One beckoned, however, and he joined Bristol City in January 2015 until the end of the season. He scored three goals and provided one assist in 13 appearances for the Robins.

Move to Rangers FC to Become Legend

In July 2015, Tavernier joined Rangers Football Club with Wigan team-mate Martyn Waghorn, and the rest is the stuff of legend.

He scored on his debut— just five days after joining the club—from a free kick against Hibernian in the Scottish Challenge Cup. Eight days later, he had scored another in the 3-0 League Cup win at home against Peterhead. On 16th August, he scored his first ever league goal for the Gers against Alloa Athletic.

Tavernier was appointed club captain by Steven Gerrard in July 2018, and he has retained the role ever since. He has made 468 appearances for the Light Blues in all competitions, scoring 125 goals and providing 131 assists.

In 2020-21, he lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy—a record 55th league title for Rangers FC.

Tavernier has won the Scottish Cup [2021-22], the League Cup [2023-24], and the Challenge Cup [2015-16]—in addition to the Scottish Championship in 2015-16—with the club. He was inducted into the Rangers FC Hall of Fame in 2023, was named PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year in 2020-21, and has appeared in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year on five occasions.

On 30th March 2024, Tavernier scored his 131st senior goal—at Ibrox against Hibernian—to surpass Graham Alexander’s record, and become the “highest-scoring defender in British football history”.

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