Gerry Ryan (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gerry Ryan
Personal information
Full name Gerard Joseph Ryan
Date of birth (1955-10-04)4 October 1955
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Date of death 15 October 2023(2023-10-15) (aged 68)
Position(s) Forward, winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1977 Bohemians 53 (14)
1977–1978 Derby County 30 (4)
1978–1985 Brighton 173 (32)
Total 226 (50)
International career
1985 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)
1978–1984 Republic of Ireland 18 (1)
Managerial career
1993–1995 Brighton & Hove Albion (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gerard Joseph Ryan (4 October 1955 – 15 October 2023) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a forward or winger.[1] He made 18 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team scoring once.[2][3]

Career[edit]

Born in Dublin, Ryan began his career at Bohemians on 9 February 1975 and after 14 goals in 53 appearances he earned a move to Derby County in 1977. He was later moved to Brighton for £100,000 with whom he played in the 1983 FA Cup Final against Manchester United before his career was ended in 1985 after a broken leg sustained in a tackle from Crystal Palace's Henry Hughton.[4]

Ryan played eighteen times for Ireland between 1978 and 1984.[2] Ryan made his debut in April 1978, when he played in a 4–2 win against Turkey in a friendly at Lansdowne Road.[5] His only goal for Ireland came over a year later at the same venue, but it was only a consolation effort as Ireland lost 3–1 to West Germany in a friendly. Ryan's last appearance in a green shirt came in 1984 when he played in a scoreless draw against Mexico at Dalymount Park. He earned one cap for the Republic of Ireland U21 side.

A testimonial in August 1986 provided the funds to buy an 18th century old coaching house, The Witch Inn in Lindfield, West Sussex, which he ran.[6] He turned out regularly for The Witch in the Lewes Sunday League.

Personal life and death[edit]

His son Darragh also played for Brighton and in the League of Ireland.

Ryan was admitted to hospital on 18 August 2007 after suffering a stroke. Ryan's recovery from the stroke left him with a weakness in his left side and he decided to sell The Witch.

Gerry Ryan died on 15 October 2023, at the age of 68.[1][7]

Honours[edit]

Bohemians

Sources[edit]

  • Irish Football Handbook by Dave Galvin & Gerry Desmond (ISBN 0-9517987-3-1)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Former Brighton, Derby and Ireland star Gerry Ryan dies, 68". The Argus. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gerry Ryan at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ^ "Gerard Joseph Ryan". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Brighton and Crystal Palace get set for latest bout in the oddest of rivalries". The Guardian. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  5. ^ The Irish Times. Dublin. 5 April 1978. ISSN 0791-5144 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1978/0405/Pg003.html#Ar00300:14E1F016920716A1F01732071B93931D43AB1D63931DE3AB1AF44F1D44661151F013D2071E325720C26F1853931AF3AB. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ Hannigan, Mary (11 January 1999). "Where are they now? No 22: Gerry Ryan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ Brighton & Hove Albion deeply saddened by passing of former striker, Yahoo News UK (15 October 2023).

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerry_Ryan_(footballer)&oldid=1217534645"