John Gilbert Ryan (born 20 July 1947) is an English former professional footballer who predominantly played as a full-back. Ryan had a professional career that lasted more than 20 years. He first joined

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

from non-league side

Maidstone United Maidstone United Football Club is a professional football club based in Maidstone, Kent, England. The team competes in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. The club's nickname is "The Stones" and th ...

in 1964, though he never played a first team game for Arsenal, instead playing in the reserves before being released in 1965. He went on to have spells with

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies in a loop on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea, London, Chelsea ...

(1965–69),

Luton Town Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...

(1969–76),

Norwich City Norwich City Football Club is a professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The club was founded in 1902. Since 1935, Norwich have played their h ...

(1976–79),

Sheffield United Sheffield United Football Club is a professional football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. They are nicknamed "the Blades" due to Sheffield's history ...

(1980–82),

Manchester City Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...

(1982–83),

Stockport County Stockport County Football Club is a professional association football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Formed in 1883 as Heaton ...

(1983), Chester City (1983–84) and

Cambridge United Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...

(1984–85), where he also had a spell as manager. Ryan also played in the US for Seattle Sounders and after leaving Cambridge returned to

. He went on to manage

Sittingbourne Sittingbourne is an industrial town in the Swale district of Kent, southeast England, from Canterbury and from London, beside the Roman Watling Street, an ancient trackway used by the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons. The town stands next to th ...

Dover Athletic Dover Athletic Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club currently competes in the , the sixth tier of the English football league system. The club was formed in 1983 afte ...

and

Dulwich Hamlet Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in East Dulwich in south-east London, England. They are currently members of and play at Champion Hill. History The club was formed in 1893, by Lorraine 'Pa' Wilson. The ...

References

;General * * * ;Specific 1947 births Living people Footballers from the London Borough of Lewisham People from Lewisham Maidstone United F.C. (1897) players Arsenal F.C. players Fulham F.C. players Luton Town F.C. players Norwich City F.C. players Sheffield United F.C. players Manchester City F.C. players Stockport County F.C. players Chester City F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. managers English men's footballers English football managers Dover Athletic F.C. managers English Football League players North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players Seattle Sounders (1974–1983) players English expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States English expatriate sportspeople in the United States Men's association football defenders {{england-footy-defender-1940s-stub