Ryan Denys

Ryan Hayden Denys (born 16 August 1978) is a retired English semi-professional football forward and midfielder. He began his career in the Football League with Brentford, before dropping into non-league football in 1999. After his retirement, Denys moved into coaching.

Playing career

Brentford

Denys began his career in the youth system at hometown club Brentford and signed his first professional contract in the summer of 1997. He made his debut on the opening day of the 1997–98 Division Two season in a 3–0 loss at Millwall under manager Eddie May, coming on at half time for Simon Spencer. He made his first start in following game against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup first round and scored his first senior goal for the club in a 1–1 draw. He held down a regular starting place from August through to October and scored his second goal in a 3–0 win over Walsall on 18 October 1997. After new manager Micky Adams took over from Eddie May, Denys gradually fell out of favour, with the midfield spots being taken by Glenn Cockerill, Leon Townley and David McGhee. His final appearance of the season came on 13 January 1998 in a 2–2 Football League Trophy second round defeat to Luton Town. He made 24 appearances during the 1997–98 season, scoring two goals. Under new manager Ron Noades, Denys was not called into the first team squad during 1998–99 and was released at the end of the season.

Yeovil Town (loan)

Denys joined Conference side Yeovil Town on a one-month loan on 30 January 1998. He scored his only goal for the club in a 1–1 league draw with Welling United on 31 January 1998. He made a total of five appearances during his spell.

Carshalton Athletic (loan)

Denys signed on loan for Isthmian League Premier Division strugglers Carshalton Athletic on 26 February 1999 until the end of the 1998–99 season.

Non-league

Following his release from Brentford, Bryan drifted around non-league football, first by joining Isthmian League Premier Division side Hampton & Richmond Borough on 18 June 1999. Denys surfaced at Middlesex County League Division One side Actual Soccer in 2002, scoring two goals from 21 appearances during the 2002–03 season. He was in prolific form the following season, bagging 11 goals in 13 games. Denys signed for Herts Senior County League Premier Division side Sandridge Rovers in the summer of 2005. He scored 8 goals in 32 appearances during the 2005–06 season. During the 2007–08 season, Denys was named in a Herts County League team which competed against other county leagues in the FA National League System Cup for the right to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup. The Herts Senior County League team lost to eventual runners up Midland Combination in the second round. Denys struggled for goals during the season, with manager Bob Fowler remarking that "Ryan Denys needs to score more. Ryan has played at Brentford and he is a fantastic player. He gets in great positions and sometimes due to bad luck he doesn't get the goals. He would be the first to admit he should be on treble what he is on in terms of goals".

Denys dropped down to the Herts Senior County League First Division to sign for Hertfordshire neighbours Harpenden Rovers in 2008. Denys scored a hattrick on 30 March 2011 to send Rovers through to the semi-finals of the Aubrey Cup at the expense of Hinton. Denys moved across Harpenden to join Spartan South Midlands League First Division side Harpenden Town for the 2011–12 season, bagging three goals in his first three games for the club. He scored a goal on 10 December 2011 against Buckingham Athletic. He left the club in 2012 after it dropped into the West Herts Saturday League First Division. Denys returned to Sandridge Rovers during the 2013–14 season and scored the first goal of his second spell in his second game, a 3–3 draw with Cuffley on 7 September 2013. He scored again in a 5–1 Herts Senior Centenary Trophy second round defeat to Baldock Town on 16 November. Denys made a handful of further appearances in March and April 2014 and finished the 2013–14 season with 9 appearances and two goals.

Sunday League

While at Harpenden Town, Denys joined West Acton Rovers in the West Fulham Sunday Football League Premier Division at the start of 2012–13 and had a prolific season, scoring 19 goals in 22 games. He crowned his season by scoring the opener in the Alf Dear Cup final victory over AFC Wandsworth and helped Rovers to the Premier Division title. He remained with the club for the 2013–14 season, scoring four goals in 14 games.

Coaching career

After his retirement, Denys became involved in youth coaching.

Honours

West Acton Rovers

• West Fulham Sunday Football League Premier Division: 2012–13
• Alf Dear Cup: 2012–13

Career statistics