Ryan McWilliams explained

Ryan McWilliams
Birth Date:1989 11, df=y
Birth Place:Greenock, Scotland
Currentclub:Saltcoats Victoria
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Largs Thistle
Youthyears2:–2009
Youthclubs2:Greenock Morton
Years1:2009–2010
Clubs1:Greenock Morton
Caps1:4
Goals1:0
Years2:2010
Clubs2:Largs Thistle (loan)
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2010–2012
Clubs3:Ayr United
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2012–2013
Clubs4:Albion Rovers
Caps4:4
Goals4:0
Years5:2012
Clubs5:East Stirlingshire (loan)
Caps5:5
Goals5:0
Years6:2013–2014
Caps6:13
Goals6:0
Years7:2014–2018
Caps7:138
Goals7:0
Years8:2018–
Caps8:4
Goals8:0
Years9:2018–2021
Caps9:35
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2022
Caps10:14
Goals10:0
Years11:2022
Caps11:?
Goals11:0
Years12:2022-
Caps12:16
Goals12:0
Totalcaps:244
Totalgoals:0
Club-Update:10 March 2023

Ryan McWilliams (born 24 November 1989) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Saltcoats Victoria as a goalkeeper.

Career

Born in Greenock, McWilliams began his career at Greenock Morton. He worked his way through the youth system to the Under-19s and then was called up to the first team. On 15 August 2009, he made his professional debut in a game against Dunfermline Athletic.

McWilliams made his debut for Morton on 15 August 2009, against Dunfermline Athletic after Bryn Halliwell was injured in the warm-up.[1]

McWilliams was loaned to his old club, Ayrshire junior side, Largs Thistle towards the end of the 2009–10 season.[2]

After being released by Morton, on 30 July 2010, Ryan signed for Ayr United on a 1-year deal as back up to David Crawford.[3] At the end of the 2010–11 season, McWilliams signed a one-year extension with Ayr, but left at the end of the 2011–12 season.

McWilliams signed a one-year contract with the Second Division outfit Albion Rovers,[4] then immediately after Rovers played against Morton in the Challenge Cup he was loaned out to East Stirlingshire on a 6-month deal, with his first game ironically to be against Morton. He asked to be released from his contract with Rovers in January 2013, after falling to third choice at the club.[5]

East Stirlingshire traveled to play Rangers on 18 August 2012, where McWilliams earned the Man of the Match award after several point blank and double saves; these helped keep the score respectable as the Shire lost 5–1. He was recalled by Albion after an injury to Chris McCluskey.[6]

McWilliams also coached the goalkeepers at youth level for Morton.[7]

After his release by Albion Rovers, McWilliams returned to first club Largs Thistle. After leaving Largs, he moved to Greenock Juniors.[8] After four seasons with his home club, Ryan signed a one-year deal with South Lanarkshire outfit Lesmahagow Juniors for season 2018–19.[9]

Ryan decided to leave Lesmahagow and signed a deal with Govan-based side Benburb until the end of season 2018–2019.

After narrowly missing out on the West Region Championship Ryan continued his stay at Benburb until the summer of 2021 when he decided to leave due to injury.

Ryan then moved on to newly formed West of Scotland Football League 4th division Paisley based side St.Peters. Ryan played a handful of games during this season but due to injury they were limited. After a solitary season, Ryan decided to return to hometown club Greenock Juniors.

Ryan is now currently out on loan until Christmas at Ayrshire outfit Saltcoats Victoria.

Ryan then signed permanently with Saltcoats Victoria until the end of the season.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Morton 0–2 Dunfermline Athletic. BBC Sport. 15 August 2009. 15 August 2009.
  2. News: Player News. gmfc.net. 26 March 2010. 26 March 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100331212919/http://www.gmfc.net/News/%26action%3Dfullnews%26id%3D349. 31 March 2010.
  3. News: Elgin v Ayr. BBC Sport. 30 July 2010. 31 July 2010.
  4. News: Scottish Division Two ins and outs. BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. 7 August 2012.
  5. News: Rovers release McWilliams. Scottish Football League. 22 January 2013. 22 January 2013. dead . https://archive.today/20130216182442/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/rovers-release-mcwilliams/. 16 February 2013.
  6. News: McWilliams returns to Rovers. Scottish Football League. 31 August 2012. 31 August 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20130201221807/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/mcwilliams-returns-to-rovers/. 1 February 2013.
  7. News: Morton's past, present and future under Hawke's eye. Scottish Football League. 9 December 2012. 10 December 2012. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130126085156/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/mortons-past-present-and-future-under-hawkes-eye/. 26 January 2013.
  8. News: REPORT: Port Glasgow 0 Blantyre Vics 1. Greenock Telegraph. 30 March 2015. 6 May 2015. Gary. Pews. Newsquest.
  9. News: Lesmahagow Juniors sign ex-senior keeper Ryan McWilliams. Carluke Gazette. 13 June 2018. 29 August 2018. Craig Goldthorp. Johnston Press.