Ryan Blake (footballer)


Ryan George Blake is an English former professional football left back who played in the Football League for Brentford. He was capped by Northern Ireland at age-group level.

Career

Brentford

A left back, Blake began his career with League One club Brentford and signed a scholarship deal in the summer of 2008. He was an unused substitute on 19 occasions throughout the 2009–10 season and made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Yeovil Town on 24 April 2010, when he replaced Lionel Ainsworth after an hour. Despite signing his first professional contract in the summer of 2010, Blake found his first team chances limited during the 2010–11 season and was an unused substitute on just four occasions. He signed new a one-year contract to be part of the Development Squad for the 2011–12 season and spent much of the season out on loan. He failed to feature at all for the first team under new manager Uwe Rösler during the season and was released when his contract expired in June 2012.

Woking (loan)

Blake moved to Conference South club Woking on a one-month loan on 2 October 2010. He made four appearances during his spell and returned to Brentford on 2 November.

Ebbsfleet United (loan)

Blake signed for Conference South club Ebbsfleet United on loan on 11 January 2011. He made 12 appearances and returned to Brentford on 20 April.

Farnborough (loan)

Blake signed for Conference South club Farnborough on a one-month loan on 28 October 2011. He made five appearances during his spell and scored the equaliser in a 3–1 away league victory over Salisbury City on 19 November. He returned to Brentford on 29 October, after his loan expired.

Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan)

Blake signed for Conference South club Hampton & Richmond Borough on a one-month loan on 18 January 2012. He made only three appearances and returned to Brentford on 17 February after his loan expired.

Permanent signing for Ebbsfleet United

After an unsuccessful trial with Lincoln City, Blake returned to Conference Premier club Ebbsfleet United on a permanent contract during the 2012 off-season. He made only eight appearances during his only season with the club, as Ebbsfleet suffered relegation to the Conference South.

Chertsey Town

Blake signed for Southern League First Division Central club Chertsey Town in August 2013 and was awarded the captaincy. He departed the club at the end of the 2013–14 season.

Kingstonian

In the summer of 2014, Blake joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Kingstonian. He made 8 appearances, with his final match coming in early December 2014.

International career

Blake was capped by Northern Ireland at U19 and U21 level. He made his U19 debut in a 2–2 2010 European U19 championship elite qualifying draw with Russia on 23 May 2010, coming on as a 41st-minute substitute for Dean Jarvis. Blake made his U21 debut on 3 September 2010, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute for Paddy McLaughlin in a 4–0 2011 European U21 Championship qualifying victory over San Marino. He made his second appearance for the U21s in a friendly against Wales on 9 February 2011, starting the match and playing an hour before being substituted.

Career statistics