Ryan France
Encyclopedia
Ryan France is a former English professional footballer who last played for Sheffield United
having spent the majority of his career at Alfreton Town
and Hull City
. His preferred position was as a right winger, but also played as a right wingback.
, France started his career at Alfreton Town
. He had been courted by a number of league clubs but chose to remain with Alfreton until he had completed his degree
at Nottingham Trent University
where he graduated in Sport & Exercise Science and Mathematics. After an impressive start to the season, scoring five goals in seven games, he was signed for Hull City
by then manager Peter Taylor
in September 2003 for a fee of £15,000. Previously he had spent time on trial at Ipswich Town without being offered a contract.
. France achieved the impressive feat of four consecutive promotions: 2001–02
and 2002–03
in non-league football with Alfreton and 2003–04
and 2004–05
with Hull City in the Football League
.
In the 2006–07
season, France's versatility was demonstrated as he played in a variety of positions for City, including left-wing, right-back and central midfield. However, in February 2007, in a game against West Brom
, France ruptured a cruciate ligament
in his left knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
When France appeared for Hull City against Arsenal
in the Premier League during the 2008–09 season, he joined an elite band of players to have represented the same football club in all four divisions. By June 2009 however France, along with eight other players, was told he was being released by the club after six seasons.
and even scoring in The Owls pre-season victory over Hartlepool United
, he joined cross town rivals Sheffield United
on 24 July 2009, signing a two year deal.
He made his debut for The Blades in the first game of the new season; a 0–0 draw with Middlesbrough
. France was unable to hold down a place in the first team, regularly featuring as an unused sub for the first half of the season. After making only nine appearances for the Blades he picked up a knee injury in February 2010. The injury was only expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks but he was never to play for the club again, failing to recover his fitness for the remainder of his contract. He revealed in a Hull City programme against West Ham United
on 5 November 2011 that he has retired from the game due to a knee injury.
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
having spent the majority of his career at Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
and Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. His preferred position was as a right winger, but also played as a right wingback.
Alfreton Town
Born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, France started his career at Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
. He had been courted by a number of league clubs but chose to remain with Alfreton until he had completed his degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
at Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
where he graduated in Sport & Exercise Science and Mathematics. After an impressive start to the season, scoring five goals in seven games, he was signed for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
by then manager Peter Taylor
Peter John Taylor
Peter John Taylor is an English football manager and former player and current head coach of the Bahrain national football team...
in September 2003 for a fee of £15,000. Previously he had spent time on trial at Ipswich Town without being offered a contract.
Hull City
The day after signing for Hull, he scored on his début (as a substitute) in a 6–1 victory over Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
. France achieved the impressive feat of four consecutive promotions: 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
and 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
in non-league football with Alfreton and 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
and 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
with Hull City in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
In the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, France's versatility was demonstrated as he played in a variety of positions for City, including left-wing, right-back and central midfield. However, in February 2007, in a game against West Brom
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, France ruptured a cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
in his left knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
When France appeared for Hull City against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the Premier League during the 2008–09 season, he joined an elite band of players to have represented the same football club in all four divisions. By June 2009 however France, along with eight other players, was told he was being released by the club after six seasons.
Sheffield United
Having been on trial at Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and even scoring in The Owls pre-season victory over Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, he joined cross town rivals Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on 24 July 2009, signing a two year deal.
He made his debut for The Blades in the first game of the new season; a 0–0 draw with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. France was unable to hold down a place in the first team, regularly featuring as an unused sub for the first half of the season. After making only nine appearances for the Blades he picked up a knee injury in February 2010. The injury was only expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks but he was never to play for the club again, failing to recover his fitness for the remainder of his contract. He revealed in a Hull City programme against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on 5 November 2011 that he has retired from the game due to a knee injury.
External links
- Ryan France player profile at hullcityafc.net