Career
Ryan began his career with Manchester United as a forward. He made a total of 21 appearances during the season, culminating with being named on the bench for the 1997 Lancashire Youth Cup final against Blackburn Rovers. After a lengthy conversion process over the previous two seasons, Ryan was considered a defender by the start of the 1997-1998 season.
He divided his time between the Junior A and B teams that season, as well as making his first appearance for the reserve team
Despite now playing in defence, he scored the most goals of his career in 1997-1998, hitting the Netto twice for the Junior B side in the league and once in the Lancashire Youth Cup semi-final defeat to Tranmere Rovers. At the end of the season, he was rewarded with a professional contract.
The 1998-1999 season saw the Junior A and B teams replaced by a single Under-19 age group side, for whom Ryan scored twice in 11 appearances. He also played twice for the reserve team
However, with no first-team prospects on the horizon, he was granted a free transfer to Wrexham on 24 March 1999.
He made seven appearances for Wrexham in August and September 1999, but he failed to hold onto a place in the team and he was released at the end of the 1999–2000 season.