Ryan Kirby (born 6 September 1974) is an English former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who was last player-manager of

Grays Athletic Grays Athletic Football Club is a football club based in Grays, Essex, England. They are currently members of the and play at Parkside in nearby Aveley. History The club was established as Grays Juniors in 1890, before merging with former S ...

Playing career

Kirby, who played as a right back and centre half, began his career with the youth team of

Brimsdown Rovers Brimsdown Rovers F.C. were a football club based in Brimsdown in the London Borough of Enfield, England. They played their home games at the Goldsdown Road stadium, Brimsdown in the London Borough of Enfield. Notable former players include David ...

alongside

David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham (; born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the current president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Known for his range of passing, crossing ability and bending fr ...

, and later played for

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

, Doncaster Rovers,

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

, Crewe Alexandra,

Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1932, ...

, Northampton Town, Stevenage Borough, Aldershot Town and

Harlow Town Harlow Town Football Club is an English association football, football club based in Harlow, Essex. The club is a former member of the and plays at The Harlow Arena. The club is best known for its exploits in the 1979–80 FA Cup, in which it ...

. He moved from Harlow Town to Thurrock in August 2004. Kirby then returned to Harlow Town, where he was player-manager between November 2006 and December 2008. During 2009 he played for

AFC Hornchurch Hornchurch Football Club is a football club based in Upminster, England. They are currently members of the and play at the Hornchurch Stadium. History 1881 club The first Hornchurch Football Club was founded in October 1881. Based at Grey Tow ...

and Boreham Wood. He left Harlow Town in June 2012 to join

. In his first season at Grays Athletic, they were crowned champions of the

Isthmian League The Isthmian League () is a regional men's football league covering Greater London, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs. Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, the league now consists of 82 tea ...

Division One North. He later became player-manager, before leaving at the end of the 2013–14 season. Kirby made a total of 74 appearances in all competitions scoring once, over two seasons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirby, Ryan 1974 births Living people English men's footballers Brimsdown Rovers F.C. players Arsenal F.C. players Doncaster Rovers F.C. players Preston North End F.C. players Crewe Alexandra F.C. players Wigan Athletic F.C. players Northampton Town F.C. players Stevenage F.C. players Aldershot Town F.C. players Harlow Town F.C. players Thurrock F.C. players Hornchurch F.C. players Boreham Wood F.C. players Grays Athletic F.C. players English Football League players National League (English football) players Isthmian League players Men's association football fullbacks Men's association football central defenders Player-coaches English football managers Harlow Town F.C. managers Grays Athletic F.C. managers Footballers from Chingford