Ryan Craig Matthew Smith, known simply as Ryan Smith, was born in Archway in London in 1986, as a kid he joined Arsenal’s famous Hale End Academy, his pace, skills and goalscoring ability caught the eye at Youth level, and he soon found himself playing a regular part for the Under 18s, and then Reserves.
Aged just 16 he made his first team debut against Rotherham United in the Carling Cup, his impressive performances led to starts in the next rounds of the Cup, against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough.
He then became a regular for the Reserves, his amazing technical skills, and free-kick ability led to regular training with the first team, he also featured for England’s Youth sides, then Arsenal decided to further develop Ryan by loaning him out, in September 2005, Leicester City stepped forward, both parties agreed he would spend the rest of the season on loan with the Championship side.
But after just 6 months, Leicester cut short the loan, after he fell out with coaching staff, and was subsequently dropped from the side, Smith finished the season in the Reserves for Arsenal.
The start of the 2006-2007 season saw Ryan make history, he started in Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial, being one of the first players to feature at the Emirates Stadium, but it would prove to be his last appearance in an Arsenal shirt, on August the 4th Arsenal.com confirmed Smith had been sold to Derby County on a three year deal.
Ryan would link up with Reserves team mate Arturo Lupoli, and the two became regulars, but an injury meant he missed a few weeks of the season, he would never regain his place in the promotion chasing side, and in March 2007 he was loaned to Millwall for a month manager Willie Donachie gave Ryan a regular starting place, and with the belief he put into Smith he was starting to show what he could do, but in October 2007 Donachie was sacked, new coach Kenny Jackett, decided not to use Smith and he has been in the Millwall Reserves for most of the season.
But away from the football Ryan has focused on other things, he has a long term partner of which he has a small child, and is currently setting up his own Rnb record label, working in studios in London he is busy signing up artists, its shame for Smith, who showed so much potential as a kid, but injuries and attitude problems have restricted him from showing the promise he had as a teenager.
Full name Ryan Craig Matthew Smith
Date of birth November 10, 1986 (1986-11-10) (age 21)
Place of birth Archway, England
Playing position Midfielder, Forward
Article By – J.Sanderson
its not soooo sad, is it? Seems like he’s setting up a life for himself outside of football.
Good for him that he has managed the transition and not turned in to stan collymore or Paul Merson
I am sure he had great potential, but luck was not on his side, this is a great example of what happens to promising youth players.
For every one player that holds down 1st team football there are 40 or so stories like this.
I remember seeing him and Leicester knock Spurs out of the FA Cup and he was immense that night.
So sad indeed as he looked great, showed Aaron Lennon up.
Cant someone who really knows this guy call him up and give him another chance? sometimes, we need to put up with the spate of disillusionment with these young adults, if anyone out there can, please help this young man get a grip on life and get him back on the field.
Top post Jamie
Sorry chief but where is ‘The Sad story’? Or am I missing something? The kid has had injuries etc. not much you can do about that. But if your story is correct and he’s looking at another career choice – what’s sad about that? Especially in the music world where the payload isn’t to be sniffed at if you’re successful. At least he is using another talent. What would of been sad is if he decided to piss his life away in pubs and clubs, retire from football at the age of 26 and keep drinking himself silly and being considered a ‘hero’! Any coincidence’s with George Best’s life is just a coincidence.
He’s 21 – plenty young enough to turn his life around if he’s not to make in football.
All i can say is good luck Ryan – in whichever direction your life takes you.
its sad because of the potential he showed, how such a young player suffered from attitude problems and injuries, its a sad fate among young footballers.
I agree with some of the other replies. A nice article but it could have used a better title. Sure, it’s disappointing that he didn’t live up to his potential as a player, but it certainly sounds like he’s not idle and is working hard to make a life beyond football. Nothing sad about that. I know this borders on blasphemous, but there’s more to life than just football (though my missus says I certainly don’t act like there is from August to May). Best of luck to Ryan, on the pitch and off.
haha his own R’n B record label!
Am I missing something, he is still on Millwall’s books. He can still make it in football, still very young. I have seen him in the flesh playing and he is brilliant
Man you got me going there i thought he got a career threatening injury like Kabasiyoon. Thanx for the updates am ur Ugandan fan way down here in East Africa. Sad he didnt make it i was angry the day i heard he was goin same as Bentley but then again we have promising youngsters. Hope his record label works out for him
Given It A Different Title :)
Wasted potential – agreed. But I think the lad has got the right ideas – instead of wallowing in self pity over a speculative long term career in football, he has focussed his energies on an alternative career, which could be equally rewarding. Who knows – he might turn out to be a Simon Cowell of tomorrow.
I remember Ryan Smith busting his cruciate ligament in one of his knees and when he came back he had lost a yard of pace and i personally think this played a big part in his Arsenal and football career going wrong IMO
Do you know for sure he had “attitude” problems? He certainly had repetitive injuries that sadly hampered his early career. He was a good player: had vision and technique. He just lacked the top level super pace and power that a current Arsenal player needs. Reminded me in playing style of Paul Davis, with an eye for the early through ball for a colleague to run onto, though Smith played wide left rather than in central midfield like Davis. I wish him all the best.
Why was he sent out? Trust me if he were French he won’t be sent out. The overhyped Traore who hasn’t lived up to the hype is still around because he’s French.
Arsene pick young English players and as they begin to blossom he sells and go in for foreign players. Gibbs, Randall Lansbury will all be sold eventually. That’s the only problem I have with Arsene. Apart from Cole, he hasn’t brought any English players through but look at what he’s done to French players?
He’s kept Djourou and Senderos, sent Matthew Connoll on loan and sold him eventually. That’s Arsene for you, turnng Arsenal into a development centre for French national team players.
I always had a soft spot for Ryan, it’s good to read that he is making another life for himself outside of football.
i like your commitment to news about Arsenal youth players but you haven’t done Ryan justice by not stressing how he suffered a knee injury that (at the time) nearly ended his career
i like your commitment to news about Arsenal youth players but you haven’t done Ryan justice by not stressing how he suffered a knee injury that (at the time) nearly ended his career
Last I checked, Harlan, Djourou and Senderos aren’t benefitting France at all…
He’s not good enough, simple as. If you want a sad story about wasted potential, read up about Paul Vaessen!
he was never premiership quality, but nice lad. One of the few local lads to get close to the first team
he’s not been playing for Millwall’s reserves & when he’s fit again he’ll be in the first team squad most probably
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AS a Derby fan he seemed to have all the skills in the world, but he just never quite had the final product, he was often best when brought on in the last 20minutes of games to use his pace to stretch teams. I think Derby did far too well too early for him, they didn’t have the ability to carry players as they were in a promotion chasing team. But hey ho!
As other posters have pointed out he suffered a terrible injury playing for the Reserves and was never the same player after. He hasn’t been in millwall’s reserves, he has had another injury, but will be fit soon.
As someone who knew Ryan from his school days, and from reading an article that quoted comments from Wenger where he compared Ryan’s attitude favourably to that displayed by David Bentley, I find it difficult to accept that Ryan was let go because of any ‘attitude problems.’ He may have lacked strength both physically and mentally for the Premier league and the ‘kick’ and rush style of the Chamionship. However, I am sure that he will continue to develop into the mature, collected young man that he showed at Highbury Grove and when representing The Arsenal. Good luck Ryan
LOL. I thought this story was going to end with some tragedy befalling him. I was almost afraid to read to the end. He is in the Millwall reserves, has a kid with his long term partner and started a record label. Where is the sad story?
how can he be in the reserves if he’s injured? somebody please explain
how can he be in the reserves if he’s injured?
Signed for Saints on loan for three months to fill in for Lee Holmes our left winger who’s injured. Hope he can get his act together with us.
Ryan is on trial with the Kansas City Wizards at the moment. He is doing rather well it seems … early days. He has all the attributes to do well here in the USA, and if somebody finally gets him playing the way we all know he can he is young enough to still have a great career. He is to good to quit at 23.