Ryan Bernard Harley (born 22 January 1985) is an English former professional footballer who is currently assistant head coach of Swansea City.

Ryan Harley
Harley playing for Exeter City in 2015
Personal information
Full name Ryan Bernard Harley[1]
Date of birth (1985-01-22) 22 January 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Bristol, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Swansea City (assistant head coach)
Youth career
Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Bristol City 2 (0)
2005Forest Green Rovers (loan) 3 (0)
2006–2007 Weston-super-Mare 26 (6)
2007–2011 Exeter City 108 (21)
2011 Swansea City 0 (0)
2011Exeter City (loan) 21 (4)
2011–2013 Brighton & Hove Albion 18 (2)
2013Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 8 (0)
2013–2015 Swindon Town 21 (1)
2014–2015Exeter City (loan) 7 (0)
2015–2018 Exeter City 96 (14)
2018–2020 Milton Keynes Dons 17 (2)
2020–2021 Bath City 12 (0)
2021–2022 Frome Town 6 (0)
Total 345 (50)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His previous clubs include Bristol City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City, Exeter City and Milton Keynes Dons.

Career edit

Bristol City edit

Born in Bristol, Harley began his career with hometown club Bristol City. On 28 August 2004, Harley made his professional debut in a 3–0 loss against Port Vale at Vale Park in League One.[2]

During the 2005–06 season, Harley was loaned to then Conference National side Forest Green Rovers. He made only 3 appearances for Rovers before returning to Bristol City.[3]

Weston-super-Mare edit

In October 2006, Harley signed for Conference South side Weston-super-Mare. Harley went on to score six times in 26 appearances for the club.[4]

Exeter City edit

In November 2007, Harley signed for Conference side Exeter City. He made his debut for the Grecians on 4 March 2008, coming on as a substitute for Andrew Taylor in a 2–2 draw against Crawley Town.[5]

Harley's goal in the second leg of Exeter's play-off semi-final sparked a memorable comeback against rivals Torquay United. The victory took the Grecians to the play-off final at Wembley where they were promoted back to the Football League.[5]

On 16 January 2010, Harley scored both goals against Leeds United in a 2–0 victory at St. James Park.[6]

Harley scored the vital goal in the final game of the 2009–10 season against Huddersfield Town. The victory ensured Exeter's position in League One for the forthcoming season.[7]

Swansea City edit

On 21 January 2011, Harley signed for the then Championship side Swansea City on a free transfer. He was loaned back to Exeter for the remainder of the 2010–11 season. In spite of the move, Harley would not make an appearance for the Swans.[8]

Swansea beat Reading in the Championship play-off final on 30 May 2011 to progress to the Premier League.

Brighton & Hove Albion edit

On 22 August 2011, Harley joined Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on a 3-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[9]

Harley made his debut at home in a 1–0 victory against Sunderland in the League Cup.[10] He made his league debut against Peterborough United, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win with a spectacular 30-yard free-kick.[11]

In December 2012, Harley joined League One side MK Dons on loan for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.[12] He made 11 appearances and scored 1 goal for the Dons.

Swindon Town edit

Harley completed a free transfer to League One side Swindon Town on 26 July 2013 after his contract at Brighton was terminated.[13] He made 25 appearances and scored 4 goals during the 2013–14 season for the Robins.

Return to Exeter City edit

On 20 November 2014 Harley was loaned to his former club Exeter City until January. He had previously trained with the club during the season.[14] On 12 January 2015 Exeter signed Harley to an 18-month deal after his contract was cancelled by Swindon.[15]

Milton Keynes Dons edit

On 9 July 2018, Harley joined previous loan club and newly relegated League Two side Milton Keynes Dons,[16] and scored on his league debut for the club on 4 August 2018 in a 1–2 away win over Oldham Athletic.[17] He enjoyed promotion back to League One with the club at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season. Following the departure of manager Paul Tisdale early in the 2019–20, Harley took up more of a coaching role with the club and his appearances for the first team were limited. At the end of the season, Harley was one of nine players released.[18]

Coaching career edit

In June 2022, Harley was appointed assistant head coach of National League club Notts County, assisting Luke Williams whom he had previously worked with at Milton Keynes Dons.[19] The 2022–23 season brought success for Williams and Harley as they guided County to promotion through the play-offs having finished the regulation season in second place, despite having accumulated 107 points.[20]

On 5 January 2024, Harley followed Williams to his former club Swansea City, again in the role of assistant head coach.[21]

Career statistics edit

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bristol City 2004–05[22] League One 2 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 3 0
2005–06[23] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Forest Green Rovers (loan) 2005–06[23] Conference Premier 3 0 0 0 3 0
Weston-super-Mare 2006–07[4] Conference South 26 6 26 6
Exeter City 2007–08[24] Conference Premier 12 1 0 0 3[b] 1 15 2
2008–09[25] League Two 31 4 1 0 1 0 1[a] 1 34 5
2009–10[26] League One 44 10 2 0 1 0 0 0 47 10
2010–11[27] League One 21 6 1 0 1 2 3[a] 3 25 11
Total 108 21 4 0 3 2 7 5 122 28
Swansea City 2010–11[27] Championship 0 0 0 0
Exeter City (loan) 2010–11[27] League One 21 4 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 22 4
Brighton & Hove Albion 2011–12[28] Championship 16 2 1 0 1 0 18 2
2012–13[29] Championship 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Total 18 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 21 2
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2012–13[29] League One 8 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
Swindon Town 2013–14[30] League One 21 1 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 25 1
2014–15[31] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 21 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 25 1
Exeter City (loan) 2014–15[31] League Two 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Exeter City 2014–15[31] League Two 18 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 4
2015–16[32] League Two 28 4 1 0 1 0 2[a] 1 32 5
2016–17[33] League Two 31 5 0 0 2 1 3[c] 1 36 7
2017–18[34] League Two 19 1 3 0 0 0 4[d] 1 26 2
Total 96 14 4 0 3 1 9 3 112 18
Milton Keynes Dons 2018–19[35] League Two 14 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 2
2019–20[36] League One 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Total 17 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 18 2
Bath City 2020–21[37] National League South 9 0 3 0 3[e] 0 15 0
2021–22[37] National League South 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 12 0 3 0 3 0 18 0
Frome Town 2021–22[38] Southern League
Division One South
6 0 1[f] 0 7 0
Career total 345 50 16 1 10 3 24 8 395 62
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  4. ^ One appearance in EFL Trophy, three appearances in League Two play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  6. ^ Appearance in Somerset Premier Cup

Honours edit

Exeter City

Milton Keynes Dons

References edit

  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Transferred Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018". The Football Association. p. 43. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Harley revs up the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Exeter 2–0 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Exeter 2–1 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Swindon Town's Ryan Harley returns to Exeter City". BBC Sport. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Swansea's Ryan Harley completes Brighton move". BBC Sport. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Brighton 1–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Brighton 2–0 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Ryan Harley joins MK Dons on loan from Brighton". BBC Sport. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Harley leaves Brighton for Swindon". BBC Sport. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Swindon Town's Ryan Harley returns to Exeter City". BBC Sport. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Ryan Harley: Exeter City sign Swindon Town midfielder". BBC Sport. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  16. ^ "Harley arrives at Stadium MK". Milton Keynes Dons. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Report: Oldham Athletic 1–2 MK Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Moore-Taylor and Reeves among the NINE released by MK Dons". Milton Keynes Citizen. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Head coach: Luke Wiliams". www.nottscountyfc.co.uk. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  20. ^ Aloia, Andrew (13 May 2023). "Chesterfield 2–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Luke Williams joins Swansea City as head coach". www.swanseacity.com. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  27. ^ a b c "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  31. ^ a b c "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Games played by Ryan Harley in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  37. ^ a b "R. Harley: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Ryan Harley Profile". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  39. ^ Whyatt, Chris (18 May 2008). "Exeter 1–0 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  40. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2009). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009–2010. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 45, 194–195. ISBN 978-0-7553-1948-0.
  41. ^ "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    "MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.

External links edit