Ryan George Blake (born 8 December 1991) is an English former professional footballer who plays as a left back for club Virginia Water.
Blake is a product of the Brentford youth system and made one Football League appearance for the club. After his release in 2012, he dropped into non-League football. Blake was capped by Northern Ireland at youth level.
Career
Brentford A left back, Blake began his career in the Centre of Excellence at Brentford and signed a two-year scholarship during the 2008 off-season. He was an unused substitute on 19 occasions during the 2009–10 League One season and made what would be his only senior appearance for the club as a substitute for Lionel Ainsworth in a 1–1 draw with Yeovil Town on 24 April 2010.
Despite signing his first professional contract during the 2010 off-season, Blake found his first team chances limited during the 2010–11 season and was an unused substitute on just four occasions. He was loaned to Conference South clubs Woking and Ebbsfleet United during the season and made 16 appearances across both spells.
Blake signed new a one-year contract to be part of the Development Squad for the 2011–12 season and spent much of the season on loan at Conference South clubs Farnborough and Hampton & Richmond Borough. He failed to feature at all under new manager Uwe Rösler and was released when his contract expired in June 2012.
Non-League football Following an unsuccessful trial with Lincoln City, Blake returned to then-Conference Premier club Ebbsfleet United on a permanent contract during the 2012 off-season. He made only eight appearances during his only full season with the club, which suffered relegation to the Conference South.
Blake transferred to Southern League First Division Central club Chertsey Town in August 2013 and was awarded the captaincy. He transferred Isthmian League Premier Division club Kingstonian during the 2014 off-season, but made only 8 appearances, with his final match coming in early December 2014.
Blake re-entered non-League football with Hellenic League Premier Division club Virginia Water in 2020. The club transferred to the Combined Counties League Premier Division North in 2021 and Blake progressed to become club captain.
International career Blake was capped by Northern Ireland at U19 and U21 level. He made his U19 debut in a 2–2 2010 European U19 championship elite qualifying draw with Russia on 23 May 2010, coming on as a 41st-minute substitute for Dean Jarvis. Blake made his U21 debut on 3 September 2010, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute for Paddy McLaughlin in a 4–0 2011 European U21 Championship qualifying victory over San Marino. He made his second U21 appearance in a friendly against Wales on 9 February 2011, starting the match and playing an hour before being substituted.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBrentford2009–10League One10000000102010–11League One00—000000Total1000000010Woking (loan)2010–11Conference South3010——40Ebbsfleet United (loan)2010–11Conference South110——1Appearance in FA Trophy0120Farnborough (loan)2011–12Conference South41——1051Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan)2011–12Conference South30———30Ebbsfleet United2012–13Conference Premier8000—0080Kingstonian2014–15Isthmian League Premier Division4020101Appearance in Surrey Senior Cup080Virginia Water2020–21Hellenic League Premier Division501070001302021–22Combined Counties League Premier Division North14000001Appearance in Southern Combination Challenge Cup01502022–23Combined Counties League Premier Division North2200020102502023–24Combined Counties League Premier Division North200104042 appearances in Southern Combination Challenge Cup, 2 appearances in FA Vase02902024–25Combined Counties League Premier Division North40100000502025–26Combined Counties League Premier Division North61001021 appearance in Surrey Senior Cup, 1 appearance in Southern Combination Challenge Cup0912026–27Combined Counties League Premier Division South1000000010Total721307080961Virginia Water Reserves2021–22Surrey Premier County League10———10Career total1072601501101392
References
External links
Ryan Blake at Northern Ireland's Football Greats