Ryan Esson

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ryan Esson


fullname =
height = 6 ft 1 in / 1.85 m
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|03|19
cityofbirth = Aberdeen
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Inverness Caledonian Thistle
clubnumber = 23
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1997–2006
2002
2006–2008
2008
2008–
clubs = Aberdeen
→ Rotherham United (loan)
Shrewsbury Town
Hereford United
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
caps(goals) = 89 (0)
00 (0)
06 (0)
01 (0)
00 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 12:30, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Ryan Esson (born March 19, 1980 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Career

Aberdeen

Esson started his career with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen. Debuting on May 142000 in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock, he became Aberdeen's first-choice keeper for 2000-01. After losing his place the following season, he had a brief loan spell at Rotherham United in March to May 2002.

Esson didn't play at all in 2002-03 and only twice in 2003-04, but played the majority of Aberdeen's games in 2004-05, and the former Scotland Youth and U21 international was an unused substitute when the senior side played the USA in November 2005.

His contract expired at the end of the 2005-06 season, and after playing in 18 matches in the season, Esson decided to leave the club in order to get more first team games. His final appearance was against Celtic on 7 May 2006 where the match ended 2-2.

hrewsbury Town

He joined Shrewsbury Town on June 30 2006 on a free transfer and made his début in the 2006-07 opener against Mansfield Town, which finished 2-2. After playing in Shrewsbury's first six league matches he was dropped in favour of Chris Mackenzie.

Whilst playing in a reserve fixture on September 182006, Esson sustained a broken cheekbone, and it was later revealed that he would be sidelined for up to ten weeks. [cite web | title=Injuries and Suspensions | work=www.shrewsburytown.co.uk | url=http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/InjuryUpdate/0,,10443~900942,00.html | accessdate=September 21 | accessyear=2006 ]

Scott Shearer was signed on loan from Bristol Rovers to cover Esson's injury spell. Upon his recovery, Esson could not dislodge Shearer from the team, and Shearer played out the rest of the season as first-choice goalkeeper. In the League Two play-off final, Shearer was prohibited from playing against his parent club Bristol Rovers. Chris Mackenzie, who had played many more league games that season, was chosen ahead of Esson for the match.

At the end of the 2006-07 season Shearer left Shrewsbury, and the club signed Welsh international Glyn Garner to be their first choice goalkeeper for the 2007-08 season. With a season left on his contract, Esson was told that he may leave should he have the desire and opportunity. [cite web | title=Retain list | work=Shrewsbury Town official website | url=http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10443~1030525,00.html | accessdate=May 30 | accessyear=2007 ] However, with no firm offers from other clubs on the table, Esson opted to see out his contract at Shrewsbury Town, and try and win back the first choice goalkeeper's berth.

In 2007-08, Esson was used as Shrewsbury's goalkeeper for the first and second rounds of the League Cup, where his highlight was an extra-time penalty save as Shrewsbury won 1-0 against Colchester United. With Glyn Garner firmly established as the club's number one goalkeeper, rumours linked Esson with a move back to Scotland. On January 30 2008, Esson was released by Shrewsbury, after having the final six months of his contract paid off. [cite web | title=Keeper Leaves | work=Shrewsbury Town official website | url=http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~1229298,00.html| accessdate=January 30 | accessyear=2008 ]

Hereford United

On 17 March 2008 he joined Hereford United until the end of the season, as cover for the injured Michael Ingham. He made his one and only appearance for the Bulls on the final day of the season, playing 90 minutes against Grimsby Town. He was released by Hereford on 19 May 2008. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hereford_united/7410493.stm|title=Hereford release player quartet|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=May 21|accessyear=2008] [cite web|url=http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/article/1801756/Players-leaving-the-Street|title=Players leaving the Street|publisher=herefordunited.co.uk|accessdate=May 21|accessyear=2008]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

On July 15 Esson completed a free transfer to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, signing a 2 year contract.

References

External links

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Persondata
NAME= Esson, Ryan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1980-03-19
PLACE OF BIRTH= Aberdeen, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=