Ryan Charles
Encyclopedia
Ryan Andrew Charles is an English
professional footballer, currently playing for Cambridge United
.
as a 9-year-old, turning down rivals Watford
in the process.
In his first year as an apprentice in 2006, Charles scored 17 goals for the youth team, earning him the top goal scorer acclaim. He was loaned to neighbouring Hitchin Town
during the 2006–07 campaign, where he netted 3 goals in 10 appearances for the Canaries, including a 25-yard volley against Rugby Town
.
In his second year as a scholar, Charles was sent out on loan to Conference North
side Hinckley United
in December 2007, where he made two appearances, one in the league, in a two month loan spell.
On 8 April 2008 Charles made his Luton Town debut as a substitute against Southend United
. He went on to make 7 league appearances for Luton during the latter part of the season, operating in attack alongside Sam Parkin
. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 victory against Oldham Athletic, after chesting the ball down, turning his marker and volleying home. This goal earned him the ‘Goal of the Season’ award as voted for by Hatters fans. Charles signed a professional contract at the end of the season, and was also awarded the ‘Young Player of the Season' trophy.
In the 2008–09
season, Charles made ten league appearances for Luton, scoring once. He also scored in the Football League Trophy Southern Area Final in a 4–3 penalty shoot-out victory against Brighton that saw Luton into the final at Wembley
, which they went on to win. On 26 March 2009, Charles was sent on loan to Kettering Town
, where he made nine appearances, scoring once.
On 26 November 2009, Charles joined Kidderminster Harriers
, the team he had scored a late winner against as a Luton player in October, on a one-month loan as part of the deal taking Harriers striker Matthew Barnes-Homer
to Luton. He played three games at Kidderminster, before returning to Luton. Charles did not play another game that season, and was released from the club on 31 May 2010.
Charles signed for Luton's Conference National rivals Rushden & Diamonds
on 1 July 2010.
In June 2011 he joined Cambridge United
.
scam. It was alledged that he assisted in using stolen credit-cards to buy hotel vouchers which were then sold on on the website.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer, currently playing for Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
.
Career
A striker who can also operate as a winger, Charles joined Luton TownLuton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
as a 9-year-old, turning down rivals Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the process.
In his first year as an apprentice in 2006, Charles scored 17 goals for the youth team, earning him the top goal scorer acclaim. He was loaned to neighbouring Hitchin Town
Hitchin Town F.C.
Hitchin Town Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. They will compete in the Southern Football League's Premier Division for the 2011–12 season...
during the 2006–07 campaign, where he netted 3 goals in 10 appearances for the Canaries, including a 25-yard volley against Rugby Town
Rugby Town F.C.
Rugby Town F.C. is a football club based in Rugby, Warwickshire, which plays in the Southern Football League Division One Central. It is nicknamed The Valley, and plays its home matches at Butlin Road...
.
In his second year as a scholar, Charles was sent out on loan to Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Hinckley United
Hinckley United F.C.
Hinckley United Football Club are an English football club, from Hinckley, Leicestershire currently playing in the Conference North. Formed only in 1997, the club has risen from the Southern League Midland/West Division to the Conference North in those 14 years...
in December 2007, where he made two appearances, one in the league, in a two month loan spell.
On 8 April 2008 Charles made his Luton Town debut as a substitute against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. He went on to make 7 league appearances for Luton during the latter part of the season, operating in attack alongside Sam Parkin
Sam Parkin
Samuel "Sam" Parkin is an English professional footballer who plays for St Johnstone.-Chelsea:...
. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 victory against Oldham Athletic, after chesting the ball down, turning his marker and volleying home. This goal earned him the ‘Goal of the Season’ award as voted for by Hatters fans. Charles signed a professional contract at the end of the season, and was also awarded the ‘Young Player of the Season' trophy.
In the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, Charles made ten league appearances for Luton, scoring once. He also scored in the Football League Trophy Southern Area Final in a 4–3 penalty shoot-out victory against Brighton that saw Luton into the final at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, which they went on to win. On 26 March 2009, Charles was sent on loan to Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, where he made nine appearances, scoring once.
On 26 November 2009, Charles joined Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, the team he had scored a late winner against as a Luton player in October, on a one-month loan as part of the deal taking Harriers striker Matthew Barnes-Homer
Matthew Barnes-Homer
Matthew Brian Barnes-Homer is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Rochdale. He is currently on loan to Rochdale from Conference side Luton Town....
to Luton. He played three games at Kidderminster, before returning to Luton. Charles did not play another game that season, and was released from the club on 31 May 2010.
Charles signed for Luton's Conference National rivals Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
on 1 July 2010.
In June 2011 he joined Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
.
Honours
Luton Town- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winner: 2008–092008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
Controversy
On November 16th 2011, Charles pleaded guilty to having been an accomplice in an EbayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
scam. It was alledged that he assisted in using stolen credit-cards to buy hotel vouchers which were then sold on on the website.