Former Hearts, Ayr United & Ipswich Town attacking midfielder Ryan Stevenson is a key player for Troon, having signed for a second spell in November 2018.

NAME:	Ryan Stevenson
POSITION:	Attacking Midfielder / Forward
DATE OF BIRTH:	24th August 1984
SIGNED:	3rd November 2018 (second spell)
PREVIOUS CLUBS:	Chelsea St. Johnstone Ayr United Hearts Ipswich Town Hearts Partick Thistle Ayr United Dumbarton Raith Rovers Troon F.C. Annan Athletic Troon F.C. Stranraer
HOME KIT SPONSOR:	West of Scotland Hearts Supporters Club
AWAY KIT SPONSOR:	Available

 

BIOGRAPHY

Ryan Cairns Stevenson was born in Irvine, Ayrshire, and was a boyhood Ayr United fan. He was a pupil at Drongan Primary School and Kyle Academy in Ayr before leaving to join Chelsea’s youth academy, staying in the same apartment block as John Terry, before leaving the London club in 2002.

Stevo was signed by then Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone where he enjoyed initial success making 74 league appearances for Saints but, having been dropped from the starting eleven in 2006, Stevenson joined First Division club Ayr United, initially on a 28-day loan in October 2006. This loan was later extended until the end of the year. He then joined the club on a permanent basis during January 2007, for a five-figure sum. Just two weeks later, Stevenson scored an equaliser for Ayr United against his former club, St Johnstone, in the third round of the Scottish Cup in a 2–1 defeat. Stevenson scored the goal which promoted Ayr United to the First Division in 2009, in a 1–0 win over Airdrie United in the second leg of the First Division Play-off Final at New Broomfield.

Following a successful time at Somerset Park, Stevo signed for Hearts on 1 February 2010 for an undisclosed five-figure sum, with Rocky Visconte going the other way on loan. He made his debut for Hearts on 10 February playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat to Celtic at Celtic Park. He went on to score his first competitive goal for Hearts against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a Scottish Premier League fixture on 18 September 2010. In the absence of Kevin Kyle, Stevenson was predominantly used as a makeshift striker and scored several notable goals, such as in wins over both halves of the Old Firm and two against Edinburgh rivals Hibernian. In June 2011 Stevenson signed a one-year contract extension to extend his stay at the club.

On 6 November 2011, Stevenson was called up to the Scotland squad for the first time as a late inclusion for a friendly match against Cyprus.

On 22 December 2011, with Hearts in financial difficulty and having problems paying wages, Stevenson requested his contract be terminated; this was refused and Stevenson advised the club he would not play or train again until his salary was paid in full. Stevenson cited stress on his unborn baby as one of the reasons behind his decision. Several clubs including Ayr United, Crawley Town and Dundee United were interested, however Hearts were seeking £100,000 for their exiled player. Hearts pledged to open a disciplinary hearing if he did not leave during the transfer window.

On 28 January 2012, Championship side Ipswich Town announced that he was set to join them in a deal worth £50,000 which was concluded on 30 January. He was given the number 16 shirt, and had signed an 18-month contract. Stevenson scored his first goal for Ipswich on 28 April 2012 against Doncaster Rovers on the final day of the 2011–12 Football League Championship with a long-range effort which was later voted as Ipswich Town fans Goal of the Year.

On 31 August 2012, after just eight months at Ipswich Town, Hearts re-signed Stevenson on a three-year contract, despite interest from Motherwell. Stevenson scored both Hearts goals in the 2013 Scottish League Cup Final, but ultimately the club lost 3–2 to St Mirren. Stevenson was released by Hearts after the club was relegated to the Scottish Championship in 2014.

Stevenson signed for Partick Thistle in June 2014 on a two-year contract, with an option for a third year. He scored his first two goals for Thistle in a 2–0 Scottish Cup win over Hamilton Academical on 29 November 2014. He scored his first and second league goals in a Scottish Premiership 4–0 away win against Inverness. On 31 October 2015, Stevenson had to play as a goalkeeper for the last five minutes of a 4–0 defeat to Hearts because Thistle ‘keeper Ryan Scully had been sent off and Thistle had already used all of their substitutions. Stevenson’s first goal of the 2015–16 season was a 90th-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Stevenson was released by the club in January 2016.

In December 2015, Stevenson signed a short-term loan deal with his former club Ayr United. He made three appearances for Ayr before returning to Partick Thistle. However, subsequent to his release by the Firhill side, Stevenson signed again with Ayr in January 2016, his fourth separate spell with the side. After achieving promotion to the Scottish Championship via the play-offs, Stevenson chose not to renew his contact at Somerset Park.

Shortly after leaving Ayr United, Stevenson signed for Scottish Championship side Dumbarton. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw with Peterhead in July 2016. He left the club in December 2016.

He joined Raith Rovers in January 2017 Stevenson hit the headlines after being forced to play a full 90 minutes in goal, after injuries to Raith’s three first team goalkeepers. Rovers lost the match 1–0 to Ayr United.

In March 2017, just over a week after playing in goals, Stevenson announced his shock retirement from professional football at the age of 32 as he sought a long-term career outside of football.

After leaving Raith Rovers in March 2017 to start a long-term career outside of football, Stevenson signed for Troon. After just one appearance and two weeks with the club, Stevenson announced he was to emigrate and he signed for Australian State League Division 2 South-East side Peninsula Strikers. However, the day he was due to leave for Australia he announced he had cancelled the agreement after a change of heart for family reasons.

Stevenson joined Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic in June 2017, managed by his former Ayr United teammate Peter Murphy.

Stevo signed for Troon again in November 2018 and made his second debut for the club away to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.