Player Profiles - RYAN ELLISON

The initial plan was to deliver these profiles of the new players in alphabetical order, but the recent signing of Ryan Ellison means going out of sequence this week. Ryan - not to be confused with his Stockport born namesake now at National League North rivals Stalybridge Celtic having previously been on the books of Manchester City and Sunderland - is the younger brother of the former County wingman Kevin Ellison.

He was one of a pair of former Oldham Athletic lads who have been involved throughout the pre-season games, the other being keeper Paul Tyson. Liverpool born, Ryan first made the headlines in his schoolboy days, playing, and scoring regularly, for Stansfields. He was also called up for Liverpool Schools U11s, representing them in the Vernons' League. His representative games included a trip to Spain, when the Liverpool Schools FA party travelled to play Barcelona. Their opponents were unbeaten for two years in home matches, but Ryan and his team mates recorded a memorable 2-1 victory.

For his secondary school education Ryan moved to the Aintree based Archbishop Beck School. He continued to get regular mentions in the school report columns of the Liverpool Echo. His school team regularly won local trophies but were also a threat at national level. They claimed the National U12 title in May 2009, and one year on the same group of players claimed the title again at Under-13 level. Ryan played a significant part in the win by scoring the late late winner at Everton's Goodson Park ground.

Aside from his school successes Ryan was also still a regular in the various age-group Liverpool Schools sides. In January 2013 he was called up to the Merseyside Schoolboys side, and helped them turn around recent poor results to claim a 4-1 win over Hertfordshire in the ESFA Under-County cup. Ryan, the "big bustling striker", scored one of the goals, set up another, and had plenty of chances throughout.

Having completed his schooling at the specialist PE College, Ryan was signed on by Oldham Athletic as a scholar for the 2013-14 season. Despite being in his first year Ryan was involved in some Central League games for the Latics, and scored occasionally, including notching Oldham's goal in a 3-1 defeat at his brother's club Morecambe; although Kevin was not in the opposition line-up that day.

Ryan part of the Oldham Youth Team set up, & 4-3 penalty king !

At the end of that first season with Latics Ryan, scored the decisive penalty as Oldham claimed the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup with victory at Blackpool.

Whilst at Oldham Ryan was always listed as a central-defender, rather than his schoolboy position in the forward line. Presumably he was converted from the striker's role after joining Oldham, a move many County forwards have faced over the years.

Last season Ryan suffered injuries which limited his playing time. He missed so much of the season that Oldham suggested his apprenticeship be suspended until he had fully recovered. However, in March Latics said Ryan had rejected this proposal, and had decided to move on, looking to make his way at a new club.

As those who have been to the pre-season games have seen, that new club is our own Stockport County;

.......signing on last week. In doing so he becomes one of the younger players in the first team squad - and is still of an age to get playing time in the Lancashire League side when not starting games for the first team. His early years as a striker should mean he will add an extra threat to opposition defences at corners and other set-pieces.

Ian Watts