Ryan Baldacchino
Encyclopedia
Ryan Lee Baldacchino is an English
/Maltese
midfielder
.
Ryan started his footballing career at Blackburn Rovers
in 1996 as a promising right and left winger. He went on to win the U17 Premier League and reach the FA youth cup final against Everton
playing against a strong team in front of 25,000 that consisted of Leon Osman
, Francis Jeffers
, Richard Dunne
and Michael Ball
.
Ryan went on to become a reserve team regular in forthcoming seasons and was rewarded with a four year professional contract. He soon transferred to Premier League rival Bolton Wanderers
.
Sam Allardyce
made Ryan a late signing in March 2000 as comparisons to fellow ex teammates Damian Duff and David Dunn
were made by his new boss and assistant Phil Brown. He was awarded squad number 33.
With pace to burn and accurate crossing ability Ryan soon showed his potential in Bolton's reserve side and pre season games for the first team. He left Bolton Wanderers after only 18 months however, the arrivals of Jay-Jay Okocha
, Youri Djorkaeff
and many more big signings that summer making it difficult to break through for the youngster.
In 2001 Carlisle signed Baldacchino on a three year deal. Ryan was an instant hit with the club with an outstanding display of pace and trickery to help defeat Southend United
away. Ryan was a regular for Carlisle before being prized away by Brooks Mileson
and the mega spending power of Scottish new boys Gretna
.
Gretna won everything in sight and dominated wherever they played. Scottish Third, Second and First division titles were won by Baldacchino in consecutive seasons, with Ryan being one of the star players along with Kenny Deuchar
, Gavin Skelton
and Chris Innes
. Those four players gained the prestigious accolade of being the only four players in 100 years of Scottish history to play in all Scottish divisions with the same team. Baldacchino won most Man of the Matches, Goal of the Season and had a UEFA Cup
goal on his way up the divisions. An impressive display against Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup in front of Celtic
manager Gordon Strachan
earned Baldacchino rave reviews. Hibs
, Motherwell
and Celtic all had regular checks on Baldacchino. Brooks Mileson once again showed his spending power and ambition by keeping hold of Baldacchino and he signed a new improved four year deal in December 2005 making him one of the clubs top earners.
Gretna arrived in style to the SPL breaking all records on their way and many players staying loyal to Gretna turning away potential big money moves on the way.
The season 2007-2008 was to be Gretna's last year as a club as they bowed out at the top when owner Brooks Mileson took ill in late February. Ryan was given squad number 7 and played against Rangers
and Celtic that season as Gretna struggled to cope with life in the top flight. They were relegated at the end of the season.
Baldacchino transferred to VPL club Altona Magic in May 2008 and one year later he signed for New South Wales Premier League
outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles
. Currently he is free agent and wants to play in the Maltese Premier League and wants to represent Malta
.
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...
/Maltese
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Ryan started his footballing career at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in 1996 as a promising right and left winger. He went on to win the U17 Premier League and reach the FA youth cup final against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
playing against a strong team in front of 25,000 that consisted of Leon Osman
Leon Osman
Leon Osman is an English football player who plays for Everton in the Premier League. He has spent his whole career as an Everton player, though he has spent time on loan at Carlisle United and Derby County.-Biography:...
, Francis Jeffers
Francis Jeffers
Francis Jeffers is an English football striker who currently plays for Newcastle United Jets in the A-League. In his career Jeffers has played for Barclays Premier League teams Everton and Arsenal...
, Richard Dunne
Richard Dunne
Richard Patrick Dunne is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national football team. With Ireland he was a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad and helped his team qualify for UEFA Euro 2012.Dunne began his professional career at Everton...
and Michael Ball
Michael Ball (footballer)
Michael John Ball is an English professional footballer who plays for Leicester City, having previously played as a left-back for English Premier League team Manchester City....
.
Ryan went on to become a reserve team regular in forthcoming seasons and was rewarded with a four year professional contract. He soon transferred to Premier League rival Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
made Ryan a late signing in March 2000 as comparisons to fellow ex teammates Damian Duff and David Dunn
David Dunn
David John Ian Dunn is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.-Blackburn Rovers:...
were made by his new boss and assistant Phil Brown. He was awarded squad number 33.
With pace to burn and accurate crossing ability Ryan soon showed his potential in Bolton's reserve side and pre season games for the first team. He left Bolton Wanderers after only 18 months however, the arrivals of Jay-Jay Okocha
Jay-Jay Okocha
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is known for his stepovers, skill, technique, and being 'so good that they named him twice'...
, Youri Djorkaeff
Youri Djorkaeff
Youri Raffi Djorkaeff is a former French international footballer who played as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. With the French national team, Djorkaeff won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000...
and many more big signings that summer making it difficult to break through for the youngster.
In 2001 Carlisle signed Baldacchino on a three year deal. Ryan was an instant hit with the club with an outstanding display of pace and trickery to help defeat 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...
away. Ryan was a regular for Carlisle before being prized away by Brooks Mileson
Brooks Mileson
Brooks John Joseph Mileson was an English businessman and the former owner of Scottish football club Gretna as well as being a philanthropist to 70 non-league clubs.-Early life:...
and the mega spending power of Scottish new boys Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
.
Gretna won everything in sight and dominated wherever they played. Scottish Third, Second and First division titles were won by Baldacchino in consecutive seasons, with Ryan being one of the star players along with Kenny Deuchar
Kenny Deuchar
Kenneth Robert John "Kenny" Deuchar is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing as a striker for Livingston.In 2005, Deuchar equaled Jimmy Greaves's British record of six league hat-tricks in a single season. He is also a practicing medical doctor...
, Gavin Skelton
Gavin Skelton
Gavin Richard Skelton is an English footballer who is currently playing in the Conference National with Barrow.-Career:...
and Chris Innes
Chris Innes
Chris Innes is a Scottish footballer who is currently a free agent.-Career:Broxburn-born Innes started his professional career at Stenhousemuir after joining the Warriors from Blackburn United and moved to Kilmarnock for £50,000 in 1998. In 1999, he went out on loan twice, to St. Mirren for 3...
. Those four players gained the prestigious accolade of being the only four players in 100 years of Scottish history to play in all Scottish divisions with the same team. Baldacchino won most Man of the Matches, Goal of the Season and had a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
goal on his way up the divisions. An impressive display against Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup in front of Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
manager Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
earned Baldacchino rave reviews. Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
and Celtic all had regular checks on Baldacchino. Brooks Mileson once again showed his spending power and ambition by keeping hold of Baldacchino and he signed a new improved four year deal in December 2005 making him one of the clubs top earners.
Gretna arrived in style to the SPL breaking all records on their way and many players staying loyal to Gretna turning away potential big money moves on the way.
The season 2007-2008 was to be Gretna's last year as a club as they bowed out at the top when owner Brooks Mileson took ill in late February. Ryan was given squad number 7 and played against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Celtic that season as Gretna struggled to cope with life in the top flight. They were relegated at the end of the season.
Baldacchino transferred to VPL club Altona Magic in May 2008 and one year later he signed for New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles F.C. is a football club in Sydney currently playing in the New South Wales Premier League.- History :Established by Serbian migrants from the Cabramatta area of south-west Sydney, their primary supporter base has been the local Serbian community...
. Currently he is free agent and wants to play in the Maltese Premier League and wants to represent Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
.
External links
- http://www.sportinmalta.com/i-want-to-play-for-malta-ryan-baldacchino/
- Maltese connections