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Name: Ryan France
DoB: 13 December 1980
POB: Sheffield
Height: 5ft 11inch
Debut: 07/08/2009 at Middlesbrough (0-0)
Clubs: Alfreton Town (1999-03, 174 (25) + 45), Hull City (2003-09, 89 (62) + 9), Sheffield United (2009-??).
Ryan France began his football career in non-league with Alfreton Town whilst continuing to study a degree in Sport & Exercise Science and Mathematics at Nottingham Trent University. Born in the Steel City he signed semi-professional terms on 1st July 1999 aged 18.
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He scored on his debut in a 4-1 win over Malty Main and went onto make 174 (+25) appearances and scored twenty-five goals in four years with the club. He was signed by then manager Peter Taylor at Hull City in September 2003 for an initial fee of £15,000 (rising to £55,000 after add-ons).
Whilst with Alfreton he had an amazing season where during the 2001/02 campaign winning four trophies; Northern Counties (East) League Premier Davison, NCEL League Cup, NCEL President's Cup and the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
In late September 2003 the Tigers gave France his professional debut and again he found the net; this time easing their way to a 6-1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers in League Two, and that season ended in promotion along with Doncaster Rovers, Torquay United and Huddersfield Town.
France then netted four goals as they made it back to back promotions when they finished runners-up to Luton Town in 2005.
As a midfielder the footballer displayed great talents at left-wing, right full-back as well as his regular centre midfield slots. But in February 2007, in a game against West Bromwich Albion he was forced to leave the field in the second half after rupturing a crucial ligament in his left knee and didn't feature for the remainder of the season.
He made limited appearances as the Tigers won promotion via the play-offs; beating Bristol City (1-0) in the final. He was left out of the team which was successful at Wembley.
During the 2008/09 season he became one of only a few players to cement their names into football history; in January 2009 he played in their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal to feature in each league of the Football League for Hull City.
At the end of that season he was released by the KC Stadium club having made 89 (+62) appearances and scored nine goals. He joined Sheffield Wednesday on trial and scored in their pre-season victory over Hartlepool United; he was expected to sign for the Hillsborough club until Blades boss Kevin Blackwell nipped in and stole the midfielder from their grasp.
He signed for the Blades on 24 July 2009 along with Ched Evans and Keith Treacy (loan) - signing a two year deal.
France made his debut against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 2009/10 season in what was a dire 0-0 bore draw against two sides which were expecting to be in for the promotion push come May but never happened.
The Blades finished eighth in the table; five points behind the last play-off place. But for United the season was riddled with injuries and relied heavily on loan players to see them through - this was no different for France whom appeared no more than 10 times due to constant injuries.
His last appearance for the Red and White Wizards came in November 2009 at home to Peterborough United; he is still (at the time of writing) searching for his first Blades goal.
Updated: June 2010