As Ryan prepares to enter his third season with Kelty Hearts, there is a real sense of belonging for the goalkeeper after several years spent playing throughout the county.

“It feels good to have been here for so long and feel settled at a local club after so many years travelling the county,” Ryan explains, with his time at Kelty now giving him the opportunity to become an established part of the club both on and off the pitch.

Since arriving, Ryan has experienced plenty of change, with developments taking place both within the squad and around New Central Park. On a personal level, one of the biggest changes has been his understanding of the tactical side of the game and the different demands placed upon goalkeepers.

“There’s been a few changes on and off the pitch over the last couple of years. I feel for me, learning more of the tactical side of the game and how the managers have wanted their goalkeepers to play have been one of the biggest changes for me.”

Goalkeeping is a unique position. There is only one starting place available, meaning players can sometimes find themselves having to be patient and wait for their opportunity.

Ryan admits that not playing as regularly as he would like is difficult, but his experience in the game has helped him maintain the right mindset.

“It’s a very hard position. Finding yourself not playing as often as you’d like is never easy, but I’ve been in the game long enough to know that things can change very quickly.”

For Ryan, the key is not allowing the highs or lows to affect his approach. Whether he is starting or waiting for his chance, the focus remains on being ready to contribute whenever called upon.

That preparation also extends to the relationship between the goalkeeper and the defenders in front of him. Communication and understanding are vital, but Ryan feels that the current group have already developed a strong bond, making it easier to build those relationships on the pitch.

“It’s very important for a good relationship between goalkeepers and defenders, but I feel that the group is already close, which makes building the relationships easier.”

The new season also brings a different feel around Kelty Hearts, with the club’s ambitions becoming increasingly evident. Ryan believes the differences from previous campaigns are clear and that supporters are beginning to see those ambitions reflected in performances.

“As a club, we all know where we would like to be, and I think you can start to see that coming through in performances.”

After a difficult campaign last season, Ryan also took the opportunity during pre-season to step back from football slightly. Having found himself in and out of the team and spending around a month in the gym, he felt it was important to rediscover some of the enjoyment that comes with playing the game.

That enjoyment will hopefully be helped by the atmosphere at New Central Park. Ryan has experienced the impact that larger crowds can have, particularly during some of the bigger fixtures over his first two seasons, and believes supporters can make a genuine difference.

“You can see with some of the bigger games we’ve had over the last two seasons how much the big crowds have helped us.”

With the team aiming to make New Central Park a difficult place for opposition sides to visit, Ryan hopes good performances can encourage more supporters through the turnstiles and help create an atmosphere that benefits the players.

From a goalkeeper’s perspective, however, a good defensive performance isn’t simply about keeping a clean sheet. While that remains the ultimate objective, Ryan believes there is much more to appreciate when assessing how well a defence has performed.

“A good defensive performance doesn’t always mean clean sheets, that’s the goal.”

For Ryan, the best defensive displays come when everyone is fully committed, remains composed during long spells of pressure and does the small things that make the goalkeeper’s job easier.

With another season now ahead, Ryan will be hoping to play his part whenever called upon, while continuing to develop his own game and contribute to a squad with ambitions of making this campaign a successful one.

After two seasons of change and development, the goalkeeper now has the familiarity of a club that feels like home. The challenge for Ryan and the rest of the squad is to turn that growing sense of stability and ambition into results on the pitch.