Ryan Rydel signed for County back in April 2021, joining from Fleetwood Town after making 18 appearances in all competitions for the Fishermen.
During that time, he played a huge part in helping County gain promotion back into the Football League, picking up 14 assists in all competitions during the title-winning season back in 2021/22. In County’s first season back in League Two, Ryan played a further 26 games in the league, registering two goals and six assists.
After making eight appearances in all competitions this season, Ryan’s campaign was sadly cut short following an ACL injury suffered in training back in September.
It’s been over six months since then, and Media Assistant Ben McCarthy caught up with Ryan recently to get an update on how he’s been getting on in that time, as he looks to make his eventual return to Edgeley Park.
This interview was conducted on Friday 22nd March.
On the recovery process
“Getting the news at the start was devastating, I remember crying my eyes out. It’s the worst news I’ve ever been told, it felt like my full world was crumbling in front of me. But after getting my head around it and being around the lads, telling me ‘Don’t worry about it and to come back’, I calmed down a bit and obviously it’s more mentally draining than anything. Because it takes so long before you can actually start doing stuff. Once you get your head around it, it’s like ‘right I need to do this otherwise I’m not going to come back properly.’ And since I’ve been back on the grass time has flown by, but before that, it was like every day come in again and doing another bike session. It was really repetitive and boring, but now I’m at this stage and I’m training with the lads, it’s flying by.”
On what it was like when he first picked up the injury
“It’s actually funny because when I first did it, it was before the Wimbledon game and I went down in so much pain. But after two minutes I walked off, and all the lads were bantering me – we do quizzes the night before and we write our team names down, and all the other names were like ‘Agh me knee!’. I was just laughing, and then on the Monday when I found out what it was they were all like ‘I’m so sorry for getting onto you.’ Because I didn’t think it was that bad, when I was on the coach back, I thought it would be like four to six weeks.”
On his relationship with Jack Stretton
“It is good having someone there going through the same process as you. When I first got the news, he messaged me straight away saying he was exactly the same, in tears. He was six weeks ahead of where I’m at and it was comforting to know he’s going through the same thing and once I’ve been able to do the same things as him, we’ve been able to bounce off each other and we get on well.”
On if the reaction from the rest of the group has been positive
“Yeah definitely, especially straight away as well, from all the messages I got. When you’re in that moment you don’t want to know anything, but after a few days and you look back at the messages, it was actually nice of them all to make sure I’m okay and all the phone calls and everything.”
On what he’s been getting up to from football
“Well recently since the darts have been on, I’ve gone home and bought a few dart boards and smashed the darts. I said to my mum and dad, when I finish playing football, I’m going to pick up a career in darts.
“I haven’t got a nickname yet, to be fair I’ve been playing Stretts a bit and I smoke him at darts. Make sure that goes in! He’ll read that and be fuming!”
On if there’s been any positives from this experience
“Obviously it will make you mentally strong, because at the start of my career, I never thought I’d go through anything like this. It’s not a good thing but it’ll make you mentally strong and more grateful for things. I said to Luke (Luke Smith – County Sports Therapist) that once I’m back I’ll be grateful just to do passing drills and do anything with the ball. When I first went out on the grass just running and kicking a ball, I said I wouldn’t take it for granted. “
On what its like being back on the grass
“I remember the first day I went out on the grass, and I’ve walked on grass since my surgery, but I hadn’t been out on the pitch, it was like I’d never been out on the grass before. I was like, this feels so weird being out here, it was 20 weeks since I’d been out onto it. And then I finished my session 20 minutes before Will (Collar), who was injured at the time said, ‘Ryan you coming back in now?’ and I said ‘No I’m just trying to take it all in.’ It was such a weird feeling.
“I’m doing passing drills and rondos with the first team now, I’ve been told that I can join in possession games but I don’t know yet.”
On when we could see him back in action
“I’m being told it won’t be until next season. I wouldn’t mind a little cameo at the end of the season, like 20 seconds to clap the fans but I don’t think so. “
On County’s league performance this season
“We’ve definitely got enough to get over the line, just look at our squad, the squad is unbelievable in terms of ability. We’re just in a bit of a sticky patch right now and I just think all we need is a win just to get us going again. But on the season as a whole, we’ve been absolutely flying. We just need to win to get us kickstarted again for the final nine games left of the season.”
On his favourite moment during his time at the club
“I’d like to say the final day, but I wasn’t even involved! But the final day of the National League season was good. As a game I feel like the Bolton game was the first game I played really well here and set me up to have a good run of games.”
On his eventual return to Edgeley Park
“I actually can’t wait. I was there for the Newport game, and I went down to the bench with Stretts and I just went onto the pitch and was like ‘I haven’t done this for a while’. I just want to be back out there playing in front of the fans again, it’s not the same sitting up in the stands watching the boys.”
