Former Celtic midfielder Ryan Conroy reflects on his career after hanging up the boots

Bellsmyre boy Ryan Conroy lived his dream by playing for boyhood club Celtic.

But, after deciding to hang up his boots at the age of 36, he admits he’d have loved to pull on the white and gold of hometown club Dumbarton – as well as the hoops.

Signed by the Parkhead side as an 11-year-old, Ryan rose through the ranks at Celtic to captain their reserve side to League Cup victory in 2009.

He had debuted for the club at Celtic Park against Falkirk two years earlier, running out in front of a crowd that included proud parents Charles and Bernardine.

Premiership football and more than 100 games for Dundee followed, before spells with Raith Rovers, Queen of the South, Airdrieonians, Peterhead and Open Goal Broomhill that brought about more than 300 senior games and 60 goals – the last of which came against the Sons.

However, Ryan admits that not representing his local club is one of very few frustrations he has with his career.

Reflecting to The Lennox about his time in football, Ryan said: “There was a stage when I was at Airdrie and Jim Duffy was the Dumbarton manager that I was very close to signing for them.

“I had a year to run on my Airdrie deal and it was all arranged to go on loan for a season. But then Airdrie pulled the plug quite late on because of something to do with my wages.

“I think that was as close as I had come. But there had always been a couple of phone calls.

“It’s something I wish I’d had the chance to do. But it obviously wasn’t meant to be.

“My dad always said I’d end up down at Dumbarton, but that move was the last chance. Although even last summer there were a few phone calls it just didn’t come to anything.

“It’s one of the little things that niggles me, but there’s nothing you can do. Maybe my wee