Central Coast Mariners are delighted to announce the signing of 22-year-old striker Ryan Edmondson on a two and a half year contract, following his departure from English League One side Carlisle United.
In making the switch to the Mariners, Edmondson reunites with former coach Mark Jackson, who he enjoyed success with in the Leeds United Academy.
With ex-Leeds coaches Danny Schofield and Andres Clavijo also on the Mariners staff, Ryan is not short of familiar faces upon arrival on the Coast.
Born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Edmondson was picked up by York City as a teenager and went on to become the club’s third youngest ever player when he made his debut aged 16 years and 104 days in 2017.
He made the move to Yorkshire giants Leeds United later that year and in 2018, played a key role as the club’s U18 side, then managed by Jackson, won the Professional Development Northern League title.
Edmondson was rewarded with a first team debut in the final game of the 2017/18 Championship season, two weeks before his 17th birthday, and featured once the following season under Marcelo Bielsa.
The next season, Edmondson stepped up to the Whites U23 team and flourished again, scoring 18 goals as the team won the 2018/19 Category 2 Professional Development League under Carlos Corberan and now Mariners assistant, Schofield.
In 2019, Edmondson also made three international appearances for England at U19 level, scoring once.
⚽️ Daniel Adshead
— England (@England) September 5, 2019
⚽️ Ryan Edmondson
⚽️ Thomas Doyle
Our #YoungLions came from behind to beat Greece in their season opener! pic.twitter.com/doxnXlTv1x
With further first team opportunities limited as Leeds were promoted to the Premier League, Edmondson left on loan for the 2019/20 season, joining Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen where he would score his first two senior professional goals, and get a taste of European football in the Europa League Qualifying Round.
Edmondson went on to have further loan spells at Northampton Town, Fleetwood Town and Port Vale in the English Football League, before departing Leeds in 2022.
Off the back of a promotion winning season on loan at Port Vale, Edmondson joined Carlisle United where he would go on to achieve a second successive promotion from League Two.
He scored six goals in all competitions in 22/23 and converted his spot-kick as the Cumbrians defeated Stockport County on penalties in the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium, the club’s first promotion since 2006.
This season, Edmondson has played 18 games for Carlisle in the English third tier, taking his total senior professional appearances to 129 at just 22 years of age.
He now joins the Mariners for the next step of his career, an opportunity that he simply ‘couldn’t turn down.’
“I’m buzzing to be here, it was a lot of travel but everything is done and I’m excited to be here.” Ryan said, speaking exclusively to Central Coast Mariners for the first time.
Ryan’s says his connection with Mark Jackson, along with the project and community feel of the club at the Mariners were the key factors in making the move to the Coast.
I’ve known Jacko and Danny Schofield for a long time. Jacko was a massive part of my development coming through the Leeds United Academy.
When he told me about the project over here, the identity of not just the team but the community around the place, it spoke out to me and was something I’d love to be a part of. When I got the opportunity to do so, I couldn’t turn it down.
On his goals and ambitions, Ryan does not hold back. He wants goals and trophies in his time with the Mariners.
Every single footballer, every striker, wants goals and trophies. The lads are flying at the minute with 11 games unbeaten so I’m hoping to come in and get a lot of opportunities to play, score a lot of goals and win a lot of trophies.
Ryan described his first impressions of the club as 'amazing' and admitted to being blown away when stepping into Our Paradise for the first time.The lads and staff are so welcoming, the things that go on behind the scenes that people don’t see are a true testament to the club. They’ve made me feel a part of the family straight away.
“You don’t see many palm trees in the UK so that is a positive. Going out there [in that stadium] this morning took my breath away. It’s such an amazing stadium, I can’t wait to get out there in front of the fans and hopefully score some goals.”
Jackson is confident in Ryan’s ability and believes he will add greatly to the squad, and is excited to be reunited with one of his former players.
“I’m delighted to have Ryan on board with the team, he is a player that I have worked with before and know really well,” he said.
“I know what Ryan can bring to this team. I think he will add to the squad greatly and add the competition that we need for places. I’m really excited to have him here with us on the Coast.”
