Ex-Gers kid Muir ‘buzzing’ ahead of Ibrox cup clash

ANNAN right back Ryan Muir expresses gratitude when asked about his time at Rangers as a youth footballer. The 23-year-old signed for the Ibrox club in his early teens after being scouted while playing for local boys club Greystone Rovers in Dumfries. He moved through the ranks and penned a full-time contract during Steven Gerrard’s tenure as manager. Muir departed the Gers in early 2020 following a mutual agreement which would allow him to explore other opportunities in the game. Spells at Gretna 2008, Livingston, Dalbeattie and Queen of the South followed before he linked up with the Galabankies in the summer of 2023 after their promotion to League One. He manages his football commitments around his full time job as a sales co-ordinator at a recycling plant. And Muir is enjoying life at Galabank where, in his third year at the club, he has become a regular in the starting line-up. Muir said: “I was at Greystone Rovers and I joined Rangers when I was 12 or 13. I went straight from boys club football to Rangers. “It was massive for me. I had quite a lengthy trial period where it just seemed to go on. Once I finally signed it was brilliant. “A lot of boys dream of signing with Rangers. From when I signed up until I left the club at 18, I couldn’t have asked for a better upbringing. “The places that I’ve been around the world, games I’ve played, teams that I’ve played against and the coaches I’ve worked under. “I signed a professional deal and was there for maybe 18 months in that full time environment. “I was in the building and there were times when first team boys would maybe drop down and train with us. “You were in the same building, so you mixed from time to time.” He added: “I left just before Covid. It was kind of just a mutual agreement between myself and the club to leave and explore something else which was absolutely fine. “Obviously, a few months later we went into lockdown which changed everything once again. “You’ve just got to deal with these things and take them as they come. “The week or so before we went into lockdown I played a trial match for Livingston reserves. “They were keen to sign me after the game on an amateur contract. “I ended up signing with Gretna, but I had been in at Livingston before that – it was a kind of unofficial loan move and was good for me to get that experience in men’s football.” Muir then penned a deal with hometown club Queen of the South. However, neither the Doonhamers nor Rangers were the teams he supported growing up. He explained: “I was born in Dumfries but my childhood upbringing was as a Gretna fan. My dad worked for Gretna, so my childhood memories of football was going down and watching them.” Explaining his decision to go to Galabank, Muir added: “I was at Queens and I kind of wanted to ignite my career and get some more regular game time in senior football. “I made the move to Annan under Peter Murphy which was good for me. It got me into a new environment and part-time football which was a big change for me. “It’s been great ever since I moved and it’s obviously taken time for me to become a regular in the starting 11. “The gaffer has put his trust in me and hopefully I can repay the favour.” Excitement around tonight’s tie started to build as soon as the draw was made. Muir has never played at Ibrox before. When Queens played there in the Premier Sports Cup back in 2022 he was an unused substitute for the Dumfries club. He said: “As soon as the draw was made boys were buzzing. Everyone’s looking forward to it. “We are treating it like any other game. We’re not doing anything any differently. “I was on the bench as an unused substitute for Queens a couple of years ago in the Premier Sports Cup. “It gave me a little taste for it – that’s the experience you want again and again. But at that point you never knew if you’ll get that chance again. “Hopefully I’ve done enough to play a part and start on the night.” Delighted to hear that a large Annan following is set to back the team, the defender said the game was for everyone involved at the club. He added: “I’ve done a fair batch of orders for tickets for my family and friends! “I’m not surprised (at the Annan turnout). At times when it was tough last year the fans still turned out. “It will be a great night. At the end of the day, the draw is great for us as players but it really helps the club. It’s for everybody – the fans, the volunteers, the staff and everybody else that does their bit. It’s as much for them as anybody else. “Hopefully we can repay them with a good performance.”