'I’ve Got No Regrets, I Gave Everything When I Was At Everton'

Former Everton Under-21s defender Ryan Astley is looking forward to playing against the Blues this weekend when he lines up for Scottish Premiership side Dundee at Dens Park.

Astley, who joined Everton Academy when he was just seven years old, progressed through the ranks but never actually made a Men's appearance, despite being named on the bench on a number of occasions.

He left Everton in the summer of 2024 to head across the border and is ‘absolutely loving it’ at Dundee.

In the first of our new podcast series They Wore Blue, Astley speaks about the decision to move on, insisting he has no regrets and did everything he could to force his way into the Men's team.

CLICK HERE OR BELOW TO LISTEN TO THEY WORE BLUE WITH RYAN ASTLEY

“I was training a lot with them but it probably wasn’t the right time to chuck a young lad in, considering the pressure the managers were under," says Astley. "I get 100 per cent why they went for experienced lads who had been there and done it.

“It was always my dream to play for Everton. I got on the bench and I trained with the first team. I’ve got no regrets, I gave everything when I was at Everton and I progressed as a player and, just as importantly, as a person.”

Astley made his senior professional debut during his Everton days when he was loaned out to Accrington Stanley. He looks back on his time at the Wham Stadium with much affection.

“It makes you grow up really quickly!” he admits. “If you don’t buy into the way things are done and the way the lads are in the dressing room at club like Accrington, you’ll get found out very quickly.”

He also talks about how he really enjoys matches against the Old Firm teams, how a 1995 Everton FA Cup winner had a major influence on his early career, Frank Lampard’s training sessions, the rivalry between the two Dundee teams who co-exist in the same street, and the banter between the English and the Scots in the Dens Park dressing room.

And despite loving life in Dundee, he does admit that ‘I didn’t realise how far it was!’

CLICK HERE OR BELOW TO LISTEN TO THEY WORE BLUE WITH RYAN ASTLEY