I can remember the crowd chanting Ge-fry over and over . He was a crowd favourite.... often a “super sub” but a very important part of the team . He cannot have been that old .A sad loss indeed .RIP Gerry.
I didn’t see so many games when we were first in the top division as I was of an age where I had a Saturday job, but the standout memories for me all have Gerry in them. From the promotion winning game at Newcastle through to the terrific performances as Chris Ramsey’s replacement at full back in the two Wembley games, he played a huge part in what was our greatest team until recent years.
Sadly, I was also at Selhurst to witness the worst assault I’ve ever seen on a football pitch that robbed him of the last years of his career.
In 1978 I arrived from Australia, young and raw and bemused to a cold wet England, and had to go to the Goldstone to picked up for the bus to Waterhall as I had blagged a trial with the Albion. Having arrived late, i missed the mini bus so i was wandering around the main stand trying to find someone and bumped into who I later learned was Gerry Ryan who missed the 1st team coach to training so we hunted out someone to get us a lift. Later that day I found myself in a 5 aside game with the 1st team with Gerry on my side. Vale Gerry.
Very sad news. Gerry Ryan's Albion playing days preceded by time as an Albion fan but he was one of the few Albion players with national cut through as I did know of him. An excellent player at the heart of so many great memories for so many Albions and a terrific bloke to boot. RIP Gerry.