Ryan Brierley couldn’t hide his delight after penning another three-year contract at his boyhood club.
From the stands to under the sticks, the remarkable rise of one of our own continues.
After enjoying what was likely the best season of his professional career in 2023, Brierley has put any speculation to bed with this new long-term deal.
Finally becoming a red in 2022, the fullback quickly established himself as the club’s number one and hasn’t looked back since.
He has made a name as one of the best support players in the competition. He is so often at the heart of our best attacking displays, but Brierley’s defensive game has also been a major standout during 2023.
Speaking exclusively to our YouTube channel, Brierley was thrilled to finally confirm his stay.
He said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time since I joined the club and – hopefully – we can get a few more players over the line to add to an already decent team, and improve on last year, which is the main thing.
“This team needs success over the next couple of years and hopefully I can be influential to that.”
“All my family are buzzing – they all get a couple more free tickets don’t they,” Brierley joked when asked how his family feel about extending his stay.
“I’ve made no secret about it, the people who come to the games are my people. Obviously my family are really proud and seeing them in the stands every week is pretty special.
“There’s no place I’d rather be!”
His connection to Salford Red Devils is perhaps deeper than anyone in the current squad. Brierley has mentioned in the past how his dad used to take him to our old ground, the Willows and sit in the famous Shed End.
“My brother text me something similar because we used to go to the games together when we was younger,” he responded when asked about playing for his boyhood club.
“It probably hasn’t really sunk in yet. It will probably be when I finish my career, one of the proudest moments knowing I’ve fulfilled a dream.
“To extend my stay is brilliant, but just to play one game was pretty special for me and my family, so no-one can take that away from me.
“That was my dream as a kid and it’s definitely a dream fulfilled, so it’s nice to extend the stay a bit longer!”
To hear our full chat with Ryan on a number of topics, click HERE.
