Ryan Shaughnessy has re-signed for ACE and raised the bar again ahead of our debut in FQPL2, the state’s third tier.
“Personal aim is to be better than last season,” Ryan said, “and obviously help the team as much as possible to create chances and score goals.”
It’s quite a target set by the Manchester-born forward who will be in the red and black for a fourth successive year.
Last season Ryan scored 30 and assisted 32 of ACE’s 102 goals as they won the Brisbane Premier League with 19 wins and three draws from 22 fixtures.
He was named Football Brisbane Player of the Year and shared the Golden Boot. At the ACE awards Ryan won the Best and Fairest and again shared the Golden Boot.
Since 2019, he has scored 60 Premier League goals in 56 appearances – or 65 goals in 61 games including this year’s Canale Cup.
“I think next season will be a lot tougher,” Ryan said, “we just need to take it game by game.
“Some teams might have saved a bit last season and will be stronger next season.
“Surfers Paradise looks like a very good side, Taringa will be tough, Grange will be a local derby, teams coming down (from FQPL1) will be strong.
“I think across the league we will find more competitive teams next season.”
Ryan has started his own training ahead of ACE’s return to training next month and the first FQPL2 fixtures in March.
He spent three years (1999-2003) in Manchester United’s youth set-up and one year (2003-4) with Manchester City.
Ryan also had a season at non-league FC United (2006-7) in the UK and two years with Sydney-side Dunbar Rovers in 2017 before heading north to Queensland.
At ACE he also won the Brisbane Premier League Premiership and Grand Final double in 2019 and helped ACE win the Club Championship in 2019 and 2021.
