Ryan Cairns Stevenson (born 24 August 1984) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Heart of Midlothian and St Johnstone, as well as English side Ipswich Town.

[5] He has since stated that "being a YTS at Chelsea was the best time in my life"[6] as he was boot-boy for first-team players Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola.

Stevenson played in a youth team alongside Carlton Cole, Lenny Pidgeley, Leon Knight and, in his last season, Robert Huth under the watchful eye of manager Steve Clarke.

Robert Connor brought Stevenson home to Ayr United, the team he had supported as a boy, initially on a 28-day loan in October 2006.

[11] Just two weeks later, Stevenson scored an equaliser for Ayr United against his former club, St Johnstone, in the third round of the Scottish Cup in a 2–1 defeat.

[16] In the absence of Kevin Kyle, Stevenson was predominantly used as a makeshift striker[17] and scored several notable goals, such as in wins over both halves of the Old Firm and two against Edinburgh rivals Hibernian.

[31] Stevenson scored both Hearts goals in the 2013 Scottish League Cup Final, but ultimately the club lost 3–2 to St Mirren.

[50] With his personal life in turmoil, and after just one appearance and two weeks with the club, Stevenson announced he was to emigrate and he signed for Australian State League Division 2 South-East side Peninsula Strikers.

[52] Stevenson joined Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic in June 2017, managed by his former Ayr United teammate Peter Murphy.

[53] Stevenson played eight matches before an old injury flared up and he decided to take a step back from the game to concentrate on family and work commitments.

Stevenson rejoined Troon in November 2018 after more than a year out of the game, and he said the move gave him "his love of football back"[54] thanks to the club's Manager Jimmy Kirkwood.

[55] A part of the lure to Stranraer was their upcoming match against Rangers at Ibrox Park in the Scottish Cup,[56] a possible final chance to play in front of 38,000 supporters and his family.