‘You Reds’: Ryley Towler’s emotional goodbye message to Bristol City after Portsmouth transfer

Ryley Towler promises he will be back at Bristol City after making an emotional exit to Portsmouth. Towler was sold to Pompey for an undisclosed fee on Friday, ending a 13-year association with the club.

Bristol-born Towler is a supporter of City and supported them from a young age, often watching games as a supporter. He would go pitch side with City youth teams, but has had to give up his dream of making it at City, by joining the League One promotion hopefuls.

Towler opted to sign for the Fratton Park club and now hopes to play regularly as he did during his loan spell at Plough Lane in the first part of the season. In Towler’s three-year association with the first team, he made five senior appearances and left for a fee that could be reinvested into the academy from which he graduated from.

"Since I was 7 years old @bristolcityfc is all I’ve ever known," he began in an emotional post on Instagram which included a slideshow of him in numerous City kits. "From watching it in the stands as a fan to making my debut for my boyhood club.  It’s been a dream.

"I can’t thank Bristol City enough for what they done for me over all those years. I’ve made memories and friends for life. Thank you to all the fans who have been top-class and supported me through everything.

"I want to wish everyone at the club the very best. I’ll miss you all. I’m sure I’ll be at the Gate watching very soon. Thank you for everything. You reds."

The 20-year-old was recalled from his season-long loan from AFC Wimbledon after managerless Portsmouth showed an interest. Bristol City’s technical director Brian Tinnion revealed Towler had the option to see out his loan at Wimbledon and return to City in the summer or join Portsmouth.

Towler could make his debut against Bolton Wanderers on January 14, as he was cup-tied for Pompey’s FA Cup defeat to Spurs and for their EFL Trophy clash.