Ryley Ben Towler

Ryley Towler has won the third tier of English football with two different clubs, Portsmouth in 2023–24 and Lincoln City in 2025–26. He is the one who has done it as a converted midfielder: he came through Bristol City's youth system as a central midfielder and now plays at centre-back.

He joined Bristol City's academy in 2011 and made his senior debut in the FA Cup against Sheffield United on 10 February 2021. It was one of only four first-team appearances for the club, so his development happened elsewhere. Loans took him to Frome Town, Taunton Town, Grimsby Town, where he made 13 National League appearances, and AFC Wimbledon, where he played 17 League Two games and scored once.

Portsmouth signed him in January 2023 on a three-and-a-half-year deal, reportedly for more than £50,000. He scored twice against Bolton Wanderers in February 2023. He made 38 league appearances for the club and was part of the squad that won League One and went up to the Championship.

In July 2025 he moved to Lincoln City on a four-year contract. Lincoln then won League One in 2025–26, and on 17 March 2026 Towler scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Huddersfield Town in a 2–2 draw. In July 2026 he signed an extension that runs until 2030.

By September 2026 he had 47 appearances for Lincoln, 40 of them in League One and seven in the Championship in 2026–27, with one goal. He has not been capped by England.