After departing Northern Ireland for New Zealand in 2007, Ryan Stewart wasn’t exactly sure what lay in store – but having since developed a professional career, the former Limavady United star is now determined to give current Irish League players a similar opportunity.

It was a chance meeting with a Limavady team-mate which set Stewart’s life on a different path, moving to the other side of the world around 20 years ago, and he hasn't looked back.

After finishing his playing career with Nelson Suburbs, Stewart take on the position as manager and has also enjoyed a spell as head coach at international level, leading Samoa to a 10-0 win over American Samoa at the 2023 Pacific Games.

Stewart is now back in charge of Suburbs, who ply their trade in New Zealand’s Southern League – the 2026 campaign has just wrapped up with the Saxton Field outfit finishing fifth.

placeholder image — Ryan Stewart is coaching at Nelson Suburbs in New Zealand and was previously manager of Samoa. (Photo by Ryan Stewart)

Ahead of next season, Stewart is keen to offer Northern Irish-based players an opportunity to follow a similar path to him with Nelson offering an attractive proposal for those keen to give it a go.

"In 2007, I was playing in the Premiership for Limavady with a young lad that was on trial from New Zealand,” Stewart told the News Letter. “He was a well known physio and was doing six months in New Zealand and six months in Northern Ireland.

"He stayed with me for a while and was around Limavady and did really well. He was the one that opened the opportunity for me.

"I moved over in 2007/2008, got an opportunity to play here in New Zealand, and from there it's gone very, very well. It's been amazing.

"I played for nine years and then went on to get a full-time job within football and from there it's flourished.

"I went on to be an international football coach in Samoa and I've done very, very well from that opportunity.

"For me the opportunity for young Northern Irish lads to come out here and play in New Zealand is massive.

"The big thing is no pressure, we offer as a club free accommodation, work within the club, so there's no stress on the financial side.

"Why not have an opportunity to go and play in a different country, different style of football and open yourself up to a different career?

"We've got professional clubs here in New Zealand and it puts them in the limelight if they do well for us.

"They could end up with a pro deal so it’s a great opportunity, the standard is good, teams trying to play football and I think it's a great opportunity for young Northern Irish lads to get out here and show what they can do.”

Moving almost 12,000 miles away from Limavady was certainly a leap into the unknown for Stewart, but it’s a decision that has paid off.

Having worked with the likes of Tommy Wright – the current Northern Ireland U21 chief – during his time at the Roesiders, Stewart’s interest for coaching was sparked.

"I came here to play football and it's led to a massive career,” added Stewart. “I finished my football career, did my coaching badges, went on to coach at international level with Samoa in Olympic qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers and it's opened a wider door for me.

"We've got some really, really top coaches in Ireland – Paul Owens at Limavady who I played with, Ruaidhri Higgins who I played with at youth level.

“These coaches could have a massive opportunity over here at international level, senior pro level within the A-League in Australia.

"For me it's been unbelievable and gave me a career in football.

"I'm very lucky that I worked under Eddie Seydak at Limavady, worked under Tommy Wright when he came to Limavady...Tommy and I are still in contact now to this day about coaching and he's been a big mentor for me in football.

"I found it hard at the start, you question yourself a lot as all coaches do, but I had a real desire to be a coach and was very lucky to be surrounded by great coaches, it gave me a thirst for that side of it.”

The move to New Zealand has provided significant opportunities for Stewart both on and off the pitch – and he would encourage others curious about what lies beyond Northern Ireland to take the leap.

"The opportunities that we can provide for young Irish lads over here are massive,” said Stewart. “It's an environment to learn, especially to have fellow Irishmen here, enjoy their football, get paid, coach, not have any stresses around financials.

"For me, football is a passport – it's a passport to different countries, different cultures and to enjoy yourself.

"I'm very lucky, I was one of the earliest ones to do it, to put myself out there and find myself out playing in New Zealand and now I've got a life, I've got kids, I've got a wife, I'm professional in the game in full-time football.

"If it's only out for six months, come out, enjoy it, go back, take something from it.

"I just want to give Irish footballers the opportunity for something different.

"We'll look after you and hopefully embrace the experience, learn from it and if it's here in New Zealand or Australia or you go back to the Irish League and improve, we want to be part of it.”