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Player In My Pocket: Ryan Harley, Exeter's Midfield Wizard

Not the best image of Ryan Harley. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Not the best image of Ryan Harley. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

"Oh Ryan Harley, you are the love of my life. Oh Ryan Harley, you can shag my wife..."

One time hearing this chant, as sung by fans of Exeter City, and it will be forever stuck in your head, popping up at the most inopportune times. Harley, a ginger midfielder playing for the League One side, is likely not on the radar of many except fans of League One football, and possibly those who follow me on twitter and see me expressing my adoration.

While Exeter may have put up a rather pathetic showing against Bournemouth on Tuesday, losing 3-0 to the Cherries, they managed to dominate Yeovil away, with Richard Logan bagging a brace and, guess who, Ryan Harley adding extra insurance to the 3-1 derby victory.

Harley is the Grecian's midfield wizard, scoring ten goals for them last season, but already on four this season (that is, if Soccernet is to be trusted, although the site has him as a defender so I'm not quite sure on that one).  He's absolutely loved by Exeter supporters for two major reasons: scoring a brace to beat Leeds and scoring the winner in the last match of last season. While Exeter had fallen behind after just two minutes, it was Harley that provided the cross for the equalizer, and then Harley's late strike that put Exeter ahead-and ensured a second season in League One. That's definitely enough reason to think Harley is magical.

And what could be better than a magical wizard in one's pocket? Why, a tiny ginger one, of course, with the middle name of Bernard. He'd be all grizzly and cuddly, running around in his red and white stripes that clash horribly with his hair. I would take Bernard out and sing to him all day long, "Oh Ryan Harley, I'd want ginger hair too!"