IT was April 2008 when I waited for more than an hour to speak to Ryan Garry after a reserve game.

Eddie Howe, then the reserve team boss, made small talk after the Pontins Holidays Combination clash against Plymouth Argyle at Dean Court, but, gradually, everyone else drifted away until it was just me in the tunnel and Garry in a bin full of ice in the home dressing room.

We had been waiting to speak to the defender for the best part of a season after he had broken his leg just seven games into his Cherries career in 2007.

Phone calls went unanswered and the former Arsenal man greeted personal requests for interviews with polite declines. His focus was on getting back to fitness. Pure and simple.

He eventually emerged from the dressing room following his comeback appearance against the Pilgrims, greeted me with a handshake and issued a sincere apology for keeping me waiting. He then went on to talk candidly about his eight months on the sidelines and his hopes for the future.

He hoped the leg break would be the end of an injury nightmare that had seen his career at Highbury, where he was destined for great things, stall and never recover after a series of shin problems.

To an extent, his wish was granted.

He went on to make 77 league appearances for Cherries in four years, helping the club beat the drop into the Conference in 2009 and achieve promotion to League One the following season.

But at 27 years old, Garry should be hitting his peak. Yes, he is left with fond memories, but his professional appearance data simply doesn’t back up his immense talent.

As with Howe and West Ham’s Dean Ashton, it has all come to an end too soon for Garry.

But like Howe, he is surely now destined for great things in coaching and management.

A true professional and a respected defender, Garry deserves every success.