⚠️ Clarification of Identity

The player in question is referred to as both:

• Ryan Brown in the headline and intro, and

• Ryan Bowman throughout the rest of the article and FA statements.

🟨 Important Note:
Ryan Bowman is the correct name associated with this gambling case — he is a former striker who played for Cheltenham Town, Shrewsbury Town, and Exeter City.

📰 Summary of the Case: Ryan Bowman

• Banned for 3.5 years by the Football Association (FA) for breaching betting rules.

• Ban Period: March 2025 to September 2028.

• Total Bets Placed: 6,397 over eight years.

  • 2,600 bets from Dec 2020 – July 2021.

  • 3,100 bets from Aug 2021 – July 2023.

• Bowman admitted to betting, including on himself (e.g., to score), but denied ever manipulating outcomes or throwing games.

• FA called it “a most serious case” with egregious breaches of betting rules.

🏟️ Club Response

• Cheltenham Town FC released Bowman amicably, supporting him during the investigation.

• The club thanked him and wished him well, despite the nature of his departure.

🧠 Gambling Concerns

• There is no official diagnosis of gambling addiction for Bowman.

• But the volume and frequency of his bets (5–10 per day over years) raise serious concerns about compulsive behavior.

• FA’s punishment and the public nature of this case may lead to further discussions around mental health and support systems for players.

✅ Final Note

So to correct the record:

• Ryan Bowman is the footballer banned — not Ryan Brown.

• The ban is real, the numbers are accurate, and it marks one of the most extensive breaches of betting rules in recent English football history.