Len Shackleton
Encyclopedia
Leonard Francis Shackleton, (3 May 1922 in Bradford
– 27 November 2000) was an English
footballer
of the post-World War II
period. Known as the Clown Prince of Football, he is generally regarded as one of English football's finest ever entertainers.
where he was signed as an amateur and was employed as a member of the club's ground staff during the summer of 1938. He made one appearance for Arsenal's A team in the Southern League
, scoring one goal. However, on the outbreak of World War II
in September 1939 he was released by the club. Following a couple of trial games, he signed his first professional contract with Bradford Park Avenue
in August 1940.
He came to the attention of the talent scouts by scoring 171 goals in six years of wartime football at Bradford PA. As part of Second Division
Newcastle United's plan to spend their way to promotion at the start of the 1946–47 Season, they bought Shackleton for £13,000. He scored six goals on his debut in Newcastle's record 13 – 0 defeat of Newport County. However, his individualistic approach came into conflict with the authorities at St. James' Park. Newcastle's captain Joe Harvey
himself was quoted as saying "Newcastle would never win anything with him in the team".
Journalist Malcolm Hartley, who wrote a history of the Bradford team, wrote of Shackleton: "Apart from the adhesive ball control and breathtaking body swerve, Shack could hit a ball. His slender legs could crack the ball like a Bofors gun
."
for a then-record fee of £20,500. Shackleton was adored by Sunderland fans and he was known to prefer Sunderland to his previous club, once remarking: "I'm not biased when it comes to Newcastle – I don't care who beats them!"
During games he frequently exhibited behaviour which pleased many of his fans, though upset much of the football establishment, and some in the game thought his antics to be "unsportsman-like". On one occasion, 2–1 up against Arsenal
with 5 minutes to go, he dribbled the ball into The Gunners' penalty area before putting his foot on it, pretending to comb his hair while looking at his watch. Other examples include mocking opposition full-backs by playing one-twos with the corner flag, literally sitting on the ball to torment defenders who couldn't dispossess him, and teasing a beaten goalkeeper by putting his foot on the ball on the goal line.
One of his contemporaries remarked: "Once in possession, and few can match his dexterity at bringing the ball under control, the ball becomes his slave. All the skills of inside forward play – dribbling, feinting, correct positioning and accurate passing are his to command." He was also adept at back heeling penalty kicks into the goal.
While playing for Sunderland, Shackleton played cricket
for Northumberland
in the 1948 Minor Counties Championship. Shackleton scored 101 goals in 348 games with Sunderland, but despite their high spending and his own outstanding skills his team's fortunes were inconsistent and he never reached a cup final, though he did make two semi-finals during his spell.
His highest league finishes with Sunderland were 3rd in 1950 and 4th in 1954, meaning that his playing career ended without a major trophy to his name.
In 2011, he was voted by Sunderland fans for a place in Sunderland Solid Gold XI.
, not the London Palladium
." As it was, he gained 5 international caps for England
between 1948 and 1954. His one goal was scored with a chip against the then World Champions West Germany in December 1954, the last England goal scored by a Sunderland player until Darren Bent
's goal against Switzerland in September 2010 . England boss Walter Winterbottom would tell of his unsuccessful attempts to 'tame' him for the England set up – "If only Len would come half-way to meet the needs of the team there wouldn't be many to touch him."
On announcing his retirement he famously threw a penny into the air and caught it on his instep before flicking into the air and catching it in his chest pocket in front of watching journalists.
Shackleton was famous both on and off the field for his sense of humour. He used his nickname, "The Clown Prince of Football", in 1956 for his autobiography. One chapter of that book was The Average Director's Knowledge of Football. It consisted of a single blank page.
He also played cricket
for Lidget Green in the Bradford League
, and for Northumberland in the Minor Counties League.
He died on 27 November 2000, at Grange-over-Sands
, Cumbria
.
included a song entitled "Song for Len Shackleton" on their 2002 album Readymades
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
– 27 November 2000) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
of the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
period. Known as the Clown Prince of Football, he is generally regarded as one of English football's finest ever entertainers.
Early career
A boyhood Bradford City fan, his career started at ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
where he was signed as an amateur and was employed as a member of the club's ground staff during the summer of 1938. He made one appearance for Arsenal's A team in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, scoring one goal. However, on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in September 1939 he was released by the club. Following a couple of trial games, he signed his first professional contract with Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
in August 1940.
He came to the attention of the talent scouts by scoring 171 goals in six years of wartime football at Bradford PA. As part of Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Newcastle United's plan to spend their way to promotion at the start of the 1946–47 Season, they bought Shackleton for £13,000. He scored six goals on his debut in Newcastle's record 13 – 0 defeat of Newport County. However, his individualistic approach came into conflict with the authorities at St. James' Park. Newcastle's captain Joe Harvey
Joe Harvey
Joe Harvey was an English football player and later manager. He spent much of his career at Newcastle United; he was the club's longest serving captain, manager, and, as of the 2009 – 10 season the last to win a major trophy....
himself was quoted as saying "Newcastle would never win anything with him in the team".
Journalist Malcolm Hartley, who wrote a history of the Bradford team, wrote of Shackleton: "Apart from the adhesive ball control and breathtaking body swerve, Shack could hit a ball. His slender legs could crack the ball like a Bofors gun
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
."
Sunderland
In February, 1948, after less than two years with Newcastle, he was signed to their local rivals SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
for a then-record fee of £20,500. Shackleton was adored by Sunderland fans and he was known to prefer Sunderland to his previous club, once remarking: "I'm not biased when it comes to Newcastle – I don't care who beats them!"
During games he frequently exhibited behaviour which pleased many of his fans, though upset much of the football establishment, and some in the game thought his antics to be "unsportsman-like". On one occasion, 2–1 up against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
with 5 minutes to go, he dribbled the ball into The Gunners' penalty area before putting his foot on it, pretending to comb his hair while looking at his watch. Other examples include mocking opposition full-backs by playing one-twos with the corner flag, literally sitting on the ball to torment defenders who couldn't dispossess him, and teasing a beaten goalkeeper by putting his foot on the ball on the goal line.
One of his contemporaries remarked: "Once in possession, and few can match his dexterity at bringing the ball under control, the ball becomes his slave. All the skills of inside forward play – dribbling, feinting, correct positioning and accurate passing are his to command." He was also adept at back heeling penalty kicks into the goal.
While playing for Sunderland, Shackleton played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Northumberland
Northumberland County Cricket Club
Northumberland County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northumberland and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in the 1948 Minor Counties Championship. Shackleton scored 101 goals in 348 games with Sunderland, but despite their high spending and his own outstanding skills his team's fortunes were inconsistent and he never reached a cup final, though he did make two semi-finals during his spell.
His highest league finishes with Sunderland were 3rd in 1950 and 4th in 1954, meaning that his playing career ended without a major trophy to his name.
In 2011, he was voted by Sunderland fans for a place in Sunderland Solid Gold XI.
International career
Selectors always viewed the rebellious Shackleton with distrust, and once when challenged over his continued snubbing by a journalist the reply was "we play at WembleyWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, not the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
." As it was, he gained 5 international caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
between 1948 and 1954. His one goal was scored with a chip against the then World Champions West Germany in December 1954, the last England goal scored by a Sunderland player until Darren Bent
Darren Bent
Darren Ashley Bent is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Bent started his career with Ipswich Town. After progressing through their youth system he made his first team debut in 2001. He made 122 appearances and scored 48 goals in the league for Ipswich, before joining...
's goal against Switzerland in September 2010 . England boss Walter Winterbottom would tell of his unsuccessful attempts to 'tame' him for the England set up – "If only Len would come half-way to meet the needs of the team there wouldn't be many to touch him."
Later life
Shackleton was forced into retirement in September 1957 after suffering an ankle injury, and became a journalist.On announcing his retirement he famously threw a penny into the air and caught it on his instep before flicking into the air and catching it in his chest pocket in front of watching journalists.
Shackleton was famous both on and off the field for his sense of humour. He used his nickname, "The Clown Prince of Football", in 1956 for his autobiography. One chapter of that book was The Average Director's Knowledge of Football. It consisted of a single blank page.
He also played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Lidget Green in the Bradford League
Bradford League
The Bradford League was a football competition based in England. It sat at level 14 of the English football league system. The league was a feeder to the West Riding County Amateur Football League - in 2006 Dudley Hill Athletic made the step up to the higher level. It was sponsored by the local...
, and for Northumberland in the Minor Counties League.
He died on 27 November 2000, at Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish by the sea – with a wide tidal range, hence the "sands" name – in Cumbria, England. Historically, Grange-over-Sands was part of the County of Lancashire until 1974, when Cumbria was created under Local Government re-organisation which absorbed the area...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.
Legacy
ChumbawambaChumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
included a song entitled "Song for Len Shackleton" on their 2002 album Readymades
Readymades
Readymades is Chumbawamba's first release on their own label MUTT. It continues the eclectic mix of techno, rock and folk of their former albums, albeit to a less ambitious scale than WYSIWYG...