Shackleton: Alan

1958-1959 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Padiham, Nr. Burnley: 03-02-1934

Debut v Manchester United (h): 01-11-1958

5’11” 11st 5lb (1959)

Shackleton spent a year on Bolton Wanderers books as an amateur before joining Burnley in May 1954. He was spotted by Leeds playing for Burnley in a Lancashire Senior Cup-tie at Accrington Stanley. He was a regular scorer for Burnley, but didn’t play regularly as Ray Pointer was the Clarets’ first choice striker, but nevertheless Shackleton managed a commendable eighteen goals in thirty-one appearances at Turf Moor in four and a half years. He joined United in October 1958 for £8,000 and maintained a good scoring rate, including a hat-trick in his fourth game, before going to Everton in September 1959. He was United’s leading scorer in a struggling side in the 1958-59 season with sixteen goals in just twenty-eight League games and another goal in the FA Cup in the only Cup game that season. Despite maintaining his scoring ratio with ten goals in twenty-six League games at Goodison Park, his career then drifted as the Toffees struggled and he joined Nelson in the summer of 1960. He returned to the Football League after a £1,200 move to Oldham Athletic in August 1961, where he scored seven goals in ten games. He was released in June 1962 and later joined Southern League club Tonbridge