22 Facts About Len Shackleton

Leonard Francis Shackleton was an English footballer.

Len Shackleton played cricket in the Minor Counties for Northumberland.

Len Shackleton retired due to an ankle injury in 1957, and became a sports journalist.

Leonard Francis Len Shackleton was born in Bradford, England on 3 May 1922 to Leonard and Irene Len Shackleton; his father was a self-employed painter and decorator and his mother was a housewife.

Len Shackleton was the elder brother to Irene and John; John went on to sign for Sunderland, though never played a first team game and quit the game to become a chiropodist and tennis coach.

Len Shackleton was released by Arsenal in May 1939 and told by Allison that he was too small to succeed as a footballer, and should find other employment.

Len Shackleton returned to his hometown upon hearing of the outbreak of World War II and took up employment assembling aircraft radios for GEC, at which point he rejoined Bradford Park Avenue as an amateur after being invited to the Park Avenue Stadium by manager David Steele.

Len Shackleton became a Bevin Boy in order to avoid his call-up for national service in 1945 as he did not want to miss the resumption of the Football League, but found the experience of coal mining terrifying and gruelling.

Len Shackleton began to avoid his shifts in the pits, and so was called into the Royal Air Force, where he served the remainder of his national service.

Len Shackleton was sold as a direct replacement for Albert Stubbins, who had been sold from Newcastle to Liverpool for the same fee.

Len Shackleton further came into conflict with the club at Christmas 1947, when he and goalkeeper Jack Fairbrother refused to join the squad on a scouting party on opponents Charlton Athletic, who they faced later that season in the third round of the FA Cup.

The club were reluctant to grant him a benefit match, but relented after Shackleton threatened to tell the FA about illegal payments the club had made.

Len Shackleton then had to wait five years for his fourth cap, in which time the England selectors had tried 17 different players at inside-forward, with limited success.

Len Shackleton was adept at back heeling penalty kicks into the goal.

However Billy Bingham defended Len Shackleton by noting that Ford had poor positional skills.

Len Shackleton played cricket for Lidget Green in the Bradford League, and for Northumberland in the Minor Counties League.

Len Shackleton became a sports journalist after retiring as a footballer.

Len Shackleton had been an outspoken critic of the football establishment during his playing career, particularly so of the maximum wage rule.

Len Shackleton used his nickname, The Clown Prince of Soccer, for his 1956 autobiography.

Len Shackleton, who had been a barber during his playing career, had three sons with his wife Marjorie.

Len Shackleton moved to Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria on retirement and wrote Return of the Clown Prince with his son Roger.

Len Shackleton had a heart attack in August 2000 and died on 28 November that year, aged 78.