Len Shackleton

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 Soccer, he is generally regarded as one of English football's finest ever entertainers.

Early career

A boyhood Bradford City fan, his career started at Arsenal 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".