| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew John Shankland[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1964-04-08)8 April 1964 (age 61)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Stoke-on-Trent, England[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Stoke City | |||
| Port Vale | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1981–1986 | Port Vale | 25 | (2) |
| Total | 25 | (2) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Andrew John Shankland (born 8 April 1964) is an English formerfootballer who played 29 league and cup games in theFootball League forPort Vale between 1981 and 1986. During this time, the club were twicepromoted out of theFourth Division. He was forced to retire due to an ankle injury and became awindow cleaner.
Shankland, a former apprentice atStoke City, graduated through thePort Valeyouth team to make his debut in a 2–1 home defeat toTranmere Rovers in aLeague Cup match on 28 October 1981.[1] He scored his first senior goal three days later, in a 2–1 win overHull City atVale Park.[1] He finished1981–82 with 13 appearances to his name.[1] He signed as a professional in March 1982, and played three games in1982–83, as the "Valiants" wonpromotion out of theFourth Division underJohn McGrath.[1] He played sevenThird Division and one League Cup game in1983–84, as McGrath was replaced byJohn Rudge.[1] Shankland suffered with ankle troubles throughout his career.[1] He was restricted to just three appearances in the promotion-winning1985–86 campaign, though found the net in a 3–1 win overWrexham at theRacecourse Ground on 8 March.[1] After two goals in a total of 29 appearances, he was given afree transfer in May 1986, but was forced to retire from football anyway due to an ankle injury sustained in a collision with an opposition goalkeeper; he was 22 years old.[1]Mark Bright later stated that Shankland was a greater talent than himself orRobbie Earle and could have gone on to representEngland if not for injuries.[2]
After retiring from the game, Shankland bought awindow cleaning business.[3] A fall from a ladder in 2003 led to abroken ankle, which developed complications, eventually resulting in him having part of his legamputated.[3] He suffered numerous other medical problems, and required a benefit dinner atVale Park, organized by former footballers to raise £20,000, which went towards paying for a new prosthetic leg.[3][4]
He has two children.[3]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Port Vale | 1981–82 | Fourth Division | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 1982–83 | Fourth Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1983–84 | Third Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1984–85 | Fourth Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1985–86 | Fourth Division | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
Port Vale