 Whalley withHyde | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Shaun James Whalley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1987-08-07)7 August 1987 (age 38)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Prescot,Merseyside, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger,Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Accrington Stanley | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2004 | Norwich City | ||
| 2004 | Southport | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2005 | Chester City | 3 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Runcorn | 21 | (3) |
| 2006–2007 | Witton Albion | 18 | (6) |
| 2006–2007 | →Accrington Stanley (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Accrington Stanley | 45 | (5) |
| 2008–2009 | Wrexham | 16 | (4) |
| 2009 | →Southport (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Droylsden | 32 | (15) |
| 2010–2011 | Hyde | 16 | (3) |
| 2011–2013 | Southport | 101 | (27) |
| 2013–2015 | Luton Town | 34 | (4) |
| 2014 | →AFC Telford United (loan) | 18 | (5) |
| 2015–2022 | Shrewsbury Town | 214 | (40) |
| 2022– | Accrington Stanley | 111 | (18) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:31, 24 July 2025 (UTC) | |||
Shaun James Whalley (born 7 August 1987) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forEFL League Two clubAccrington Stanley. Born inPrescot,Merseyside, Whalley played forNorwich City andSouthport as a youth before making hisFootball League debut withChester City in 2004.
After leaving Chester, he spent time innon-League football withRuncorn F.C. Halton andWitton Albion. While on the books at Witton, he spent five weeks on trial withFootball League One sideCrewe Alexandra but was not offered a contract, so he signed forLeague Two sideAccrington Stanley in 2006. Whalley spent almost two years with the Lancashire club, but following his release in the summer of 2008, he returned to non-League, initially withWrexham. While at Wrexham, he had a short loan spell with Southport where he helped the team to the Conference North play-offs. He subsequently played atDroylsden, where he was part of the team that won theManchester Premier Cup in 2010, andHyde before joining Southport again on a permanent basis in January 2011. He was signed by Luton Town in the summer of 2013 for an undisclosed fee, and joinedAFC Telford United onloan in 2014. Both Luton and Telford won their respective leagues during the2013–14 season, making Whalley a winner of both theConference Premier and theConference North in the same season. He left Luton in May 2015, later joining Shrewsbury.
Described as an "express-train down the wings" by former teammatePaul Mullin, Whalley was called up tothe Football Association XI standby squad for a game againstHallam, the game taking place to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the club. He is the son of the formerPreston North End captainNeil Whalley, who was also a midfielder.
Whalley was born inPrescot, Merseyside but raised in Widnes. Growing up, Whalley was an avid fan ofLiverpool.[3] As a child, he played football for his local teams until 2001 when he was spotted byNorwich City. He went to play for their academy,[4] where he played for three years before leaving in 2004. He subsequently returned to Merseyside and joined Southport, where he played several reserve-team matches.[5] In the summer of the same year, Whalley turned professional when he signed forFootball League sideChester City.[6]
Whalley's father,Neil Whalley, was also a professional footballer in the early 1990s. He too played inmidfield and made more than 50 appearances forPreston North End, where he was alsocaptain for a period of time.[6]
He has stated that he has had problems with alcohol and gambling, but has moderated his use of both.[7]
With Chester, Whalley played mostly for the youth and reserve teams, but he made hisFootball League debut for the club in a 0–0 draw withCambridge United on 18 September 2004, coming on as a substitute forDarryn Stamp. His debut came just one day after he signed a professional contract with Chester; managerIan Rush had only included him on the substitutes' bench as a result of injuries toDaryl Clare andMichael Branch.[8] The following week, he was part of the side that defeatedSheffield Wednesday atHillsborough Stadium in the second round of theFootball League Trophy.[9] Whalley made three further senior appearances for Chester, all as a substitute, before leaving the club in the summer of 2005.[6]
In August of that year, Whalley moved intonon-League football withRuncorn as one of several new signings for theNorthern Premier League outfit.[10] He made his first appearance for the club in the 1–1 draw withFrickley Athletic and subsequently established himself as a regular first-team player.[11] Whalley scored his first goal for Runcorn in the 5–1 defeat of his hometown club,Prescot Cables and he netted again the following week in the loss toMatlock Town.[11] He went on to play 21 league matches for Runcorn before joiningWitton Albion in March 2006. During his short spell with the club, he scored 6 goals in 18 league appearances.[12]
In September 2006, while at Witton, Whalley spent five weeks on trial atLeague One clubCrewe Alexandra,[13][14] but he was not offered a permanent contract.[15] He subsequently joinedLeague Two sideAccrington Stanley on loan two months later.[16] Whalley made his debut for the club in the 1–2 defeat toHartlepool United at theCrown Ground. However, two weeks later, he was sent off in the Football League Trophy match againstDoncaster Rovers following a high tackle onTheo Streete, although Accrington managerJohn Coleman felt that the challenge was not deserving of a red card.[17] The subsequent suspension meant that Whalley spent almost a month out of the side before returning in late December in the loss toBristol Rovers.[18] He made his transfer to Accrington permanent in January 2007, signing a two-year contract with the club,[19] and the following week he scored a late winner in the 3–2 victory overMansfield Town, his first goal for the team.[20] Whalley remained a first-team regular for the rest of the 2006–07 season and retained his place in the starting line-up throughout most of the following season, and scored his first Accrington goal away from the Crown Ground in the 8–2 loss atPeterborough United on 15 January 2008.[21] Whalley made a total of 51 league appearances for Accrington, scoring 5 goals, but in May 2008, he was one of 10 players released by the club.[22]
In June 2008, he moved down a division to joinConference Premier sideWrexham.[23] He scored his first goal for Wrexham on his debut in a 5–0 win overStevenage.[24] Whalley followed it up with another goal in a 1–1 draw withRushden & Diamonds.[25] He scored his third and fourth goals of the month asWrexham beatSalisbury City 4–1,[26] which proved to be his last game for that club. He then joinedConference North sideSouthport on loan in February 2009 for the remainder of the 2008–09 season.[27] Whalley made his Southport debut in the 2–0 win overHyde United atHaig Avenue.[28] He went on to play 13 league matches for the team as they reached the Conference North play-offs, but they were defeated in the semi-finals byGateshead.[29] During the loan spell, Whalley played in the quarter-finals of theFA Trophy, but he could not prevent Southport losing 3–2 on aggregate over two legs againstAFC Telford United.[28] In the summer of 2009, he was released by Wrexham along with eight other out-of-contract players.[30]
In August 2009, following his release from Wrexham, Whalley returned to the Conference North to joinDroylsden.[31] Whalley scored his first two goals for the club as Droylsden beatNorthwich Victoria 5–1.[32] He added another goal to his tally, scoring in a 2–0 win over league favouritesFleetwood Town,[33] before adding another two goals to his name as Droylsden beatHarrogate Town 5–0.[34] He scored two goals in a match for the third time in the season as Droylsden recorded a 5–3 win overSolihull Moors at theButcher's Arms Ground. He wonManchester Premier Cup winners medal in his one season at Droylsden[35] before he left at the end of the 2009–10 season, having scored a total of 15 goals in 32 league appearances.[36]
Whalley joinedHyde on 21 August 2010 after his release fromDroylsden.[37] He made his debut just hours after he signed for the Tigers in a 5–1 home defeat toAlfreton Town.[38] In just his third appearance for Hyde, he was sent off in a 1–0 defeat toGuiseley.[39] Whalley scored his first goal forHyde in a 2–1 home win overCorby Town.[40]
In early October, while still on the books at Hyde, he was called up tothe Football Association XI squad alongside teammate Scott Mooney for a game againstHallam FC to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Sheffield-based club.[41] Whalley scored his first cup goal for the club in a 4–0 win overOldham Boro in theManchester Premier Cup,[42] but less than a week later, he scored an own goal as part of a 3–0 away loss toBlyth Spartans,[43] and was then sent off again for two bookable offences againstVauxhall Motors[44]
Whalley scored his first goal of the new year in a 2–1 victory over local rivalsStalybridge Celtic.[45] He scored again in the quarter-final of theManchester Premier Cup against his old clubDroylsden,[46] which proved to be his last for the club.[47]
Whalley was released by Hyde in order to joinSouthport for the second time in January 2011.[48] He made his debut the following Saturday in a 4–0 win overYork City, scoringSouthport's second and fourth goals.[49][50] On 1 February, less than a week later, Whalley scored again in a 2–2 draw withGrimsby Town to take his record to three goals in two games,[51] before being sent off forviolent conduct on and later receiving a four match ban.[52] On 26 February after missing the best-part of that month through his suspension, he returned, to start in a 2–1 loss toBath City, but he was unable to score a goal.[53] He followed this game up by scoring in his next two, netting in the 3–1 win overHiston[54] and then by scoring Southport's only goal, in a 4–1 defeat toEastbourne Borough.[55] He finished March having scored four goals that month, after adding another two in the latter part, the first in a 4–2 defeat to the hands ofBarrow[56] and the other coming as-part of a 2–2 draw withRushden & Diamonds.[57]
He opened his goalscoring account for the 2011–12 season on the opening day as part of a 2–2 draw withLincoln City.[58] He scored his second of the season in a 3–2 win overTelford United.[59] On 15 March 2012, he signed a new two-year contract with the club.[60] He scored a total of ten goals in all-competitions for Southport in the 2011–12 season,[61] helping them to their highest league finish in ten years—7th in theConference Premier.[62]
Whalley had a good start to the 2012–13 season, scoring two goals in four games, including in a 3–3 draw withAlfreton Town.[63] He went on to play in all but three of Southport's league games, scoring seven further goals and at the end of the season was named the club's player of the year.[64]
On 1 May 2013, Whalley was signed by fellowConference Premier clubLuton Town for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.[65] He missed apenalty on his debut in a 1–0 defeat, coincidentally against former clubSouthport.[66]
After failing to win a regular starting place in the Luton line-up, Whalley moved onloan on 23 January 2014 toConference North sideAFC Telford United, led by his former Southport managerLiam Watson.[67] He scored five goals in 18 games as Telford won the Conference North title, scoring in the crucial final game of the season.[68] With Luton also winning their league, Whalley had the unique distinction of being awarded both Conference Premier and Conference North winners' medals in the same season.[69]
Whalley played a more active part in Luton's return to the Football League, playing in 18 league games, often in the starting XI, and scoring three goals.
On 27 April 2015, Whalley and teammateRicky Miller were both arrested byBedfordshire Police in connection with an alleged assault following Luton Town's end of season awards night. Both were released on bail, but were suspended by the club pending a police inquiry.[70] Whalley was not charged due to a lack of evidence.[71] On 18 May 2015, Whalley left Luton by mutual consent two months before the end of his contract.[72]
Following his departure from Luton, Whalley joinedShrewsbury Town, recently promoted toLeague One, on 6 June 2015.[73] Making only sporadic substitute appearances in the early part of the season, Whalley had to wait until 28 December to make his first league start for the club, scoring a late winning goal in a 2–1 away victory overCrewe Alexandra.[74] He scored another late winner away at the league-leadersBurton Albion the following month,[75] eventually ending the season with seven goals in all competitions as Shrewsbury avoided relegation with a game to spare.[76]
A persistent thigh injury restricted Whalley's first-team involvement at the start of the following season,[77] which also coincided with a change in management at the club, after a poor start to the season left Shrewsbury rooted to the bottom of the League One table. Whalley scored his first goal of the season againstOxford United, deep in injury time, to seal a 2–0 victory for new managerPaul Hurst in his first home league match in charge.[78]
After becoming a first-team regular under Hurst, and helping Shrewsbury avoid relegation once again in2016–17, Whalley signed a two-year contract extension in May 2017.[79] He featured in 58 matches in all competitions in2017–18, scoring twelve goals,[80] as Shrewsbury reached both theEFL Trophy final and the2018 EFL League One play-off final, although they ultimately finished as runners-up on both occasions.
Having surpassed 150 appearances for the club in all competitions during the2018–19 season, Whalley signed another two-year contract extension in April 2019.[81]
On 4 February 2020, Whalley scored in front of the travelling Shrewsbury fans atAnfield in anFA Cup fourth round replay against his belovedLiverpool, only for the goal to be controversially overturned byVAR for offside againstScott Golbourne.[82]
Whalley reached 200 appearances for the club in November 2020, marking the occasion with the opening goal in a 2–2 draw againstMilton Keynes Dons.[83] His dedication to the club was celebrated by managers and teammates past and present in the local press.[84] An appearance-based contract extension was triggered in May 2021, committing him to the club until Summer 2022.[85]
On 3 May 2022, it was confirmed that Whalley would be leaving Shrewsbury Town after seven years. After being forced out by then Manager Steve Coterill.[86]
In July 2022, Whalley rejoined Accrington on a two-year deal. On 7 May 2024, the club announced he had signed a one-year extension.[87]
Following a run of four goals in five matches, Whalley was namedEFL League Two Player of the Month for January 2025.[88]
Whalley is awinger but can also play as astriker. On his arrival atSouthport, managerLiam Watson said "Shaun will fit right into our style of play and with the players we have here".[89] Whalley's former teammatePaul Mullin described him as "an absolute express-train down the wings", and said that he possessed good ability on the ball.[90]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[91] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chester City | 2004–05[92] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Runcorn | 2005–06[93] | Northern Premier League | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| Witton Albion | 2005–06[93] | Northern Premier League | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2006–07[94] | Northern Premier League | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | ||
| Total | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | |||
| Accrington Stanley | 2006–07[95] | League Two | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| 2007–08[96] | League Two | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| Total | 51 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 5 | ||
| Wrexham | 2008–09[97] | Conference Premier | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | |
| Southport (loan) | 2008–09[97] | Conference North | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Droylsden | 2009–10[36] | Conference North | 32 | 15 | 3 | 1 | – | 5 | 3 | 40 | 19 | |
| Hyde | 2010–11[98] | Conference North | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 4 | 2 | 22 | 5 | |
| Southport | 2010–11[99] | Conference Premier | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 8 | |
| 2011–12[100] | Conference Premier | 41 | 10 | 2 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 44 | 10 | ||
| 2012–13[101] | Conference Premier | 43 | 9 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 2 | 48 | 11 | ||
| Total | 101 | 27 | 3 | 0 | – | 5 | 2 | 109 | 29 | |||
| Luton Town | 2013–14[102] | Conference Premier | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 5 | 1 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2014–15[103] | League Two | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | |
| Total | 34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 5 | ||
| AFC Telford United (loan) | 2013–14 | Conference North | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2015–16[104] | League One | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 7 |
| 2016–17[105] | League One | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 3 | |
| 2017–18[80] | League One | 44 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 58 | 12 | |
| 2018–19[106] | League One | 32 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 3 | |
| 2019–20[107] | League One | 23 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2020–21[108] | League One | 38 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 9 | |
| 2021–22[109] | League One | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 4 | |
| Total | 212 | 34 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 255 | 40 | ||
| Career total | 537 | 105 | 30 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 40 | 9 | 614 | 120 | ||
Droylsden
Luton Town
AFC Telford United
Shrewsbury Town
Individual
