Andy Shankland

Andrew John Shankland (born 8 April 1964) is an English former footballer who played 29 league and cup games in the Football League for Port Vale between 1981 and 1986. During this time the club were twice promoted out of the Fourth Division. He was forced to retire due to an ankle injury, and became a window cleaner.

Andy Shankland
Personal information
Full name Andrew John Shankland[1]
Date of birth (1964-04-08) 8 April 1964[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s) 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

Career

Shankland, a former apprentice at Stoke City, graduated through the Port Vale youth team to make his debut in a 2–1 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers in a League Cup match on 28 October 1981.[1] He scored his first senior goal three days later, in a 2–1 win over Hull City at Vale Park.[1] He finished 1981–82 with thirteen appearances to his name.[1] He signed as a professional in March 1982, and played three games in 1982–83, as the "Valiants" won promotion out of the Fourth Division under John McGrath.[1] He played seven Third Division and one League Cup game in 1983–84, as McGrath was replaced by John Rudge.[1] Shankland suffered with ankle troubles throughout his career.[1] He was restricted to just three appearances in the promotion-winning 1985–86 campaign, though found the net in a 3–1 win over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on 8 March.[1] After two goals in a total of 29 appearances, he was given a free 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 or Robbie Earle and could have gone on to represent England if not for injuries.[2]

Personal life

After retiring from the game, Shankland bought a window cleaning business.[3] A fall from a ladder in 2003 led to a broken ankle, which developed complications, eventually resulting in him having part of his leg amputated.[3] He suffered numerous other medical problems, and required a benefit dinner at Vale 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]

Career statistics

Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1981–82Fourth Division121001000131
1982–83Fourth Division4000100050
1983–84Third Division7000100080
1984–85Fourth Division0000000000
1985–86Fourth Division2100001031
Total 252003010292

Honours

Port Vale

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 260. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "Bright: Rudge has no equal". onevalefan.co.uk. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. "Benefit dinner will help disabled former Valiant". The Sentinel. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  4. "Support for injured former Vale player". The Sentinel. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  5. Andy Shankland at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
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