Bill Shenton
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Paul Shenton | ||
| Date of birth | Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "?". 1956Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "?".Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "?". | ||
| Place of birth | Blackpool, England | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Blackpool Rovers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| -1976 | Blackpool Rovers | ||
| 1976-1984 | United | ||
| National team | |||
| 1979- | England | 11 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
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Bill Shenton was a fictional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and appeared in the comic strips in the British boys' comic Champ of the We are United strip in 1985. He was also an England international, as the number 2 option in goal. He first appeared in the strip in February 1984.[1] His fact file on Champ was number 2 in 1984. He was also known as ‘’The Consistency’’. His surname was a reference possibly to Peter Shilton (though Shenton was blonde).
Career
Club
Shenton was born in 1956 in his hometown Blackpool. He started his career from non-league Blackpool Rovers. As a teenager he was rejected by 4 First Division clubs. However in 1976 United paid a £150,000 for his signature. Being a late arrival into professional League football (at the age of 20), he worked hard his way to the top. He made his debut in 1978 against Southpool keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory, an unforgettable memory in his career.
But in 1979 he broke his leg meaning that he would miss United’s winning League Cup final, his biggest career disappointment. In 82/83 United were relegated and Shenton followed them in Second Division, with rumours had it that he would move elsewhere to a First Division club that the club did not get promoted the following season. In February 1984 he stated that he wanted to keep improving to reach his peak. In April 1984 United signed Charlie Barr from Darbury Rangers and soon Shenton’s career with United came to an end.
International
Shenton played a vital part in United’s successes in the late 1970s which earned him a call-up to the England team. Until 1984 he had only 11 caps as Southpool’s keeper Davy Parkes had first claim on the position. He remained an international even when United were playing in Second Division in 83/84.
- National Teams:
England - England: 11 full international appearances.
Style of play
He was known for his consistency in goal.
Legacy
In his 8 years with the club he missed only 14 matches (after his 1978 debut). Alongside Charlie Bar and Ivan Zenovich he was possibly one of the best keepers in United’s history.
Personal life
His other favourite sport was cricket. He was a Blackpool FC supporter.
Honours
Note that all records are fictional, as of the 1983/84 season.
League
- Premier League (including (Old) First Division): 3 titles
- 1977, 1978, 1979
Cups
- FA Cup: ?
- 1980
- League Cup: ?
European
- European Cup: ?
- 1979
- UEFA Cup:
International
- Intercontinental Cup/World Club Championship:
- 1979
- Summer International Tournaments:
