Jack Shepherd (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 March 2001 | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-half | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cheltenham Town (on loan from Barnsley) | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 20??–20?? | Penistone Church | ||
| 20??–20?? | Athersley Recreation | ||
| 20??–2021 | Penistone Church | ||
| 2021–2023 | Pontefract Collieries | 49 | (2) |
| 2023– | Barnsley | 9 | (0) |
| 2024 | Cheltenham Town (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:28, 27 April 2024 | |||
Jack Shepherd is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Cheltenham Town on loan from EFL League One club Barnsley.
A ball-playing centre-half, Shepherd played non-League football with Penistone Church, Athersley Recreation and Pontefract Collieries, before turning professional with Barnsley in July 2023.
Career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Shepherd played Northern Counties East League football for Penistone Church (over two spells) and Athersley Recreation.[2] He was voted Wentworth Pewter Player of the Month at Penistone in October 2020.[3] He joined Pontefract Collieries in the Northern Premier League Division One East in September 2021.[4][5] He made his debut for Pontefract playing at left-back against Yorkshire Amateurs in the FA Trophy.[5] He reverted to centre-half and earned comparisons to Paolo Maldini by Colls supporters as he scored three goals during some impressive performances during the 2022–23 season.[5] He signed contract extensions in March 2022 and March 2023.[6][7] He won the club's young player of the season for two consecutive years.[8]
Barnsley[edit]
On 4 July 2023, Shepherd signed with EFL League One club Barnsley after impressing Academy Manager Bobby Hassell on trial.[9] Barnsley agreed to play Pontefract in a pre-season friendly as part of the deal, whilst agreeing to a "significant sell on clause".[5] Shepherd quit his job as a kitchen-fitter to turn professional.[10] He made his first-team debut on 5 August 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 7–0 win over Port Vale at Oakwell, in what was the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the English Football League since the 1962–63 season over 60 years ago.[11][12] Shepherd then made his first league start for Barnsley in an impressive 2-0 win away at Wigan on 26 August 2023.
Style of play[edit]
Shepherd is a left-sided centre-half who is adept at playing the ball out from the back.[13]
Career statistics[edit]
- As of match played 27 April 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Pontefract Collieries | 2021–22[14] | Northern Premier League Division One East |
21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| 2022–23[15] | Northern Premier League Division One East |
28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| Total | 49 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 2 | ||
| Barnsley | 2023–24[16] | League One | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Cheltenham Town (loan) | 2023-24[17] | League One | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Career total | 70 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 78 | 3 | ||
- ^ 1 appearance in the FA Trophy and 1 appearance in the West Riding County Cup
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References[edit]
- ^ "Jack Shepherd". Barnsley F.C. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Reds sign hometown lad Jack". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Penistone Church FC". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ Grayson, James (20 September 2021). "Pontefract capture Penistone defender". Non League Yorkshire. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Colls agree Shepherd deal with Barnsley". pontefractcollieries.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Jack Shepherd | On staying at The Colls for next season". pontefractcollieries.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ Gordon, James (16 March 2023). "Duo sign new Pontefract Collieries deals - The Pitching In Northern Premier League". www.thenpl.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ Harber, Tony (4 July 2023). "Barnsley sign Pontefract Collieries defender Jack Shepherd". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Reds Sign Jack Shepherd". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Jack swaps kitchen-fitting for Reds deal". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ Swindells, Adam (5 August 2023). "Match Report | Barnsley 7-0 Port Vale". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Youlton, Clive (5 August 2023). "Disastrous opening day for Port Vale as Barnsley hit seven". StokeonTrentLive.
- ^ Rayner, Stuart (4 July 2023). "Barnsley FC's eye caught by ball-playing qualities of defender as he swaps Pontefract Collieries for Oakwell under-21 set-up". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Pontefract Collieries | Appearances | Jack Shepherd | 2021-2022 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Pontefract Collieries | Appearances | Jack Shepherd | 2022-2023 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Jack Shepherd in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Jack Shepherd in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2024.