Tom Shanks

Name: Thomas Shanks
Born: 30 March 1882, New Ross, Co. Wexford
Height:
Weight:
Position: Inside-Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps (1903-1905).
Club Honours: (with Arsenal) Football League Division Two Runner-Up 1903/04; (with Leicester) Football League Division Two Runner-Up 1907/08.

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup		Other
Derby West End		-	-	-		-	-
Derby Fosse	-	-	-	-		-	-
Derby County	98/99-00/01	Apr-98	-	27/9		1/0	-
Brentford	01/02-02/03	Oct-01	-	36/10		(Southern League)
Woolwich Arsenal	02/03-03/04	Jan-03	£200	44/28		4/1	-
Brentford	04/05-06/07	May-04	-	67/17		(Southern League)
Leicester Fosse	06/07-08/09	Oct-06	£275	57/16		2/0	-
Leyton	-	c/s-09	-	-		(Southern League)
York City	-	1912	-	-		(Yorkshire Combination)
TOTALS		£475		231/80		7/1	-

Biography:
One of the most renowned inside-forwards of his generation, Tommy Shanks seemed to go through clubs like he went through defenders. He arrived in England from his native Wexford in the latter part of the 1890s, playing for Derby West End and Derby Fosse before signing with their more illustrious Football League neighbours, Derby County.

In three seasons at the Baseball Ground Shanks failed to gain a foothold in the first eleven and left for Brentford in October 1901. He established himself as Brentford’s most gifted and valuable player and when Arsenal came looking for a player to fire them to Division One, Brentford were not going to let Shanks go without a fight. Much to the discontent of the Bees fans, Arsenal came in with a not-to-be-refused offer of £200 plus another Irish forward, Maurice Connor.

Shanks’ Arsenal debut came in a 1-1 draw with Port Vale in January 1903. He soon made his mark at Highbury, scoring twice on his home debut, a 4-0 win over Burnley. Although he managed only two more goals that season, he had shown enough to make the Gunners optimistic for the following campaign. Comfortable in his new surroundings, Shanks and Arsenal steamrollered through the opening months of the Second Division campaign. They won their first eight matches, scored 35 goals and conceded just three. Shanks scored 24 League goals, including three hattricks and a four.

Promotion was gained despite a late season slump, with Shanks the hero. Still, soon after the season concluded he was on his way back to Griffin Park. Initial good form back at Brentford soon dipped and resulted in him being dropped just three games into the 1906/07 campaign. Shanks reacted badly to the decision to leave him out and he went on strike and requested a transfer. Still a popular player with the Bees faithful, the directors attempted to persuade Shanks to stay, but to no avail. In October he transferred to Leicester Fosse for a fee of £275, £125 going to Brentford and £150 to Arsenal.

Shanks was widely credited as being the man who guided an average Division Two side into the top-flight for the first time. He capped a fine 1907/08 season by scoring the winning goal against Stoke that guaranteed Leicester’s promotion. He spent just a season in Division One, scoring three times in ten appearances as the Fosse suffered an immediate relegation. He returned to London in the summer of 1909 to sign for Leyton, before finishing his career with a brief spell at the original York City.

For a player regarded as one of the most influential of his age, it is a surprise that Shanks won just three caps for Ireland. He made his debut – in a forward line that also included Maurice Connor, the man that he had replaced at Arsenal – against Scotland in March 1903. It was an historic match as the Irish recorded their first ever win over their Celtic neighbours and went on to share the British Championship for the first time. He had an enviable record in an Ireland jersey as, although each of his appearances were away from home, he never finished on the losing side.

Foxes History

Ireland Cap Details:
21-03-1903 Scotland A W 2-0 BC
21-03-1904 Wales... A W 1-0 BC
25-02-1905 England. A D 1-1 BC


Summary: 3/0. Won 2, Drew 1, Lost 0.

Listed as a Clapton Orient player during the 1911/12 season by some sources.