Shafto: John

WW2 Guest: 1941-1942 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Humshaugh, Northumberland: 08-11-1918

Debut: v Middlesbrough (a): 25-04-1942

5ft 8 3/4in 11st 12lb (1937)

Shafto started with his local team Hexham and, after interest from Everton, joined First Division Liverpool in November 1936. He was only eighteen when he went to Anfield and he was not introduced into the first team until the following season when he made his debut at Centre Forward in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City at Anfield on 23rd October 1937. He got his first goal for Liverpool in 6th November 1937 just on half-time with the third Liverpool goal in a 3-4 loss to Brentford at Anfield in his third game and finished the season with six goals from fourteen League games, which included two goals in the last ten minutes to seal a 3-1 win against local rivals Everton at Goodison Park on 16th February 1938. They proved to be his final goals for Liverpool in peace-time. He only played four more games for Liverpool and made his last appearance for them on 22nd April 1939 as Liverpool drew 1-1 with Sunderland at Anfield as Jack Balmer, Willie Fagan and Phil Taylor became the accepted strikers. He scored six goals in seventeen League games and one goal in three F.A. Cup ties. He did stay with Liverpool during the war and scored three goals in eight wartime games. But they were few with one goal in two games in 1940-41, one in three in 1941-42, one in one in 1942-43 and none in two in 1943-44. He also played as a guest for Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring once in his only game in 1941-42, sixteen in eighteen games in 1942-43 and six in nine in 1943-44, Bradford City, where he made one appearance in 1942-43 without scoring, and had one game with Leeds United. It came at Centre Forward in the 1941-42 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship) game on 25th April 1942 in the 3-2 win over Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park. He did not play in the Football League after the Second World War. He died in 1978.