Inside forward Len Shackleton, whose death has occurred aged 78, was one of the few players revered both by Sunderland and Newcastle supporters after excelling for both clubs during a career spanning the 1940s and 1950s.
Born in Bradford on May 3rd 1922, Shackleton played for both Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford City - on one occasion turning out for both clubs in the same day - and also guested for Huddersfield. He joined Newcastle in October 1946 for a then club record £13,000 and made an immediate impact, scoring no fewer than six times in a 13-0 romp against Newport County.
He left St James' Park after making 64 appearances and scoring 29 goals to join derby rivals Sunderland in February 1948 for another record fee, £20,050.
It was at Roker Park where he really made his mark, scoring 101 times in 348 games and earning his five England caps before retiring because of an ankle injury in May 1958.
"A complete showman who could perform every trick in the book and many more never seen at all, Shackleton was a truly brilliant inside-forward," wrote Newcastle's club historian Paul Joannou. "Yet, like many of his vision and style, he often found his team-mates were not on his wavelength."
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