Following our recent pairing with Tranmere in the next round of the FA cup has brought back memories of what at the time I found horrendous when as a young lad - it must have been the late 70's I reckon - we were playing Tranmere at Eastville and following a collision with their forward whom I seem to recall was called Eddie Loyden, Shepherd was stretchered off with what turned out to be a fractured skull.I cant remember him playing after that so presumably it ended his career. It strikes me as strange that things like that stay in the memory after so many years when I'd struggle to tell you what I had for dinner yesterday if you asked me! I guess its the shock factor that makes these things stay in your memory so vividly. Although I was much younger then, I recall Dick was a class act in goal and saved us on many occasions with some superb saves on a regular basis,particularly penalties. I often wonder what became of him,although I'm sure someone on here will be able to enlighten me.
Here is some info... It was in his 150th league game for Rovers on 13 January 1973 that he suffered the injury that would ultimately end his career, playing against Tranmere Rovers he fractured his skull and was unable to play again for almost a year while he recovered. Eleven months after sustaining his injury, he was sent out on loan to Torquay United as part of his rehabilitation, turning out twice for the Devon side in December 1973. However, it would be a further year before he played again for Rovers which ended up being his final appearance for Rovers. It came on 28 December 1974. He was selected for The Pirates' Second Division clash with local rivals Bristol City at Eastville, and although he kept a clean sheet in the first half, Rovers eventually lost the game 4–1. This match marked not only the end of his career with Rovers but also his time in the Football League. Although he was loaned out to Fulham late in the 1974–75 season but he didn't play any league football for them, and he dropped out of the league to join Weymouth in the summer of 1975. He returned to Bristol after a year on the south coast, spending the 1976–77 season with Portway Bristol, before rounding off his playing days with three seasons with Paulton Rovers, eventually hanging up his boots in 1980. He returned to Bristol Rovers in January 1980, taking on the role of goalkeeping coach at the club. He died in Bristol on 18 October 1998, aged 53.
I was at that match. It was in the days when there was a fair amount of physical contact in the game. Dick came out to the edge of the area to dive at Loyden's feet and claim the ball. It was 50/50 who got to the ball first and in those days forwards didn't tend to hop over the goalkeeper if they had a fair chance of getting the ball first.
Many thanks for the info. Had no idea that he died so young - very sad. Can still here The Tote singing his name!
He was good keeper and a great guy. Ran a sports shop in Filton after he retired. Died before his time. I was also at the game as a young lad when Eddie Loyden broke though the middle, Shepherd saved at his feet and I guess Lowden left his foot in. It was a sad day which as you say sticks in the memory.
Echoes of Bert Trautman - except Bert played on with a broken neck! If it had happened today it probably wouldn't have finished his career - they would've just stuck some metal plates in his head and made him wear a padded cap a la Petr Cech!
