Can anyone explain this photo? 1974 v Boro. Whats all the comotion about? please log in to view this image
Shack was before my time too, but my brother saw him play a couple of times. He's described as playing at both "outside forward" (winger) and "inside forward". Inside forward is like the second striker these days, so I'd say he could be loosly classed as a striker. You're right though that he was best known for his skill rather than his goals. Clough could have had a fantastic career, if he'd not have done his ligaments in a game against Bury. He'd colided with their keeper, but the player he always held a grudge against, for making a comment that he was faking injury, was coincidentally Bob Stokoe.
Shack played in all FIVE of the forward positions, at one time or another and although he was our top scorer a couple of seasons (from memory) it would be pushing it to call him a striker. It fact it would be insulting to classify him as anything. He was more than an inside forward or Winger or striker. HE WAS LEN SHACKLETON. Sadly there has only ever been one of them. For the record though he scored 100 goals for us in his 320 games. I SUSPECT that he could have scored a lot more if he hadn't put entertainment above results. Of course had he done that he would simply have been another good striker and we wouldn't be talking about him sixty years later.
One of my first home games marra.. Boro played in black & blue stripes which confused me?!? Can't help you with your question as I spent the whole game clinging onto my 'ball'.!! Before the game they were throwing hats and kicking balls into the crowd. My dad and grandad managed to catch one between them in the bottom right corner of the Fullwell. Great memories...
As I was too young to fully remember and appreciate how good the Reidy years, and by extension Super Kev were, I'd say Defoe has been responsible for some of my favourite moments following Sunderland (like the volley v the Mags, late winner v Palace, crucial goal v Chelsea...). He won't surpass what SKP achieved here because of the stage he's at in his career, but I reckon I'll always remember him as one of my favourite strikers for us.
