Players - John Shafto

John Shafto
Birthdate: 8 November 1918
Birthplace: Humshaugh, England
Date of death: 1978
Other clubs: Hexham (1934-36); Brighton & Hove Albion, Bradford City (wartime guest)
Signed from: Hexham
Signed for LFC: 26.11.1936
Liverpool debut: 23.10.1937
Last appearance: 22.04.1939
Debut goal: 06.11.1937
Last goal: 16.02.1938
Contract expiry: 1944
Win ratio: 25% W:5 D:8 L:7
Games/goals ratio: 2.86
Wartime games/goals: 8 / 3
League games / goals: 17 / 6
Total games / goals: 20 / 7

Player Profile

Shafto was stolen from right under the noses of Everton. The Blues' minute books state that it was decided to offer Shafto "£2/15/- per week & the Club a donation of £125 maximum." Everton had sent one of their scouts to sign the boy, a certain T. Fleetwood, and overnight he stayed in a hotel, where he mentioned the reason for his visit. A Liverpool fan heard him talking, immediately phoned Anfield, and George Kay went straight away to steal Everton's almost cut and dried signing. The forward was one of 29 players used by Kay during the 1937/38 first division season. Shafto was introduced into the side during the autumn of 1937 and performed well, scoring seven in 16 games, including two in the last ten minutes at Goodison to seal a 3-1 win over city rivals Everton. Not a bad start for a 19-year-old! Despite his success in those matches, he was only picked on four more occasions the following season when the club had a much more settled team, with no fewer than seven men playing in 35 or more League games compared to just two the previous year.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 17 3 0 0 0 20
1937-1938 13 3 0 0 0 16
1938-1939 4 0 0 0 0 4
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
2 210 Crystal Palace
2 180 Brentford
2 180 Arsenal
2 180 Sunderland
2 180 Wolves
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
1 90 Leicester City
1 90 WBA
1 90 Huddersfield Town
1 90 Chelsea
1 90 Manchester City
1 90 Everton
1 90 Birmingham City
1 90 Sheffield United
1 90 Derby
Total Venue
11 Home
9 Away
Total Competition
17 League
3 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
20 5 8 7 25% George Kay
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 6 1 0 0 0 7
1937-1938 6 1 0 0 0 7
1938-1939 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Competition
6 League
1 FA Cup
Total Goal minute period
1 16-30 minutes
3 31-45 minutes
1 61-75 minutes
2 76-90 minutes
Total Goal origin
7 Open play
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1940-1941 2 1
1941-1942 3 1
1942-1943 1 1
1943-1944 2 0
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 23.10.1937 Leicester City Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 45 06.11.1937 Brentford Anfield League
Related Articles
Liverpool Echo report

The Liverpool Echo report on Everton 1 - 3 Liverpool played on February 16, 1938.