Players - Les Shannon

Les Shannon
Birthdate: 12 March 1926
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Date of death: 2 December 2007
Other clubs: Burnley (1949-59)
Signed from: Everton (youth)
Signed for LFC: 1943 - Professional November 1944
Liverpool debut: 17.04.1948
Last appearance: 25.09.1948
Debut goal: 30.08.1948
Last goal: 30.08.1948
Contract expiry: 02.11.1949
Win ratio: 18.18% W:2 D:5 L:4
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 8 / 1
Wartime games/goals: 17 / 7
League games / goals: 11 / 1
Total games / goals: 11 / 1

Player Profile

Centre-forward Shannon made his debut for Liverpool towards the end of the 1947/48 season when he replaced Albert Stubbins for the home fixture with Manchester City in April, one of only two matches Stubbins missed during that League campaign. Shannon was selected for the first ten games of the following season when Stubbins was unavailable because he went on strike, but was then himself replaced by Cyril Done. Shannon's only goal for Liverpool was the first in the 2-1 win at Sheffield United on 30 August 1948. Two years after joining first division Burnley Shannon came into his own as a deep lying inside-forward and was a regular in the side playing 102 games and scoring 31 goals. Following the retirement of Reg Atwell in 1954 he was moved to half-back where he featured for four years until his retirement in September 1958. Shannon made in total 281 appearances and scored 44 goals at Burnley where he is fondly remembered.

Shannon joined Everton as youth coach in 1959 where he stayed three years before being appointed as Billy Wright's assistant manager at Arsenal, serving the Gunners until 1966. As manager of Bury (1966-69) he swung between the Third and Second Division and as Stan Mortensen's successor at Blackpool (1969-70) he guided 'Pool to the second division title, but was sacked early on in the following season. 1971 signalled the start of his Greek adventure where he managed four clubs: PAOK (1971-74), Iraklis (1974-76), Olympiacos (1976-77) and OFI Crete (1977-79) as well as (1982-84). He also managed Norwegian club Brann (1980-82) in between his two stints at OFI Crete. Shannon returned to Britain in 1985 and was part of Luton Town's backroom staff from 1986-2001. 

Les Shannon passed away on 2 December 2007 and "You'll Never Walk Alone" was played at his funeral. Les is the father of Dave Shannon former Academy coach at Liverpool.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 11 0 0 0 0 11
1947-1948 1 0 0 0 0 1
1948-1949 10 0 0 0 0 10
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
2 180 Sheffield United
2 180 Arsenal
1 90 Sunderland
1 90 Aston Villa
1 90 Blackpool
1 90 Manchester City
1 90 Everton
1 90 Wolves
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
Total Venue
6 Away
5 Home
Total Competition
11 League
Total W D L Win % Manager
11 2 5 4 18.2% George Kay
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 0 0 1
1947-1948 0 0 0 0 0 0
1948-1949 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Opponent
1 Sheffield United
Total Competition
1 League
Total Goal minute period
1 16-30 minutes
Total Goal origin
1 Open play
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1944-1945 4 4
1945-1946 13 3
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 17.04.1948 Manchester City Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 22 30.08.1948 Sheffield United Bramall Lane League
Related Articles
Les Shannon: Feisty footballer and coach

In memory of Les Shannon by Ivan Ponting. Published 13th December 2007.

Scrapbook
Burnley's Shannon
Burnley's Shannon
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Burnley 1949-1950 England First Division 8 1 8 1
Burnley 1950-1951 England First Division 0 0 0 0
Burnley 1951-1952 England First Division 30 9 34 11
Burnley 1952-1953 England First Division 42 15 46 16
Burnley 1953-1954 England First Division 30 7 33 9
Burnley 1954-1955 England First Division 42 1 43 1
Burnley 1955-1956 England First Division 41 2 44 2
Burnley 1956-1957 England First Division 26 2 27 2
Burnley 1957-1958 England First Division 35 2 38 2
Burnley 1958-1959 England First Division 8 0 8 0
Total 262 39 281 44