Ryan Shawcross

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ryan Shawcross


fullname = Ryan James Shawcross
nickname =
height = height|ft=6|in=3
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|10|4
cityofbirth = Chester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Stoke City
clubnumber = 17
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2006–2008
2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Manchester United
→ Royal Antwerp (loan)
→ Stoke City (loan)
Stoke City
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
22 (3)
26 (6)
16 (1)
nationalyears = 2008–
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 (0)
pcupdate = 11:42, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:36, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Ryan James Shawcross (born 4 October 1987) is an English footballer, currently playing for Stoke City. His position is as a centre-back.

Early life and education

Born in Chester, England, to Welsh parents, Shawcross was raised in Buckley, Flintshire, and attended Elfed High School in Buckley.

During his primary school days, Shawcross played representative level football for Flintshire Boys; this team counts Gary Speed, Michael Owen and Ian Rush amongst its former players. Shawcross' younger brother, Rory, also a defender, has also played for this team.

Football career

Early in his Manchester United career, Shawcross made 22 appearances for the Under 17s, in 2003-04, scoring against Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers. The following season, 2004-05, he made five appearances for United’s Pontin's Holidays League Reserve side, that won the Division One West title.

In 2004-05, Shawcross made 21 appearances for the Under 18s, scoring against Everton on 5 March 2005.

During the 2005-06 season, Shawcross made ten appearances in the Premier Reserve League and was a part of United's successful Reserve side that won the treble of the Manchester Senior Cup, F.A. Premier Reserve League North and F.A. Premier Reserve Play-off against Tottenham Hotspur Reserves.

On 25 October 2006, Shawcross made his senior debut as a substitute for fellow debutant Michael Barnes in the League Cup 3rd Round encounter at the Gresty Road, Crewe, coming on in extra-time in a 2-1 United win.

In January 2007, he was sent on loan to Royal Antwerp FC, where he appeared regularly, and helped Antwerp to make it into the Belgium playoffs, scoring 3 goals himself, before returning to Manchester in the summer.

On 9 August 2007, Shawcross was sent on loan again, this time to English Championship club Stoke City, for 6 months. [cite web |url=http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~1088202,00.html |title=Shawcross Signs! |date=2007-08-09 |accessdate=2007-08-09 |work=Stoke City Official Website |publisher=Premium TV Limited] He scored his first two goals for Stoke during his first two games, one on his debut during a 1–0 win on the opening day of the season, against Cardiff City. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6931081.stm |title=Cardiff 0-1 Stoke |date=2007-08-11 |accessdate=2007-08-11 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation] The other during a League Cup game against Rochdale in which Stoke lost on penalties. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6941887.stm |title=Rochdale 2-2 Stoke City (aet) |date=2007-08-14 |accessdate=2007-08-16 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation]

Stoke made advances to make Shawcross' loan permanent during the January 2008 transfer window, [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7176695.stm |title=Shawcross set for permanent move |date=2008-01-08 |accessdate=2008-01-09 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation] and the move was finally completed on 18 January 2008, with Stoke paying Manchester United an initial £1m, with the possibility of a further £1m dependent on appearances and Stoke achieving promotion. [cite news |title=Shawcross ties up £1m Stoke move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7176695.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-01-18 |accessdate=2008-01-18]

In a scouting report for "The Guardian" newspaper, Steve Claridge described Shawcross as "a leader", an "uncomplicated player", and "enthusiastic". [Claridge, Steve. " [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/03/04/scouting_report_ryan_shawcross.html Scouting report: Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City] ", The Guardian, 4 March 2008. Retrieved on 4 March 2008.]

International honours

In January 2008, Shawcross won his first call up to the England Under-21 squad for a 2009 UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland. [cite news |title=Shawcross gets international call |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7220423.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-01-31 ] Shawcross previously played for the Wales Under-15 team, against Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. [ [http://www.fawtrust.org.uk/files/WSFA%20U.16%20&%20U.15%20Squads.doc National Development Squad (Year 86)] , Football Association of Wales]

References

External links

* [http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10310~37690,00.html Ryan Shawcross player profile] at stokecityfc.com
*soccerbase|id=45102|name=Ryan Shawcross
* [http://www.manutd.com/publish.sps?pagegid=%7B586F3BDA-BAD0-484E-AA1B-C0464DF06DF7%7D&teamid=435&section=playerProfile&bioid=92003 Player profile at manutd.com]