Tom Shaw

Tom Shaw

Born 1 December 1986 (Age 17 at debut)

Position: Midfielder

(Diamonds player #196)

Total appearances 72 – 9 goals

(53 League, 4 FA Cup, 3 FA Trophy, 5 League Cup, 3 Hillier Senior Cup, 4 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

14 September 2004 (Home Northampton Town)

Final game:

26 April 2008 (Home Aldershot Town)

Tom moved to Rushden & Diamonds youth set up as a 16 year old after leaving Nottingham Forest Academy. Following some impressive performances in midfield for the Youth team and playing in the County Cup games, he earned the opportunity to feature in the first team – making his league debut as a substitute against Barnet at the end of the 2005/2006 season after a short spell at Rugby Town on work experience in March 2006. He was then able to make his full debut the following season at Kidderminster after signing a one year professional contract, and kept Dave Savage out of the side on a number of occasions. With the changes in management during that season, he lost his place in the side and was sent out on a one month loan spell to Nuneaton Borough on 22 January 2007 (later extended till the end of the season), but was recalled when Garry Hill took the reins, quickly re-establishing his starting role in midfield and earning a new 2 year contract at the start of the 2007/2008 season. During that year, he kept a regular first team place, scoring four goals in a five game spell around Christmas. Although he was initially retained for the following season, he left the club by mutual consent in July 2008 after being advised that he would have little chance of making the starting eleven.

Tom joined Mansfield Town on a one year contract on 8 August 2008, but became totally disillusioned after being named on the bench for the first 11 games of the season without making a first team appearance. He was allowed to leave and joined Conference North side Tamworth on 9 October 2008, helping them to gain promotion that season. On 11 June 2010, he signed a one-year deal with Conference side Kidderminster Harriers. He left at the end of the season, and joined Cambridge United on 13 May 2011, on a two year contract. He scored 13 goals in 79 appearances for the U’s, before leaving at the end of his contract. On 1 July 2013, Tom signed for fellow Conference side Alfreton Town on a two-year deal, and after the end of that deal he joined Chester FC. He moved to Tamworth FC in January 2018 before hanging up his boots at the end of that season to become Lincoln City Academy Coach. He has since also become first team manager at Gainsborough Trinity. His Wikipedia entry is here.

Appearances

2004/2005 – squad number 33

2005/2006 – squad number 29

2006/2007 – squad number 18

2007/2008 – squad number 16