Jack Shepherd (footballer)

Jack Shepherd is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Barnsley.

Jack Shepherd
Personal information
Position(s) Centre-half
Team information
Current team
 Barnsley
Number 41
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
20??–20?? Penistone Church
20??–20?? Athersley Recreation
20??–2021 Penistone Church
2021–2023 Pontefract Collieries 49 (2)
2023– Barnsley 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:12, 6 August 2023 (UTC)

A ball-playing centre-half, Shepherd played non-League football with Penistone Church, Athersley Recreation and Pontefract Collieries, before turning professional with Barnsley in July 2023.

Career

Early career

Shepherd played Northern Counties East League football for Penistone Church (over two spells) and Athersley Recreation.[1] He was voted Wentworth Pewter Player of the Month at Penistone in October 2020.[2] He joined Pontefract Collieries in the Northern Premier League Division One East in September 2021.[3][4] He made his debut for Pontefract playing at left-back against Yorkshire Amateurs in the FA Trophy.[4] He reverted to centre-half and earned comparisons to Paolo Maldini by Colls supporters as he scored three goals during some impressive performances during the 2022–23 season.[4] He signed contract extensions in March 2022 and March 2023.[5][6] He won the club's young player of the season for two consecutive years.[7]

Barnsley

On 4 July 2023, Shepherd signed with EFL League One club Barnsley after impressing Academy Manager Bobby Hassell on trial.[8] Barnsley agreed to play Pontefract in a pre-season friendly as part of the deal, whilst agreeing to a "significant sell on clause".[4] Shepherd quit his job as a kitchen-fitter to turn professional.[9] He made his first-team debut on 5 August 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 7–0 win over Port Vale at Oakwell, in what was the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the English Football League since the 1962–63 season over 60 years ago.[10][11] Shepherd then made his first league start for Barnsley in an impressive 2-0 win away at Wigan on 26 August 2023.

Style of play

Shepherd is a left-sided centre-half who is adept at playing the ball out from the back.[12]

Career statistics
As of match played 5 August 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pontefract Collieries 2021–22[13]Northern Premier League
Division One East		21000002[lower-alpha 1]0230
2022–23[14]Northern Premier League
Division One East		282200000302
Total 492200020532
Barnsley 2023–24[15]EFL League One2000100030
Career total 512201020562
  1. 1 appearance in the FA Trophy and 1 appearance in the West Riding County Cup

References
  1. "Reds sign hometown lad Jack". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  2. "Penistone Church FC". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. Grayson, James (20 September 2021). "Pontefract capture Penistone defender". Non League Yorkshire. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. "Colls agree Shepherd deal with Barnsley". pontefractcollieries.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. "Jack Shepherd | On staying at The Colls for next season". pontefractcollieries.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. Gordon, James (16 March 2023). "Duo sign new Pontefract Collieries deals - The Pitching In Northern Premier League". www.thenpl.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  7. Harber, Tony (4 July 2023). "Barnsley sign Pontefract Collieries defender Jack Shepherd". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. "Reds Sign Jack Shepherd". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. "Jack swaps kitchen-fitting for Reds deal". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  10. Swindells, Adam (5 August 2023). "Match Report | Barnsley 7-0 Port Vale". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  11. Youlton, Clive (5 August 2023). "Disastrous opening day for Port Vale as Barnsley hit seven". StokeonTrentLive.
  12. Rayner, Stuart (4 July 2023). "Barnsley FC's eye caught by ball-playing qualities of defender as he swaps Pontefract Collieries for Oakwell under-21 set-up". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  13. "Pontefract Collieries | Appearances | Jack Shepherd | 2021-2022 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  14. "Pontefract Collieries | Appearances | Jack Shepherd | 2022-2023 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  15. "Games played by Jack Shepherd in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.


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