:Luton Shelton

Shelton started his career in the Harbour View youth system before becoming a first regular by the age of 18. While at Harbour View he won the CFU Club Championship and the National Premier League. He was also recognised as youth player of the year during his tenure.{{cite web | url=https://sportsmax.tv/index.php/football/regional/item/76723-our-hearts-cry-out-for-luton-jamaica-premier-league-where-striker-got-start-has-fond-memories-of-former-player | title='Our hearts cry out for Luton' – JPL club Harbour View, where striker got start, has 'fond memories' of former player | publisher=SportsMax | date=23 January 2021 | access-date=23 January 2021}}

In August 2005 Shelton was due to move to Football League Championship club Burnley after a successful pre-season trial. They attempted to sign Shelton, but a work permit was rejected, and in August 2006 he joined Helsingborg{{cite web | url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Shelton-rates-instinctive-free-kick-his-best_12485357&template=MobileArticle | title=Shelton rates instinctive free-kick his best | publisher=Jamaica Observer | date=9 September 2020 | access-date=23 January 2021}} for about £100,000. During the 2006 season, he scored nine goals in 19 games in the Swedish Allsvenskan,{{cite web | url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/395mq0/granqvist-sorjer-forre-hif-spelaren-vila-i-frid-min-van| title=Granqvist sörjer förre HIF-spelaren: "Vila i frid min vän"|work=Aftonbladet| date=22 January 2021 | access-date=23 January 2021|language=sv}} despite playing only irregularly due to repeated injuries. He scored a total of 17 goals in 28 competitive matches, including five goals in four Swedish Cup matches on the way to Helsingborg's victory in the competition. His 120th-minute equaliser against to-be league champions Elfsborg in the quarter-final, which Helsingborg won 5–3 after a penalty shootout (4–4 after extra time), and the 1–0 goal in the final against Gefle, were two of his highlights at the club.{{cite web | url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/311707 | title=Helsingborg wins Swedish Cup | publisher=Taiwan News | date=11 December 2006 | access-date=23 January 2021}}

Despite being signed amidst much fanfare, Shelton did not make his full début until April 2007 in a 2–0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.{{cite news|title=Man Utd 2–0 Sheff Utd|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6555231.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=17 April 2007|access-date=30 November 2007}}{{cite news|title=Warnock wraps up double signing|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/6264815.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=15 January 2007|access-date=30 November 2007}} He made only three more appearances for the Blades in the Premiership that season as they unsuccessfully battled to avoid relegation.{{cite web | url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2021/january/RIP-Luton-Shelton-1985-2021/ | title=RIP LUTON SHELTON 1985-2021 | publisher=Sheffield Utd FC| access-date=24 January 2021}}

With the arrival of James Beattie and Billy Sharp at Bramall Lane during the close season he found games no more easy to come by under new manager Bryan Robson. Initially limited to cup appearances, he scored his first competitive goals for the club, netting twice in a 5–0 League Cup win over Morecambe in September 2007.{{cite news|title=Sheff Utd 5–0 Morecambe|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7008014.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=25 September 2007|access-date=30 November 2007}}

As the team struggled he began to see more first team action, but was unable to turn appearances into goals, scoring only twice more that season, against Manchester City in the FA Cup{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7197730.stm|title=Sheff Utd 2–1 Man City|publisher=BBC|date=27 January 2008|access-date=12 November 2009}} and Colchester in the league.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7210584.stm|title=Colchester 2–2 Sheff Utd|work=BBC Sport|date=2 February 2008|access-date=12 November 2009}} With the arrival of new manager Kevin Blackwell Shelton was sidelined once more.{{cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/shelton-ends-spell-united-2166275 | title=Shelton ends his spell at United | publisher=Wales Online | date=29 May 2013 | access-date=24 January 2021}}

On 24 July 2008, it was announced that Shelton had been sold to Norwegian side Vålerenga, playing in the Tippeligaen, for around £1m{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1350093,00.html|title=Shelton Departs|work=Sheffield United F.C.|publisher=Sheffield United Football Club|access-date=24 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226224034/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1350093,00.html|archive-date=26 February 2009|url-status=dead}} (10m kr).{{cite web|url=http://fotball.fvn.no/eliteserien/article113737.ece|title=Shelton koster ti mill|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527033645/http://fotball.fvn.no/eliteserien/article113737.ece|date=24 July 2008|archive-date=27 May 2012}} His contract was to last to the end of the 2011 season.{{Cite web|last=Sæteren|first=Thomas Brekke|date=2008-07-24|title=Luton Shelton (22) klar for Vålerenga|url=http://www.vif-fotball.no/article2088236.ece|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724210516/http://www.vif-fotball.no/article2088236.ece|archive-date=2008-07-24|website=Vålerenga Fotball|language=no}} Shelton made his debut on 2 August, scoring his side's lone goal in a 1–1 game at home against Fredrikstad FK.{{Cite web|last=Strande|first=Alexander Carlsen|date=2008-08-02|title=Shelton ble helten|url=http://fotball.aftenposten.no/eliteserien/article114644.ece|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805233723/http://fotball.aftenposten.no/eliteserien/article114644.ece|archive-date=2008-08-05|website=Aftenposten|language=no}} He was considered an attacking player with a speed advantage: he was the fastest player to run a 40m sprint in the Tippeligaen.{{Cite news|date=2009-01-06|url=http://www.nrksport.no/fotball/eliteserien/1.6401168|title=Shelton raskest i eliteserien|publisher=NRK|access-date=2009-08-03|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703144201/http://www.nrk.no/sport/fotball/shelton-raskest-i-eliteserien-1.6401168|archive-date=2013-07-03|lang=no}} He played in the 2008 Norwegian Cup, and was one of their top scorers in the 2010 Tippeligaen season with 12 goals.{{cite web |title=Spillerstatistikk Eliteserien Direktesenter 2010 |url=https://sportsresultater-beta.nrk.no/fotball/turneringer/5/2010/spillerstatistikk/goals |website=NRK |access-date=29 January 2021}}

Shelton spent the 2009–10 season on loan to the Danish side Aalborg BK, playing 11 games.{{Cite web|last=Wright|first=Nodley|date=2013-01-12|title=Morrissey's Danish deal|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130112/sports/sports71.html|access-date=2021-01-28|website=jamaica-gleaner.com|language=en}} He was part of their squad for the 2008–09 UEFA Cup.{{Cite news|last=Cheese|first=Caroline|date=2009-03-19|title=Uefa Cup as it happened|language=en-GB|work=BBC Football|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7953178.stm|access-date=2021-01-28}}

On 4 August 2011, Shelton was transferred to Karabükspor.{{cite web | url=https://www.ntvspor.net/futbol/luton-shelton-hayatini-kaybetti-600b468a560350042c6acd25 | title=Luton Shelton hayatını kaybetti | publisher=NTVspor.net | date=23 January 2021 | access-date=23 January 2021}} He played for two years, and chose to retain his jersey number 78 when he moved.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-23|title=Son dakika: Karabükspor'un eski yıldızı Luton Shelton hayatını kaybetti|url=https://www.sabah.com.tr/spor/futbol/2021/01/22/son-dakika-karabuksporun-eski-yildizi-luton-shelton-hayatini-kaybetti|access-date=2021-01-28|work=Sabah|language=tr}}

In 2013, Shelton moved to Volga Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. The club suffered from financial issues during this period, and frequently missed payments to the players.{{Cite web|title=Шелтон: "В "Волге" тяжелая финансовая ситуация"|trans-title=Shelton: "Volga is in a difficult financial situation"|url=https://footballhd.ru/allnews/premierliganews/56726-shelton-v-volge-tyazhelaya-finansovaya-situaciya.html|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Footballhd.ru|language=ru}}

In April 2015, Shelton went on trial with MLS side Colorado Rapids.{{cite web|date=3 April 2015|title=Jamaican international striker Luton Shelton visiting goal-starved Colorado Rapids|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/04/03/jamaican-international-striker-luton-shelton-visiting-goal-starved-colorado-rapids|access-date=1 March 2017|website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=MLS}} Shelton returned to Harbour View at the beginning of 2017, after being out of the game for two years with injury, scoring in his first match on his return.{{cite web|title=Luton Shelton reinvents himself at former club, Harbour View|url=http://hvfc.net/news/luton-shelton-reinvents-himself-at-former-club-harbour-view/#.WLb4Gm_c670|website=hvfc.net|publisher=Harbour View F.C.|access-date=1 March 2017|date=22 February 2017}} This match was his last before retirement.

Shelton was capped at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and national levels for Jamaica. He scored his 25th goal for Jamaica vs Guadeloupe. He is the only man to score four goals on his international début. In June 2008 he scored five goals in two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying games for Jamaica against the Bahamas. Later the same month, he scored two goals as Jamaica won 7–0 and scored a hat-trick as Jamaica won 6–0.{{cite news|date=21 June 2008|title=Performer of the week: Scoring Shelton|work=Jamaica Gleaner|url=http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080621/sports/sports18.html|access-date=23 June 2008}} Shelton was also the top goal scorer in 2010 CONCACAF World Cup qualification matches with seven goals. On 31 January 2010, Shelton scored in a friendly match against Canada to equal Paul Young as Jamaica's all-time leading goalscorer with 28 goals. On 27 November 2010, Shelton became Jamaica's all-time leader scorer with 30 goals after scoring two goals versus Antigua. Jamaica shocked United States 2–1 on to seize the lead in their group in the semi-final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF Zone. Goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton overcame Clint Dempsey's first-minute strike for the Americans as Jamaica posted their first victory over the US in 19 matches.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/the-goal-king-kingston-1996463 | title=The goal king of Kingston | publisher=FIFA | date=29 January 2013 | access-date=23 January 2021}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web | url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20210123/farewell-luton-nation-grieves-passing-former-reggae-boy-shelton | title=Farewell, Luton – Nation Grieves Passing Of Former Reggae Boy Shelton | work=Jamaica Gleaner | date=21 January 2021 | access-date=23 January 2021}}

Shelton had three children with his wife Bobbette.{{cite web|date=22 January 2021|title=Jamaican all-time scorer, Ex-Blades striker Luton Shelton dies at 35|url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2021/01/22/jamaican-all-time-scorer-ex-blades-striker-luton-shelton-dies-at-35/|access-date=23 January 2021|work=Nicholas Mendola|publisher=NBCSports}}{{cite web|date=22 January 2021|title=Former Reggae Boyz Player Luton Shelton Has Died|url=https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/sports/former-reggae-boyz-player-luton-shelton-has-died/|access-date=23 January 2021|publisher=Caribbean National Weekly}}

In 2018, it was announced that Shelton had ALS.{{cite web|date=11 October 2018|title=WATCH: Reggae Boy Luton Shelton Battling ALS Disease|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20181011/watch-reggae-boy-luton-shelton-battling-als-disease|publisher=The Gleaner}} He died from complications of the disease on 22 January 2021, aged 35.{{cite web|date=22 January 2021|title=Former Reggae Boyz Player Luton Shelton Has Died|url=https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/sports/former-reggae-boyz-player-luton-shelton-has-died/|access-date=22 January 2021|publisher=Caribbean National Weekly}}{{cite news|date=22 January 2021|title=Luton Shelton: Former Sheffield United and Jamaica striker dies aged 35|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55774330|access-date=30 January 2021}}

:Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Shelton goal.

Harbour View

• Caribbean Club Championship: 2004{{cite web |last1=Goloboy |first1=James |title=Central American Club Competitions 2004/05 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cacups05.html |website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=29 January 2021}}

Helsingborg

• Svenska Cupen: 2006{{cite web |title=HIF vann svenska cupen |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/dd4nJw/hif-vann-svenska-cupen |website=Aftonbladet |access-date=29 January 2021 |language=sv |date=2006-11-11}}

Vålerenga

• Norwegian Cup: 2008{{cite web |last1=Aarhus |first1=Lars |title=Cup final in Oslo, November 9 |url=http://www.rsssf.no/2008/fcup |website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=29 January 2021}}

Aalborg BK

• Danish Cup runner-up: 2008–09{{cite web |last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |title=Denmark Cup 2008/09 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesd/dencup09.html |website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=29 January 2021}}

Jamaica

• Caribbean Cup: 2005,{{cite web |last1=Courtney |first1=Barry |title=Copa Caribe 2005 - Details |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/caribe05det.html |website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=29 January 2021}} 2008,{{Cite web|title=Jamaica Cinches Digicel Caribbean Cup|url=http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/sports/jamaica-cinches-digicel-caribbean-cup|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Radio Jamaica News}} 2010{{Cite web|date=2010-12-06|title=Jamaica king of Caribbean soccer|url=https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/jamaica-king-of-caribbean-soccer/|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Caribbean Life News|language=en-US}}

• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country

{{reflist}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090227040430/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10418~39100,00.html Profile] at SUFC.premiumtv.co.uk
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053600/http://www.aabsport.dk/ED6266BE-9314-4D66-8A96-B9659AA504DE.W5Doc?id=fa15915a-d6b0-4eb2-b60d-584c303d1365 AaB profile]
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