Alan Shoulder

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alan Shoulder

| image =

| full_name = Alan Shoulder{{Hugman|17941|accessdate=1 May 2020}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|2|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bishop Auckland, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|2|2|1953|2|4|df=y}}

| death_place =

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/186 186] |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/186}}

| position = Forward

| years1 = 1971–1977 | clubs1 = Bishop Auckland

| years2 = 1977–1978 | clubs2 = Blyth Spartans

| years3 = 1978–1982 | clubs3 = Newcastle United | caps3 = 107 | goals3 = 35

| years4 = 1982–1985 | clubs4 = Carlisle United | caps4 = 112 | goals4 = 32

| years5 = 1985–1988 | clubs5 = Hartlepool United | caps5 = 66 | goals5 = 24

| years6 = | clubs6 = Ferryhill Athletic

| managerclubs1 = Crook Town | manageryears1 =

| managerclubs2 = Gateshead (caretaker) | manageryears2 = 1998

| managerclubs3 = Blyth Spartans | manageryears3 = 1998

| managerclubs4 = Bishop Auckland | manageryears4 = 2002

| managerclubs5 = Willington | manageryears5 =

| managerclubs6 = West Auckland Town | manageryears6 =

}}

Alan Shoulder (4 February 1953 – 2 February 2025) was an English professional footballer and football manager.

Career

A forward, Shoulder began his career with Leeholme Juniors, before joining Bishop Auckland in 1972. In 1977, he joined Blyth Spartans and featured in their run to the fifth round of the FA Cup. In December 1978, he was transferred to Newcastle United for £20,000, where he scored 38 goals in 117 games. In 1982, he joined Carlisle United on a free transfer, then in 1985 joined Hartlepool United, again on a free transfer. An eye injury forced him to retire as a professional player in December 1988, but he continued playing with Ferryhill Athletic

Shoulder later became assistant manager at Gretna, and then a coach at Newcastle Blue Star.{{cite book | last= Joannou | first= Paul | title= The Black 'n' White Alphabet | date= 1996 | publisher= Polar Print Group | pages= 368–369 | isbn= 1-899538-03-8 }} He has since managed several clubs, including Coundon, Crook Town,{{cite web | title=Shoulder resigns | work=www.thenorthernecho.co.uk | url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2000/7/8/196805.html | date=8 July 2000 | accessdate=12 April 2008}} Bishop Auckland,{{cite web | title=The Albany Northern League Today: Shoulder ready for challenge | work=www.thenorthernecho.co.uk | url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2002/12/7/112036.html | date=7 December 2002 | accessdate=12 April 2008}} Willington, West Auckland Town{{cite web | title=Back to reality with a good win but fewer fans | work=www.newspostleader.co.uk | url=http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/sport/Back-to-reality-with-a.991654.jp?articlepage=2 | date=7 April 2005 | accessdate=12 April 2008}} and Blyth Spartans.{{cite web|url=http://www.spartansnet.co.uk/Spirit/Spirit11.htm |title=A to Z of the Unibond Years |publisher=Blyth Spirit Online |accessdate=12 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905092804/http://www.spartansnet.co.uk/Spirit/Spirit11.htm |archivedate=5 September 2008 }}

Death

Shoulder died on 2 February 2025, two days before what would have been his 72nd birthday.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-hero-alan-shoulder-30918660 |title=Newcastle United hero Alan Shoulder dies at 71 after fairytale footballing rise |first=John |last=Gibson |website=Chronicle Live |date=2 February 2025 |access-date=2 February 2025}}

Honours

Individual

Newcastle United Player of the Year: 1979–80{{cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/joelinton-scoops-newcastle-united-player-of-the-year-award/ |title=Joelinton scoops Newcastle United Player of the Year award |author=Rory Mitchinson |website=Newcastle United F.C. |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=19 October 2023}}