Liam Shephard
{{short description|Welsh footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Liam Shephard
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|22|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/liam-shephard-242873/|title=Liam Shephard|website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=21 July 2018}}
| birth_place = Pentre, Wales
| position = Right-back
| currentclub = Salford City
| clubnumber = 32
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2011
| youthclubs1 = Cardiff City
| youthyears2 = 2011–2013
| youthclubs2 = Swansea City
| years1 = 2013–2017 | clubs1 = Swansea City | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015 | clubs2 = → Yeovil Town (loan) | caps2 = 20 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016 | clubs3 = → Yeovil Town (loan) | caps3 = 6 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2017 | clubs4 = → Yeovil Town (loan) | caps4 = 38 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2017–2018 | clubs5 = Peterborough United | caps5 = 24 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2018–2020 | clubs6 = Forest Green Rovers | caps6 = 58 | goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2020–2021 | clubs7 = Newport County | caps7 = 42 | goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2021– | clubs8 = Salford City | caps8 = 70 | goals8 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2015 | nationalteam1 = Wales U21 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 19:53, 1 February 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:11, 17 November 2015 (UTC)
}}
Liam Shephard (born 22 November 1994) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a right-back for {{English football updater|SalfordC}} club Salford City.
Early life
Shephard grew up in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf. He is son of former footballer Garry Shephard.{{cite web | url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-city-defender-liam-shephard-8388519 | title= Swansea City defender Liam Shephard signs new two-and-a-half year deal at the Liberty Stadium | work=Wales Online | last=Gaskell|first=Simon | date=5 January 2015 | access-date=5 January 2015}}
Club career
Shephard joined Swansea City from Cardiff City in the summer of 2011, and progressed through Swansea City's Academy.{{Cite web|title=Swansea City's Liam Shephard: 7 things you need to know about Yeovil Town's latest signing|url=http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Liam-Shephard-7-things-need-know-Yeovil-Town-s/story-25887945-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150121002304/http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Liam-Shephard-7-things-need-know-Yeovil-Town-s/story-25887945-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2015|work=westerngazette.co.uk|date=19 January 2015}} Shephard signed his first professional deal with Swansea at the start of the 2013–14 season.{{cite news| title = Swansea reward seven youngsters with deals| url = http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11731/8656095/swansea-reward-seven-youngsters-with-deals| publisher = Sky Sports| date = 20 April 2013 }} Shephard broke into the first-team squad in the first half of the 2014–15 season, and was included on the bench for four Premier League matches and two cup games.{{cite web | url=http://www.swansacademy.co.uk/profiles?profile_id=119 | title=Eight young Swans pros offered contract extensions | publisher=Swansea City Academy | work=swansacademy.co.uk | date=20 January 2015 | access-date=20 January 2015 | archive-date=16 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716061649/http://www.swansacademy.co.uk/profiles?profile_id=119 | url-status=dead }} Shephard was rewarded for his progress with a new {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract until June 2017.{{cite web|title=Shephard signs new Swans contract|url=http://www.swanseacity.com/news/article/shephard-signs-new-swans-contract-2184494.aspx|publisher=Swansea City A.F.C.|work=swanseacity.net|access-date=5 January 2015}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
On 17 January 2015, Shephard joined League One team Yeovil Town on a youth loan deal and made his professional debut three days later against Preston North End.{{Cite web |title=Liam Shephard Signs on Youth Loan |url=http://www.ytfc.net/news/article/liam-shepherd-signs-on-youth-loan-2209041.aspx |work=ytfc.net |date=17 January 2015 |access-date=20 January 2015 |archive-date=14 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214074107/http://www.ytfc.net/news/article/liam-shepherd-signs-on-youth-loan-2209041.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Preston v Yeovil |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30608835|work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=20 January 2015}} Yeovil later extended the loan until the end of the season.{{Cite web|title=Swansea City's Liam Shephard to stay at Yeovil Town for rest of the season|url=http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Swansea-City-s-Liam-Shephard-stay-Yeovil-Town/story-26044619-detail/story.html|work=ytfc.net|date=19 February 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219141705/http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Swansea-City-s-Liam-Shephard-stay-Yeovil-Town/story-26044619-detail/story.html|archivedate=19 February 2015}} Shephard went on to make 20 appearances for the Glovers and was awarded Young Player of the Year, as Yeovil were relegated to League Two.{{Cite web |title=END OF SEASON AWARDS |url=http://www.ytfc.net//news/article/end-of-season-awards-2423582.aspx |work=ytfc.net |date=25 April 2015 |access-date=7 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518071641/http://www.ytfc.net//news/article/end-of-season-awards-2423582.aspx |url-status=dead }}
Shephard made his first team debut for Swansea City in the FA Cup against Oxford United, on 10 January 2016, in a 3–2 third round defeat.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35216450 |title=Oxford United 3–2 Swansea City |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=10 January 2016 |access-date=16 July 2016 }}
On 24 March 2016, Shephard returned to Yeovil Town on a month loan deal.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35891521 |title=Liam Shephard: Swansea City right-back rejoins Yeovil Town on loan |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 March 2016 |access-date=24 March 2016 }} Initially brought in as cover for fellow Swansea loanee Connor Roberts, Shephard started six matches all in a defensive midfield role as he helped Yeovil to avoid relegation.{{Soccerbase season|78221|2015|name=Liam Shephard|access-date=1 July 2016}}
On 1 July 2016, Shephard joined Yeovil Town for a third time on a six-month loan deal.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36684035 |title=Yeovil Town: Bolton striker Tom Eaves & Swansea defender Liam Shephard sign |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016 }}
Upon his return from his loan spell with Yeovil, Shephard was released by Swansea at the end of the 2016–17 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40001921 |title=Emnes and Tremmel depart as Swansea City release eight players |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=22 May 2017 |access-date=22 May 2017 }}
On 10 July 2017, Shephard signed for League One club Peterborough United on a two-year contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40555681 |title=Liam Shephard: Peterborough United sign ex-Swansea City defender |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=10 July 2017 |access-date=10 July 2017 }}
On 28 June 2018, Shephard joined League Two club Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44641537 |title=Forest Green sign Posh's Liam Shephard and ex-Fulham youngster Isaac Pearce |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=29 June 2018 }} Shephard was released by Forest Green Rovers at the end of the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/forest-green-rovers-head-coach-4380016 |title=Forest Green Rovers head coach Mark Cooper says skipper Joseph Mills is set to leave the club |last=Halliwell |first=Mark |work=Gloucestershire Live |date=30 July 2020 |access-date=27 August 2020 }}
On 2 September 2020 Shephard joined Newport County on a one-year contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54000687|title=Newport sign striker Twine on loan|work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}} He made his debut for Newport on 5 September 2020 in the 2–0 EFL Cup win against Swansea City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53955775|title=Newport County 2–0 Swansea City|work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}} He scored his first goal for Newport on 19 September 2020 in the League Two 2–1 win against Barrow.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54127733|title=Taylor earns Newport win over Barrow|work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}} Shephard played for Newport in the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 which Newport lost to Morecambe, 1–0 after a 107th-minute penalty.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57224523|title=Shrimps go up with extra-time penalty|work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=24 June 2021}}
In June 2021 Shephard rejected a contract extension at Newport and signed a two-year contract at Salford City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57587143|title=Newport defender Shephard joins Salford|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 June 2021 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}} In June 2023 Shephard extended his Salford contract until the end of the 2024–25 season.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66043434 Shephard Salford extension]
On 12 May 2025, the club announced he would be released in June when his contract expires.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Salford City |date=2025-05-12 |title=Retained and released list confirmed |url=https://www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2025/may/12/retained-and-released-list-confirmed/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Salford City FC |language=en}}
International career
Shephard was called up to Wales under-21 squad to face Bulgaria in March 2015.{{cite web|title=WILLIAMS NAMES SQUAD AHEAD OF U21 CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENER |url=http://www.faw.org.uk/news/WILLIAMS-NAMES-SQUAD-AHEAD-OF-U21-CHAMPIONSHIPS-OPENER/99436/ |work=faw.org.uk |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117085014/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/WILLIAMS-NAMES-SQUAD-AHEAD-OF-U21-CHAMPIONSHIPS-OPENER/99436/ |archivedate=17 November 2015 }} Later in the qualification campaign, Shephard made his debut in a 2–1 win over Armenia.{{Cite web |title=Wales U21 2 Armenia U21 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34804810|work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=13 November 2015}}
Style of play
Shephard is primarily a right-back but can also play at centre-back.{{cite web|title=League Two play-off final: WhoScored.com's combined XI|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11750/12317250/league-two-play-off-final-whoscored-coms-combined-xi|date=30 May 2021|access-date=24 June 2021|publisher=Sky Sports|first=Ben|last=McAleer}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 3 February 2024}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway}}
{{Salford City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shephard, Liam}}
Category:Footballers from Rhondda Cynon Taf
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Salford City F.C. players
Category:English Football League players