Player Database: Craig Shakespeare

By: Paul Holmes
Date: 06/08/2001

In the summer of ' 93 Alan Buckley splashed out £115,000 for Craig Shakespeare from West Brom. Buckley had previously worked with 'Shakey' at Walsall, where the midfielder had come through the youth ranks. Craig mainly operated in central midfield but could also play left wing or left back.

Shakespeare possessed a cracking left foot which under Buckley's 'don't shoot' tactics was wasted. 'Shakey' was often the target of the crowd's anger, many felt he was overweight and lazy. The fact that he played in one of the worst Town midfield of the 90's didn't help.

One game that stands out in my memory is the cup game against Chelsea in 1995/96. Craig was matched up against the Dutchman Ruud Gullit. 'Shakey' gave a fantastic performance (in both games) and virtually kept Gullit out of the game.

Shakespeare left for Scunthorpe at the end of the 1997/98 season before moving to Hednesford via Telford before 'hanging up his boots'. Shakespeare is currently Football in the Community Officer at West Brom.

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