Alan Shires
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Allan Jeffrey Shires (born 29 June 1948) is an English former footballer who played as a winger in the Football League for Southend United and Colchester United. He has a wife named Christine. They have three children; Darren, Dawn and Julie. Allan has two Sons-in-Law, Darren Yuille and Jeff Smith. He also has a Daughter-in-Law, Liezel. Allan Shires has six grandchildren; Angel Shires, Leon Shires, Billy Yuille, Louis Yuille, Katie Smith and Jennifer Smith.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Allan Jeffrey Shires[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 June 1948[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Leigh-on-Sea, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Southend United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965–1966 | Southend United | 1 | (0) |
| 1966–1968 | Colchester United | 23 | (3) |
| Chelmsford City | |||
| Pegasus Athletic | |||
| Southend Manor | |||
| Total | 24 | (3) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Shires was an apprentice with local club Southend United, where he made one substitute appearance in the 1965–66 season.[2][3][4]
Shires was released by Southend in the summer of 1966 and taken on trial and subsequently signed by Essex rivals Colchester United.[2] He made his debut for the U's on 27 August 1966 in a 2–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town.[5] His first goals came in a 3–2 away win over Reading on 8 October 1966, the second of which was a last-minute match winner.[2][6] Shires went on to play 23 times for Colchester, scoring one further goal[7] during a 5–3 home defeat to Torquay United on 4 November 1967.[8] He played his last game for the club against Gillingham on 13 April 1968, a game in which he broke his collarbone.[2][9]
Shires was released from Colchester in the summer of 1968, subsequently joining Chelmsford City. He also appeared for Southend Manor.[2]