By Nick Raynor
July 6 2005

#1 Shay Given 

Player Profile

 

 

Personal…

Name: Shay Given

Height: 6ft 1in

Weight: 13st 4lbs

Date of Birth: 20^th April 1976

Home Town: Lifford, Ireland

Nationality: Irish

 

Career…

Past Clubs: Glasgow Celtic, Swindon Town, Sunderland (Loan), Blackburn Rovers

Date Signed for Newcastle: June 1997

Fee: £1.5 million

NUFC Debut: 9^th August vs. Sheffield Wednesday

International Debut: 27 March 1997 vs. Russia, aged 19.

 

So Far…

 

Shay Given had his first team at the age of 14; Lifford Men’s team. Shay had 3 older brothers who toughened him up so it was no surprise when Shay was starting in goal for a men’s team.

 

At the age of 15, he was invited on a pre-season tour of Ireland with Celtic and signed his first contract with Celtic when he was 16. Shay moved to Scotland but in 1994 he transferred to Blackburn where Kenny Dalglish was at the helm.

 

Shay struggled to break into the team at Blackburn with Tim Flowers, England international between the sticks and only managed 2 appearances for Rovers.

 

Shay went out on loan to Swindon, then Sunderland where he impressed, keeping 16 out of 17 clean sheets. He was recalled to Blackburn but Sunderland still sent him a ‘Division One Winners Medal’.

 

Shay transferred to Newcastle in 1997 for a bargin-price of £1.5 million, Dalglish signing him for a second time as he was now at the helm at Newcastle.

 

Shay was and still is a vital figure in the Newcastle team. He played in the 1998 FA Cup Final but missed out on the 1999 FA Cup final, losing his place to Steve Harper.

 

He regained his first team place midway through the 1999/2000 season and started to become known as one of the best goalkeepers on the Premiership in the 2000/2001 where he won ‘Player of The Season’ as voted by the supporters.

 

Shay lost his place briefly to Steve Harper due to injury and hastily handed in a transfer request when fit as he was not been played. It was turned down and when Steve Harper was injured, Shay reclaimed his place and kept it ever since.

 

In 01/02, 02/03 and 03/04, Shay played every single league game for Newcastle but will not do this season after missing one game for the birth of his child but Shay did play his 300^th game for Newcastle on November 25^th 2004 and it was a happy occasion as he kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 victory in France against Sochaux.

 

Despite a bad season for Newcastle, Given was a regular in between the sticks during the 2004/2005 season, and dismissed rumours of him leaving the club.