Charlie Shaw (footballer, born 1862)
One-match League footballer who scored a controversial winner.
Charlie Shaw, born Charles Richard Shaw on 18 November 1862 in Willenhall, Staffordshire, was an English footballer who made a single, memorable appearance in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion. His school football days were with Essington & Willenhall Schools, after which he played for Willenhall Pickwick before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He left Wolves sometime before 1888 and joined Walsall Swifts for his first stint there, departing in August 1888.
Shaw signed for West Bromwich Albion as an amateur in August 1888. A left-winger described as an eager-beaver, he came on a month’s trial. His only senior game for the Baggies came on 29 September 1888 at Stoney Lane, where the home side beat Burnley 4–3. In that match, Shaw scored his club and League debut goal—and the only League goal of his career. With the score at 3–3, he netted the winner in controversial fashion: the referee, Mr Jope, agreed with Albion’s claim that a shot from Shaw had gone under the bar before being fisted away by Burnley’s Robert Kay, a decision ‘hotly contested by the visitors’.
After that single League appearance, Shaw spent most of his career with Walsall Swifts (rejoining them in October 1888 and staying until 1893). During the 1888–89 season he also represented the Staffordshire FA XI and the Birmingham FA XI. His final club was Wednesfield Star, from 1894 to 1895. Later in life he became a licensee in Wolverhampton. Shaw died in February 1931 at age 68.
Quick Facts
- Fullname
- Charles Richard Shaw
- Birth Date
- 1862-11-18
- Birth Place
- Willenhall, England
- Death Date
- February 1931 (aged 68)
- Position
- Forward
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Charlie Shaw was born in Willenhall, a suburb of Walsall, Staffordshire. He played school football for Essington & Willenhall Schools, then for Willenhall Pickwick before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sometime before 1888 he left Wolverhampton Wanderers and signed for Walsall Swifts for his first spell, leaving in August 1888. Playing as a winger, he made his League debut on 29 September 1888 at Stoney Lane against Burnley. With the score 3–3, Shaw scored what proved to be the winning goal in the last minute, though Burnley hotly contested the referee's decision that the ball had gone under the bar before being fisted away by goalkeeper Robert Kay. Albion won 4–3. Shaw spent most of his career playing for Walsall Swifts (later Walsall Town Swifts), representing the Staffordshire FA XI and the Birmingham FA XI in 1888–89. He rejoined Walsall Town Swifts in October 1888 and remained until 1893. His final club was Wednesfield Star from 1894 to 1895. He later became a licensee in Wolverhampton and died in February 1931 aged 68.
Reader's Guide
Charlie Shaw's significance lies in the peculiar brevity and drama of his Football League career. He played only one senior game for West Bromwich Albion, yet in that match he scored the decisive goal in a 4–3 victory over Burnley. The goal was controversial: the referee ruled that a shot from Shaw had crossed the line before being fisted away, a decision 'hotly contested by the visitors'. This single appearance and disputed goal make Shaw a footnote in football history, illustrating how even a fleeting League career could produce a memorable moment. His broader career was spent in lower-league and representative football, primarily with Walsall Swifts, and he later worked as a publican. Shaw's story reflects the early professional era's fluidity, where amateur players could appear briefly at top clubs before returning to local sides.
Did You Know?
- Charlie Shaw played only one Football League match in his career, for West Bromwich Albion.
- He scored the winning goal in his only League game, a 4–3 victory over Burnley on 29 September 1888.
- The goal was controversial: the referee ruled the ball had crossed the line after being fisted away by Burnley goalkeeper Robert Kay.
- Shaw later became a licensee (pub owner) in Wolverhampton.
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