Simon Shakeshaft
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Simon "Shakey" Shakeshaft (born Simon Andrew Shakeshaft on 25 February 1965 in South Wales, United Kingdom) is a former physiotherapist, working for 15 years in the Football League for Hereford United, Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town as well as the English FA.
After being diagnosed for the second time on the 1st May 2002 with Testicular cancer, the first time 14 years previously, he became a campaigner for awareness raising of the disease, particularly in the male dominated world of professional football in England. What makes his efforts remarkable is that they were started only weeks after testicular surgery, and during extensive chemotherapy through 2002. His efforts continued during 2003, on behalf of the "Keep Your Eye On The Ball" awareness campaign in football and the Everyman Campaign but had to undergo more treatment for testicular cancer that had metastasized to his lungs. His awareness and fundraising work continued tirelessly throughout his illness and subsequent recouperation.
At the end of 2005 he undertook a "Ground Hop Challenge" attempting to visit all the professional football clubs in the top five leagues of the English game, as well as Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, The Dragons Lair, home to Sky One's Dream Team, imaginary Premiership side, Harchester United and finishing at the new home of Arsenal F.C., the Emirates Stadium. The project actually took him, 13 months to complete, travelling 25,800 miles and visited a total of 120 grounds. The main purpose of the Ground Hop was giving male cancer awareness talks to over 1,000 playing and coaching staff at various clubs and getting this awareness message to over 125,000 supporters through clubs media channels, such as match day programmes and web sites[1]. His achievements were recognised by the PFA/FA when he was presented the individual supporters award of the Keep Your Eye On The Ball Campaign, by former Liverpool and England goalkeeper and current National Goalkeeping Coach Ray Clemence [2] He later appeared on ITV's GMTV to talk about the Ground Hop experience and support national volunteers [3]
During 2006 he joined forces with other testicular cancer survivors, including Philly Morris and the established checkemlads.com[4]awareness web site, hoping to register the site as a charity, continuing and expanding the awareness drive to other sports, the media/television and the music industry. Having suffered further setbacks in his health battles in March 2005 and more recently and significantly, July 2007, he continues to this day giving awareness talks all over the country, especially targeting football clubs, county associations and other football organisations.
He recently added "television actor" to his C.V appearing in the cult Sky One drama Dream Team's 10th series as the team physiotherapist and again played a physiotherapist in the Kamal directed Bollywood football movie Goal. Being a director of an e-commerce business Your Heroes & Legends, Simon is also recognised in the field of sports memorabilia as a leading researcher and authenticator of genuine match worn players football shirts.
Married to Tracey, they have one daughter Georgia and live in Hertfordshire, England.
