Shane Supple
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 May 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ipswich Town | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2009 | Ipswich Town | 34 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Falkirk (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Oldham Athletic (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 43 | (0) | |
| National team | |||
| 2008 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Shane Supple (born 4 May 1987) is an Irish Gaelic football player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Dublin senior football team and with his home club St Brigids. He is also a former professional association football player who played as a goalkeeper from 2005 to 2009.
As a footballer he spent his career mainly with Ipswich Town, having been a graduate of Ipswich's youth system. He also played for Falkirk and Oldham Athletic and was capped once by the Republic of Ireland U21 side.
Football career
Ipswich Town
In the 2004–05 season, he was part of the FA Youth Cup-winning Ipswich team. On 13 August 2005 he made his first appearance for the Ipswich first team, when an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Lewis Price forced Supple to play for an hour of the match against Leicester City; Supple kept a clean sheet. He retained the number one spot for Ipswich Town, and in the summer of 2006, Charlton made a number of bids for the Republic of Ireland player, but Ipswich manager Jim Magilton rejected all them. Leeds also showed interest but Ipswich informed the public that no bid had been made. He mainly featured among the Ipswich substitutes during the 2006–07 season with Lewis Price being first-choice keeper.
In the summer of 2007, Price was sold to Derby County, and Scottish international Neil Alexander was signed after having been released by Cardiff City at the end of the 2006–07 season. Alexander was the first-choice goalkeeper in the 2007–08 season, consigning Supple once again to the bench. In 2008, Alexander left Ipswich, in a move to Rangers for an undisclosed fee. Stephen Bywater was immediately brought in on loan from Derby County, while Supple was allowed to move to Falkirk on loan. Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Ipswich signed former player, Richard Wright from West Ham United. The former Arsenal, Everton and Southampton was made first-choice keeper.
On 26 February 2009 Supple was linked with a loan move to Grimsby Town, but this was put on hold by Ipswich in order for the club to find a replacement for the departing keeper. Subsequently, the move fell through.
Falkirk
On 31 January 2008, Supple, along with team-mate Billy Clarke joined Scottish Premier League club Falkirk on loan.[1] Supple was signed due to the injury to Falkirk's first choice goalkeeper Tim Krul, where he made four appearances for the Bairns.
Oldham Athletic
Supple was loaned out to League One side Oldham Athletic on 18 March 2009,[2] following Ipswich Town's signing of Polish goalkeeper, Bartosz Białkowski until the end of the season.[3]
Retirement from soccer
On 20 August 2009, Ipswich Town announced that they had agreed to cancel Shane Supple's contract at the request of the player, allowing him to pursue a career outside professional soccer.[4] He said that he had "fallen out of love with the game" and wished to pursue a different career path. His desire to play Gaelic football with the Dublin county team was a major motivating factor.[5] His last game was in the Carling Cup against Shrewsbury in which he saved a penalty, helping Ipswich to a shoot-out win.[6]
Possible comeback
There has been speculation that Supple may make a comeback into the game by signing for League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians or First Division side Waterford United for the League of Ireland 2012 season.
Honours
- FA Youth Cup: 2004–05
Gaelic footbal career
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Gaelic Football | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Born | 4 May 1987 Castleknock, Dublin | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 2010– | St Brigids | ||
| Club Titles | |||
| Dublin titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
| 2010– | Dublin | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 3 | ||
| All Irelands | 2 | ||
| NFL | 1 | ||
The 23-year-old began playing Gaelic football, also as a goalkeeper, for St Brigid's.[7]
In 2010 he became a member of the Dublin senior football panel, being substitute goalkeeper for their NFL game against Mayo in March,[8] although he did not play any part in the game.
Supple excelled in his first full season with his home club St Brigids, acting as vice-captain in their superb run to the final of the Dublin Senior Football Championship in 2010. Supple was nominated for a Blue Star for his excellent performances for St Brigids during the season.
In November 2011 Brigids won the Dublin Senior Football Championship.
References
- ↑ Falkirk sign Ipswich youngsters, BBC Sport, 31 January 2008.
- ↑ "Keeper Supple makes Oldham move". BBC Sport. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
- ↑ "Trading keepers". itfc.co.uk. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ↑ "Ipswich keeper Supple quits game". BBC Sport. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- ↑
- ↑ "Promising goalkeeper falls out of love with game". inside World Soccer. 21 August 2009.
- ↑ Supple back with Brigid's. Herald.ie (28 August 2009).
- ↑
External links
- Shane Supple player profile at itfc.co.uk
- Shane Supple career stats at Soccerbase