Shaw was born in 1913 in Walsall, Staffordshire. He began his football career as an amateur with Walsall F.C. in 1928,[5] and played local football for Streetly Works and then for Darlaston,[6] where he was top scorer in the 1936–37 season before turning professional with Birmingham in 1937.[4]
An inside forward while with Darlaston,[4] Shaw made his debut in the First Division on 25 September 1937 playing at centre forward in a 2–1 defeat at Preston North End. He played only occasionally over the next two seasons, mainly at left half,[7] but was first choice in that position at the start of the 1939–40 season which was abandoned on the outbreak of the Second World War.[8] Shaw made 111 appearances for the club in the wartime leagues,[9] and a few more when the Football League resumed in 1946, by which time the club had been renamed Birmingham City.[10]
After retiring as a player, Shaw joined Birmingham's coaching staff.[6] He acted as trainer, coach and trainer-coach until March 1958, when he was appointed as Aston Villa's trainer.[11] He left Villa in July 1964,[12] and succeeded Alf Wood as manager of Walsall in October, stabilising the club in mid-table in the Third Division and twice leading them to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.[5][13] After three and a half years, he handed over the team management role to Dick Graham.[5][14]
Shaw continued as Walsall's general manager until August 1968 when he was appointed chief scout with Leicester City.[15] He held that post until his death in April 1980 at the age of 66.[16][2]
References
^ abJoyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 235. ISBN978-1-899468-67-6.
^"Villa's new trainer". Birmingham Post. 24 March 1958. p. 19.
^Williams, Gron (17 July 1964). "Time Villa and Blues tried the Jimmy Hill formula". Birmingham Post. p. 13.
^"Walsall". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
^Williams, Gron (4 April 1968). "Graham takes over as team chief". Birmingham Post. p. 46.
^"Ray Shaw leaves 'a little sad'". Walsall Observer. 2 August 1968. p. 14.
^Whadcoat, Trevor (3 May 1980). "Press Box View: Jock passes strenuous test...". Football Post. Nottingham. p. 2. It is a shame that such a glorious season for City should end on a sad note with the death of chief scout Ray Shaw.