Shane Supple
Encyclopedia
Shane Supple is an Irish
sportsman. He plays Gaelic football
with the Dublin senior football team and with his home club St Brigids, in Castleknock. He is also a former professional soccer goalkeeper who spent his career at Ipswich Town
, having been a graduate of Ipswich's youth system
.
-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.
club Falkirk
on loan. Supple was signed due to the injury to Falkirk's first choice goalkeeper Tim Krul
, where he made four appearances for the Bairns.
side Oldham Athletic
on 18 March 2009, following Ipswich Town's signing of Polish
goalkeeper, Bartosz Białkowski until the end of the season.
with the Dublin county team
was a major motivating factor.
, also as a goalkeeper, for St Brigid's.
In 2010 he became a member of the Dublin senior football panel, being substitute goalkeeper for their NFL
game against Mayo in March, 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.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsman. He plays Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the Dublin senior football team and with his home club St Brigids, in Castleknock. He is also a former professional soccer goalkeeper who spent his career at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, having been a graduate of Ipswich's youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
.
Ipswich Town
In the 2004–05 season, he was part of the FA Youth CupFA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
-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
Lewis Price
Lewis Peter Price is a Welsh international goalkeeper who plays for Crystal Palace. He has previously played for Derby County and Ipswich Town-Ipswich Town:...
forced Supple to play for an hour of the match against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
; Supple kept a clean sheet. He retained the number one spot for Ipswich Town, and in the summer of 2006, Charlton
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
made a number of bids for the Republic of Ireland player, but Ipswich manager Jim Magilton
Jim Magilton
James "Jim" Magilton is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager, who is currently employed as Football Consultant at Shamrock Rovers F.C. after being appointed on 6 July 2011....
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
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, and Scottish international Neil Alexander
Neil Alexander
Neil Alexander is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper who is currently playing for Scottish Premier League side Rangers.-Early career:...
was signed after having been released by Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
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
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
for an undisclosed fee. Stephen Bywater
Stephen Bywater
Stephen Michael Bywater, is an English professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He has made appearances for seven clubs, most notably his current club Derby County, where he won the 2007 Championship Playoff final and West Ham United, where he spent eight seasons and made over 60...
was immediately brought in on loan from Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, while Supple was allowed to move to Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
on loan. Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Ipswich signed former player, Richard Wright
Richard Wright (footballer)
Richard Ian Wright is an English professional goalkeeper, currently playing for Ipswich Town, now his third spell with the club having played earlier in the season for the reserves...
from West Ham United. The former Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
was made first-choice keeper.
On 26 February 2009 Supple was linked with a loan move to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became 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 LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
on loan. Supple was signed due to the injury to Falkirk's first choice goalkeeper Tim Krul
Tim Krul
Timothy Michael "Tim" Krul is a Dutch footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Netherlands national team.-Newcastle United:...
, where he made four appearances for the Bairns.
Oldham Athletic
Supple was loaned out to League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
on 18 March 2009, following Ipswich Town's signing of Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
goalkeeper, Bartosz Białkowski until the end of the season.
Retirement from Football
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. 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 footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the Dublin county team
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
was a major motivating factor.
Honours
Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
: 2004–05
Gaelic football
The 23-year-old began studying and playing Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, also as a goalkeeper, for St Brigid's.
In 2010 he became a member of the Dublin senior football panel, being substitute goalkeeper for their NFL
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
game against Mayo in March, 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.
External links
- Shane Supple player profile at itfc.co.uk