Wilfred Shaw (21 April 191220 February 1945) was an English footballer who played as a right back mainly for Doncaster Rovers. He was killed in action in World War II.
Shaw signed to Doncaster from local club Rossington Colliery for the start of the 1930âÂÂ31 season, though didn't get his first game until 2 May 1931. The following season he made just 2 appearances, and it wasn't until the end of the 1933âÂÂ34 season that he became a regular feature, playing in every league and FA Cup game in the 1934âÂÂ35 season.
In December 1935, Smith was in the Doncaster team that played their first game against a club from outside the British Isles when they entertained F.C. Austria of Vienna, a game they eventually lost 1âÂÂ2. He was also in the first Rovers side to venture abroad when they played a friendly against the Dutch International XI on 21 October 1936 at the Sparta Rotterdam Arena, losing 7âÂÂ2.
During the first season of the war, Shaw was a regular feature for Doncaster in the East Midlands War League, though in each of the following two seasons he only played in one game. His last appearance for Rovers was on 24 October 1942 in a 2âÂÂ4 home defeat to Sheffield United in the War League North. He was registered with Gloucester City for the 1941âÂÂ42 season, though never played any competitive games.
His brother was George Shaw, who also played for Doncaster in the 1920s, and went on to be an FA Cup winner with West Bromwich Albion and made an appearance for England.
A private in the Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Bn, Shaw was killed in action on the during Operation Veritable on 20 February 1945. He is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery near Kleve in Germany, his name is on the War Memorial in Cantley, Doncaster.
Doncaster Rovers
Champions 1934âÂÂ35