Jack Shepherd (footballer)

Jack Shepherd (born 6 March 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Barnsley.

A ball-playing centre-half, Shepherd played non-League football with Penistone Church, Athersley Recreation and Pontefract Collieries, before turning professional with Barnsley in July 2023.

Early career
Shepherd played Northern Counties East League football for Penistone Church (over two spells) and Athersley Recreation. He was voted Wentworth Pewter Player of the Month at Penistone in October 2020. He joined Pontefract Collieries in the Northern Premier League Division One East in September 2021. He made his debut for Pontefract playing at left-back against Yorkshire Amateurs in the FA Trophy. He reverted to centre-half and earned comparisons to Paolo Maldini by Colls supporters as he scored three goals during some impressive performances during the 2022–23 season. He signed contract extensions in March 2022 and March 2023. He won the club's young player of the season for two consecutive years.

Barnsley
On 4 July 2023, Shepherd signed with EFL League One club Barnsley after impressing Academy Manager Bobby Hassell on trial. Barnsley agreed to play Pontefract in a pre-season friendly as part of the deal, whilst agreeing to a "significant sell on clause". Shepherd quit his job as a kitchen-fitter to turn professional. He made his first-team debut on 5 August 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 7–0 win over Port Vale at Oakwell, in what was the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the English Football League since the 1962–63 season over 60 years ago. Shepherd then made his first league start for Barnsley in an impressive 2-0 win away at Wigan on 26 August 2023.

Style of play
Shepherd is a left-sided centre-half who is adept at playing the ball out from the back.