A NORTH-EAST football legend could join some of the sport's all-time greats by being added to a prestigious roll of honour.

Len Shackleton, who earned the nickname of The Clown Prince of Soccer for his silky skills and seemingly carefree attitude during the post-war period, has been short-listed for possible inclusion in the National Football Museum Hall of Fame, 2007.

Better-known as simply 'Shack' to Newcastle and Sunderland supporters, who took the showman to their hearts in the 1940s and 50s, he could be included among the list of legends if modern day fans back the move.

In a colourful career, cut short by injury, Bradford-born Shackleton made a mere five appearance for England and won no major medals, but he remains Sunderland's second highest post-war top-scorer, with 101 goals, beaten only by Kevin Phillips.

He famously included a blank page under the heading: "The Average Director's Knowledge of Football" in his autobiography.

For the first time, fans are being their say as to whether a player should added to the Hall of Fame.

Viewers of Football Focus, the BBC's Saturday lunch-time preview programme, will be asked to decide which top former players should receive the award, at a ceremony to be held in Manchester, on November 15.

The Hall of Fame is now in its sixth year and among players and managers already inducted are George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Stanley Matthews and Bill Shankly.

Each year the names are chosen by a panel including Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker and Professional Footballers' Association representative Gordon Taylor.

Fans will discover the full list of nominees and how to vote for their favourite on Football focus early next month.

The National Football Museum Hall of Fame, at Preston North End's Deepdale ground, is in part backed by the Professional Footballers' Association.