SUNDERLAND legend Len Shackleton was one of the footballing greats.

Bradford-born Shackleton, who earned the nickname "Clown Prince of Soccer" for his cheeky skills and disregard for authority, was one of the best players ever to wear the red and white stripes, and still holds the club post-war record of 101 League and Cup goals.

Shackleton never won a major medal and only played six times for England - but he was acknowledged as a truly brilliant inside forward and often breath-taking entertainer, feared and revered everywhere he played.

Shack was an outstanding footballer as a youngster, being selected for England Schoolboys three times before he was 14, despite his lack of inches, and it was no surprise when he was taken on to the groundstaff of the mighty Arsenal.

But he was rejected after less than a year, shortly after telling Gunners' boss George Allison to "bugger off" when he was ordered to tie the portly manager's shoelaces.

Shack returned North and, during the war years, scored 160 goals for Bradford Park Avenue before being transferred in 1946 to Newcastle United.

The transfer fee of £13,000 was the third biggest in Britain, but Shackleton endeared himself to Tyneside fans by scoring six goals on his debut in the 13-0 rout of Newport County at St James' Park.

Sixteen months later, he moved to Sunderland for a British record fee of £20,050 and became a Roker Park legend. Shack could juggle the ball and make it do tricks which had the fans - and opponents - shaking their heads in disbelief.

At inside left, he became part of the famous Bank of England team of the late 1950s. Sunderland paid a fortune for international players but, sadly. never won any silverware.

The outspoken Yorkshireman, overlooked by England for five years, was recalled for two internationals in 1954, when he was 33.

Against West Germany, holders of the World Cup, Shack sealed a 3-1 victory by jinking round two defenders and then cheekily chipping the goalkeeper for the third goal. The goal, which he regarded as his best-ever, brought the Wembley house down. Astonishingly, he was never capped again.

Many felt that authority was wary of his non-conformist attitude, and his autobiography, Clown Prince of Soccer shocked football's hierarchy when chapter nine, entitled "The average director's knowledge of football" consisted of a blank page.

Shack's days at Sunderland were numbered when disciplinarian Alan Brown arrived as manager. He played only one game in the 1957-58 season - the opening fixture against Arsenal - which saw the club relegated from the top flight for the first time in their history.

After his career was cut short by an ankle injury, Shack became a respected North-East sports journalist, who proved to be as clever with the pen as he was with a football.

One of his cutting observations - "the ball fell to his wrong feet" is fondly remembered by his contemporaries.

Shack was a one-off, a great individualist who will long be remembered for illustrious footballing skills which earned him a place in football's Hall of Fame.