Jack John Shorrock (born 28 April 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Port Vale.

Jack Shorrock
Shorrock playing for Port Vale in 2023
Personal information
Full name Jack John Shorrock[1]
Date of birth (2007-04-28) 28 April 2007 (age 17)[2]
Place of birth Stockport, England[3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Port Vale
Number 23
Youth career
Manchester City
Blackburn Rovers
2020–2022 Stockport SFA
2022 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Port Vale 18 (1)
2023Stafford Rangers (loan) 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:18, 9 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Shorrock playing for Port Vale in 2023

Shorrock was at the academies at Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers and represented the Stockport Schools Football Association (SFA) for two years before signed with Port Vale after impressing on trial.[4][5] He became the youngest player in the club's history at the age of 15 years and 145 days when he came on as a 75th-minute substitute for David Worrall in a 4–0 victory at Shrewsbury Town in the group stages of the EFL Trophy on 20 September 2022.[6] He made his EFL League One debut on the last day of the 2022–23 season, coming on as substitute in a 3–1 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 6 May; aged 16 years and nine days, he became the youngest player to represent the club in league competition since Stuart Chapman in May 1967.[7] He was the top-scorer in Vale's youth team in the 2022–23 season, playing at left-wing-back.[3]

He featured in cup games early in the 2023–24 season, playing as a wing-back and on the left of a back three.[8] On 19 December, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Stafford Rangers on a one-month work experience loan.[9] He was recalled to Vale in time to play in the 3–2 defeat to Barnsley on Boxing Day, scoring a late consolation to make him the youngest goalscorer in the club's history at 16 years and 242 days.[10][11] He made his league start on 29 December, in a 3–0 win over Blackpool at Vale Park, when he received praise for keeping opposition winger CJ Hamilton quiet.[11] His emergence in the first team was a rare positive in the club's relegation season.[12]

Shorrock signed his first professional contract, a three-year deal, in June 2024.[13] He made his first league appearance of the 2024–25 season on 5 October with a surprise inclusion in the first XI for a 1–0 win at Notts County.[14] Later in the month he said that he did not feel like a "liability" to the team as his all-round game continued to mature.[15]

Style of play

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Shorrock is an extremely versatile attacking player who began his career as a left-sided wing-back.[16]

Career statistics

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As of match played 12 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 2022–23[17] EFL League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 2 0
2023–24[18] EFL League One 12 1 0 0 1 0 3[a] 0 16 1
2024–25[19] EFL League Two 5 0 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 8 0
Total 18 1 1 0 2 0 5 0 26 1
Stafford Rangers (loan) 2023–24[20] Northern Premier League
Premier Division
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 20 1 1 0 2 0 5 0 28 1
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

References

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  1. ^ Squad Lists 2024/25 & U21 Unregistered Contract Players (PDF). EFL. September 2024. p. 79. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  2. ^ Jack Shorrock at Soccerbase
  3. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (8 January 2024). "Vale planning for stars of the future". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  4. ^ Baggaley, Michael (20 September 2022). "Jack Shorrock becomes youngest ever Port Vale player". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  5. ^ Lawton, Mike (13 February 2022). "Shorrock signs for Port Vale FC". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Jack Shorrock becomes the youngest first team player in Port Vale history". Port Vale F.C. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ^ Baggaley, Michael (8 May 2023). "Crosby happy to give youth a chance as Port Vale make plans". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  8. ^ Baggaley, Mike (11 October 2023). "Port Vale Trophy progress marred by injury concerns". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  9. ^ Allport, Darren (19 December 2023). "Squad Update". Stafford Rangers Football Club. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  10. ^ Baggaley, Mike (27 December 2023). "Fightback too late as Barnsley continue Vale's woeful home run". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (30 December 2023). "Transformed Port Vale see out the year in style". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  12. ^ Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2024). "Rating the squad, the retained list and looking ahead". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Jack Shorrock signs first professional contract with Port Vale FC | Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  14. ^ Baggaley, Mike (7 October 2024). "Vale gathering momentum". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Jack Shorrock: Port Vale teenager no longer feels like 'a liability'". BBC Sport. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  16. ^ Baggaley, Mike (24 June 2024). "Vale youngsters making the grade". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Games played by Jack Shorrock in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Games played by Jack Shorrock in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Games played by Jack Shorrock in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Stafford Rangers | Appearances | Jack Shorrock | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2023.