view Shakes's match-by-match record
 
Ricky SHAKES

An attacking midfield player, Shakes signed for Swindon on a one year deal in July 2005, after impressing in reserve games for the Town during a short trial towards the end of the 2004/05 season, and despite interest from Bury, where he had previously spent a successful loan spell. He made his debut on the opening day of the season, showing his great pace and some potential despite the 2-0 defeat at Barnsley.

Though Shakes' pace was a great asset for taking on defenders, too often his final ball went astray, and he initially struggled to hold down a regular first team place up until December, when he began an extended run in the side. It was during this spell that Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker came to watch Shakes, as a potential member of the T&T World Cup squad, for whom Shakes qualified to play for through his Trinidadian mother. The interest seemed to affect Shakes' form, and though he made his international debut for the Soca Warriors as a substitute in a 2-0 victory over Iceland in February, by March he had been relegated to the Town's bench again. At the end of the month, he turned down the opportunity to represent T&T's under-21 side in the Central America and Caribbean Games - choosing instead to stay and fight for his place after discovering it would mean spending ten days away.

Shakes marked his return to the first team in April with a goal that put the Town into a surprise lead at Swansea, and he should have been awarded a penalty, before the Swans netted twice in quick succession. The following week, Shakes was handed a golden opportunity to score again in a crucial relegation battle with MK Dons - having been put clean through, one-on-one with the Dons' keeper, Shakes dragged a tame shot wide of the post - moments later, the Dons scored what proved to be the winning goal, a result that dealt a severe blow to any hopes the Town had of avoiding relegation. Shakes did score again the following week, helping the Town to a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe, taking his tally for the season to three. By this time, Shakes had already learned that he would not be part of the World Cup squad, instead being put on standby for the tournament.

After the Town's relegation to League Two, new manager Dennis Wise kept Shakes in his starting line-up for the opening part of the season, and he started all of the opening six games, which were all victorious for Swindon. During September though, after a defeat at Wrexham, Shakes lost his place in the side, and though he returned in an unfamiliar right back role for a home match against Peterborough, defeat prompted a prolonged period out of the team. He returned to the first eleven in mid-October, and kept his place into December, by which time Wise had left for Leeds, and new manager Paul Sturrock had taken over the reins. Two consecutive poor displays though in early December, along with a change in formation, saw Shakes replaced again.

In early January though, Sturrock chose Shakes as the first player to benefit from some personal coaching - working on the crossing that previously had let his game down, and that was such an integral part of Sturrock's tactical play. The effect was almost immediate - Shakes giving some of his best performances in a Town shirt during the early part of the year. During this period, he also scored his second goal of the campaign - striking a volley on the stroke of half-time against Macclesfield, and then treating the fans to a celebratory dance - a reference to videos of Shakes' Trinidadian dancing that had appeared on the YouTube website earlier in the year.

Shakes remained in the side for most of February and March, but with the Town struggling to keep pace in the promotion race, he often found himself substituted before the end of the game. Then, when Sturrock signed five players on the loan transfer deadline day in March, a tactical reshuffle forced Shakes not just out of the eleven, but completely out of the sixteen - loan signing Kevin James often warming the bench in his place. Come the end of the season, when the Town secured promotion, Sturrock told Shakes that he was free to find another club, despite the fact that a contract extension had already been triggered by virtue of the number of games that Shakes had played in.

PLAYING RECORD:

Season LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP OTHER TOTAL
Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls
'06/'07 26 (+6) 2 3 - 1 - 1 - 31 (+6) 2
'05/'06 26 (+11) 3 1 (+1) - 1 - - - 28 (+12) 3
TOTAL 52 (+17) 5 4 (+1) - 2 - 1 - 59 (+18) 5


TRANSFER INFORMATION:

DATE IN/OUT TRANSFER DETAIL
1 JUL 2005 IN Bolton Wanderers
(unattached)
17 MAY 2007 OUT (released)
» Brentford


full name

Ricky Unric Bascombe Shakes


 GUYANA
international apps

10 apps, 2 goals


 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
international apps

1 apps(1 apps whilst at Swindon) 


 ENGLAND

date of birth
26 January 1985


             
           
             
             
             
             

usual positions
right-sided attacking midfield

youth career
Bolton Wanderers

senior career
Bolton Wanderers
Bristol Rovers (loan)
Bury (loan)
SWINDON TOWN
Brentford
Ebbsfleet United
Kidderminster Harriers
Boreham Wood