Leeds born Paul Shepherd has played for the England Under-20s squad back in his days as a trainee at Leeds United. He managed just one appearance for the Premiership team (losing 3-0 at Arsenal) during his four years (95-99) there. He had two loan spells, one over the border at Ayr United (March-1997), and another on the Wirral at Tranmere Rovers (February-1999). Ayr enjoyed his company so much that when he was released from his Leeds contract, he joined them permanently playing in midfield for the 1999/2000 season and scoring an unaccustomed goal. At the end of the season, he spent the summer playing football in Iceland for Keflavik, but soon returned to warmer climes signing on at Scunthorpe in March 2000. He only managed one first team appearance before joining Cambridge United. He had trials at Crewe Alexandra, Wimbledon and Luton Town in March 2001, eventually joining Luton Town. He was unable to keep them in the second division, and he was released at the end of the season, joining Oldham Athletic. It was a frustrating time at Boundary Park, as he never made it off the bench, and he joined Scarborough in December 2001, where he became the penalty taker and was something of a club hero for his two seasons at the seaside. At the start of the 2003/2004 season he joined Leigh RMI before he was enticed to Harrogate Town at the start of the inaugural Conference North season. He became the second player to be signed from Harrogate Town by new manager John Reed, following in the footsteps of Grant Black, but didn't stay beyond the end of the season, chosing to take up a career selling property in Spain. He has two children, Jonny and Marcus.
