This is Shay Given’s official Website dedicated to keeping you up to date on Shay’s career with Newcastle United and the Republic of Ireland!
Here’s the run down so far
Shay started playing his football in his Dad’s front garden, if fact anywhere a ball would bounce. Shay’s three elder brothers would thump the throttle out of Shay, day in day out, so it was no surprise when he was playing for the local mens team Lifford Celtic at age 14, which in fact first brought Shay to the Limelight playing in the FAI’s Junior Cup for Lifford in the Semi-Final in Dundalk, getting beat 1:0 but Shay was definately a big talking point in goal holding his own and looking very assured for a 14-year old.
Shay also played anything with a ball in it at his old School St. Columba’s College Stranorlar, in Co. Donegal.
Shay was invited to join Celtic on a pre-season tour of Ireland when he was just 15 and then signed terms at 16.
He moved to bonny Scotland before in 1994 moving down to Blackburn Rovers to join Kenny Dalglish. Kenny was instrumental then in bringing Shay to the north-east again joing Kenny in the top flight with Newcastle United in 1997 costing 1.5 million, a bargain really. It hasn’t always been easy but Shay’s enjoyed the best season ever and received due honour from his fellow professionals, being selected for the Premiership top 11. Long may it continue. 
Shay had his work cut out for him at Blackburn Rovers trying to replace Tim Flowers an England international. Shay played only 2 games at Ewood Park before going on loan at first to Swindon Town and then at Sunderland 1995-1996, keeping 16 clean sheets out of 17 appearances for Sunderland. Even though brought back to Blackburn, Sunderland sent on the “Division One winners medal” to Shay.
He played in the 1998 FA Cup Final and then missed out on the 1999 FA Cup Final when displaced by Steve Harper, but after sitting out the start of the 1999/2000 season, ended the campaign in possession of the first-team place. In 2000/01, Shay was once again in magnificent form for club and country and earned most supporters’ awards as their Player of the Season.
Shay lost his place briefly to Steve Harper (friend and rival) due to injury and handed in a hasty transfer request out of protest on being fit again after 2 games out. The request was more a protest rather than a genuine wish to ever leave the club. The club rejected the request and luckily for Shay, Steve Harper injured himself in training and he was back in and hasn’t looked back since with his best ever season in 2001/02.
Last year was a bumpy one for Shay injury wise with him needed more surgery in Munich Germany to relieve groin trouble. He says now that he feels like a new man and that seems to be reflected in his opening games for Newcastle United this season.
Update 2009:
Manchester City F.C. have brought Shay to their club for an ‘undisclosed-fee’ and joins younger keepers ‘Hart’ and ‘Schmeichel’ in the now growing Man City squad.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 13:53
still the best seamus,keep her lit
November 1st, 2008 at 05:05
he is the best keeper in the world
November 9th, 2008 at 11:15
I try to lift the given in the goal.com.please look at the world ranking inthe goal.com
November 30th, 2008 at 15:09
shay is better than buffun and chech and vandersar
December 29th, 2008 at 00:17
Here we go again, Shay’s off to Arsenal, how many more times?!! Any truth in this?
DC
January 2nd, 2009 at 02:07
Shay is the one guy at Newcastle who you can look at and believe he is feeling what the fans feel and has the same passion the fans do. Shay, I can understand if you want to leave to better yourself, but that will not happen at Man City or Tottenham. We will all be gutted if you leave the toon. THERE’S ONLY ONE SHAY GIVEN!!!
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:21
Get yourself away Shay. You deserve so much more You should have done it years ago. More empty promises although you have to look around at the overpaid prima donas we have up there. As always NUFC let you down. Luckily you have only had 11 years. I’ve had 50 !!
January 3rd, 2009 at 13:43
Shay Given is far too good for Newcastle United. You have been very loyal to the club, you have given 10 good years, get yourself playing in the champions league and winning medals
January 5th, 2009 at 22:13
I’m a north eastener living in the midlands. People at work have been asking me about Owen and what’s going on. I tell them he is irrelavant in comparison to Shay and his worth to the club. All I can say is good luck Shay, whatever choice you make. You will always be a geordie legend no matter what happens and we understand that you have to do what’s right for you. All the best, happy new year.
January 7th, 2009 at 14:42
Shay is by far the best keeper in the world today and has been for a long time.
In terms of what he means to Newcastle United fans, I would imagine he would be the very last player they would ever want to see leave the club. He has been an absolute legend and one of the few class acts around the club for the past few years.
Newcastle Unitrd fans love him and will always love him, regardless of where he decides to play for the rest of his career. We just hope that he stays with us a bit longer and that everything will turn out alright in the end!!
January 11th, 2009 at 23:49
Shay 16 years I have been as season ticket holder (so loads of ups and downs) you deserve more, you are the best goalkeeper in the league, shearer might have scored the goals but you saved them. If you stay then great but if you go, good luck from the me and I would say 99% of the NUFC geordies, but guess what I think you will be like shearer (turn down Man Utd) and stay on tyneside with your famlily and be a NUFC hero forever. You might win nothing like shearer, but I will always cheers you from my seats in the Leazes end (Sir John Hall) when you run over and wave to the crowd. Shay if you read this, do a Shearer, stay here, be a hero, enjoy your family, take Ashleys cash, and be the best goalkeeper for NUFC (inc Gordon Marshall and Willie McFaul) and give us die hard fans something to watch, who knows, Miracles do happen and we might just win a cup!!!! Good Luck Shay!!! Cheers Steve
January 12th, 2009 at 04:07
Whatever you do you will do it for your family, you are truely professional and have honoured every ounce of your contracts to Newcastle over the years.
The heart will tell you.
Very best of Luck you deserve everything you recieve.
January 25th, 2009 at 01:05
Shay is the backbone to our club. His heart has always been with Newcastle and I hope he can find it within him to weather the dark storm and stay with us. He’s a brilliant keeper, and he is very well respected and loved by the fanbase. We want to be able to have our hero with us for as long as we can, and when the time comes – honour him accordingly. Please Shay ? !!
January 26th, 2009 at 11:09
If we loose Shay Given in January then Mike Ashley has a lot to answer for, well he has a lot to answer for anyway. I would rather Freddie Sheperd be there than him, He had all these good ideas about what we were going to achieve under the ashley regime. It is failing miserably. Shay is by far the best keeper in the premiership and has been since Peter Schmeichel hung up his gloves. If Manchester City want him then we should demand 25million for him, look what Juvntus had to pay for Buffon. It will be a sad day if he leaves. Ever since Shearer left Shay should have been made club captain on a permanant basis. Please Stay Shay I am sure someone will rescue the club from the cockney maffia who are trying to destroy it.
January 27th, 2009 at 21:10
Shay Given… Best Goalkeeper in the World
Please Stay!
January 29th, 2009 at 01:32
Shay has been a brilliant servant and backbone of the club for the past 11 years. He is the envy of all clubs and his performances at times have been unbelievable. It will be a sad day if he leaves, but if he does so it is because the club have failed to provide an outfield team to match the star in goal.
I am not surprised at the possibility of you leaving and wish you and your family all the best in whatever the future may bring for you.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:51
Nobody would blame you for leaving Shay, but you are the heart of Newcastle United since Shearer left. Besides, do you really want to play in the same team like Bellamy? Please stay!
January 29th, 2009 at 16:04
i love given.he should go to the man city.he is the best keeper in the world
January 30th, 2009 at 13:31
Good luck to you Shay, you’re the best ‘keeper I’ve ever seen in the flesh! You’ve given us more loyalty than the club deserves, and I hope you win the trophies at Man City that your ability deserves.
January 30th, 2009 at 13:59
well mate it looks like your off to pastures new and all I can say is thanks loyalty is few and far between in the game these days but more than that you are a true pro. I have enjoyed watching you in some amazing games over the years, wish it had been a little quieter for us all but the gallowgate will always welcome you back, you are in the Milburn,Gallagher,Moncur,MacDonald,Shearer and Robson class. Cheers Shay and all the best.
January 30th, 2009 at 17:18
Gutted if you go to Man City but don’t blame you. Thanks for your years of loyalty you are a Toon legend,I wonder how many points you have won for us…You will always get the respect and welcome you deserve at Newcastle…Good luck Shay
January 30th, 2009 at 17:28
[...] now, it looks certain that veteran goalkeeper and long-serving member of the Irish national squad Shay Given will leave for the fleshpots of Manchester City; and there are rumours that Irish team-mate Damien [...]
January 31st, 2009 at 00:38
Shay you are a legend. No real Newcastle fan can blame you for looking elsewhere. We have been very lucky to have you between the posts for the last 11 years. Your loyalty will always be remembered by us and I hope you win the medals and cups you deserve. The Charles ‘Insomnia’ situation not only shows how a professional footballer shouldn’t behave, but it makes me even more grateful to you for your professionalism. Thank you and good luck!
February 1st, 2009 at 23:20
shay u have been the greatest player i have seen in a newcasle shirt u were loyal and there 4 the cause i can see why u left u deserve to your best keeper in league by far we going to miss u but hopefully we will be ok so from everyone at nufc thanx 4 everyhing and all the best at city
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:04
A true professional, a gentleman and a TOON Legend!!
Thank you for everything Shay, and I sincerely wish you all the best for the future.
You are welcome back at the TOON anytime.
Good luck Shay, you will be missed!
February 2nd, 2009 at 22:49
I would like to thank you for 11 years of outstanding service for the toon. You will be sorely missed, I hope Man city fans realise that they now have the best keeper in the league and probably the world!
I wish you good luck and i hope you get those medals you deserve.
Once agian thank you, you’re a true toon legend!
February 3rd, 2009 at 00:46
Shay, met you many years ago when you joined Blackburn. Visited you many times in Newcastle. Best of luck on your move to Man City. Hope you win the Trophies that you deserve. Will see you no doubt at some games in the near future. Regards John Carty
February 3rd, 2009 at 22:23
Shay,
Thanks for the last 11 years, you’ll forever be welcome by any of the tens of thousand of fans at Newcastle. If i’m honest, i’m grateful you stuck it out so long. We, the Geordie faithful have suffered decades of heartbreak and dissapointment at the hands of some comical and shamefull backroom/boardroom idiots. Good luck in the future Shay (apart from against NUFC of course), i sincerely wish you success and of course…..trophies!!!
February 4th, 2009 at 00:58
Good luck, Shay – hope you get the silverware you so richly deserve! All the best, DC!
February 5th, 2009 at 00:09
Shay good luck at mancity Youve done the toon proud.
I hope you always have the toon in your blood.
Shay Given the best keeper in the world.
your play with your heart on your sleeve.
February 5th, 2009 at 16:55
Shay was my absolute favorite player for New Castle United. I was heartbroken to see him leave but wish him the very best for the future. Shay is the best keeper in the world. Thanks
February 7th, 2009 at 15:46
Shay i would like to thank you for your loyal service to NUFC, you are a world class goal keeper, sorry you did not win anything with us, best of luck with city they have big plans for the future, great start some fab saves agaist Middlesbourgh, we will miss you.
February 7th, 2009 at 16:22
shay given will always have a place in the geordie hearts, man city or not we still ove you shay and thank you for all the dedicated years you served.
February 8th, 2009 at 04:03
Thanks very much for all the great service at Newcastle, always gave everthing every match.I just wish that the rest of the team gave as much then the sky could have been reached.A fantastic role model on and off the pitch, the heartbeat of the Newcastle team.A world class goalkeeper and i wish you all the very best at man city and every sucess which you really deserve.
February 10th, 2009 at 13:00
welcome to shay!as mancunian die hard fan,i really appreciate dat u signed 4 us..u r one of da best..n u proved it few days ago against boro…hopeflly it wll continue…live city!
February 13th, 2009 at 00:26
As always you played brilliantly at the weekend and had a great game against boro.
you could walk into any team in the premier league, if not the world.
city have no idea how luck they are to have you, i just hope they win you some silverware, the best goalkeeper thats set foot in newcastle. The amount of points you’ll save at the city of manchester, you’ll be priceless to them, i just wish that our owner felt the same way.
“THERE’S ONLY ONE SHAY GIVEN”
February 14th, 2009 at 17:31
Shay,
Best wishes for you and your family from Belgrade, Serbia.
We all in Serbia remember your games against Partizan and we watch yor games for NUFC and MCFC every weekend.Maybe you are not best goalkeeper of the world, but for sure one of the most attractive.
March 21st, 2009 at 21:55
keep it up shay! you are man city’s best goalie in the whole history of the club!
March 31st, 2009 at 00:41
Dear Shay,
Most Irish supporters believe that Stephen Ireland & Andy Reid are the two vital links that will help the national team get to the World Cup Finals in 2010.
As a team mate of Stephen’s, can you please help this ridiculous situation by encouraging him to talk to the FAI, let him forget the past and put aside the differences and get on with playing for his country.
Thanks
Ger
Mullingar
“Stephen Ireland – your country needs you” campaigner.
April 16th, 2009 at 14:05
Shay, I read your comments in the Guardian today. Along with many other Newcastle United supporters we would prefer you not to comment on the situation at St James’ please. Whether you “pray” we stay up or not, you walked away in January. You could have stayed until the summer to help keep us in the Premiership but you chose to leave. I don’t forget for one moment the service you provided for us in the past ten years but you have hurt a lot of Newcastle fans by walking away when you did. We don’t want to hear you saying that you pray we stay up. As the best keeper in the Premiership you could have been instrumental in keeping us up, and still could have had your move in the summer. That is something we could have understood as Newcastle fans, but to walk in January, with our future undecided, and then to say you pray we stay up is just a kick in the teeth to the toon army. A few extra months at St James’ Park could have made all the difference to Newcastle staying up or going down and you made your choice to leave and so divorce yourself from our dog-fight. I hope your career at Eastlands is successful for you, but please, if you have any feelings at all for the 52,000 at St James’, please don’t comment on our situation.
April 17th, 2009 at 14:05
I think you’re totally entitled to that opinion but I also think Shay after 11 years of faithful service will find it hard to not be interested in the affairs of Newcastle Utd. He will remain a fan of the club as have countless others who have left the club over the years: Keegan, Waddle, Woodgate, Gazza, etc. etc.. Newcastle are a special club for their fans and I hear in your comment a lot of pain that Shay has left. I hear where you’re coming from but also ask you to try and not be bitter at Shay’s departure. Steve Harper will not be held responsible for any relegation of NUFC and therefore neither would Shay if he had stayed.
April 28th, 2009 at 15:12
Hopefully shay will be able to win something next year if the hype about Man City is true, he deserves to,and maybe he could have a word with Stephen while he is there.
Bring back Ireland and Reid
May 13th, 2009 at 09:32
shay given should stay at man city.i say again he is the best keeper in the world
May 21st, 2009 at 15:03
shay give n was a great asset to newcastle over the last 11 year but i think he should of stayed at newcastle until the end of the season to garante safety but now 1 game left to save our pride and not to be relegated from the premier league and we have super steve harper for that on sunday …… NOT!!!
June 9th, 2009 at 12:20
I downloaded the given saves in youtube.I saw the magnificent save of given against zidan and i think this save is the best save in the world.YASHIN could not save it
June 20th, 2009 at 06:32
i went to the youtube and saw the magnificent save of given against zidan.i think none of the goal keepers coul save it
July 29th, 2009 at 16:28
my english site is:
http://www.shay-given-en.blogfa.com
August 14th, 2009 at 15:23
Against what team in the Premier League did Shay make his debut?
September 19th, 2009 at 22:47
Dear Shay
I think you made a great move to Man City you deserved it, good luck bridie mora!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 14:35
Good luck for the season, Shay.
October 12th, 2009 at 13:17
Hi Shay, Congrats on reaching your century 100 caps for Ireland. You deserve it. You have been a fantastic asset to Ireland and a great ambassador for your country here. There is a nice article in yesterdays Sunday Tribune about yourself and Zinedine Kilbane hitting the 100 mark. The article was saying that for both of ye, nice do sometimes finish first – I agree with those sentiments.
I remember your first cap against Russia in 96 and I thought, fair play to ya, because I had noticed the elevation of your football career. When I lived at home, we always got the Donegal Democrat each week. The Democrat gave you great coverage from your time at Lifford, the big move across the water to Celtic and then Blackburn etc.
Hard luck against Italy the other nite, we were so close to a famous win, great atmosphere there, the best nite in Croker so far! But fear not, looking through the list of play off candidate nations, none of them strike fear into me, even France. Trap has got us playing a solid tight system, don’t mind the knockers in the media. Real fans appreciate how difficult it is and that the results are what matters. This campaign is sooo much better than the Stan debacle times. No one is gonna turn us over easy. We are the only undefeated nation going into the playoffs.. that says a lot of Trap and ye all, well done.
Good luck and enjoy your 100th cap, there’s no pressure on this one, nice bonus!
Declan O’Reilly
Kinlough,
Co. Leitrim
October 16th, 2009 at 13:27
Hi is Shay on Twitter under the name @shay_given is this genuine or a fake please could you confirm for all Shay Given fans out here please,
Thanks
Joy from Cumbria
October 16th, 2009 at 14:10
I don’t think Shay is on twitter. I would’ve heard about it.
November 17th, 2009 at 23:52
Good luck in second leg against france Shay and do us proud like you always do.
Ádh Mór Mo chara.
Fearghal Mac
Lifford.
November 19th, 2009 at 04:44
You Deserved Better Tonight Shay.
A Keeper Like You Should Be In The World Cup.
My Heart Goes Out To You
Solid Tonight As Always
December 5th, 2009 at 21:43
What a Keeper? Should be on your way to the world cup, but robbed by a frog!I will be honest enough to say I had my doubts, but you proved me oh, so wrong!Keep doing that, please. Good luck
December 19th, 2009 at 15:42
shay is best……………
January 2nd, 2010 at 20:28
Shaymus given is the best goalkeeper in the world the reason i became a goalkeeper was because of shaymus given. Shaymus given is a LEGEND
I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST