Midfielder Kieran Shaw said he is “so grateful” to everyone at the club for their support and is hoping to return to the field for Thornton Cleveleys FC at the beginning of 2027, having sustained a fractured ankle last month.
Shaw, 31, picked up the injury and was forced to leave the field in the second half of Thornton Cleveleys’ enthralling 4-4 draw with Premier Division side Ramsbottom United in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, where the Reds progressed via a penalty shootout.
The former AFC Blackpool skipper made a superb start to life at the Fox Group Sports Arena, starting 11 of his 12 games and picking up the sponsors Man of the Match in TCFC’s 3-2 comeback win away at Ashton Town.
“In preseason, I was still gaining match fitness and getting my bearings with how the system was and how the team played but towards the end of preseason, I thought that I was finding my form and I started the season really well and doing a good job to help the team and the boys.”
“It was quite devastating really to start the season so well to then receive such an injury which means I am going to be out for a length of time and then I have got to regain the form that I was showing.”
Having been scheduled in for the surgery that weekend on Saturday, the hospital delayed the process, with Shaw saying: “they cancelled on me three times after admitting me.”
Shaw successfully underwent surgery the following week on Wednesday, with everything going well during his operation.
Following the surgery, Shaw has been stuck at home and unable to work for the time being.
“It has been a bit of a struggle at times. Obviously, I have been out of work and my girlfriend, who works part-time, has had to go full-time and I have been looking after my 10-month-old baby at home.
“So, the only good thing that has come out of the injury is that I have got to spend so much time with my baby.”
Discussing the impact of everyone related to Thornton Cleveleys, Shaw said he was grateful for all the support he received from the club.
“Honestly, I can’t speak highly enough of the club, and everybody involved with the club. The support I have received from everybody, players, staff, fans – everybody involved in the club has been different class. I didn’t expect it at all to receive so much support as I have done.
“The boys did a collection for me and the fans did a little collection for me, so I can’t speak highly enough of everybody involved. With all the support I have received, they have basically gave me that little added motivation to come back and repay them.”
Giving an update on his condition a month on from his surgery, the 31-year-old said: “I was at the hospital last Wednesday and they removed my cast, cleaned the wound and removed the stitches. They said that everything looks to be healing as it should. I went for a couple of X-rays and that confirmed it, so at the moment, I am wearing a supported boot.
“I am not allowed to weight-bare for another two weeks, but after that I can start trying to put pressure on it. I can do some ankle mobility exercises.”
Shaw added: “For the timeframe for returning to sport, they gave me a 10-12 week timeframe so I am hoping to be back in the New Year for the backend and business end of the season, and I will be raring to go.”
Having had a busy 2026-27 calendar so far, the midfielder has made a few appearances on the sidelines at the Fox Group Sports Arena to show his support for and cheer on his teammates.
TCFC have battled on in the NWCFL First Division North to remain in the playoff spots, having lost only three league games so far, as well as advancing in both the Edward Case Cup and the FA Vase, and Shaw is keen to get back into the fold and contribute to the team’s end-of-season ambitions.
“The boys have been performing really well in the last few weeks and were unbeaten for a while before the loss on Saturday, so I am expecting the club to be in and around the playoffs and hopefully I will regain the same form I was in during the first part of the season to help the club to succeed and achieve the goals that we have set out at the start of the season, which were to reach the playoffs.”
Thornton Cleveleys will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Darwen and continue their impressive start to the season when they head down to Liverpool to take on Ashville in the league for the very first time.