Editing Len Shackleton (section)

===Early career===
Despite his family being keen [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] supporters, Shackleton signed amateur forms with [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Park Avenue]] after being signed by manager [[Billy Hardy (footballer)|Billy Hardy]].<ref name="page 21">{{harvnb|Malam|2004|p=21}}</ref> Bradford PA permitted him to play for Kippax United in the [[West Yorkshire Association Football League|Leeds League]].<ref name="page 21"/> [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]'s secretary-manager [[George Allison]] heard of Shackleton's talents, and drove to Bradford to sign him to amateur forms in 1938.<ref>{{harvnb|Malam|2004|p=22}}</ref> Arsenal permitted him to play for [[Enfield F.C.|Enfield]] in the [[Athenian League]], and he in fact only represented Arsenal twice in reserve team fixtures in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]].<ref>{{harvnb|Malam|2004|p=27}}</ref> He was released by Arsenal in May 1939 and told by Allison that he was too small to succeed as a footballer, and should find other employment.<ref>{{harvnb|Malam|2004|p=28}}</ref> Following this disappointment he took a job at London Paper Mills in [[Dartford]], and turned out for the [[London Paper Mills F.C.|factory's works team]] in the [[Kent Football League (1894–1959)|Kent League]].<ref>{{harvnb|Malam|2004|p=31}}</ref>