Ryan Shawcross is a professional football player who was born on October 4, 1987 in Chester, England, to a welsh parents. He was raised in Buckley, which is a town in Flintshire. He attended the Elfed High School in Buckley and played for Flintshire Boys team. His younger brother Rory Shawcross was also involved with the same team.
Ryan Shawcross was a member of the Wales Under-15 team that played matches against Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. In January 2008, he got his first call up for the England Under-21 squad for a 2009 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Under-21 Championship Qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland.
He began his professional football career with the Manchester United U-17 side and made 22 appearances that include two games in which he scored against Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers during the 2003-04 season. In the following season, Ryan Shawcross represented Manchester United’s Pontin's Holidays League Reserve side in 5 games and was also member of the squad that won the Division One West title. During the 2004-05 season, he played 21 games for the U-18 side that includes a game against Everton on March 5, 2005, in which he scored a goal.
During the 2005-06 season, Ryan Shawcross played 10 games for the reserve side and was a member of the side that won the Manchester Senior Cup, F.A. Premier Reserve League North, and F.A. Premier Reserve Play-off against Tottenham Hotspur Reserves. Ryan Shawcross made his debut for the club’s senior side in its 2-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup third Round match on October 25, 2006, in which he came in as a substitute for debutant Michael Barnes.
In January 2007, Ryan Shawcross was sent on loan to the Royal Antwerp football club. During his stint at this club, he was regular in the side and helped his team qualify for the Belgium playoffs. This defender scored three goals to his credit from the 22 games he played for this side.
On his return to Manchester United, Ryan Shawcross signed a six-month loan deal with English Championship club, Stoke City on August 9, 2007. He scored his first goal for this club in his debut game against Cardiff City on the opening day of the season, which his side won 1-0. He followed it up by scoring another goal in a League Cup game against Rochdale. On January 18, 2008, Ryan Shawcross made his loan deal permanent with Stoke City.
Steve Claridge, on a report for The Guardian newspaper, described Ryan Shawcross as "a leader", an "uncomplicated player" and "enthusiastic".
