Thomas William Shaw (born 1 December 1986) is an English former footballer and co-head coach at side Lincoln City with Chris Cohen.

Shaw began his career at Rushden & Diamonds, making over 50 appearances in the Football League and Conference between 2006 and 2008. He has since had spells at Mansfield Town, Tamworth, Kidderminster Harriers and Cambridge United, Alfreton Town, before moving to Chester in 2015. Shaw returned to Tamworth in 2018. In the summer of 2018, Shaw joined Lincoln City as the LeadProfessional Development Phase (PDP) Coach.

Club career Born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Shaw began his career in the youth academy at Nottingham Forest before joining the youth team at Rushden & Diamonds in 2002. He joined Rugby Town on a work-experience loan in March 2006, was recalled by Rushden & Diamonds at the beginning of April, and made his debut for Rushden & Diamonds in the club's last game in the Football League against Barnet in May 2006. After Rushden & Diamonds were relegated from the Football League at the end of the 2005–06 season, he was retained by manager Paul Hart and signed full professional terms in July 2006.

By January 2007, Shaw had made 18 appearances for Rushden & Diamonds but was one of seven players placed on the transfer list by new manager Graham Westley and he joined Conference North side Nuneaton Borough on loan later in the same month. After returning from loan, he made some impressive performances until he suffered a foot injury in April 2007 that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. He signed a new two-year contract with Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2007.

Shaw made 35 appearances in the 2007–08 season but his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in July 2008 after both the club and Shaw felt that he would not have a regular place in the first team in the 2008–09 season.

On 8 August 2008, Shaw signed a one-year contract with Mansfield Town. Shaw joined Conference North side Tamworth on 9 October 2008. On 11 June 2010, Shaw signed a one-year deal at Kidderminster Harriers. On 14 May 2011, Shaw signed a two-year contract for Cambridge United, becoming their first signing of the summer under Jez George.

Shaw joined Alfreton Town on a two-year contract on 1 July 2013. He made his debut in Alfreton's opening day defeat to Dartford on 10 August and scored his first goal three days later in a 3–1 win over Kidderminster Harriers.

International career Shaw represented England C in victories over Malta under-21s and Poland under-23s in 2009.

Coaching career In 2014, Shaw was appointed Academy Lead Coach at Nottingham Forest. The following year, he joined Derby County in the same role. Shaw departed from Derby in September 2017.

Shaw served as Player/Assistant Manager at Chester from 2015 to 2018.

In June 2018, Shaw was appointed lead PDP Coach at Lincoln City. Upon his appointment, former Academy manager Damian Froggatt described Shaw as the "standout candidate". Lincoln City F.C., 22 June 2018

In April 2021 Shaw was appointed head coach of Gainsborough Trinity, whilst retaining his role at Lincoln City.New Gainsborough Trinity boss Tom's Shaw happy to be back! The Non-League Football Paper, 11 April 2021 On 12 May 2022, Shaw resigned as Trinity manager.

On 27 June 2022, Shaw was promoted to the Lincoln City first team staff from the academy and would be mentored by incoming assistant head coach Mike Garrity. On 18 October 2023, he was made interim head coach following Mark Kennedy and Danny Butterfield both leaving the club. He remained in this role until 13 November 2023, overseeing three wins from seven matches, becoming assistant head coach following the arrival of Michael Skubala. He received his UEFA Pro Licence in June 2025 and a few months later he signed a new contract until the summer of 2029.

On 29 May 2026, Shaw became joint-head coach of Lincoln City with Chris Cohen, following the departure of Michael Skubala to Bristol City. Their first game was against Derby County in the EFL Cup, which would see them win 2–1. Their first league game was away to Middlesbrough which ended in a 1–2 defeat, Lincoln's first league loss since the 29 November 2025. Their first league win came against newly promoted Bolton Wanderers on 29 August, winning 1–0 thanks to a goal from Ben House.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRushden & Diamonds2005–06League Two10000000102006–07Conference National20032—002322007–08Conference Premier32210—81413Total53242—81655Rugby Town (loan)2005–06SFL Premier Division1000—0010Nuneaton Borough (loan)2006–07Conference North120——00120Mansfield Town2008–09Conference Premier00——0000Tamworth2008–09Conference North26121—102922009–10Conference Premier36110—51422Total62231—61714Kidderminster Harriers2010–11Conference Premier42510—00435Cambridge United2011–12Conference Premier42730—404972012–13Conference Premier37610—20406Total791340—608913Alfreton Town2013–14Conference Premier41820—104482014–15Conference Premier42720—22469Total831540—329017Chester2015–16National League41410—304542016–17National League43800—304682017–18National League13000—10140Total971210—9010512Tamworth2017–18National League14100—00141Lincoln City2018–19League Two0000—1010Career total443501730033449157

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordChester (caretaker)6 September 201720 September 2017Gainsborough Trinity8 April 202112 May 2022Lincoln City (caretaker)18 October 202313 November 2023Lincoln City (co-head coach)29 May 2026presentTotal

Honours Tamworth Conference North: 2008–09

References

External links