*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Shaun Pilbeam
Appearances: 57+16 Goals: 11
Date / Year of birth: 3rd February 1974
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1991/92
Season of last appearance: 1995/96
Also played for: Dover Athletic, Sheppey United, Herne Bay, Snowdown Colliery Welfare, Folkestone Invicta and Whitstable Town
Bustling blonde striker who started his career with his hometown club Dover, first appearing in their youth team during the 1989/90 season aged 15. During October and November 1989 Shaun scored in six consecutive games for them. He stayed with Dover for 1990/91 and made his first team debut during the season as well as scoring regularly for the reserves and Under-18's.
In December 1991 Shaun joined Margate aged 17 and made his debut as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Havant at Hartsdown Park on 28.12.91 before making his first start in Margate's next game - a 1-0 win at Hythe on 1.1.92. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he gave a "five-star performance". Shaun kept his place for a 3-1 home defeat against Braintree on 4.1.92 and the Thanet Times reported that he "showed distinct promise but needs better support". On 18.1.92 Shaun got his first goals for Margate when he came on as a substitute in a game against Fareham at Hartsdown and scored twice in the last eight minutes to rescue a point after Margate had been 2-0 down. Both Shaun's goals were headers - the first being a brave diving effort. After the match he told the Thanet Extra "I am glad to have helped earn the club a draw. I'm enjoying being in the first team squad. There's a good atmosphere at the club". A few days later Margate manager Lee Smelt told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "he is a lad of real promise but I have no intention of pushing him too quickly". Smelt was true to his word and after featuring three times as a sub during February 1992 Shaun didn't play for the first team again during what remained of 1991/92. He finished the season having scored twice in eight appearances (six as sub).
Shaun started the friendlies ahead of the 1992/93 campaign in good form and after he'd scored with a rasping volley in a 3-2 defeat against Leyton Orient on 25.7.92 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "looked especially sharp and will surely be hopeful of a regular spot in the line-up from the outset". Shaun then dislocated his shoulder in a game against Gillingham on 28.7.92 but recovered in time for the start of the season proper.
He was ever-present in the Margate side for the first 15 games of the new campaign and struck up a great partnership with the prolific Martin Buglione. Shaun scored his first goal of the season in a 4-0 win at Tunbridge Wells in an FA Cup tie on 29.8.92 and was on target again in each of his next two appearances - a 5-0 win at Bury on 5.9.92 and another 5-0 win over Fisher at Bromley on 7.9.92. Margate's new manager Mark Weatherly told the Thanet Extra that Shaun had "a cracker of a match" in a 2-2 draw at Fareham in the FA Trophy on 19.9.92 as he set up both goals for Buglione but Shaun struggled for goals himself after his good start. He'd gone nine games without scoring when he finally found the net in a 3-1 home defeat against Hastings in the FA Trophy on 17.10.92 and the Thanet Times described Shaun as being "enthusiastic but inexperienced".
After the Hastings tie he missed six games through injury and although Shaun returned to the side for a 1-0 win over Andover at Hartsdown on 14.11.92 he found it hard to secure a regular place from then on. Over the course of Margate's next 17 games up to and including a 0-0 draw at Andover on 6.2.93 he only started four times and came on as a sub on six occasions without scoring. Shortly after the Andover game Shaun was loaned to Sheppey and scored twice for them in a 5-3 win over Corinthian in March 1993.
Shaun returned to Margate at the end of March and marked his first game back in the senior side by scoring the only goal with a fierce drive in a 1-0 win at Braintree on 3.4.93. He then played in four of Margate's last five games, making his final appearance in a 2-1 win at Havant on 24.4.93. Shaun ended the campaign having scored five goals in 31 first team appearances (six as sub). He also scored four goals in ten reserve team games.
After playing in some of Margate's friendlies in the summer of 1993 Shaun rejoined Dover for 1993/94 and spent most of the season in their reserves, top scoring with 12 goals for them. Towards the end of 1994 he moved on to Herne Bay where he scored three goals in seven appearances before returning to Margate at the end of January 1995.
Shaun made the first appearance of his second spell with the club in a 2-1 home defeat against Newport IOW on 4.2.95 and kept his place up front for each of Margate's next 13 matches. Having failed to score in the first eight games of his comeback Shaun finally broke his duck in a 3-1 defeat against Ashford at Hartsdown Park on 28.3.95 and he was also on target in a 1-1 home draw with Witney on 8.4.95. The Thanet Times' report on that match said Shaun "certainly impressed with his dogged determination" and added "if only his shooting matched his bravery in the tackle and speed off the mark he probably would be in a much higher grade". Shaun's season all but ended after a 3-1 defeat at Tonbridge on 15.4.95. He fell out of favour after that and only featured in one of Margate's last seven games to end the campaign with a record of two goals from 15 appearances (one as sub).
Shaun started the 1995/96 season back alongside his old striking partner Martin Buglione and the Thanet Times praised his "tremendous work-rate" during a 1-0 home defeat against Waterlooville on 26.8.95 but after failing to score in Margate's first five games Shaun was dropped. After a three week gap he returned to the side for a 1-0 home defeat against Walton & Hersham in the FA Cup on 26.9.95 and Shaun then played regularly for the next few weeks. On 17.10.95 he scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 defeat against Bashley at Hartsdown. It was Shaun's 11th appearance and he was on target again in a 2-0 win at Fisher on 4.11.95. That turned out to be his last goal for the club as after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 home win over Fareham on 9.12.95 Shaun left Margate by mutual consent due to work commitments in the building trade. He'd scored twice in 19 appearances (three as sub) and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Shaun had been "noted for his wholehearted enthusiasm" during his time with the club.
After a short spell out of football Shaun joined Snowdown and then moved on to Folkestone in October 1996. He made one first team appearance there before dropping out of senior football once more.
In the summer of 1998 Shaun resumed his career with Whitstable and scored twice on his debut for them - a 2-2 home draw with Deal on 15.8.98. He'd scored four goals in five appearances when he left the club in September 1998. Shaun then retired from senior football due to injury.
During the 1990's he played cricket for Chartham and in 2010 Shaun was living in Canterbury.
By 2012 he was working as a golf caddy and living in Ashford.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1991/92 (MFC) |
2 (52) |
6 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (14TH OF 22) |
1QR |
3QR |
1R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1992/93 (MFC) |
25 (53) |
6 |
5 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (10TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
1R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1994/95 (MFC) |
14 (55) |
1 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (13TH OF 22) |
3QR |
1QR |
3R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1995/96 (MFC) |
16 (51) |
3 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (11TH OF 22) |
2QR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |