Luton Shelton


Luton Shelton is a Jamaican footballer who plays as a striker or winger.
He made his international debut for Jamaica in 2004, and earned 75 caps, scoring a record 35 goals and playing at three CONCACAF Gold Cups.

Club career

Harbour View

Shelton started his career in the club youth system before becoming a first regular by the age of 18. While at Harbour View he won the CFU Club Championship and the National Premier League. He was also recognised as youth player of the year during his tenure.

Helsingborg

In August 2005 Shelton was due to move to Football League Championship club Burnley after a successful pre-season trial. They attempted to sign Shelton, but a work permit was rejected, and in August 2006 he joined Helsingborg for about £100,000. During the 2006 season, he scored nine goals in 19 games in the Swedish Allsvenskan, despite playing only irregularly due to repeated injuries. He scored a total of 17 goals in 28 competitive matches, including five goals in four Swedish Cup matches on the way to Helsingborg's victory in the competition. His 120th-minute equaliser against to-be league champions Elfsborg in the quarter-final, which Helsingborg won 5–3 after a penalty shootout, and the 1–0 goal in the final against Gefle, were two of his highlights at the club.

Sheffield United

Despite being signed amidst much fanfare, Shelton did not make his full début until April 2007 in a 2–0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. He made only three more appearances for the Blades in the Premiership that season as they unsuccessfully battled to avoid relegation.
With the arrival of James Beattie and Billy Sharp at Bramall Lane during the close season he found games no more easy to come by under new manager Bryan Robson. Initially limited to cup appearances, he scored his first competitive goals for the club, netting twice in a 5–0 League Cup win over Morecambe in September 2007.
As the team struggled he began to see more first team action, but was unable to turn appearances into goals, scoring only twice more that season, against Manchester City in the FA Cup and Colchester in the league. With the arrival of new manager Kevin Blackwell Shelton was sidelined once more.

Vålerenga

On 24 July 2008, it was announced that Shelton had been sold to Norwegian side Vålerenga, playing in the Tippeligaen, for around £1m.

Karabükspor

On 4 August 2011, Shelton was transferred to Karabükspor.

Volga Nizhny Novgorod

In 2013, Shelton moved to FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod in Russia.
In April 2015, Shelton went on trial with MLS side Colorado Rapids.

Harbour View return

Shelton returned to Harbour View at the beginning of 2017, after being out of the game for two-years with injury, scoring on his debut.

International career

Shelton has been capped at U-17, U-20, U-23 and national level for Jamaica. He scored his 25th goal for Jamaica vs Guadeloupe. He is the only man on the planet to score 4 goals on his début. In June 2008 he scored five goals in two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying games for Jamaica against the Bahamas. Later the same month, he scored two goals as Jamaica won 7–0 and scored a hat-trick as Jamaica won 6–0. Shelton was also the top goal scorer in 2010 CONCACAF World Cup qualification matches with seven goals. On 31 January 2010, Shelton scored in a friendly match against Canada to equal Paul Young as Jamaica's all-time leading goalscorer with 28 goals. On 27 November 2010, Shelton became Jamaica's all-time leader scorer with 30 goals after scoring two goals versus Antigua. Jamaica shocked United States 2–1 on to seize the lead in their group in the semi-final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifying in the CONCACAF Zone. Goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton overcame Clint Dempsey's first-minute strike for the Americans as Jamaica posted their first victory over the US in 19 matches. Shelton also holds the Bundesliga 2 record in the 40 meters with a time of 4.59 seconds.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitions
124 November 2004Independence Park, Kingston4–012–02005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
224 November 2004Independence Park, Kingston8–012–02005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
324 November 2004Independence Park, Kingston9–012–02005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
424 November 2004Independence Park, Kingston10–012–02005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
526 November 2004Jarrett Park, Montego Bay1–011–02005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
628 November 2004Independence Park, Kingston3–03–12005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
78 January 2005Independence Park, Kingston3–05–02005 Caribbean Cup qualifier
820 February 2005Barbados National Stadium, Waterford1–02–12005 Caribbean Cup
924 February 2005Barbados National Stadium, Waterford1–01–02005 Caribbean Cup
1020 April 2005Herndon Stadium, Atlanta1–01–0Friendly
117 July 2005The Home Depot Center, Carson1–04–32005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
121 October 2005Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale1–02–1Friendly
138 October 2006Independence Park, Kingston1–12–1Friendly
1426 March 2007Independence Park, Kingston1–11–1Friendly
157 June 2008Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya1–11–1Friendly
1615 June 2008Independence Park, Kingston4–07–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1715 June 2008Independence Park, Kingston5–07–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1818 June 2008Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny2–06–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1918 June 2008Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny3–06–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2018 June 2008Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny5–06–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2115 October 2008Independence Park, Kingston1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2218 October 2008Independence Park, Kingston1–03–02010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
233 December 2008Independence Park, Kingston2–12–12008 Caribbean Championship
245 December 2008Jarrett Park, Montego Bay2–04–02008 Caribbean Championship
2511 December 2008Independence Park, Kingston2–02–02008 Caribbean Championship
2614 December 2008Independence Park, Kingston1–02–02008 Caribbean Championship
2714 December 2008Independence Park, Kingston2–02–02008 Caribbean Championship
2831 January 2010Independence Park, Kingston1–01–0Friendly
2927 November 2010Stade En Camée, Rivière-Pilote2–03–12010 Caribbean Championship
3027 November 2010Stade En Camée, Rivière-Pilote3–03–12010 Caribbean Championship
316 June 2011The Home Depot Center, Carson1–04–02011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3215 August 2012Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.1–02–0Friendly
3315 August 2012Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.2–02–0Friendly
347 September 2012Independence Park, Kingston2–12–12014 FIFA World Cup qualifier
3512 October 2012Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City1–11–22014 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Honours

Club

;Harbour View
;Helsingborg
;Vålerenga
;Aalborg BK
;Jamaica
Luton Shelton has a younger brother, Shamar, who played college soccer for the 2009 NAIA National Champions Lindsey Wilson College then transferred to the University of Cincinnati to compete in the Big East Conference. Shamar, who have been successful at every level of school-boy football from high school to college also played for Harbour View F.C. and the Jamaica national U20 youth teams. Luton is also a close friend with senior national teammate Adrian Reid, who shared an Oslo apartment with Shelton, while on loan to Lillestrom in Norway.
Luton Shelton has three children, Lutasha Shelton, Luton Shelton, Jr.
In 2018, it was announced that Shelton has been battling ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.