Jonjo Shelvey

Jonjo Shelvey (born 27 February 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder. Shelvey began his career at Charlton Athletic, becoming their youngest-ever player at 16 years and 59 days old. In 2010, he moved to Liverpool for an initial £1.7 million, spending a brief loan at Blackpool. During his time at Anfield, Shelvey was part of a Liverpool squad which won the League Cup and lost the FA Cup final in 2012. He joined Swansea City for £5 million in 2013, and Newcastle United for £12 million two and a half years later. A month after joining Newcastle, he was made the team's stand-in captain in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini, as the season ended with relegation. He has since helped the club regain Premier League status, and established himself as Newcastle's vice captain. Shelvey played for England at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 level and has captained the under-19 team. He won his first cap for the senior team in 2012. Shelvey was eligible to play for Scotland – through his grandfather – and the Republic of Ireland, but chose to represent England. In October 2012 Shelvey was called up for the England squad for two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against San Marino and Poland, and made his senior debut from the bench on 12 October 2012, in a 5–0 home win against San Marino, replacing Michael Carrick in the 66th minute. On 5 September 2015, Shelvey was selected to start for England for the first time in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against San Marino, becoming the first man to be capped for England whilst playing for Swansea City. He was named man of the match by the BBC as England ran out 6–0 winners in Serravalle. Shelvey was born in Romford, Greater London and grew up in a council flat in Harold Hill. Due to crime in the neighbourhood, he bought his sister a home in Brentwood when she became pregnant. His older brother George was, according to Shelvey, a better footballer, but his career was ruined by drinking and partying. Shelvey is of partial Scottish and Irish Traveller heritage. Shelvey fell down a staircase as a baby, one of several childhood traumas which he believes could have caused his alopecia. He was prescribed a cream and told to sleep in a woolly hat for a month in order to combat it, but abandoned treatment because of the discomfort it caused, and said of his baldness, "If you don't like it, don't talk to me". Shelvey has supported youngsters who share his condition. In June 2015, Shelvey married Daisy Evans, formerly of the pop group S Club 8. Comedian Jimmy Carr performed at the marriage. The couple have a daughter, born the previous year.