Sheffield Wednesday Born in
Sheffield,
South Yorkshire, Shaw is a product of the
Sheffield Wednesday youth system Rochdale Shaw signed a two-year contract with
League Two side
Rochdale for an undisclosed fee on 4 July 2008. making his debut in the
FA Trophy First Round replay away at
Harrogate Town on 15 December 2009. Shaw only made 2 appearances for Gateshead during the loan spell, the other being a league game against
Barrow on Boxing Day.
Mansfield Town On 14 January 2010, Shaw left Rochdale by mutual consent to pursue a contract with
Conference Premier side
Mansfield Town. He made his first appearance of the season against
Cambridge United on 4 September 2010. Shaw scored his first goal for Gateshead on 11 September 2010 in a 2–0 home victory over
Altrincham. On 15 January 2011, Shaw scored a
hat-trick in Gateshead's 6–0 victory at home to
Hampton & Richmond Borough. On 19 February 2011, Shaw scored his second
hat-trick for Gateshead in a 7–2 victory against
Wrexham at the
Racecourse Ground. He was named
Conference Premier Player of the Month for February 2011, after scoring six goals in five league games that month. He was also named Conference Premier Player of the Month for August 2011, after scoring in each of the six league games during the opening month of the 2011–12 season. Shaw scored back-to-back hat-tricks, his third and fourth hat-tricks for Gateshead, on 24 September 2011 against
Hayes & Yeading United and the following game on 27 September against
York City, both games ending as 3–2 victories for Gateshead. In total, Shaw scored eight league goals for Luton during the 2012–13 season as the club finished seventh in the table. Shaw started in four games at the beginning of the
2013–14 season, but struggled with an injury. He underwent a hernia operation in late August, ruling him out for six weeks. He went on to become a regular on the substitute bench towards the end of the 2013–14 season but ultimately ended the campaign, in which Luton won the Conference Premier title, without scoring in his 13 appearances. On 9 May 2014, it was announced that Shaw would not be offered a new contract and would leave Luton in June 2014.
Return to Gateshead On 12 June 2014, Shaw rejoined Gateshead for a third spell, signing a two-year deal. His first appearance of the season was on the opening day of the season in a 3–1 win at home to
Torquay United.
South Shields On 2 July 2016, Shaw signed a part-time contract for the
Northern Division One side
South Shields.
Dunston UTS On 26 May 2022, Shaw was announced to be joining
Dunston UTS when his contract with South Shields expired. In January 2023, he suffered a punctured lung during a match against
Consett. He returned to action in February, and finished the season with two goals from 17 league appearances.
Blyth Spartans Shaw was appointed assistant manager of
Blyth Spartans under
Graham Fenton, with whom he had worked for several years at South Shields. He was also registered as a player. When Fenton was sacked in December, Shaw retired from playing and took over as manager on an 18-month contract. Shaw was relieved of his duties on April 29, 2024.
North Shields On July 17, 2025 Shaw came out of retirement to sign for
North Shields F.C. Shaw Once again retired on the 13th September 2025 after a 4-1 victory over
Northallerton Town ==International career==