WHAT would Seaview-born centre forward Roy Shiner be worth in today’s money-mad world of football?

During his nine-year career in the Football League — which incredibly didn’t begin until he was 27 — he scored 107 goals in 196 appearances.

If he had gone into the game as a teenager, his name might be up there alongside the likes of Greaves, Rush, Shearer and Rooney.

Isle of Wight County Press: Island born Roy Shiner.Island born Roy Shiner.

Roy’s life changed here on the Isle of Wight in the summer of 1955.

He was then with Huddersfield Town and had completed his fourth season, after moving there from Southern League Cheltenham.

They had been surprised when he told them his age.

He was 27, but they thought he was only 24.

It was not a memorable stay. He only played 22 games and scored just six goals.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner, centre, with ball, joined Sheffield Wednesday and helped them win promotion, scoring 33 goals in 42 games.Roy Shiner, centre, with ball, joined Sheffield Wednesday and helped them win promotion, scoring 33 goals in 42 games.

However, he impressed Sheffield Wednesday when he played against them in their shock 4-1 win at Hillsborough.

That eventually led to a scout ‘chatting him up’ during his close season break on the Isle of Wight.

When interviewing Roy, back in the 1970s, he said, reflecting on the offer: “I was then over 30 and delighted to get the chance of a move,” said Roy.

“I respected their manager, Eric Taylor, and had played well against them.

“They paid me £17 a week and when I married Maureen, they gave us a club house.”

Wednesday had wanted Roy as a replacement for Derek Dooley, whose leg amputation had shocked the nation.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner became a household name as a Division One player, he featured in a candy cigarette brand's football collector card series.Roy Shiner became a household name as a Division One player, he featured in a candy cigarette brand's football collector card series.

He was told he would play in the first six Second Division games.

In his third game, Roy scored twice in a 4-2 win over Leeds United, despite being marked by 1966 England World Cup winner, Jack Charlton.

That season, he scored 33 goals in 42 games.

They won promotion to the First Division, what we now know as the Premiership, and when this was clinched, he was carried off by his team-mates to the crowd chants of ‘we want Shiner’.

Modest as ever, he once remarked: “I only finished off the other lads’ good work.”

Mind you, either side of him were club legends Jackie Sewell and Albert Quixall.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner was a terrace idol to thousands at Sheffield Wednesday.Roy Shiner was a terrace idol to thousands at Sheffield Wednesday.

In total, Roy played 153 games for the Sheffield club, with a return of 93 goals.

He scored his 100th career goal in the Owls’ 2-1 home win against the Busby Babes — the pre-Munich air crash Manchester United team — on January 19, 1957.

His goal turned out to be the winner, in front of a crowd of 51,068 — the most memorable game of his career.

That season, Manchester United were champions and Wednesday finished 14th.

Isle of Wight County Press: The team-sheet for the Owls' Division One match at home to Sir Matt Busby's pre-Munich Manchester United side, against which he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory in front of 51,068, in January 1957. The team-sheet for the Owls' Division One match at home to Sir Matt Busby's pre-Munich Manchester United side, against which he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory in front of 51,068, in January 1957.

Roy's Hillsborough spell was a far cry from those at Ryde Sports and East Cowes Vics.

In included Division One soccer, tours abroad, club banquets, his photo on cigarette cards and friendlies against Juventus and Honved, Hungary’s top club.

Roy was also marked by some legendary centre halves, like Billy Wright, Mark Jones, Dave Ewing and Maurice Norman.

Before deciding to come back to the Isle of Wight, he signed for Hull City and scored eight times in 22 games, before ending his career back at Cheltenham Town.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner, right, in action for Hull City against Sunderland at Boothferry Park, Hull, in 1960. Roy Shiner, right, in action for Hull City against Sunderland at Boothferry Park, Hull, in 1960.

Roy, who was so proud to be an Islander, began his local football career at East Cowes Vics, where he was eagerly signed on by their secretary, Albert Hayles.

There were no managers doing it in those days.

In that Vics side, in which he played at left back, were Mike Gallagher, Bern Butler, Bo Knott and Don Pragnell.

In one epic cup game, Vics beat their more senior neighbours, Cowes Sports, in a very bruising battle.

In the Cowes team that day was a Birmingham City player called Mitchell, who it is believed was serving in the Royal Navy.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner, in action for Sheffield Wednesday against Blackburn Rovers, Division One, 1959.Roy Shiner, in action for Sheffield Wednesday against Blackburn Rovers, Division One, 1959.

After the game he asked to see Roy, who thought he might get a punch on the nose.

In fact, he was impressed with his game and offered to get him a trial at Birmingham — all this during the Second World War.

But Roy’s dad saw the value of having a trade career and wanted him to finish his carpentry apprenticeship.

Eventually, Roy became a striker and signed for Ryde Sports. He mainly played in their reserve team.

One report in a local paper went on to change his life.

It read: “If Shiner could kick with his right as well as he can with his left, he would be in the first team.”

His father ran the Eagle Hotel in Ryde and, for weeks, Roy spent hours kicking the ball against a wall, with his right foot.

He made the first team and scored 50 goals in a season and got their FA Cup winner against Southern League club, Poole Town.

In 1948, Roy scored a hat-trick for Hampshire against Gloucestershire and was spotted by a Cheltenham Town director.

He subsequently had had trials with Wolves and Portsmouth, but could not land a deal.

Going semi-professional with Cheltenham eventually led to a move to Huddersfield Town.

When Roy retired from football, he came back to the Isle of Wight and took over the reins at Seaview Football Club.

He was an instant success and they quickly won the Island League title.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner, back row left, managed home village club, Seaview, to Island League success in the 1962-63 season.Roy Shiner, back row left, managed home village club, Seaview, to Island League success in the 1962-63 season.

Then suddenly Roy became the pied piper of local football.

He was so popular, as both a coach and as a person, some great Island players signed for him.

That led to Seaview being the team to beat.

Their battles with Brading Town and Parkhurst were worth travelling miles to see.

People still talk about them to this day — particularly an amazing game at Newport's Seaclose Park, when they beat Parkhurst 7-6.

It was arguably the finest match ever seen on the Isle of Wight.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner, far right, managed home village club, Seaview, to Island League success in the 1963-64 season as well.Roy Shiner, far right, managed home village club, Seaview, to Island League success in the 1963-64 season as well.

I had a brand new overcoat on and ripped it getting under the barbed wire to see the game, but I felt it was worth it just to be there.

During Roy’s days as the Seaview manager, so many talented footballers played for him.

There were at least four Allen brothers, if not more, together with Nobby Nash, Dubby Cole, Jock Campbell, Pete and Doug Eames, Arthur Durham, Tony Grimwade and so many more.

They won numerous trophies.

Several followed Roy when he became the Newport manager.

He changed the face of the Church Litten club, who had always relied heavily on mainland imports.

Isle of Wight County Press: Roy Shiner during his time managing Newport.Roy Shiner during his time managing Newport.

Roy’s Island-based team broke the mould and some of his young players thrived on more senior soccer.

Later Roy, who died back in 1988, managed East Cowes Vics, and then took an ageless St Helens team to great heights.

Roy was such an inspiration to so many and the huge turnout for his funeral proved that.

He had such a great sense of humour and would have loved a story that was revealed after the service.

Oscar Stretch did not have a suit to wear, so he borrowed one from Nobby Nash.

They were both pall bearers. Oscar’s borrowed suit was too big, and as they went into the church, his trousers began to fall down.

In the end, he had one hand on the coffin and the other holding his trousers up.

PS. Oscar’s never given the suit back.