Played For Both: Ricky Shakes

Lively winger Ricky Ulric Shakes must be a unique entity - having scored on his debut for both Brentford and Bolton Wanderers and represented two national teams. Not only that, he also had the audacity to score for Guyana against Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup Qualifier.

Shakes, who hails from Brixton in South London, came through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers back in 2004. He made his professional debut as a substitute in Bolton's FA Cup third round replay against Tranmere in January 2004 and scored the equaliser to send the tie into extra-time. However, he failed to make the grade or even a league appearance at Bolton, only adding one League Cup appearance to his debut.

In February 2005, Shakes signed a one-month loan deal at Bristol Rovers and made two appearances. He then moved on loan to Bury for the remainder of the season, scoring two goals in seven league appearances in League Two.

That form earned him a move to the debt-ridden Swindon Town, where he signed a two-year deal. Shakes scored 5 goals in 77 appearances in all competitions as The Robins were promoted to League One, but was released at the end of the 2006/7 season. However, while playing for Swindon he made his international debut for Trinidad & Tobago - who he was eligible to play for through his mother - as a substitute against Iceland in March 2006. But more on his international career later.

It was then that he made the switch to tonight's opponents Brentford, who had just been relegated to League Two. Shakes repeated the debut goal feat by scoring a late winner to give Brentford a victory over Bury in September 2007, and went on to make 42 appearances for The Bees before again being released after one season.

That proved to be the end of Shakes' football league career, as he made the move down to Conference Premier side Ebbsfleet United. He found this level much more to his liking, racking up 27 goals in 122 appearances during four seasons at Ebbsfleet. This included 11 goals as Ebbsfleet werre promoted back to the Conference at the first time of asking in the 2010/11 campaign, and another 8 goals the following season.

During his time at Ebbsfleet, Shakes made a second international debut as he switched his national allegiances to Guyana - for whom he was eligible through his father. He had failed to meet FIFA's age regulations for changing allegiance, but Guyana won an appeal in 2010 and he has gone on to represent the country 12 times, scoring twice - including a 2-1 win over his former national team Trinidad & Tobago to seal Guyana's place in the third round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. He is now an international teammate of our very own Neil Danns

That form earned him a move to promotion hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers in 2012, where he made 17 appearances without scoring as the Harriers finished second in the league despite not winning a single game in their opening ten fixtures. The Harriers then went on an incredible run of winning 22 out of 26 matches, and were amusingly tagged the most in-form team in Europe, but they eventually fell foul of the play-offs at the hands of Wrexham.

Shakes was again on the move at the end of that season, switching to Conference South side Boreham Wood - the world's second greatest BWFC. He suffered a serious knee injury at the start of his first season at Boreham, but has recovered to score 12 goals in 58 appearances for The Wood, who won promotion to the Vanarama National League last season.

I actually saw Shakes play for Boreham over Easter, as they made the trip to top of the league Cheltenham Town on Good Friday. Shakes looked bright down the right wing, and was unlucky not to score in the first half, but his relegation fighting side were a little unlucky to be defeated 4-1. They've had a couple of decent results since and sit one point above the relegation zone with five games to play, including a relegation six-pointer in their first ever trip to Halifax tonight, so good luck to Ricky and his team-mates.