Shaun is one of a number of Norwich players who joined the club in the mid-1980s from sides in the North East (see also David Hodgson, Gary Rowell). He made his mark at Sunderland and played 321 league games for the Wearsiders between 1975 and 1986 as centre-back. Many of these games were relegation or promotion struggles between the then Division One and Division Two. These set him up in good stead for a two year spell at Carrow Road where he played 39 appearances scoring twice.

He left Norwich in August 1988 to join Blackpool before a return to East Anglia with Colchester United in March 1991. A return to the North East came when he joined leading amateur side Gateshead in August 1992. He moved to Durham via spells at Bishop Auckland and Whitley Bay.

In 2003, Shaun returned to Norwich to work in a car sales showroom.