Cambridge United's goalkeeper has been involved with the U's since the age of eight and he progressed to be number one in his own right at the start of last season. He made his first team debut while still a trainee, two weeks after his 18th birthday in October 1996, and has 125 league starts under his belt.

Now aged 25, with over 150 first team appearances in all, Shaun is still ambitious to go as far as he can in the game.

"It was always my aim to become number one and I've got to the stage where I'm probably looking to go further on, either with Cambridge United or looking for that big move, but the season hasn't gone as we would have liked," he admits.

"We've still got a lot of good young talent coming through and hopefully we can keep them all together and make the most of this season. The way the league is at the moment, there's still no reason why we can't be pushing for a play-off place."

The main difference between the free-scoring U's of last season and the one that started this season was the mean defence. The main change at the back was the arrival of veteran former Wolves and Ipswich defender Mark Venus, but Shaun believes the difference was also due to a change in attitude throughout the team.

"We went out at the beginning of the season knowing that we'd conceded a lot of goals last season and we knew if we could keep that down and still score goals then we'd be in a great position in the league," he explains.

"We've definitely turned our away form around and it's just a shame our home form hasn't carried on from last season, because I think that's our only downside really.

"It's surprising how football turns out; one season you can struggle away from home and the next season it can all be totally different and your home form collapses. But I think a couple of good wins at home would boost everyone's confidence."

One of the main talking points from the original tie at Macclesfield was the way United were awarded two penalties, only to see Macclesfield 'keeper Steve Wilson save Andy Duncan and John Taylor's spot kicks to earn tonight's replay.

There was plenty of debate about United's poor record from the spot and who would take the next one - although since then Luke Guttridge stepped up to score a penalty against Darlington on Saturday - and 'Marshy' confirmed that the pressure is mainly on the penalty taker and not the goalkeeper.

"I think initially the pressure is all on the penalty taker because it's down to him where he puts the ball," he says. "From the goalkeeper's point of view, I like to think I know where he's going to put it and I follow through my decision and go that way, and if I go the right way I then give myself a far greater chance to save the ball.

"The other option is where a lot of goalkeepers wait to see where the ball's going, but if it's a fantastic penalty then it doesn't give you that time to get over to the other side of the goal and make the save.

"It's swings and roundabouts really, but it's whatever works best for you. You've literally got a split second to make a decision about what you're going to do and you either make the save or it goes into the back of the net.

"I've worked on penalties a lot with Ali, our goalkeeping coach. He's put in a few ideas that used to work for him and I've tried to carry them out. I've saved one this year and got unlucky with another one, so if you save it you're a bit of a hero but if it goes in the net - although the fans would love you to save a penalty - the emphasis and the pressure is so much on the player taking it and the expectation to score."

Shaun has seen many players come and go from the club, including close friend Tom Youngs who joined Northampton Town in March, and he confirms that it is always good to meet up with former team-mates.

"Obviously I was very close with Tom (Youngs) and I know he's having a difficult spell through injury at the moment at Northampton, so I try to keep in touch with him.

"There are other players who have moved on to other clubs like Wannie (Paul Wanless), who we caught up with at the testimonial game and when we played Oxford a few days after that, and Matt Joseph who came back recently with Leyton Orient. It's always good to catch up with players like that."

In a previous interview, Shaun revealed that he was living in luxurious Felbrigg Hall near Cromer, but his circumstances have changed since then.

"That was due to my wife who works for the National Trust," he explains. "Although she still works for the National Trust, we've relocated to Cambridge for work reasons and because of the travelling.

"I was literally driving an hour and a half every day to training and matches, and it was nice to have some escapism from football and some time on your own, but I'd done it for five years and it got to a stage where we both decided we needed to move."

As a consequence, Shaun's foray into work-working and furniture making has taken a back seat too: "There was a wood-turning room at Felbrigg Hall and it was always nice to work in there because it was at hand, but my wood-working tools are limited at home at the moment so it's taken a back seat. It's something I may go back to in the future."

Last season John Taylor revealed that Shaun had attracted interest from bigger clubs, but although he was flattered by the news and wants to play at a higher level, Shaun knows he must keep performing consistently for Cambridge United to achieve his ambitions.

"From a personal point of view you always want to play at a higher level," he says. "I've got this year and next at the club and you never know what's going to happen in football - anything can happen, it's so unpredictable. You go out and try to do your best, week in week out, and if a club comes along and likes what they see then they're going to take you, and obviously the club would always be happy with the money," he adds.

Ending with his thoughts on the rest of this season, Shaun believes that the next few games will have a big impact on where the U's finish.

"The Christmas period is always an important time," he concludes. "You have a lot of games in a short period of time and if you have a good run it can give you such a boost until the end of the season.

"It's going to be a tough time, but at the start of the season the realistic aim was to get into the play-offs, and if we have a good run over Christmas I think we've still got to aim for that."

"The Quick Fire Round"

If you were on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and had to phone a friend, which team-mate would you choose?

If I can choose the manager because he's playing at the moment, I'd say him because he's quite knowledgeable.

Favourite holiday destination, and describe why in one word.

Cyprus. Climate.

If you weren't a footballer, what would your job be now?

Something active like a P.E. teacher or a fireman.

Who do you go to for financial advice?

Probably my wife!

What will you be doing in ten years' time?

Hopefully soon retiring after a successful career in football.

Who is your best mate in the squad?

Brenners (Martin Brennan). We get on well as two goalkeepers together and we have similar humour so we have a great laugh.

Who has the best dress sense in the squad?

Myself, of course!

And who has the worst?

Probably Dave Kitson.

In a film of your life story who would you want to play you and why?

I always liked Steve McQueen films and he was cool and sophisticated so I'd say him.

Porsche or Ferrari?

Ferrari.

Indian or Chinese?

Indian.

Beer or lager?

I don't really drink but I suppose it would be lager.

Boxers or briefs?

Boxers, of course.

If you were given tickets for a gig, who would you want to see and why?

Definitely Coldplay. An absolutely fantastic band.

Three words your team-mates might use to describe you?

Just the one word: "Hulk"!

Of course I asked why, and last season someone pinned a picture of The Incredible Hulk above Shaun's peg in the dressing room because they thought it looked like him. Then later in the season at Kidderminster one of their fans shouted that he looked like the Hulk, so the name has stuck!

*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the FA Cup replay against Macclesfield on 16th December, 2003.

You can hear the full interview with Shaun on our U's World multimedia website. Click here for details about U's World.

Previous Featured Players this season:
02Jan04: Adam Tann
29Dec03: Gareth Williams
23Dec03: Franco Nacca
18Dec03: Shane Tudor
11Dec03: Andy Duncan
04Dec03: Stevland Angus
28Nov03: John Turner
21Nov03: Luke Guttridge
29Oct03:  Stuart Bimson
21Sep03: Warren Goodhind
21Aug03: Dave Kitson
13Aug03: Justin Walker

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