Fred started his career in local football with Hawthorn Villa in 1900, followed by spells at Moxley White Star, Wednesbury Old Athletic and Hednesford Town, before joining Second Division side West Bromwich Albion in April 1905.
His 18 goals helped the Baggies to fourth position in 1906. The following season, he was their top scorer with 28 goals in only 30 games. He scored four goals on three occasions and two other hat-tricks.
The following season (1907/08), both Leicester Fosse and West Bromwich Albion were in contention for promotion, so it was perhaps surprising that the two clubs agreed to exchange strikers.
Shinton, having scored 46 goals in 64 league games for the Black Country club, moved to Fosse in November 1907 in part-exchange for the less prolific striker, Harry Wilcox. Fred scored on his debut and his 10 goals in 24 games secured promotion to the First Division for the first time in his new club’s history,
Fosse’s stay in the top flight only lasted for one season, but in a struggling side, he averaged a goal every two games. The following season, he went on to become the league’s joint top scorer when his 32 league goals in 38 games set a Club record.
A highlight that season was a five minute hat-trick against Oldham Athletic in November 1909. This was one of four hat-tricks he scored that season. At the end of the season, Shinton moved to relegated Bolton Wanderers for a £1,000 fee, having set a Fosse record by scoring 54 goals in his 85 appearances.
Five months later, he was back at Filbert Street for the remainder of the season, scoring a further five goals in 14 matches. He wasn’t offered a new contract at the end of the season, so he re-joined Wednesbury Old Athletic in June 1911.
His league career was over, only one season after being the country’s leading goalscorer.
Ill health was probably a factor in this decline. In October 1922, when he was suffering from tuberculosis, a benefit match between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion was arranged for him, his wife and his six children. Sadly, Fred died six months later, aged only 39.