After spells with several other clubs Bob Shanks had two seasons with Exeter City either side of 1930 following his move from Connah's Quay.  After making around forty league appearances as Charlie Miller's understudy, he moved on to Stockport County. 

Bob had spells with York City, Stockton and Huddersfield Town but didn’t feature in the first teams before joining Connah’s Quay Nomads.

It was from there that Bob moved to Exeter City in June 1929. He only had to wait until the the third game of the 1929/30 season before regular left-back Charlie Miller suffered a cartilage injury. Making his debut in a 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, he totalled 36 league appearances for the season (and  netted his only goal for the club against Plymouth Argyle in March 1930) in the absence of the stricken Miller.

Although retained for the following season, Bob was to add just five more league outings as Miller returned to the team and - in 1931 - signed for Stockport County where he featured in 13 Third Division North fixtures.