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 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 in June 1929 that Bob moved to Exeter City. He only had to wait until the the third game of the 1929/30 season before he got his Football League chance in a 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic.

Thereafter he was the regular left-back in the Exeter team as he totalled 36 league appearances for the season and also netted his only goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle in March 1930. Although retained for the following season, Bob was to add just five more league outings and, in 1931, signed for Stockport County where he featured in 13 Third Division North fixtures.