Scottish footballer (born 2000)
Matthew Shiels (born 13 September 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left back for Scottish League One side Dumbarton .
Early and personal life
Shiels was born in Glasgow .[ 1] His paternal grandparents were from Donegal in Ireland,[ 2] and he grew supporting Celtic .[ 3]
Club career
After playing youth football for Rangers , and spending loan spells at Edinburgh City , Dumbarton and Clyde ,[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] as well as in the United States with Orange County SC ,[ 7] Shiels signed for Hamilton Academical in summer 2021.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
Shiels left Hamilton in June 2023[ 15] and re-joined Dumbarton in August 2023[ 16] scoring his first goal for the club in a 4–0 victory against Bonnyrigg Rose in November 2023,[ 17] in a game where he also won a penalty and provided an assist.[ 18] After impressing for the Sons, he left for Scottish League One side Cove Rangers in January 2024 – scoring on his final appearance for the Sons in a 4–1 defeat to Rangers .[ 19] [ 20] He left Cove after just eight appearances,[ 21] and returned to Dumbarton on a season long deal in the summer of 2024.[ 22]
International career
Having previously been called up for Scotland at under-17 level, in November 2017 he was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-18 squad,[ 2] [ 23] making his debut on 9 November.[ 24]
He also played with the Republic of Ireland under-19s ,[ 25] before later reverting his international allegiance back to Scotland,[ 26] playing ten games for the Scotland under-19 team.[ 27]
Playing style
Shiels plays primarily as a left back , but also played as a left winger and striker for Rangers.[ 28] On signing for Dumbarton in August 2023 he said he preferred playing in a more attacking role.[ 29]
Honours
Hamilton Academical
References
^ a b "Scotland – M. Shiels – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway" . uk.soccerway.com .
^ a b McNulty, Chris (6 November 2017). "Rangers man with strong Donegal connections gets Irish call-up – Donegal Daily" . www.donegaldaily.com .
^ "Dumbarton's Matty Shiels set for Cove Rangers switch after Scottish Cup goal - Daily Record" . www.dailyrecord.co.uk . Retrieved 25 June 2024 .
^ Matthew Shiels at Soccerbase
^ "Matthew Shiels Joins Clyde On Loan" . www.rangers.co.uk .
^ McNulty, Chris (September 2020). "Rangers player with Donegal links goes out on loan – Donegal Daily" . www.donegaldaily.com .
^ "Rangers Players Head to Orange County SC, Francis Jacobs to Play with Rangers U-16" . Orange & Black SoccerCast . 3 February 2020.
^ "Shiels signs pre-contract with Accies" . 14 May 2021.
^ Thomson, Paul (17 September 2021). "Former Rangers kid Matthew Shiels raring to go at Hamilton after injury hell" . Daily Record .
^ McGilvray, Andy (18 December 2021). "Leaving Rangers for Accies is already benefiting defender Matthew Shiels" . Daily Record .
^ Pirie, Mark (25 June 2021). "Rangers academy graduate on first team pathway frustration" . GlasgowLive .
^ "Rangers exit 'the best thing for my career' says Matthew Shiels as he prepares for Hamilton spell" . 3 June 2021.
^ "Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels released by Ibrox side and pens deal at Premiership club" . HeraldScotland . 14 May 2021.
^ "Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels released by Ibrox side and pens deal at Premiership club" . Glasgow Times . 14 May 2021.
^ "Departure of several players – Hamilton Accies" . 15 June 2023.
^ Crawford, Jack (4 August 2023). "MATTHEW SHIELS SIGNS FOR DUMBARTON" . Dumbarton Football Club . Retrieved 4 August 2023 .
^ Clarke, Fraser (10 November 2023). "Dumbarton's Matty Shiels says confidence is key to sparkling recent showings" . Daily Record . Retrieved 10 November 2023 .
^ "Dumbarton 4-0 Bonnyrigg Rose - Red hot Sons prove too strong for Rose - Daily Record" . www.dailyrecord.co.uk . Retrieved 25 June 2024 .
^ Crawford, Jack (23 January 2024). "Duo depart Dumbarton" . Dumbarton Football Club . Retrieved 23 January 2024 .
^ Clarke, Fraser (22 January 2024). "Dumbarton's Matty Shiels set for Cove Rangers switch after Scottish Cup goal" . Daily Record . Retrieved 23 January 2024 .
^ Gordon, Richard (29 May 2024). "Squad Update" . Cove Rangers FC . Retrieved 31 May 2024 .
^ Crawford, Jack (31 May 2024). "MATTY SHIELS IS BACK AT THE ROCK" . Dumbarton Football Club . Retrieved 31 May 2024 .
^ McDougall, Mark (6 November 2017). "Rangers striker Matthew Shiels handed shock Republic of Ireland call-up" . Daily Record .
^ McNulty, Chris (10 November 2017). "Rangers striker Shiels makes Irish debut in Spain thanks to… – Donegal Daily" . www.donegaldaily.com .
^ "Coveted Rangers starlet Matthew Shiels enjoys debut victory with Tom Mohan's Ireland | Derry Journal" .
^ "Why Scottish-Irish footballing relations have been at a low ebb for 20 years" . independent . 11 June 2022.
^ "Matthew Shiels | Scotland | Scottish FA" . www.scottishfa.co.uk .
^ Thomson, Paul (18 September 2021). "Rangers had me as striker and left winger, I can be Accies' utility man – Shiels" . Daily Record .
^ Clarke, Fraser (9 August 2023). "Returning Son Matty Shiels says title ambitions convinced him on Dumbarton move" . Daily Record . Retrieved 9 August 2023 .
^ Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical , Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport , 26 March 2023