Paul Shields (footballer)

Paul Shields
Personal information
Full name Paul Martin Shields[1]
Date of birth (1981-08-15) 15 August 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Dunfermline, Scotland
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Milton Green
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Raith Rovers 21 (1)
2000–2003 Celtic 1 (0)
2000Albion Rovers (loan) 11 (5)
2002Clydebank (loan) 16 (3)
2002–2003Queen of the South (loan) 13 (1)
2003 Clyde 13 (1)
2003–2005 Forfar Athletic 67 (29)
2005–2006 Gillingham 17 (1)
2006–2007 Livingston 15 (2)
2007Ayr United (loan) 5 (3)
2007–2008 Östersunds FK
2009–2011 Bo'ness United
2011 Broxburn Athletic
2011–2013 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Martin Shields (born 15 August 1975) is a Scottish footballer who has played as a striker in the Scottish Premier Division for Celtic, as well as clubs in both the Scottish and English Football Leagues.

Career

Shields began his professional career with Raith Rovers in 1998 and his early form earned him a spell training with Tottenham Hotspur the following year.[2] He joined Celtic in March 2000 for a fee of £100,000, becoming then manager Kenny Dalglish's last signing for the club.[3][4] Shields made one substitute appearance for the Parkhead side towards the end of the season, being loaned to Albion Rovers in the early stages of the 2000–01 season.[5]

Following his return in December 2000, Shields failed to add to his solitary appearance for Celtic and was loaned out again in February 2002 to Clydebank. At the start of the following season, Shields undertook his third loan spell, this time with Queen of the South[6] and when he returned to Celtic Park in January 2003, he was promptly released, joining Clyde on a short-term deal.[7] With no permanent deal on offer,[8] Shields joined Forfar Athletic on a one-year deal in July 2003,[9] subsequently agreeing a new two-year deal at the end of the season.[10] In the first half of 2005, Forfar rejected approaches from Stranraer[11] and Grimsby Town,[12] although Gillingham secured his signature in a £25,000 deal.[13] Shields made just six league starts for The Gills before being released in May 2006, and he quickly joined Livingston.[14]

In August 2007, Shields was released from Livi on his 26th birthday, allowing him to move with fellow player Daryl Smylie to Swedish side Östersunds FK.[15]

Shields took a year out of the game after his spell in Sweden, before joining Junior side Bo'ness United in August 2009.[16] During his spell at Bo'ness, he helped the club to the East Superleague title in 2009–10. In the following seasons Scottish Cup, Shields scored the winning goal in a second round tie against Scottish Football League side Queen's Park.[17] He joined Broxburn Athletic in January 2011 before signing for Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic later that year.[18][19]

Shields left Bonnyrigg in March 2013.[20]

Post playing career

Since retiring from playing, he has worked in masseur roles for Hearts, Rangers and Scotland.[21]

Statistics

Correct after 11 September 2008

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
1998–99 Raith Rovers Scottish First Division 14 0 - 1 0 15 1
1999–00 7 1 - 1 0 8 1
Celtic Scottish Premier League 1 0 - - 1 0
2000–01 Albion Rovers (loan) Scottish Third Division 11 5 2 1 - 13 6
2001–02 Clydebank (loan) Scottish Second Division 16 3 - - 16 3
2002–03 Queen of the South (loan) Scottish First Division 13 1 - 2 0 15 1
Clyde 13 1 1 0 - 14 1
2003–04 Forfar Athletic Scottish Second Division 31 9 2 0 3 0 36 9
2004–05 36 20 1 0 2 0 39 20
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2005–06 Gillingham English Second Division 17 1 - 1 0 18 1
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
2006–07 Livingston Scottish First Division 15 2 1 0 1 0 17 2
Ayr United (loan) Scottish Second Division 5 3 - - 5 3
Sweden League Svenska Cupen League Cup Total
2007–08 Östersunds FK Division 1 Norra N/A
Career total 179 46 7 1 11 0 197 47

References

  1. ^ "Paul Shields". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  2. ^ Lindsay, Clive (25 October 1999). "Raith lose Dargo but Shields able to fill void; McVeigh looks on bright side". The Herald. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  3. ^ Jackson, Keith (24 March 2000). "Shields tipped to be wonder Bhoy". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  4. ^ Smith, Andrew (26 October 2003). "Shields helps Forfar to deliver the goods after fending off grim Celtic memories". Scotland on Sunday. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Smith leads transfer moves". BBC Sport. 30 September 2000. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Shields signs for Queens". BBC News. 19 August 2002. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Clyde sign Shields". BBC Sport. 4 February 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Hagen re-signs for Clyde". BBC Sport. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Forfar snap up Shields". BBC Sport. 24 July 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  10. ^ "Brechin re-sign duo". BBC Sport. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  11. ^ "Stranraer lose out on Shields bid". BBC Sport. 20 January 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  12. ^ "Forfar dismiss offer for Shields". BBC Sport. 9 June 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  13. ^ "Gillingham sign Forfar's Shields". BBC Sport. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  14. ^ "Livi snap up Gillingham's Shields". BBC Sport. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  15. ^ "Striker Matthews wins Livi deal". BBC Sport. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  16. ^ "Gribben joins Bo'ness from Sons". BBC Sport. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  17. ^ Kenny Macdonald (24 October 2010). "Bo'ness 2 Queen's Park 1". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  18. ^ "Broxburn delighted to land duo". Edinburgh Evening News. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  19. ^ Martin Dempster (16 March 2012). "Rose striker on quest to finish season on high". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  20. ^ "Signings etc". Scottish Junior Football Association. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  21. ^ Campbell, Jordan. "Rangers' injuries list is like an advert for the Red Cross but will it be enough to save Van Bronckhorst?". theathletic.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.