Matthew Shiels

Scottish footballer (born 2000)

Matthew Shiels
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-13) 13 September 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
Cove Rangers
Number 28
Youth career
Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Rangers 0 (0)
2018Edinburgh City (loan) 3 (0)
2019 → Dumbarton (loan) 8 (0)
2020 → Orange County SC (loan) 0 (0)
2020 → Clyde (loan) 6 (0)
2021–2023 Hamilton Academical 35 (0)
2023–2024 Dumbarton 17 (2)
2024– Cove Rangers 8 (0)
International career
2017 Republic of Ireland U18
2018 Republic of Ireland U19
2018–2019 Scotland U19 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:05, 29 April 2024 (UTC)

Matthew Shiels (born 13 September 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left back for Scottish League One side Cove Rangers.

Early and personal life

Shiels was born in Glasgow.[1] His paternal grandparents were from Donegal in Ireland.[2]

Club career

After playing youth football for Rangers, and spending loan spells at Edinburgh City, Dumbarton and Clyde,[3][4][5] as well as in the United States with Orange County SC,[6] Shiels signed for Hamilton Academical in summer 2021.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Shiels left Hamilton in June 2023[14] and re-joined Dumbarton in August 2023[15] scoring his first goal for the club in a 4–0 victory against Bonnyrigg Rose in November 2023.[16] 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.[17][18]

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][19] making his debut on 9 November.[20]

He also played with the Republic of Ireland under-19s,[21] before later reverting his international allegiance back to Scotland,[22] playing ten games for the Scotland under-19 team.[23]

Playing style

Shiels plays primarily as a left back, but also played as a left winger and striker for Rangers.[24] On signing for Dumbarton in August 2023 he said he preferred playing in a more attacking role.[25]

Honours

Hamilton Academical

References

  1. ^ a b "Scotland – M. Shiels – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  2. ^ a b McNulty, Chris (6 November 2017). "Rangers man with strong Donegal connections gets Irish call-up – Donegal Daily". www.donegaldaily.com.
  3. ^ Matthew Shiels at Soccerbase
  4. ^ "Matthew Shiels Joins Clyde On Loan". www.rangers.co.uk.
  5. ^ McNulty, Chris (September 2020). "Rangers player with Donegal links goes out on loan – Donegal Daily". www.donegaldaily.com.
  6. ^ "Rangers Players Head to Orange County SC, Francis Jacobs to Play with Rangers U-16". Orange & Black SoccerCast. 3 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Shiels signs pre-contract with Accies". 14 May 2021.
  8. ^ Thomson, Paul (17 September 2021). "Former Rangers kid Matthew Shiels raring to go at Hamilton after injury hell". Daily Record.
  9. ^ McGilvray, Andy (18 December 2021). "Leaving Rangers for Accies is already benefiting defender Matthew Shiels". Daily Record.
  10. ^ Pirie, Mark (25 June 2021). "Rangers academy graduate on first team pathway frustration". GlasgowLive.
  11. ^ "Rangers exit 'the best thing for my career' says Matthew Shiels as he prepares for Hamilton spell". 3 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels released by Ibrox side and pens deal at Premiership club". HeraldScotland. 14 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels released by Ibrox side and pens deal at Premiership club". Glasgow Times. 14 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Departure of several players – Hamilton Accies". 15 June 2023.
  15. ^ Crawford, Jack (4 August 2023). "MATTHEW SHIELS SIGNS FOR DUMBARTON". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. ^ Clarke, Fraser (10 November 2023). "Dumbarton's Matty Shiels says confidence is key to sparkling recent showings". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  17. ^ Crawford, Jack (23 January 2024). "Duo depart Dumbarton". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  18. ^ Clarke, Fraser (22 January 2024). "Dumbarton's Matty Shiels set for Cove Rangers switch after Scottish Cup goal". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  19. ^ McDougall, Mark (6 November 2017). "Rangers striker Matthew Shiels handed shock Republic of Ireland call-up". Daily Record.
  20. ^ McNulty, Chris (10 November 2017). "Rangers striker Shiels makes Irish debut in Spain thanks to… – Donegal Daily". www.donegaldaily.com.
  21. ^ "Coveted Rangers starlet Matthew Shiels enjoys debut victory with Tom Mohan's Ireland | Derry Journal".
  22. ^ "Why Scottish-Irish footballing relations have been at a low ebb for 20 years". independent. 11 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Matthew Shiels | Scotland | Scottish FA". www.scottishfa.co.uk.
  24. ^ Thomson, Paul (18 September 2021). "Rangers had me as striker and left winger, I can be Accies' utility man – Shiels". Daily Record.
  25. ^ Clarke, Fraser (9 August 2023). "Returning Son Matty Shiels says title ambitions convinced him on Dumbarton move". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  26. ^ Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical, Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport, 26 March 2023
  • v
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Cove Rangers F.C. – current squad
  • Suman
  • Jones
  • Scully
  • Niang
  • Gillingham
  • McGowan
  • Yule
  • Megginson
  • 10 Burrell
  • 11 Connell
  • 12 Ochmanski
  • 14 Strachan
  • 15 Darge
  • 16 Vigurs
  • 17 Kerr
  • 18 Mykyta
  • 19 Golding
  • 21 Demus
  • 22 Gallagher
  • 23 Robertson
  • 24 Fyvie
  • 26 Reynolds
  • 27 Stewart
  • 28 Davidson-Phipps
  • 29 Williamson
  • Manager: Hartley