Matthew Shiels Explained

Matthew Shiels
Birth Date:13 September 2000
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Height:1.83m[1]
Position:Left back
Currentclub:Dumbarton
Clubnumber:22
Youthclubs1:Rangers
Years1:2018–2021
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Edinburgh City (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Dumbarton (loan)
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2020
Clubs4:Orange County SC (loan)
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2020
Clubs5:Clyde (loan)
Caps5:6
Goals5:0
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Hamilton Academical
Caps6:35
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–2024
Clubs7:Dumbarton
Caps7:17
Goals7:2
Years8:2024
Clubs8:Cove Rangers
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Dumbarton
Caps9:3
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U18
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalyears3:2018–2019
Nationalteam3:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:07:53, 18 August 2024 (UTC)

Matthew Shiels (born 13 September 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left back for 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] 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] in a game where he also won a penalty and provided an assist.[17] 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.[18] [19] He left Cove after just eight appearances,[20] and returned to Dumbarton on a season long deal in the summer of 2024.[21]

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] [22] making his debut on 9 November.[23]

He also played with the Republic of Ireland under-19s,[24] before later reverting his international allegiance back to Scotland,[25] playing ten games for the Scotland under-19 team.[26]

Playing style

Shiels plays primarily as a left back, but also played as a left winger and striker for Rangers.[27] On signing for Dumbarton in August 2023 he said he preferred playing in a more attacking role.[28]

Honours

Hamilton Academical

2022–23[29]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scotland – M. Shiels – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway. uk.soccerway.com.
  2. Web site: Rangers man with strong Donegal connections gets Irish call-up – Donegal Daily. Chris. McNulty. www.donegaldaily.com. 6 November 2017 .
  3. Web site: Dumbarton's Matty Shiels set for Cove Rangers switch after Scottish Cup goal - Daily Record . 25 June 2024 . www.dailyrecord.co.uk.
  4. Web site: Matthew Shiels Joins Clyde On Loan. www.rangers.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Rangers player with Donegal links goes out on loan – Donegal Daily. Chris. McNulty. www.donegaldaily.com. September 2020 .
  6. Web site: Rangers Players Head to Orange County SC, Francis Jacobs to Play with Rangers U-16. Orange & Black SoccerCast. 3 February 2020 .
  7. Web site: Shiels signs pre-contract with Accies. 14 May 2021.
  8. Web site: Former Rangers kid Matthew Shiels raring to go at Hamilton after injury hell. Paul. Thomson. 17 September 2021. Daily Record.
  9. Web site: Leaving Rangers for Accies is already benefiting defender Matthew Shiels. Andy. McGilvray. 18 December 2021. Daily Record.
  10. Web site: Rangers academy graduate on first team pathway frustration. Mark. Pirie. 25 June 2021. GlasgowLive.
  11. Web site: Rangers exit 'the best thing for my career' says Matthew Shiels as he prepares for Hamilton spell. 3 June 2021.
  12. Web site: Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels released by Ibrox side and pens deal at Premiership club. HeraldScotland. 14 May 2021 .
  13. Web site: Rangers youngster Matthew Shiels released by Ibrox side and pens deal at Premiership club. Glasgow Times. 14 May 2021 .
  14. Web site: Departure of several players – Hamilton Accies. 15 June 2023.
  15. Web site: Crawford . Jack . 4 August 2023 . MATTHEW SHIELS SIGNS FOR DUMBARTON . 4 August 2023 . Dumbarton Football Club . en-US.
  16. Web site: Clarke . Fraser . 10 November 2023 . Dumbarton's Matty Shiels says confidence is key to sparkling recent showings . 10 November 2023 . Daily Record . en.
  17. Web site: Dumbarton 4-0 Bonnyrigg Rose - Red hot Sons prove too strong for Rose - Daily Record . 25 June 2024 . www.dailyrecord.co.uk.
  18. Web site: Crawford . Jack . 23 January 2024 . Duo depart Dumbarton . 23 January 2024 . Dumbarton Football Club . en-US.
  19. Web site: Clarke . Fraser . 22 January 2024 . Dumbarton's Matty Shiels set for Cove Rangers switch after Scottish Cup goal . 23 January 2024 . Daily Record . en.
  20. Web site: Gordon . Richard . 29 May 2024 . Squad Update . 31 May 2024 . Cove Rangers FC . en.
  21. Web site: Crawford . Jack . 31 May 2024 . MATTY SHIELS IS BACK AT THE ROCK . 31 May 2024 . Dumbarton Football Club . en-US.
  22. Web site: Rangers striker Matthew Shiels handed shock Republic of Ireland call-up. Mark. McDougall. 6 November 2017. Daily Record.
  23. Web site: Rangers striker Shiels makes Irish debut in Spain thanks to… – Donegal Daily. Chris. McNulty. www.donegaldaily.com. 10 November 2017 .
  24. Web site: Coveted Rangers starlet Matthew Shiels enjoys debut victory with Tom Mohan's Ireland | Derry Journal.
  25. Web site: Why Scottish-Irish footballing relations have been at a low ebb for 20 years. independent. 11 June 2022 .
  26. Web site: Matthew Shiels | Scotland | Scottish FA. www.scottishfa.co.uk.
  27. Web site: Rangers had me as striker and left winger, I can be Accies' utility man – Shiels. Paul. Thomson. 18 September 2021. Daily Record.
  28. Web site: Clarke . Fraser . 9 August 2023 . Returning Son Matty Shiels says title ambitions convinced him on Dumbarton move . 9 August 2023 . Daily Record . en.
  29. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65008695 Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical