Greg Shields Explained

Greg Shields
Fullname:Greg Shields
Birth Date:1976 8, df=y
Birth Place:Falkirk, Scotland
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Dunfermline Athletic
(head of academy – football)
Youthclubs1:Gairdoch United
Youthyears2:–1995
Youthclubs2:Rangers
Years1:1995–1997
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:7
Goals1:0
Years2:1997–1999
Clubs2:Dunfermline Athletic
Caps2:75
Goals2:0
Years3:1999–2002
Clubs3:Charlton Athletic
Caps3:25
Goals3:2
Years4:2002
Clubs4:Walsall (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:2002
Clubs5:Kilmarnock (loan)
Caps5:5
Goals5:0
Years6:2002–2004
Clubs6:Kilmarnock
Caps6:53
Goals6:2
Years7:2004–2009
Clubs7:Dunfermline Athletic
Caps7:129
Goals7:4
Years8:2009–2010
Clubs8:Carolina RailHawks
Caps8:11
Goals8:0
Years9:2010
Clubs9:Partick Thistle (loan)
Caps9:5
Goals9:0
Years10:2010–2013
Clubs10:Carolina RailHawks
Caps10:33
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:350
Totalgoals:8
Nationalyears1:1996[1]
Nationalteam1:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2003[2]
Nationalteam2:Scotland B
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Manageryears1:2013–2019
Managerclubs1:North Carolina FC (assistant)
Manageryears2:2019–2022
Managerclubs2:Dunfermline Athletic (assistant)
Manageryears3:2021
Managerclubs3:Dunfermline Athletic (interim manager)
Manageryears4:2022-
Managerclubs4:Dunfermline Athletic (head of academy – football)

Greg Shields (born 21 August 1976) is a Scottish football player and coach, who is currently head of academy – football with Dunfermline Athletic. His playing career was most closely associated with Dunfermline Athletic, as he played for the club over 200 times across two spells and was their captain in two national cup finals. Shields also played for Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Walsall, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle and the Carolina RailHawks. He represented Scotland in under-21 and B internationals.

Playing career

Early career

Shields started his career with Gairdoch United Boys Club before joining the youth system at Rangers. One of his first senior appearances was in October 1996 in a UEFA Champions League tie against Ajax.[3] He went on to play only 11 times for the Glasgow club[4] before a £200,000 move to Dunfermline Athletic in 1997.

England and Scotland

After 86 consecutive appearances for Dunfermline he swapped west Fife for south London in a £600,000 move to Alan Curbishley's Charlton Athletic in 1999. After an impressive start at The Valley, Shields ran into some injury problems which eventually ruined his Charlton career.

After a brief spell on loan at Walsall, Jim Jefferies brought him back home to Scotland at SPL side Kilmarnock, initially on loan then permanently. He quickly established himself in the Rugby Park side,[5] becoming captain in season 2002–03. This alerted his former employers Dunfermline Athletic, who swooped to take him back to East End Park during the January 2004 transfer window (coincidentally, both his goals for Killie were scored against Dunfermline and they were also the last opponent he faced while at the Ayrshire club).[5]

Dunfermline played in the final of the Scottish Cup that season but Shields was cup-tied after playing in an earlier round for Kilmarnock. Injury again wrecked most of the 2004–05 season for him. He captained the "Pars" in the 2006 Scottish League Cup Final and the 2007 Scottish Cup Final, both of which ended in defeat to Celtic; his defensive colleagues included former Rangers youth teammate Scott Wilson.[6] [7]

United States

On 26 May 2009, Shields was poised to join Carolina RailHawks in the United States, managed by Scotsman Martin Rennie.[8] Carolina RailHawks announced on 16 July 2009 that they had signed Shields.[9] He had a loan spell back in Scotland with Partick Thistle before returning to RailHawks where he finished his playing career in 2013.

Coaching career

Shields worked as an assistant coach with the RailHawks,[10] as well as being a head coach with Capital Area RailHawks, Carolina RailHawks' academy programme.[11] He was appointed assistant head coach at Dunfermline Athletic in January 2019.[12] After Peter Grant's tenure as Dunfermline manager ended, Shields and Steven Whittaker were appointed joint interim managers of the club.[13] Shields and Whittaker were in charge for two matches, before John Hughes was appointed on a permanent basis.[14]

The creation of Dunfermline's new youth academy as well as the change to the management team following relegation to League 1 saw Shields promoted to head of academy – football, working alongside Bill Hendry as head of academy – operations.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scotland U21 player Greg Shields. FitbaStats. 13 September 2018.
  2. Web site: Scotland B player Greg Shields. FitbaStats. 13 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Rangers come to end of road. The Independent. London. David McKinney. 31 October 1996 . 13 September 2018.
  4. Web site: Rangers player Greg Shields. FitbaStats. 13 September 2018.
  5. Web site: Kilmarnock player Greg Shields. FitbaStats. 13 September 2018.
  6. News: Dunfermline 0-3 Celtic . 19 March 2006. BBC Sport. 13 September 2018.
  7. News: Celtic 1-0 Dunfermline . 26 May 2007. BBC Sport. 13 September 2018.
  8. Web site: Shields to leave Pars for America . 26 May 2009. BBC Sport. 27 May 2009.
  9. Web site: Carolina signs Shields of Dunfermline. 16 July 2009. Carolina RailHawks News Release. 16 July 2009.
  10. Web site: Greg Shields . Carolina RailHawks . 4 November 2016.
  11. Web site: Greg Shields . Capital Area RailHawks . 4 November 2016.
  12. Web site: Dunfermline: Stevie Crawford appointed head coach . BBC Sport . 10 January 2019 . 10 January 2019.
  13. Web site: DAFC Board Statement . Dunfermline Athletic FC . 31 October 2021 . 31 October 2021.
  14. Web site: Dunfermline Athletic appoint John Hughes as manager on two-and-a-half year deal . BBC Sport . 12 November 2021 . 17 November 2021.
  15. Web site: New Academy Structure Announced | Dunfermline Athletic Football Club .
  16. Joint caretaker manager with Steven Whittaker