Jimmy Shields (footballer)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Jimmy Shields
Personal information
Full name Robert James Shields
Date of birth (1931-09-26)26 September 1931
Place of birth Derry, Northern Ireland
Date of death 9 January 2020(2020-01-09) (aged 88)
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s)
Centre forward
Youth career
Londonderry Boys Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1954 Crusaders ? (22)
1954–1956 Sunderland 0 (0)
1956–1959 Southampton 38 (20)
1959–1961
Headington United
 4 (1)
1961–1964
South Shields
1964–1965 Larne
International career
1956 Northern Ireland 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert James Shields (26 September 1931 – 9 January 2020)

centre forward for Southampton in the late 1950s, as well as for the Northern Ireland national football team
.

Playing career

Born in Derry, Shields was a Northern Ireland youth international. He started his professional career in Belfast with Crusaders and was part of the Crusaders side which claimed their first major honour, the 1953–54 Ulster Cup. He was rewarded with an inter-league appearance (in a 5–0 defeat by the Football League at Windsor Park in September 1953) and an Amateur cap (when he scored in a 3–2 win over Wales in January 1954). He moved to England in March 1954 when he was signed by Sunderland but failed to break into their first team.[1]

In July 1956 he moved to the south coast to join Southampton for a fee of £1,000 which was funded by the Saints Supporters Club. He was the first signing of "Saints'" newly appointed manager Ted Bates, having set the deal up on his way to Scotland for a holiday.[1] Described by Holley & Chalk as a "strong, forceful forward"[3] he was selected for the Northern Ireland team for a match against Scotland on 7 November 1956.[4]

He scored on his "Saints" debut on 18 August 1956 and scored eleven goals in the opening twelve matches. The goals then dried up somewhat, until a flurry of four in the final four matches. Over the

Headington United of the Southern League in March 1959.[1]

In 1961 he returned to the

joiner.[1]

Honours

Crusaders

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-9534474-3-X
    .
  2. ^ Bull, David (10 January 2020). "Jimmy Shields: An appreciation". Southampton FC. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3
    .
  4. ^ "Scotland 1 Northern Ireland 0 (7 Nov 1956)". www.londonhearts.com. Retrieved 2 January 2008.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Shields_(footballer)&oldid=1220339036"