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Personal
Fullname: James Shields
aka: Jimmy Shields, Jim Shields
Born: […]
Died: […]
Birthplace: […]
Signed: 15 June 1939
Left: 1947 (free); 17 May 1947 (Raith Rovers trial); 19 June 1947 (Dumbarton); 1948 (free, retired)
Debut: Celtic 3-2 Third Lanark, Charity Cup, 18 May 1940; Celtic 1-2 Morton, League, 10 Aug 1946
Position: Forward
Internationals: none
Biog
James ‘Jimmy’ Shields was an inside-forward who saw his five match Celtic career interrupted by World War Two.
Signed from Arthurlie in June 1939 the youngster made his debut in the Charity Cup tie with Third Lanark at Celtic Park on May 18th 1940 when the Bhoys won 3-2. He had actually been paid off for the ‘duration’ (of the war) in December 1939 but recalled for the Charity Cup run in 1940.
An appearance in a 5-1 Charity Cup defeat to Rangers followed soon afterwards before Jimmy Shields signed up for the RAF.
Despite being away from Celtic, he went on to play in a few loan matches for Bolton, Rochdale and Blackpool.
After the war, Jimmy Shields returned to Celtic and made just three league appearances. The gap between his Celtic First Team appearances was around six years. It was a long time coming for finally having that opportunity with the First Team in a league match.
However, it doesn’t appear he was able to make up for the lost time, and joining a poorly performing & managed Celtic side was not something that any single man could turn around. His last performance was a humiliating 6-2 loss v Aberdeen.
His three league match appearances came in eight days in August 1946, with two losses (to Morton & Aberdeen) and one draw (with Clyde). Both Morton and Aberdeen finished in the league above Celtic that season.
The great Bobby Evans was the man to take the position that Jimmy Shields was fighting for, so maybe it was a challenge too far for Jimmy Shields.
He was released in 1947, and went to Raith (trial) and then Dumbarton. Luckily in one sense he missed the hellish season of 1947-48 when Celtic were almost relegated.
He had hardly had a chance due to the war to make a name for himself at Celtic.
He retired from football in 1948, and in time took a place as a PE teacher and Youth Club instructor.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1939-47 | 3 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 3 |
| Goals: | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
