USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks add Scottish Defender Shields

Published on July 16, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. - The Carolina RailHawks have acquired the Scottish defender Greg Shields, the club announced Thursday.

Shields will provide veteran experience and depth to an already stout defense that has conceded just 10 goals in 15 USL First Division games and has nine shutouts to its credit. The RailHawks rank third in the USL-1 in shutouts, goals allowed and goals allowed per game (0.67).

"We needed a little bit more experience, and Greg brings that," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "He's played for the biggest clubs in Scotland and he's played in the Premiership in England. I'm really, really happy we managed to get Greg. He's probably going to be one of the fittest players on the team, but also one of the most experienced. He brings a lot and he can play a lot of different positions."

Shields, 32, spent the last five years playing for Dunfermline Athletic. Dunfermline competed in the Scottish Premier League from 2000-07 and has played in the Scottish First Division the last two years. Shields appeared in 129 matches for the Pars and scored four goals. Shields also spent two years with Dunfermline in 1997-99, where he appeared in 75 matches.

Shields began his career with the Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. He made his professional debut with Rangers in a 1996 UEFA Champions League tie against Ajax. He appeared in seven matches during his four years with Rangers (1993-97) before joining Dunfermline in 1997.

In 1999, Shields moved to Charlton Athletic of the English Premier League, where he made 25 appearances and scored two goals in 1999-2002. In 2002, he was also loaned to England's Walsall and Scotland's Kilmarnock. The latter loan turned into a permanent move, and Shields appeared in 53 matches and scored two goals for Kilmarnock before his return to Dunfermline in 2004.

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