MEN 1873-1895
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Bill Shiels

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
31-10-1931
N/A
24-11-1955
St. Helens B
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
16-04-1956 v Whitehaven
Workington Town
1957- Liverpool City
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1955-1957
6 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
0
0
0
0

Biography of Bill Shiels



HERITAGE NO : 736

Bill Shiels played in the front and second rows for the Saints in the mid-late 1950s. A former St. Teresa’s (Devon Street) pupill from the St. Helens B team, Bill was essentially a member of the A team at Knowsley Road, but still played in six matches for the seniors. Indeed Bill made his debut on 16th April 1956, at home to Whitehaven. The Saints were due to face Halifax in a Championship semi-final at Thrum Hall seven days later and rested several members of their squad. The ‘weakened’ team won 22-7 and Bill formed a partnership with fellow front-rower Abe Terry and hooker Wilf O’Mara. Another significant aspect of that game was the debut of a young scrum-half called Alex Murphy. Bill had represented his regiment at boxing and rugby during his National Service Days.

A contemporary of players such as Josh Gaskell, Austin Rhodes, Arthur Pimblett and Roy Robinson, Bill’s final match was on 23rd November 1957, against Workington Town at Knowsley Road. Saints won 29-6 and Bill was once again ensconced in the front-row with Abe Terry and legendary hooker Tom McKinney making up the engine room. It was also a game when Tom van Vollenhoven scored two tries. Despite playing relatively few matches at First Team level, he certainly had some famous names as team-mates! Bill went to Liverpool City after leaving Knowsley Road.

Bill also had a major input into the amateur game, when he coached Pilkington Recs in the early 1960s, together with one of his former team-mates John ‘Todder’ Dickinson. Apart from a spell at the Triplex Glass Works, Bill was employed as a Housing Officer for St.Helens Council for most of his working life. Bill passed away on Christmas Day, 2015, aged 84.  Many thanks to Bill’s widow, Marie, for providing interesting biographical details about Bill for our website.

PLAYER HONOURS

SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1955~560 0 0 1
1957~58 0 0 0 5
TOTALS:0 0 0 6
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
TOTALS:

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
16th Apr 1956 1
W
 10 Whitehaven L H 22 7 VIEW
21st Sep 1957 2
W
 11 Swinton L A 16 14 VIEW
5th Oct 1957 3
W
 11 Huddersfield L A 35 13 VIEW
12th Oct 1957 4
W
 12 Whitehaven L H 26 9 VIEW
2nd Nov 1957 5
W
 10 Whitehaven L A 15 7 VIEW
23rd Nov 1957 6
W
 10 Workington Town L H 29 6 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 6 | LOSSES : | DRAWS :




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