Predator Shields Heads Back to Panthers
Ace striker Mark Shields is heading back to his old stomping ground of Queanbeyan for a second stint with Monaro Panthers after re-signing for the club from Canberra Olympic. Shields’ who scored fifteen last season for Olympic and 46 in 51 appearances overall, was previously with Monaro in 2011 where his sixteen league goals placed him fourth in the Golden Boot standings.
The goal-poacher is an ACT Rockets representative and scored the only goal on Canberra Olympics’ 3-1 loss to Hyundai A-League giants Western Sydney Wanderers in a recent pre-season friendly match in 2013. After leaving the Panthers following his one season in green and black, Shields returned to Tuggeranong United where he plundered 21 goals before signing for Olympic.
“We are delighted to be able to welcome a player of the quality of Mark Shields to Monaro Panthers Football Club,” new Head Coach Graeme Plath said. “It certainly stamps a statement of intent by the club that we can attract a player of the stature that Mark holds within the local game. He is well known to me personally and will be a huge asset to the club both on and off the field. We are sure that the signing of Mark will push Monaro into contention for the top four.”
Shields himself was looking forward to the challenge of returning to the club where he scored eighteen goals in only thirteen league and cup appearances.
“I am thoroughly looking forward to joining up with Graeme Plath and the squad ahead of pre-season training,” Shields commented. “It was a difficult decision to leave Canberra Olympic as I enjoyed two immensely satisfying years with the club, winning a Grand Final in my first year there. I know all about Monaro though and how much of a friendly club it is and their ambitions for the future match my own and I can’t wait to get started.”
Shields burst onto the NPL scene back in his first stint with the Panthers after a successful spell with Tuggeranong United with who he helped earn promotion from State League 1 back to the top tier under Head Coach Scott Conlon. A speedy forward over the crucial first ten metres, Shields is equally adept with his back to goal holding up play and, as his statistics prove, has a nose for chance and a goal. The Panthers will be fiercer competitors with him in their ranks.
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