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 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.
A broken leg suffered in a reserve match in September 1957 resulted in Shields missing the entire 1957–58 season.
[1] In 1961 he returned to the north east where he played for South Shields whilst resuming his original career as a joiner.