Bo’ness United were saddened to hear of the sudden death of Lex Shields. Lex is best known for his two goals that won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1984 but that’s only part of his Bo’ness United story.

Lex enjoyed two spells at Bo’ness, the first making sixty seven appearances, scoring seventeen goals over the seasons 1977/78 season to 1979/80. During that period Lex featured in the BUs 1979 Scottish Junior Cup final but on that occasion, he was on the losing side as Cumnock Juniors won by a solitary goal.

After a brief stint at Alloa Athletic Lex returned to Newtown Park, appearing in two further Scottish finals. The first in 1983 was against East Kilbride Thistle, again the BUs losing out but the following year proved more successful. Bailieston Juniors were the opponents and after a goalless first hour Lex Shields came to the fore, scoring two individual goals that saw Bo’ness lift the Scottish Junior Cup for the second time in ten years. It was to become known as the ‘Lexie Final’ his first goal legendary as football fans everywhere marvelled at a great goal scored by a great player.

During his second spell at Newtown Park Lex scored a further seventy three goals in three hundred and nine games. Apart from the Scottish triumph Lex helped win further silverware for Bo’ness in the form of the East of Scotland and Brown Cups. His ten years at Newtown Park were marked with a testimonial game, a Lex select versus a Rangers XI. Lex’s status in the game was illustrated by some of the big names that appeared that night, Davie Cooper, Gordon Strachan, Eamon Bannon Stuart Munro and Stuart McCall to name but a few. It was a magnificent occasion witnessed by a large Newtown Park crowd.

After his time at Bo’ness United Lex continued his playing career and moved into management for a while. Lex has been back at Newtown Park on various occasions and is always given a warm welcome by the BU Faithful, Lex only too glad to chat and share footballing memories.

The thoughts of everyone at Bo’ness United are with Lex’s family and friends at this sad time but Lex Shields will live long in the memory of his former team mates and BU fans alike. A true Bo’ness United legend.

John Spowart
Friday 26 October 2024

Thanks to Don Burns for providing Lex's Bo'ness United statistics