Shevlin's 2-3 year tenure as Celtic's number 1 goalkeeper, was sandwiched between the hugely popular captain Charlie Shaw, and the legendary and tragic John Thompson. At 5'7" he was small for a goalkeeper, although a full inch taller than Charlie Shaw!

Shevlin was born in Wishaw on 1902, and he was a junior with Pollok and St Rochs before joining Celtic in 1924, for a fee of 120 pounds. After a shaky start he went on to make over 100 league and cup appearances at Celtic Park. While at Celtic, his honours included a 1926 league-winners' medal, and a 1925 scottish cup medal, following a nail-biting last-minute victory against Dundee. He was held partly to blame for the 2-0 defeat by St Mirren in the 1926 Scottish Cup Final, which would have given Celtic their fourth ever double.

On 5th February 1927, while playing in a Scottish Cup tie against Brechin City at Glebe Park, Shevlin let in 3 soft goals including a howler in the opening minute, and Wille Maley decided to give the 18-year-old reserve keeper, John Thompson, a chance. He turned out to outstanding, quickly displacing Shevlin who moved on to South Shields in July 1927.

In 1931, Shevlin became player/manager of Shelbourne in Dublin, before returning to Scotland in April 1933 for an eventuful two seasons with Hamilton Academicals. He was in the Accies' side which won the second XI cup in 1934 but a most unfortunate injury kept him out the 1935 Scottish Cup Final, having played in the team all season. He was freed by Hamilton in May 1935 and became captain at Albion Rovers.Staying in the English Midlands in Spring 1941 he was badly injured by enemy bombing and spent the rest of the year in hospital. He died young in Manchester on 10th October 1948.