Charles William Miller
Encyclopedia
Charles William Miller was a Brazilian sportsman, who is considered to be the father of football in Brazil
.
railway engineer and Brazilian mother of English descent, Carlota Fox.
In 1884 he was sent to the Banister Court public school in Southampton
, Hampshire
, England
where he learnt to play football and cricket
. Whilst at school he played for and against both the Corinthians and St. Mary's (now Southampton FC). He was recorded in the 1891 English Census whilst a boarder at Millbrook School
.
(SPAC) and the Liga Paulista, the first football league in Brazil. With him as striker
SPAC won the first three championships in 1902, 1903 and 1904.
By 1906, Miller was playing in goal and as such participated in SPAC's heaviest defeat, 9-1 to Sport Club Internacional of São Paulo (not to be confused with Sport Club Internacional
). After the result SPAC resigned from the league as did Miller from its directorate.
It was Miller that suggested the name to the first President of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
.
's agent and Acting British Vice-Consul in 1904. In January 1906, he married the renowned pianist
Antonietta Rudge; the union produced two children, Carlos (1907) and Helena (1909). The late 1920s saw the couple split with Antonietta moving in with the poet Menotti
.
In 1939 on perhaps his last return to England, he was nearly killed in the first IRA
bombing on the mainland; his daughter stopped to window shop just seconds before the bomb went off on the steps to the nearby underground
station.
Football in Brazil
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favourites to win...
.
Early life
He was born in São Paulo to John Miller, a ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
railway engineer and Brazilian mother of English descent, Carlota Fox.
In 1884 he was sent to the Banister Court public school in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he learnt to play football and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. Whilst at school he played for and against both the Corinthians and St. Mary's (now Southampton FC). He was recorded in the 1891 English Census whilst a boarder at Millbrook School
Millbrook Community School
Millbrook Community School was a secondary school in Southampton, England. The school was situated close to the west border of the city - formerly Millbrook Secondary School for Boys and attracted pupils from several surrounding areas....
.
Influence
When he returned to Brazil in 1894, Miller brought two footballs and a set of Hampshire FA rules in his suitcase. Miller was instrumental in setting up the football team of the São Paulo Athletic ClubSão Paulo Athletic Club
São Paulo Athletic Club, also known as SPAC, was a historic Brazilian football club founded on May 15, 1888 by Charles William Miller and several English immigrants, being one of the first football clubs in the country. The club's players were English employees of Companhia de Gás , London Bank and...
(SPAC) and the Liga Paulista, the first football league in Brazil. With him as striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
SPAC won the first three championships in 1902, 1903 and 1904.
By 1906, Miller was playing in goal and as such participated in SPAC's heaviest defeat, 9-1 to Sport Club Internacional of São Paulo (not to be confused with Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
). After the result SPAC resigned from the league as did Miller from its directorate.
It was Miller that suggested the name to the first President of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league...
.
Personal life
Miller worked at the São Paulo Railway Company becoming the Royal MailRoyal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
's agent and Acting British Vice-Consul in 1904. In January 1906, he married the renowned pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Antonietta Rudge; the union produced two children, Carlos (1907) and Helena (1909). The late 1920s saw the couple split with Antonietta moving in with the poet Menotti
Menotti Del Picchia
Paulo Menotti Del Picchia was a Brazilian poet, journalist, and painter. He is associated with the Generation of 1922, the first generation of Brazilian modernists....
.
In 1939 on perhaps his last return to England, he was nearly killed in the first IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
bombing on the mainland; his daughter stopped to window shop just seconds before the bomb went off on the steps to the nearby underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
station.
Sources
- Lacey, Josh (2007) God Is Brazilian: Charles Miller, the Man Who Brought Football To Brazil. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-75243-414-4