George Miller (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Miller was a Scottish
former football player and manager, most notable for being a member of the first Dunfermline Athletic
side to win a major honour, the 1961 Scottish Cup
.
, where he would stay until 1959. He was signed by Dunfermline Athletic
before the start of the 1959-60 season
, instantly becoming a first-team regular as the Pars battled against relegation. The arrival of Jock Stein
in 1960 transformed the side however, and against the odds they reached 1961 Scottish Cup final against Celtic
. Miller played as a wing-half in an initial 0-0 draw, however an injury to Jackie Williamson required him to move to centre-half for the replay. The subsequent 2-0 victory enshrined that XI's place in Dunfermline folklore and served to galvanise the entire club.
Dunfermline developed into regular challengers at the top end of the league table and Miller notched seven goals as they finished an unprecedented 4th in 1961-62
. The team also enjoyed several notable European campaigns, with Miller's individual highlight coming in the 1962-63 Fairs Cup, his 2nd-leg goal helping the Pars to a memorable 2-1 aggregate victory over English
giants Everton
.
Miller was the subject of a lucrative transfer bid from Wolves
in October 1964 and the £28,500 on offer proved too much for Dunfermline to resist. However, he failed to settle in the West Midlands
and returned to Scotland after just 13 months after 45 appearances, joining league runners-up Heart of Midlothian
in November 1965. He spent three seasons at Tynecastle
, with the highlight being a run to the final of the 1967-68
Scottish Cup final, where his former side Dunfermline defeated the Maroons 3-1.
In November 1968, Miller joined Falkirk
, then struggling near the bottom of the First Division. Despite his best efforts they were relegated but bounced back to claim the 1969-70
Division Two title. By this stage Miller was approaching veteran status and, after two seasons of First Division consolidation with Falkirk, he left Brockville Park
in 1972 to become manager of recently relegated Dunfermline Athletic in the summer of 1972.
took the 1972-73
Second Division title. Miller's first managerial season in the top flight witnessed Dunfermline avoid relegation on goal difference, however it was largely overshadowed by the death of left-back John Lunn, at only 31 years of age. League reorganisation the next season saw the Pars placed in the new (second tier) First Division but a disastrous 1975-76 campaign
would end in relegation.
Miller resigned his position in late 1975 but was quickly back in the game when appointed Falkirk manager in December 1976. The Bairns were also struggling though, and ended the season bottom of the First Division and relegated. When Miller could not secure promotion the following year, finishing 9 point behind the second promotion place, his time at Brockville came to an end.
Hamilton Academical
was Miller's next port of call, where he worked as commercial manager from 1984. On two occasions he fulfilled the role of caretaker manager, after the departure of Jim Dempsey in 1989 and John Lambie in 1990.
He died of cancer on 26 December 2008.
Scotland
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...
former football player and manager, most notable for being a member of the first Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
side to win a major honour, the 1961 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
.
Playing career
After leaving Larkhall Academy, Miller started playing for local side Royal AlbertRoyal Albert F.C.
Royal Albert Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Larkhall, South Lanarkshire. Nicknamed the Albert, they were formed in 1878....
, where he would stay until 1959. He was signed by Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
before the start of the 1959-60 season
1959-60 in Scottish football
The 1959–60 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: Stirling Albion, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
, instantly becoming a first-team regular as the Pars battled against relegation. The arrival of Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
in 1960 transformed the side however, and against the odds they reached 1961 Scottish Cup final against Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Miller played as a wing-half in an initial 0-0 draw, however an injury to Jackie Williamson required him to move to centre-half for the replay. The subsequent 2-0 victory enshrined that XI's place in Dunfermline folklore and served to galvanise the entire club.
Dunfermline developed into regular challengers at the top end of the league table and Miller notched seven goals as they finished an unprecedented 4th in 1961-62
1961-62 in Scottish football
The 1961–62 season was the 65th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Dundee had an excellent start to the season, including a 5–1 win away to Rangers, and having a seemingly invincible lead by Christmas. A poorrun of form in the new year, including a...
. The team also enjoyed several notable European campaigns, with Miller's individual highlight coming in the 1962-63 Fairs Cup, his 2nd-leg goal helping the Pars to a memorable 2-1 aggregate victory over English
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...
giants Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
.
Miller was the subject of a lucrative transfer bid from Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in October 1964 and the £28,500 on offer proved too much for Dunfermline to resist. However, he failed to settle in the West Midlands
West Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
and returned to Scotland after just 13 months after 45 appearances, joining league runners-up Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in November 1965. He spent three seasons at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
, with the highlight being a run to the final of the 1967-68
1967-68 in Scottish football
The 1967–68 season was the 71st season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Motherwell, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
Scottish Cup final, where his former side Dunfermline defeated the Maroons 3-1.
In November 1968, Miller joined Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, then struggling near the bottom of the First Division. Despite his best efforts they were relegated but bounced back to claim the 1969-70
1969-70 in Scottish football
The 1969–70 season was the 73rd season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Raith Rovers, Partick Thistle-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Falkirk, Cowdenbeath-Cups:...
Division Two title. By this stage Miller was approaching veteran status and, after two seasons of First Division consolidation with Falkirk, he left Brockville Park
Brockville Park
Brockville Park was a football stadium located on Hope Street in Falkirk, Scotland, north-west of the town centre. It was the home of Falkirk F.C. from 1885 until the end of 2002–03 Scottish football season. The record attendance at Brockville Park was 23,100 on 21 February 1953 in a match...
in 1972 to become manager of recently relegated Dunfermline Athletic in the summer of 1972.
Managerial career
Miller was able to lead the side to promotion in his first season in charge, although ClydeClyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
took the 1972-73
1972-73 in Scottish football
The 1972–73 season was the 76th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic...
Second Division title. Miller's first managerial season in the top flight witnessed Dunfermline avoid relegation on goal difference, however it was largely overshadowed by the death of left-back John Lunn, at only 31 years of age. League reorganisation the next season saw the Pars placed in the new (second tier) First Division but a disastrous 1975-76 campaign
1975-76 in Scottish football
The 1975–76 season was the 79th season of Scottish league football. It was the first season in the new, three-tier setup. Division One was no longer the top division in Scottish football, although all three divisions are still part of the Scottish Football League.The Premier Division...
would end in relegation.
Miller resigned his position in late 1975 but was quickly back in the game when appointed Falkirk manager in December 1976. The Bairns were also struggling though, and ended the season bottom of the First Division and relegated. When Miller could not secure promotion the following year, finishing 9 point behind the second promotion place, his time at Brockville came to an end.
Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
was Miller's next port of call, where he worked as commercial manager from 1984. On two occasions he fulfilled the role of caretaker manager, after the departure of Jim Dempsey in 1989 and John Lambie in 1990.
He died of cancer on 26 December 2008.
External links
- Obituary, at Dunfermline Athletic FC
- Obituary, at The ScotsmanThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
- Appearances at londonhearts.com