Arthur Millar (footballer)

Arthur Thompson Millar (26 January 1877 – 27 February 1942) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a wing half in the English Football League for Aston Villa.[2] He also played in the Southern League for Millwall Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Arthur Millar
Personal information
Full name Arthur Thompson Millar
Date of birth (1877-01-26)26 January 1877[1]
Place of birth Rossie Island, Montrose,[1] Scotland
Date of death 1942 (aged 64–65)[2]
Place of death England, buried Rossie Island
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
189?–1896 Montrose
1896–1901 Millwall Athletic
1901–1903 Aston Villa 10 (0)
1903Millwall (loan)
1903–1904 Millwall
1904–1905 Brighton & Hove Albion 31 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Life and career

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Millar was born in Rossie Island, Montrose, in 1877.[1] He played football for his hometown club before moving to England in 1896 to sign for Southern League club Millwall Athletic. He remained with Millwall for five seasons, captained the team, and was reportedly very popular with the supporters:[3] He was part of the team that eliminated reigning Football League champions, Aston Villa from the 1899–1900 FA Cup after two replays to reach the semifinal, in which Millwall lost to Southampton after just one replay. Villa were sufficiently impressed with Millar that they signed him,[4] but he made only ten appearances in the First Division before returning to Millwall,[2] initially on loan. He finished his career with a season at another Southern League club, Brighton & Hove Albion, where he was remembered as a "hard, resolute defender".[1] Millar died on 27 February 1942 in England, was cremated and later buried in the family plot at Rossie Island, Scotland.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. pp. 171–172. ISBN 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  2. ^ a b c d Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. ^ "Mainly about players". Football Evening News. London. 22 September 1900. p. 1. Arthur Millar, the popular Millwall captain, although on the losing side, must have been highly satisfied with the splendid attendance at his benefit match last Monday.
  4. ^ "All time greatest FA Cup giant killings Number 19: Aston Villa 1–2 Millwall Athletic". The Giant Killers. Steve Porter. Retrieved 24 September 2018.