MILLER, Tom (1911)

Overview

Played for Larkhall Hearts and Glenview prior to being signed from Larkhall United in March 1911. While with United he was a member of the side which won the Lanarkshire Cup and League. In one match against Dalziel Rovers he scored seven goals. He was chosen to play against the Lanarkshire Juniors versus their Irish counterparts. Another of Adam's brothers.

Liverpool bought him on 13th February 1912 for a reported fee of £400. While at Anfield his brother John also played there. Tom was capped while on Merseyside and also as a Manchester United player, though he was not considered good enough for their first team at the time. In total he appeared 3 times for Scotland, 1920 and1921 against England (He scored twice on his debut) and in 1921 versus Ireland. He played in the 1914 FA Cup final for Liverpool at centre forward when they were beaten 1-0 by Burnley.

He was involved in a betting scandal while with Liverpool when it was alleged that a match against United was fixed. The match was on Good Friday in 1915. He was one of a number of players banned for life as a result. The ban was later lifted as the players involved had all fought for their country during the ensuing war. With the English Leagues suspended due to the war, Tom returned north where he was attached to Wishaw Thistle and Royal Albert, Accies too hoped to make use of his talent, however it was not allowed by the Scottish League officials. Enlisted in 1915.

Reinstated after the war and with 52 goals and 127 appearances under his belt he was transferred to Manchester United for £2,000 in September 1920. Six months earlier he was in the Anglo Scots Side which lost 2-1 to the Home Scots. A year later he scored in the same fixture and again the score was similar. Never quite set the heather on fire at Old Trafford and Hearts brought him back north in July 1921. This time the fee was £550 plus a player, Busby born, Arthur Lochhead, who was valued at £2,300.

Then came a season with Torquay United in 1922-23, thereafter he rejoined Accies at a cost of £100. Two goals were scored by him in the 1924 Lanarkshire Cup Final for Accies when Royal Albert provided the opposition and with Lachie McMillan also scoring without reply from the Raploch Park men, Tom at least took a winners medal back to Larkhall.

He spent a further two years at Douglas Park prior to moving finally to Raith Rovers in December 1926. He remained at Stark’s Park for a year before being appointed trainer to Dunfermline Athletic. His next role was in accepting the challenge of managing Barrow in the English Third Division North in the 1930 close season, with the club in a lowly League position he left in November 1930.

He was born in Motherwell on 29th June 1890 and died on 3rd September 1958 aged 68. During his playing days he tipped the scales at 11 stones 5 pounds and was 5’9”. Could perform well in any of the inside forward positions.

Debut on 18th March 1911 in a Scottish League match away to Heart of Midlothian in Accies side which included two of his brothers, Adam and William, the latter also making his debut.

Scottish League 126 Appearances 27 Goals

Scottish Cup 10 Appearances

Lanarkshire Cup 15 Appearances 7 Goals

Accies Career

Links and References

Archive: Scottish Football Association

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