Alf Miles
Encyclopedia
Alfred Miles, also known as Freddie, born in Aston on January 1884, was a football
player in England. As a professional he only played for Aston Villa F.C.
. He was a full-back who made 269 appearances for Aston Villa in his 11 year career at Villa Park. After his retirement as a player he became the first team trainer, a job he held for 11 years.
He died in Wylde Green
, Sutton Coldfield
on 8 February 1927.
on 19 December 1903. During his first season at Villa he developed a good understanding with Howard Spencer
. In 1905 he won the FA Cup
after Aston Villa beat Newcastle United 2–0. When Spencer retired in 1907, Alf Miles teamed up with Tommy Lyons
to become one of the most effective defensive pairings in the First Division
culminating in the First Division win in 1909–10 season
. Alf Miles retired in the summer of 1914 having played a total of 269 league and cup games. He then became the club trainer until 1925.
Miles was called as a witness at the trial of George Stagg, who was found guilty of the murder of Aston Villa's defender Tommy Ball
in November 1923.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player in England. As a professional he only played for Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He was a full-back who made 269 appearances for Aston Villa in his 11 year career at Villa Park. After his retirement as a player he became the first team trainer, a job he held for 11 years.
He died in Wylde Green
Wylde Green
Wylde Green is a residential area within the town of Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, England in the West Midlands. It was in the county of Warwickshire. The area is in the Sutton Vesey ward.-History:...
, Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
on 8 February 1927.
Career
He was signed from Aston St Marys where he played his early football as an amateur. He made his Villa debut in a 7–3 win at Nottingham Forest F.C.Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 19 December 1903. During his first season at Villa he developed a good understanding with Howard Spencer
Howard Spencer
Howard Spencer was one of Aston Villa's all-time greatest players.An incredibly gifted player, he was known as the 'Prince of Full-Backs' during his hugely successful time at the club and was renowned for his sportsmanship.While at Villa Spencer earned four League Championships in 1896, 1897, 1899...
. In 1905 he won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
after Aston Villa beat Newcastle United 2–0. When Spencer retired in 1907, Alf Miles teamed up with Tommy Lyons
Tommy Lyons
Tommy Lyons is a retired Irish Gaelic football manager from County Mayo who has managed 2 inter-county sides in his time. He also managed club side Kilmacud Crokes to All-Ireland glory on St. Patricks Day, 1995. He also spent time as chairman of Crokes, until 2007. He is also a regular...
to become one of the most effective defensive pairings in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
culminating in the First Division win in 1909–10 season
1909-10 in English football
The 1909–10 season was the 39th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Aston Villa won their sixth top division title.Lincoln CIty were re-admitted to the Football League after a season away, at the expense of Chesterfield.-Honours:...
. Alf Miles retired in the summer of 1914 having played a total of 269 league and cup games. He then became the club trainer until 1925.
Miles was called as a witness at the trial of George Stagg, who was found guilty of the murder of Aston Villa's defender Tommy Ball
Tommy Ball
Thomas Edgar "Tommy" Ball was an English footballer who played at centre-half for Aston Villa...
in November 1923.
Honours
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
= 1905 - League ChampionshipFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
= 1909–101909-10 in English footballThe 1909–10 season was the 39th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Aston Villa won their sixth top division title.Lincoln CIty were re-admitted to the Football League after a season away, at the expense of Chesterfield.-Honours:...
.