John McMillan (footballer born 1865)
Encyclopedia
John McMillan was a Scottish professional footballer who played at half-back
for Heart of Midlothian
and Southampton
in the 1890s.
, Scotland but started his professional career in Edinburgh
with Heart of Midlothian
. During his time at "Hearts", the club were Scottish Football League First Division
champions in 1894–95 and won the Scottish Cup
in the following year. By the time the Cup Final was played, however, McMillan had moved to southern England
to join Southampton
of the Southern League
.
McMillan made the move south in March 1896, and made his debut for the "Saints" at the Antelope Ground
on 21 March, taking the place of Ernie Taylor
in a 2–0 victory over eventual champions, Millwall Athletic. McMillan retained his place at right-half for the following season
and along with Robert Buchanan
, George Clawley
and Jack Farrell
was ever-present in both the League and FA Cup
. McMillan was nicknamed "Punt
" for his expert kicking talent and ability to clear the ball upfield.
At the end of McMillan's first full season, Southampton, now playing at the County Ground
, took the Southern League title for the first of six occasions over the next eight years. He also helped Southampton reach the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup
for the first time, where they went out to Newton Heath
after a replay.
For the 1897–98 season
, the Saints strengthened their side with several new signings. McMillan lost his regular place in the side to Samuel Meston
who had moved forward to accommodate new signing Tom Nicol
at right-back. McMillan made only seven appearances, including one at inside-left when he scored twice (against Northfleet on 11 April), before retiring in the summer of 1898.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for 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...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1890s.
Football career
McMillan was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland but started his professional career in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
with 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...
. During his time at "Hearts", the club were Scottish Football League First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
champions in 1894–95 and won the 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...
in the following year. By the time the Cup Final was played, however, McMillan had moved to southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
McMillan made the move south in March 1896, and made his debut for the "Saints" at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
on 21 March, taking the place of Ernie Taylor
Ernie Taylor (footballer born 1869)
Ernest James "Ernie" Taylor was an English amateur footballer who played for Southampton in the club's first two years in the Southern League.-Football career:...
in a 2–0 victory over eventual champions, Millwall Athletic. McMillan retained his place at right-half for the following season
Southern Football League 1896-97
The 1896-97 season was the third in the history of the Southern League. Southampton St.Mary's won the Division One championship.-Division One:Division One featured five new clubs:*Gravesend United *Northfleet...
and along with Robert Buchanan
Robert Buchanan (footballer)
Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887...
, George Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
and Jack Farrell
Jack Farrell (footballer)
John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in...
was ever-present in both the League and 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...
. McMillan was nicknamed "Punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
" for his expert kicking talent and ability to clear the ball upfield.
At the end of McMillan's first full season, Southampton, now playing at the County Ground
County Ground, Southampton
The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season...
, took the Southern League title for the first of six occasions over the next eight years. He also helped Southampton reach the Second Round Proper of 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...
for the first time, where they went out to Newton Heath
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
after a replay.
For the 1897–98 season
Southern Football League 1897-98
The 1897–98 season was the fourth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton won the Division One championship for the second successive season.-Division One:Division One featured one new club, Bristol City, who were newly-elected....
, the Saints strengthened their side with several new signings. McMillan lost his regular place in the side to Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and...
who had moved forward to accommodate new signing Tom Nicol
Tom Nicol
Thomas H. "Tom" Nicol was a Scottish footballer who played for Burnley first as a centre forward and then as a full back in the 1890s, before later becoming a bowls champion in Southampton.-Burnley:...
at right-back. McMillan made only seven appearances, including one at inside-left when he scored twice (against Northfleet on 11 April), before retiring in the summer of 1898.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championship: 1896–97Southern Football League 1896-97The 1896-97 season was the third in the history of the Southern League. Southampton St.Mary's won the Division One championship.-Division One:Division One featured five new clubs:*Gravesend United *Northfleet...