Johnny Miller (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Tony Miller (born 21 September 1950 in Ipswich
, Suffolk
) is an English
former footballer. He was described by Jeff Kent
as an "exciting right-winger who provided pinpoint crosses".
in 1968, where he became the club's first black
footballer. After fifty games for the club he joined rivals
Norwich City
in 1974. He spent two years at Carrow Road
before joining Mansfield Town
in 1976. He spent four years with Mansfield and played over 100 games before joining Port Vale
, initially on trial, in September 1980. He became a regular in the first team, but was prevented from playing in the 1981–82 season
due to a knee
injury, this injury led to his retirement in March 1982. He later made a comeback with Oakham United
, before moving on to Selston and taking up the assistant manager at Blidworth Welfare
.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer. He was described by Jeff Kent
Jeff Kent (author)
Jeffrey John William Kent is an English academic and musician, as well as most notably an author and historian.-Early life and education:...
as an "exciting right-winger who provided pinpoint crosses".
Playing career
Miller's career started at Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in 1968, where he became the club's first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
footballer. After fifty games for the club he joined rivals
East Anglian Derby
The East Anglian derby is a sobriquet used to describe football matches held between Ipswich Town and Norwich City. In recent years it has sometimes been described humorously as the Old Farm derby, a reference to the Old Firm derby played between Celtic and Rangers...
Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in 1974. He spent two years at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
before joining Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in 1976. He spent four years with Mansfield and played over 100 games before joining Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, initially on trial, in September 1980. He became a regular in the first team, but was prevented from playing in the 1981–82 season
1981–82 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1981–82 season was Port Vale's seventieth season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led his team to a seventh place finish, a big improvement on the previous two seasons. Top-scorer Ernie Moss and midfielder Mark...
due to a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury, this injury led to his retirement in March 1982. He later made a comeback with Oakham United
Oakham United F.C.
Oakham United Football Club is a now defunct football club based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. It was formed in 1969 and was in existence up to 1996...
, before moving on to Selston and taking up the assistant manager at Blidworth Welfare
Blidworth Welfare F.C.
Blidworth Welfare Football Club is a football club based in Blidworth, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The club was formed in 1926 as Folk House Old Boys F.C., but changed to Blidworth Welfare F.C. in 1982. Since 2008, the club has played in the Central Midlands Supreme Division...
.