Robert Milne (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert George Milne is a former footballer
who played for the Gordon Highlanders, Linfield
and Ireland
during the 1890s and early 1900s. Born in Scotland
, Milne was stationed in Ireland with the Gordon Highlanders and played 7 games for the regimental football team as they won the Irish Cup
in 1890. He subsequently signed for Linfield and played 43 games and scored 19 goals for the club in the same competition.
Between 1894 and 1906 Milne also made 27 appearances and scored 2 goals for Ireland
. On March 3, 1894 at the Solitude Ground
in Belfast
, Milne, together with Olphert Stanfield
, was a member of the Irish team when, after thirteen attempts Ireland finally avoided defeat to England. Against an England team that included Fred Spiksley
and Jack Reynolds, Ireland came back from 2-0 down to gain a 2-2 draw. Milne was also captain of Ireland during the 1903 British Home Championship
. Until then the competition had been monopolised by England
and Scotland
. However in 1903, before goal difference
was applied, Ireland forced a three way share. With a team that also included Archie Goodall
, Jack Kirwan, Billy Scott and Billy McCracken
, Ireland beat both Wales
and Scotland
2-0. This was also the first time Ireland had beaten Scotland.
Linfield
Ireland
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...
who played for the Gordon Highlanders, Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
during the 1890s and early 1900s. Born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Milne was stationed in Ireland with the Gordon Highlanders and played 7 games for the regimental football team as they won the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
in 1890. He subsequently signed for Linfield and played 43 games and scored 19 goals for the club in the same competition.
Between 1894 and 1906 Milne also made 27 appearances and scored 2 goals for Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. On March 3, 1894 at the Solitude Ground
Solitude (football ground)
Solitude is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Cliftonville. The stadium holds 6,224, but is currently restricted to 2,180 under safety legislation. The stadium was built in 1890....
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Milne, together with Olphert Stanfield
Olphert Stanfield
Olphert Martin Stanfield also referred to as Olphie Stanfield or Ollie Stanfield was an Irish footballer who played for Distillery and Ireland during the 1880s and 1890s. Stanfield was a complete forward, capable of scoring with either foot and his head. He was also comfortable playing as...
, was a member of the Irish team when, after thirteen attempts Ireland finally avoided defeat to England. Against an England team that included Fred Spiksley
Fred Spiksley
Fred Spiksley was an English footballer and coach, who played as a forward for Sheffield Wednesday F.C. and England. He also played for Gainsborough Trinity, Glossop North End, Leeds City, Watford and in 1907 became the only professional footballer to play for the Corinthians...
and Jack Reynolds, Ireland came back from 2-0 down to gain a 2-2 draw. Milne was also captain of Ireland during the 1903 British Home Championship
1903 British Home Championship
The 1903 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations.Unusually, the trophy was shared by three of the Home Nations all of whom scored four points. At the time, goal difference was not used to differentiate teams...
. Until then the competition had been monopolised by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. However in 1903, before goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
was applied, Ireland forced a three way share. With a team that also included Archie Goodall
Archie Goodall
Archibald Lee Goodall , commonly referred to as Archie Goodall, is a former Irish footballer who played for, among others, Derby County and Ireland. Goodall made 423 appearances and scored 52 goals for County...
, Jack Kirwan, Billy Scott and Billy McCracken
Billy McCracken
Billy McCracken was a Northern Irish association football player. His position was defender....
, Ireland beat both Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
2-0. This was also the first time Ireland had beaten Scotland.
Honours
Gordon Highlanders- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
:- Winners 1890
Linfield
- Irish LeagueIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
- Winners ?
- Runners Up ?
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
- Winners 1891, 1892, 1893, 1895, 1898, 1899, 1902, 1904
- Runners Up 1894
- City CupCity Cup (Northern Ireland)The City Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Northern Ireland. It was run by the Irish Football Association. It had previously been known as the Dunville Cup and ceased to exist in 1976...
- Winners ?
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
- Winners ?
- Runners Up ?
Ireland
- British Home ChampionshipBritish Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
:- Shared title 19031903 British Home ChampionshipThe 1903 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations.Unusually, the trophy was shared by three of the Home Nations all of whom scored four points. At the time, goal difference was not used to differentiate teams...
- Shared title 1903