Miller Willie Image 1 Hibernian 1922

Description

Glasgow born centre half Willie Miller began his football career with Cambuslang Rangers where he likely took an active role in the club’s consecutive Glasgow Junior Football League wins in the 1914-15 and 1915-16 seasons before moving up to senior level, signing for Hibernian in August 1916. In that First World War period he was also serving in the British army as a Private. He made Scottish League debut in a defeat at Celtic in August 1916 and initially he played at inside left, scoring most of his 32 goals in that role during his first two seasons at Easter Road before moving back to the ‘pivot’ position. He featured for Hibs over ten seasons, making 301 appearances over that period.

Known as “The Holy Ghost” because of his uncanny knack of seeming to appear from nowhere to cooly clear the danger in hectic defensive situations, Miller played in both of Hibs’ Scottish Cup Final appearances in 1923 and 1924, but they were beaten on both occasions by firstly by Celtic and then by Airdrieonians. His father George Miller was a director at Partick Thistle for several years.