Mills George Image 7 Chelsea 1939

Description

Deptford, London born centre forward George Mills had played for South East London Schools and began his football career with Emerald Athletic in 1927 and Bromley in 1928, where he scored over 100 goals before joining Second Division Chelsea as an amateur in November 1929, turning professional in February 1930. He made his Football League debut against Preston North End in December 1929 and scored 14 goals in 21 appearances as Chelsea were promoted to the First Division as Second Division runners up. He soon established himself as a regular goalscorer albeit never guaranteed a first team place with other high profile centre forwards at the club.

He was first called into the England squad for two internationals in May 1933 but he was a non playing reserve. His best season was in 1936-37, when he scored 23 goals in 34 appearances, which earned him an England call-up. He won three international caps for England and scored three goals, all of which came on his debut in a 5-1 win against Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast on 23rd October 1937. He was the first England player to score a hat-trick on his debut since Frank Bradshaw in 1908. He also played in a win over Wales the next month and in a 5-4 victory over Czechoslovakia at White Hart Lane in December.

Mills was the first Chelsea player to score over 100 League goals, a feat only five others have since matched, and is the club’s 8th highest goal scorer of all time. He is also the last Chelsea player to have scored a hat-trick against Liverpool, which came in a 6-1 win in August 1937.

His career was cut short by the advent of World War Two, by when he had scored 124 goals for Chelsea in 239 appearances. During the War he was a wartime guest for Liverpool amongst other teams, and retired from playing before the War’s end. Upon retiring he became a coach at Chelsea.

NB Mills is in the centre of the group, with (l-r) Dick Spence, Joe Payne, Jimmy Argue and Alf Hanson.