Born: 1870

Born in: Dumbarton

Other clubs: Dumbarton (1888-92), The Wednesday (1893-94), Airdrieonians (1894), Bathgate (1894)

Signed from: Dumbarton

Joined Liverpool: June 1892

Debut: 24 Sep 1892

Final appearance: 15 Apr 1893

Debut goal: 24 Sep 1892

Last goal: 15 Apr 1893

Contract until: June 1893

Honours: Lancashire league 1892/93

League: Apps / Goals: 0 / 0

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 24 / 25

Player Profile

Miller was victorious with Dumbarton in the first two seasons of the Scottish Football League from 1890-1892. Following their final game in the 1891/92 season at Abercorn, the champions for the second year running were welcomed by a sizeable crowd at the station with the D.R.V. band playing Händel's "See the conquering hero comes". After Miller left Dumbarton failed to retain their trophy, only finishing sixth in 1893. From early on it was clear that Miller was a major coup for Liverpool as Field Sports commented on: "J. Miller is an ideal centre, and no man has earned such high praise as Miller has done since he came to Liverpool. He is a most unselfish player, feeding his forwards with remarkable accuracy, and when a chance of scoring presents itself his shots are sent with a velocity that gives the goalkeeper little chance." 

Miller did turn out to be a goalscoring machine in his only season at Liverpool, scoring 25 goals in 24 games and wrote his name in the club's early history books by netting five goals in one game, a 7-0 win against Fleetwood Rangers on 3 December, a feat only four players at Liverpool have repeated. Once Liverpool entered the Second Division, Miller wanted a pay rise of £100 down and £3 per week which was a considered an "exorbitant sum" in the papers at the time especially considering every Liverpool player got a bonus for being a resounding success in their local Lancashire league. Miller joined first division's The Wednesday, which the Athletic News concluded "must be paying him a heavy sum." Miller scored seven goals in 13 games for The Wednesday before moving back to Scotland.