Johnny Miller

John Tony "Johnny" Miller (born 21 September 1950) is an English former footballer described by Jeff Kent as an "exciting right-winger who provided pinpoint crosses". He scored 23 goals in 213 league games in a 14-year career in the Football League playing for Ipswich Town, Norwich City, Mansfield Town, and Port Vale. He was promoted out of the Second Division with Norwich City in 1974–75, and won the Third Division with Mansfield Town in 1976–77.

Playing career

Miller began his career at Ipswich Town, where he became the club's first black footballer. The "Blues" finished 12th in the First Division in 1968–69 under the stewardship of Bobby Robson. They then went on to finish 18th in 1969–70, 19th in 1970–71, and 13th in 1971–72, before launching title challenges that ended with fourth-place finishes in 1972–73 and1973–74. He scored two goals in 51 league appearances at Portman Road. He then switched to rivals Norwich City, and helped John Bond's "Canaries" to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1974–75. They then posted a tenth-place finish in the top-flight in 1975–76. Miller scored three goals in 23 league games in his spell at Carrow Road. He then dropped down to the Third Division with Mansfield Town, and helped Peter Morris's "Stags" to win promotion as champions in 1976–77. However they were then relegated straight back down to the third tier in 1977–78.

New boss Billy Bingham took the club to an 18th-place finish in 1978–79, before Mick Jones led Mansfield to relegation in 1979–80. He scored 14 goals in 113 league appearances at Field Mill. He joined Port Vale, initially on trial, in September 1980. He scored five goals in 31 appearances in the 1980–81 season, and became a key first team player at Vale Park as manager John McGrath began rebuilding the "Valiants" to challenge for promotion out of the Fourth Division. However he was prevented from playing in the 1981–82 season due to aknee 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 position at Blidworth Welfare.

Honours

with Norwich City

• Football League Second Division third-place promotion: 1974–75

with Mansfield Town

• Football League Third Division champion: 1976–77