Ricky Miller

Ricky Miller
Miller (wearing the number 9 shirt) is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring a goal for Dover Athletic in 2016
Personal information
Full name Ricky Howard Miller[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-13) 13 March 1989[1]
Place of birth Hatfield, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 10
Youth career
Charlton Athletic
0000–2006 Woking
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Stamford
2006 → Cottesmore Amateurs (loan)
2006 → Bourne Town (loan)
2007 → Rothwell Town (loan)
2007 Corby Town
2007 Hitchin Town
2007–2008 Fleet Town
2008–2009 Spalding United
2009 Boston United 12 (6)
2009–2010 Stamford
2010 Cambridge City 2 (0)
2010–2011 Aylesbury 34 (15)
2011 Wealdstone 3 (0)
2011 → Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) 2 (0)
2011–2012 Stamford
2012 Corby Town 4 (0)
2012 St Ives Town
2012–2013 Stamford
2012 → Arlesey Town (loan) 4 (0)
2013–2014 Boston United 40 (24)
2014–2015 Luton Town 12 (1)
2014 → Dover Athletic (loan) 10 (5)
2015–2017 Dover Athletic 86 (60)
2017–2018 Peterborough United 10 (0)
2018 → Mansfield Town (loan) 8 (1)
2018– Port Vale 13 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:59, 13 October 2018 (UTC)

Ricky Howard Miller (born 13 March 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for League Two club Port Vale.

Miller spent time in the youth systems at Charlton Athletic and Woking, before making his senior debut with Stamford in September 2006. He went on to have brief spells with Cottesmore Amateurs, Bourne Town, Rothwell Town, Corby Town, Hitchin Town, Fleet Town, Spalding United, Boston United, Cambridge City, Aylesbury, Wealdstone, Hemel Hempstead Town, St Ives Town and Arlesey Town. In his fourth spell with Stamford, at the end of the 2012–13 season, he scored the winning goal in the Northern Premier League Division One South play-off final. Miller then found success during his second spell at Boston United, and was named as the Conference North Player of the Year for the 2013–14 season after scoring 24 goals in 40 league matches. He signed with Luton Town in June 2014, entering the English Football League at the age of 25. Miller was loaned to Dover Athletic for part of the 2014–15 season, before joining the club permanently in June 2015. He scored 45 goals in 46 appearances in the 2016–17 season and was named as the National League Player of the Year. Miller returned to the Football League after signing a three-year contract with Peterborough United in May 2017. He joined Mansfield Town on loan in January 2018, and was sold on to Port Vale in June 2018.

In December 2015, Miller was found not guilty on assault charges following an incident in April 2015, which caused Luton Town to cancel his contract. He was convicted of drink driving in 2006 and 2009, and convicted of failing to provide a blood sample in June 2018.

Career

Early career

Born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire,[1] Miller began his career with Charlton Athletic's youth academy.[3] He later joined the Woking youth system, before signing for Stamford in September 2006.[4] Miller made his debut on 19 September as a late substitute in the club's 2–1 home defeat to Lincoln United in an FA Cup first qualifying round replay.[4] He joined Leicestershire Senior League Division One team Cottesmore Amateurs on dual terms, scoring twice on his debut, a 6–4 away defeat to Ashby Ivanhoe on 23 September.[5] He then linked up with Bourne Town, again on a dual basis, making his debut on 18 October in a 4–0 home United Counties League defeat to Boston Town.[6] Miller then agreed dual terms with Rothwell Town, spending the latter half of the season with the club and scoring his first senior hat-trick in their 3–0 Southern League Division One Midlands home victory over Bromsgrove Rovers on 6 March 2007.[7]

Although offered terms by Stamford for the 2007–08 season,[8] Miller instead chose to join Corby Town.[9] He signed for Cambridge City in January 2010, after manager Gary Roberts was impressed with his record of 14 goals for Stamford in the first half of the 2009–10 season.[10] Gordon Bartlett signed Miller for Wealdstone in October 2011 to play alongside target man forward Richard Jolly.[11] He won a contract with former club Corby Town in August 2012, after scoring six goals during a pre-season trial.[12]

Return to Stamford and Boston United

Miller re-signed for Stamford for a fourth spell during the 2012–13 season and scored the winning goal in the play-off final against Chasetown to help the club win promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.[13] He then re-signed for Conference North club Boston United in June 2013,[14] and finished 2013–14 with 46 appearances and 28 goals,[15] as the club narrowly missed out on the play-offs with a sixth-place finish.[16] He was named as the Conference North Player of the Year and was also named in the Team of the Year.[17]

Luton Town

On 25 June 2014, Miller signed a one-year contract with League Two club Luton Town on a free transfer from Boston.[18] On 2 September 2014, he joined Conference Premier team Dover Athletic on loan,[19] before being recalled just over a month later after scoring five goals in ten appearances.[20] Miller made his debut for Luton the following day in a 2–1 away victory over Hartlepool United.[21] He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 FA Cup victory over Newport County,[22] and this was followed up with his first Football League goal in the following match, a 1–0 win at home to Tranmere Rovers.[23] Miller finished the 2014–15 season with 15 appearances and two goals for Luton.[21]

Dover Athletic

On 30 June 2015, Miller joined Dover Athletic permanently on a two-year contract, following his release by Luton.[24] His first goal for Dover came on 11 August in a 3–2 victory over Kidderminster Harriers at the Crabble Athletic Ground.[25] In the space of a week, Miller scored in three consecutive matches in November, before scoring five goals in three matches from December to January.[25] He scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw away to Kidderminster Harriers on 23 April, a result that confirmed Dover's place in the play-offs.[26] Miller played in both legs of Dover's play-off semi-final defeat to Forest Green Rovers, which finished 2–1 on aggregate, despite him scoring the opening goal in the second leg to level the tie.[27][28] He finished the 2015–16 season with 22 goals in 54 appearances.[25]

Miller made his first appearance of 2016–17 on the opening day of the season in a 0–0 away draw with Wrexham.[29] In the following match, he scored his first goal of the season with a penalty in the first half, but was sent off four minutes into the second half, as Dover conceded four second-half goals and were beaten 4–1 by Boreham Wood.[25][30] Miller returned to the team for a 4–2 away victory over Eastleigh on 16 August, in which he scored Dover's fourth goal, having entered the match as a 78th-minute substitute.[31] He scored a hat-trick for Dover in a 4–3 home win over Forest Green Rovers on 10 September,[32] before scoring ten goals in five matches in October, including four goals in a 6–1 victory at home to Braintree Town.[25][33] This was followed by ten goals in seven matches from November to December, which included a hat-trick in a 3–2 win away to Solihull Moors.[25][34] Miller scored two further hat-tricks in wins over Eastleigh and Barrow, and was named as the National League Player of the Year for 2016–17, in which he scored 45 goals from 46 appearances.[25][35] Upon receiving the award, Miller said "I was hung out to dry by Luton and I lost my home and relationship – I was ready to quit football. I'm so grateful to the gaffer, Jake, Jim and my team-mates for showing faith in me".[36] Despite his exploits, Dover narrowly missed out on a play-off place.[37] After the end of the season, he was named as Dover's Player of the Season.[38]

Peterborough United

On 3 May 2017, Miller signed for League One club Peterborough United on a three-year contract.[39] A week after signing, chairman Darragh MacAnthony said the club had received a £250,000 bid for the player before his contract had even officially began.[40] Director of football Barry Fry said he had inquired after Miller in January, but his phone calls were ignored by Dover.[41] However, shortly before his contract was due to begin, Miller was handed a six-match ban by The Football Association for a 'biting incident' relating to his time at Dover Athletic.[42] Miller issued a statement to provide some context for the ban via the Peterborough United website, stating he was being "held in a headlock" and resorted to biting as he was "unable to breathe".[43] He was transfer-listed after failing to score in his first 13 matches, and MacAnthony said Miller was "driving me mad" after turning down moves to five different clubs in favour of a move to a club closer to his home that did not meet Peterborough's valuation.[44] On 31 January 2018, he joined League Two club Mansfield Town on loan until the end of 2017–18 season.[45] He scored one goal from eight substitute appearances,[46] as Mansfield finished in eighth place in the table.[47] Upon his return to London Road, Miller was transfer-listed by new manager Steve Evans, who had signed him on loan at Mansfield earlier in the year.[48]

Port Vale

On 22 June 2018, Miller signed for League Two club Port Vale on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[49] Manager Neil Aspin had previously tried to sign him at F.C. Halifax Town and Gateshead.[50] He was unable to play in the club's 2018–19 pre-season friendlies because of an unresolved disciplinary issue with The Football Association.[51] He scored a goal and won a penalty on his debut on the opening day of the new season on 4 August, helping the "Valiants" to record a 3–0 victory over Cambridge United at Vale Park.[52] His strike – a direct free-kick which he also won himself – was listed in the Daily Mail as the League Two goal of the weekend.[53] However he was dropped after failing to score in the rest of the month, though impressed coach Lee Nogan with his performances off the bench, who said Miller just needed to rebuild his confidence following the goal drought.[54]

Style of play

Miller is a goal scoring striker with a high work-rate, and has been compared to Kevin Phillips by former Luton manager John Still for his ability to capitalize on chances around the box.[55]

Personal life

Miller was convicted of drink driving in 2006, and again in 2009.[56] On 27 April 2015, Miller and his Luton Town teammate Shaun Whalley were both arrested by Bedfordshire Police in connection with an alleged assault following the club's end of season awards night. Both were released on bail, but were suspended by the club pending a police inquiry.[57] He later had his Luton contract terminated following his arrest.[58] On 3 June 2015, Miller was charged with five offences in connection to the assault.[59] On 8 December 2015, Miller was found not guilty and was cleared of the charges.[60][61] On 5 November 2017, Miller was arrested and later charged with assaulting a police officer, using threatening behaviour and failing to provide a specimen.[62] On 11 June 2018, the charge of assault was dropped, though he was handed a 42-month driving ban after pleading guilty to failing to provide a blood sample.[63]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 October 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Boston United 2008–09[64] Northern Premier League Premier Division 126———126
Cambridge City 2009–10[64] Southern League Premier Division 20——1[lower-alpha 1]030
Aylesbury 2010–11[64] Southern League Division One Central 291200—3[lower-alpha 2]03212
2011–12[64] Southern League Division One Central 5311——64
Total 341511—303816
Wealdstone 2011–12[65] Isthmian League Premier Division 30——2[lower-alpha 3]050
Hemel Hempstead Town 2011–12[66] Southern League Premier Division 20———20
Corby Town 2012–13[25] Conference North 40———40
Arlesey Town 2012–13[64] Southern League Premier Division 40——2[lower-alpha 4]161
Boston United 2013–14[15] Conference North 402422—4[lower-alpha 5]24628
Luton Town 2014–15[21] League Two 121310000152
Dover Athletic (loan) 2014–15[25] Conference Premier 105———105
Dover Athletic 2015–16[25] National League 452020—7[lower-alpha 6]25422
2016–17[25] National League 414034—2[lower-alpha 7]14645
Total 966554—9311072
Peterborough United 2017–18[46] League One 10010002[lower-alpha 8]0130
Mansfield Town (loan) 2017–18[46] League Two 81———81
Port Vale 2018–19[67] League Two 13100101[lower-alpha 8]1152
Career total 24011312810247277128
  1. ↑ Appearance in Southern League Cup
  2. ↑ Two appearances in Southern League Cup, one in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  3. ↑ One appearance in Isthmian League Cup, one in FA Trophy
  4. ↑ One appearance in Bedfordshire Senior Cup, one appearance and one goal in Southern League Cup
  5. ↑ One appearance in Lincolnshire Senior Cup, three appearances and two goals in FA Trophy
  6. ↑ Five appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in National League play-offs
  7. ↑ Appearances in FA Trophy
  8. 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Stamford

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ricky Miller". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ricky Miller". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Ricky Miller aiming high". Luton Town F.C. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Injury-time goal puts Daniels out". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Amateurs let lead slip in moments of madness". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 29 September 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Wakes slip into relegation zone". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Inspired display halts leaders' unbeaten run". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Four goals for Daniels". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Wilson signs up striker Miller". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Kettering. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Dunn, Andrew (29 January 2010). "Ricky Miller signs for City". Cambridge City F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Miller is a good little 'un". Wealdstone F.C. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Corby Town sign up striker Ricky Miller". The Non-League Paper. London. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Miller takes Stamford up". Pitchero Non-League. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  14. ↑ Coney, Steven (4 June 2013). "Boston United re-sign frontman Miller". The Non-League Paper. London. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  15. 1 2 "The team: Ricky Miller: 2013/2014 season". Boston United F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "Table: 2013/14: Conference North". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 "He's not run of the Mill! Boston United striker Ricky Miller is the Conference North Player of the Year". Boston Standard. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Luton Town sign Boston United striker Ricky Miller". BBC Sport. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  19. ↑ Whiley, Mark (2 September 2014). "Boston United target Ricky Miller joins Dover Athletic from Luton Town". Boston Target. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "Over at Dover for Miller". Sky Sports. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  21. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ricky Miller in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  22. ↑ Cunliffe, James (8 November 2014). "Match report: Luton Town 4 Newport County 2 – Miller time as Hatters march on in FA Cup". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  23. ↑ Cunliffe, James (15 November 2014). "Match report: Luton Town 1 Tranmere Rovers 0 – Ricky Miller strikes again to send Hatters back to the top". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  24. ↑ "Dover sign ex-Luton man subject to criminal trial". BBC Sport. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "R. Miller". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "Kidderminster Harriers 1–1 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "Dover Athletic 0–1 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  28. ↑ Garry, Tom (7 May 2016). "Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Dover Athletic (agg: 2–1)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  29. ↑ "Wrexham 0–0 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  30. ↑ "Dover Athletic 1–4 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  31. ↑ "Eastleigh 2–4 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  32. ↑ "Dover Athletic 4–3 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  33. ↑ "Dover Athletic 6–1 Braintree Town". BBC Sport. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  34. ↑ "Solihull Moors 2–3 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  35. 1 2 "Miller crowned National League Player of the Year". Pitchero Non-League. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  36. ↑ Burns, Jason (28 April 2017). "Star striker Ricky Miller opens up". Dover Athletic F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  37. ↑ Coney, Steven (26 April 2017). "Striker Ricky Miller "gutted" after Dover Athletic's play-off hopes were left in tatters". The Non-League Paper. London. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  38. 1 2 Harvey, Richard (18 May 2017). "Miller's clean sweep". Dover Athletic F.C. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "Ricky Miller: Peterborough United sign 42-goal striker from Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  40. ↑ "Ricky Miller: Peterborough United 'turn down £250,000 bid' for new signing". BBC Sport. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  41. ↑ Jenkins, Philippa (3 May 2017). "Peterborough United sign former Bristol Rovers target Ricky Miller". Bristol Post. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  42. ↑ "Ricky Miller: Peterborough United striker banned for six games for biting". BBC Sport. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  43. ↑ "Ricky Miller statement". Peterborough United F.C. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "Ricky Miller: Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony urges striker to leave". BBC Sport. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  45. ↑ "Mansfield sign midfielder Matt Penney and striker Ricky Miller". BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  46. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ricky Miller in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  47. ↑ "League Two: 2017/18: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  48. ↑ "Peterborough United: Steven Taylor among 13 players placed on transfer list". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  49. ↑ "Ricky Miller: Port Vale sign Peterborough forward for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  50. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (25 June 2018). "Port Vale new striker Ricky Miller 'I used to sign Tom Pope on Football Manager'". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  51. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (18 July 2018). "'Typical Vale' or 'Give the lad a chance' Port Vale fans react to Ricky Miller news". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  52. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (4 August 2018). "Port Vale 3, Cambridge 0: Neil Aspin says Ricky Miller can make huge difference". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  53. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (6 August 2018). "Ricky Miller's superb debut strike for Port Vale nets goal of the week". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  54. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (12 September 2018). "Port Vale management have faith in Ricky Miller as they ponder options". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  55. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (22 June 2018). "Who is Ricky Miller? All about Port Vale's new signing". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  56. ↑ Briggs, Stephen (11 June 2018). "Peterborough United striker Ricky Miller sobs as court hears how he abused and threatened police officers". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  57. ↑ "Luton Town suspend winger Shaun Whalley and striker Ricky Miller". The Guardian. London. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  58. ↑ "Luton Town: Suspended trio Ricky Miller, Shaun Whalley and Danny Fitzsimons released by Hatters". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  59. ↑ "Ricky Miller charged with assault". Luton Today. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  60. ↑ "Ex-Luton striker Ricky Miller not guilty of cab driver headbutt". BBC News. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  61. ↑ Carr, Stewart (8 December 2015). "'Over the moon' Ricky Miller found not guilty of assault on taxi driver". Luton Today. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  62. ↑ "Footballer denies police officer assault". BBC News. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  63. ↑ "Ricky Miller of Peterborough United gets driving ban". BBC News. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  64. 1 2 3 4 5 "Player profiles: Ricky Miller". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  65. ↑ "Player Statistics 2011–12". Wealdstone F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  66. ↑ "The team: Ricky Miller: 2011/12 season". Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Ricky Miller in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
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