Ralph Milne
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ralph Milne[1] | ||
Date of birth | 13 May 1961 | ||
Place of birth | Dundee, Scotland | ||
Date of death | 6 September 2015 | (aged 54)||
Place of death | Dundee, Scotland | ||
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1970–1976 | Dundee Celtic Boys Club | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1976–1987 | Dundee United | 179 | (45) |
1987–1988 | Charlton Athletic | 22 | (0) |
1988 | Bristol City | 30 | (6) |
1988–1991 | Manchester United | 23 | (3) |
1990 | → West Ham United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
1991–1992 | Sing Tao | ||
Total | 254 | (54) | |
International career | |||
1981–1983 | Scotland U21 | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Ralph Milne (13 May 1961 – 6 September 2015) was a Scottish professional footballer whose clubs included Dundee United, Charlton Athletic, Bristol City and Manchester United. He played as both an attacking midfielder or a winger.
He began his career at Dundee United, helping the club to be crowned Premier Division champions in 1982–83, and playing in Scottish Cup and League Cup final defeats. In recognition of his contribution to the most successful period in the club's history, Milne has been inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame, alongside several of his former teammates. He made a total of 285 appearances for Dundee United in major competitions and is the club's all-time top scorer in Europe (UEFA Cup and European Cup) with a tally of 15 goals. Milne is often considered to be among the best Scottish footballers not to win a full senior cap.
Hampered by his heavy drinking, he hit his peak at an early age and after an unsuccessful spell at English club Charlton Athletic from January 1987, ended the 1987–88 season with Third Division club Bristol City. He returned to the First Division after being signed by Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in November 1988 for a £170,000 fee, but failed to restart his career. Barring a brief spell in Hong Kong with Sing Tao, Milne played his last first-team game as a professional at the age of 28.
Club career
Ralph Milne was born in Dundee, the youngest of four siblings, on 13 May 1961.[3] He was moved forward a year in primary school due to his remarkable academic progress.[4] He began his football career as a youth with Dundee Celtic Boys Club, where he played initially as a striker and had a prolific goalscoring record.[5]
Dundee United
Immediate success
Milne signed for
The
Dundee United reached another final in the
League title and European Cup campaign
The 1982–83 season proved to be a seminal year for both Dundee United and 21 year-old Milne. The club won the league for the first time, finishing one point ahead of Celtic and "New Firm rivals" Aberdeen in a tightly fought league campaign.[17] Milne's 16 goals in the league, playing wide right, were a significant contribution to United's league win.[8] One of the most high profile of these goals was on 20 April when he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win over Celtic at Parkhead; he controlled an Eamonn Bannon cross from the right on his chest and volleyed the ball from 20 yards out past Celtic goalkeeper Packie Bonner.[18][19]
On the last day of the season, 14 May 1983, Dundee United needed a win to guarantee the league title. The day after his 22nd birthday, Milne opened the scoring against local rivals Dundee with a skilfully executed long-distance chipped shot; the match finished 2–1 to United.[19][20][21][22] Milne achieved his peak goal tally in his career that season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions.[8] Having turned 22 the day before the game, the goal against Dundee was to be the defining moment of his career.[4]
Dundee United's league success saw them take part in the
Discipline problems and decline
Milne was with Dundee United for a further three seasons and still a regular player in the team, although he scored less frequently. Milne's increasingly fractious relationship with manager Jim McLean was also becoming common knowledge; in December 1983 McLean publicly criticised Milne, stating: "I have tried to get the message across to him that it is when he is not playing well that he needs to work hardest. It is plainly not sinking in."[28]
In August 1984, Milne scored both goals against
Milne featured in a further two Cup finals for United, losing 1–0 to Rangers in October 1984 in the
Charlton Athletic
He was sold to English
Bristol City
Milne dropped down two divisions to join
After a full pre-season he started to play well and hit six goals in 30
Manchester United
Milne's form at Bristol City was enough to convince Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson that he was still worth a contract with a top-flight club. In November 1988 he moved to Old Trafford in a £170,000 deal.[48] Ferguson was looking to build a title-winning side two years after joining United, but had seen his side finish second in the league the previous season and now they were on a winless run in the league that saw them mid-table. Ferguson selected Milne on the left wing as Gordon Strachan was already established on the right wing.[22]
Milne managed three goals in 22 league appearances in 1988–89. The first was a 20-yard volley on 3 December 1988 in a 3–0 home win over former club Charlton Athletic, which ended United's nine-match winless run (eight draws and a defeat) in the First Division.[49] He also scored on Boxing Day in a 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.[50] The following week, Milne played what he felt was his best game in a Manchester United jersey in a 3–1 New Year's victory over rivals Liverpool.[51] However, they were unable to maintain their form and finished 11th in the league after winning only three of their last 14 league games.[52] Milne scored his third and final United goal on 25 March 1989 in a 2–0 home win over Luton Town, once again in the league.[53]
In September 1989, Ferguson signed left-winger
Milne has been described as Ferguson's and even as Manchester United's worst signing, despite his low transfer fee.[59] Ferguson defended the signing by pointing out Milne's contribution to the development of Lee Sharpe, who was playing left-back at the time.[60] Ferguson remarked that Milne helped Sharpe by both dropping back to protect Sharpe and by giving him positional advice.[4] Milne remained on United's payroll until 30 June 1991, when he was released.[61]
"You know what it's like? It's like being a kid watching a movie, and it's a sad ending. And you start crying. If it makes a huge impression when United want to sign you, it makes a huge one when they want to get rid of you. Bang, the door's closed. You're finished."
— Milne was revitalised when he was approached by United, but his failure at Old Trafford left him mentally drained.[62]
Sing Tao
Milne had unsuccessful trials with Turkish club MKE Ankaragücü and Danish side Esbjerg fB in 1991.[63] Later in the year he travelled to Hong Kong to play for Sing Tao SC. He spent a year there, helping the club to finish fourth in the First Division in 1991–92, before he rejected the offer of a new contract and instead returned to Britain.[64] He had a trial spell at Derry City before quitting football at the age of 32.[65][66]
International career
Milne made his debut for the
Style of play
Milne was naturally right-footed, though trained hard with his left foot as a boy to become equally skilled with both feet.[71] Former Dundee United teammate Paul Hegarty stated that Milne possessed great pace, as well as bravery, a good work ethic, and an ability to score important goals.[72] Another former Dundee United teammate, Davie Dodds, said that Milne was as good a finisher as any player in Scottish football during the 1980s.[73]
Jim McLean, Milne's manager at Dundee United, summed up Milne's career and footballing ability when writing his autobiography:
"If I had an outstanding failure then it was Ralph Milne. He should have been playing in World Cups. He should have won a bundle of Scotland international honours. It was a tragedy that that boy was not playing for his country all the time. He had tremendous talent – and I failed with him. He did not have the right attitude to the game and I could not instil that into him."[74]
Personal life
He was married to Kim from 1985 to 1988, and the couple had a son, Bradley.[75] He also had a son, Robert, with new partner Lee in 1990.[76] The relationship with Lee ended after ten years.[77] In 2005, he began a relationship with Fiona Spence, 19 years his junior, who stayed with Milne for over eight years despite admitting that Milne regularly beat her.[78]
Milne had admitted to problems with
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Dundee United | 1979–80 | Scottish Premier Division | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
1980–81 | Scottish Premier Division | 21 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 10 | |
1981–82 | Scottish Premier Division | 35 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 55 | 14 | |
1982–83 | Scottish Premier Division | 34 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 49 | 21 | |
1983–84 | Scottish Premier Division | 25 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 47 | 12 | |
1984–85 | Scottish Premier Division | 19 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 8 | |
1985–86 | Scottish Premier Division | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 5 | |
1986–87 | Scottish Premier Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 2 | |
Total | 179 | 45 | 22 | 0 | 43 | 14 | 41 | 15 | 285 | 74 | ||
Charlton Athletic | 1986–87 | First Division | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
1987–88 | First Division | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
Total | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||||
Bristol City | 1987–88 | Third Division | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | 19 | 4 | |||
1988–89 | Third Division | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | ||||
Total | 30 | 6 | — | — | — | 30 | 6 | |||||
Manchester United | 1988–89 | First Division | 22 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | |
1989–90 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
1990–91 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 23 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
West Ham United (loan) | 1989–90 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
Career total[8][56][88] | 254 | 54 | 29 | 0 | 44 | 14 | 41 | 15 | 368 | 83 |
Honours
Dundee United
- 1979[9]
- Scottish Football League Premier Division: 1982–83[19]
- Dundee United Hall of Fame (inducted 2009)[89]
Charlton Athletic
- 1987[42]
References
Specific
- ^ "Ralph Milne". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ISBN 0362020175.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 1
- ^ a b c d "Ralph Milne". When the Floodlights Fade. MUTV. January 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Our Ralph Milne". Dundee United FC. 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Dundee United 3 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic (Dryburgh Cup)". Arab Archive. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Celtic 2 – 2 Dundee United (League)". Arab Archive. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Players – Ralph Milne". Arab Archive. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 29
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 31
- ^ Reynolds, Jim (13 May 1981). "Cooper hero as Rangers make amends in style". The Glasgow Herald. p. 24. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "Better than Dalglish – that's mighty Milne". Shoot!. October 1981. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ Reynolds, Jim (30 November 1981). "Rangers shatter Dundee United's League Cup dream". The Glasgow Herald. p. 19. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "Dundee United 1–2 AS Monaco, Sep 30th 1981, Tannadice Park". Arab Archive. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Dundee United 5–0 Borussia Mönchengladbach, Nov 3rd 1981, Tannadice Park". Arab Archive. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Dundee United 5–0 KFC Winterslag, Dec 9th 1981, Tannadice Park". Arab Archive. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Winton, Richard (14 May 2013). "Champagne memories of a city United". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Cameron, Alex (22 April 1983). "Last-gasp United". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Goals That Changed History – Ralph Milne". Football Futbal Fitba. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ "dundee united v dundee 1983". YouTube. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Simon Clark – Taking Liberties – The day Dundee United won the Scottish Premier League". Taking Liberties. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ a b "Ralph Milne: Dazzling winger who shone during Dundee Utd's march to the European Cup semi-finals in 1984". The Independent. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ "Dundee United 3 Hamrun Spartans". The Glory Years. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Dundee United 4 Standard Liege 0". The Glory Years. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "When Roma played Dundee United". Voices in Football. 10 April 1984. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Dundee United 2 A.S. Roma 3 – IBWM". In Bed with Maradona. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "League Tables 1983–1984 Scottish Premier – Manchester United FC – United Mad". Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Paul, Ian (29 December 1983). "Hibs act quickly to prevent any further crowd trouble". The Glasgow Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "Two fine Milne goals beat lacklustre Forest". The Glasgow Herald. 9 August 1984. p. 17. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 84
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 92
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 96
- ^ "Rangers 1–0 Dundee United, Oct 28th 1984, Hampden Park". Arab Archive. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Dundee United 1–2 Celtic, May 18th 1985, Hampden Park". Arab Archive. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 86
- ^ "Dundee United 2–0 RC Lens, Oct 1st 1986, Tannadice Park". Arab Archive. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Cryer, Andy (3 July 2009). "Kevin Gallacher life story part 2: Growing up was tough as grandson of late great Patsy". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "Dundee United FC in Europe". UEFA.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ Traynor, James (28 January 1987). "Milne on his way south for £125,000". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Davidson, Jack (8 September 2015). "Obituary: Ralph Milne, footballer". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 104
- ^ a b Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 106
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 116
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 117
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 120
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 126
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 127
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 134
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 136
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 137
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 138
- ^ "English Division One (old) 1988–1989". Statto. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Profile – Ralph Milne". MUFC Info. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Wallace battles with MS". BBC Sport. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career: Lee Sharpe". State Of The Game. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics Ralph Milne". West Ham Stats. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 165
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 173
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 175
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 141
- ^ "Hospitalised Dundee United legend Ralph Milne 'critical'". The Scotsman. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ Mathieson, Stuart (7 September 2015). "Ralph Milne: The late Manchester United 'legend' who would have swept the Old Trafford terraces". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 180
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 200
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 202
- ^ Burin, David (17 August 2015). "The tangerine dream – A Ralph Milne retrospective". The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Scotland U21 0–0 Belgium, European Championship (11/10/1983)". FitbaStats. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ "Scotland U21 Player Ralph Milne, Games Played". FitbaStats. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ Smyth, Rob; Murray, Scott (24 September 2010). "The Joy of Six: Uncapped players". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ McArthur, Euan (8 October 2009). "Dundee Utd legend Ralph Milne blasts Jim McLean for ruining his World Cup dream". Daily Record. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 7
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 228
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 229
- ^ ISBN 1-85158-088-3.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 123
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 172
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 209
- ^ McPherson, Lynn (18 August 2015). "Battered lover of former football star Ralph Milne vows to stay with him – despite his drunken, violent attacks". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Former Dundee United star Ralph Milne reveals his battle with the booze". Daily Record. 15 November 2008.
- ^ "Dundee Utd legend Ralph Milne blasts Jim McLean for ruining his World Cup dream". Daily Record. 9 October 2009.
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 213
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 166
- ^ Milne & Robertson 2009, p. 206
- ^ "Hospitalised Dundee United legend Ralph Milne 'critical'". The Scotsman. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ McLean, Jim (9 October 2009). "Boozing cost Ralph chance of 50 caps". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ "Former Dundee United star Ralph Milne dies". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ "Ralph Milne, former Dundee United and Manchester United winger, dies". The Guardian. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ "Ralph Milne". Stretford End.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees 2009". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
General
- Milne, Ralph; Robertson, Gary (2009), What's It All About Ralphie?, Black & White, ISBN 978-1-84502-269-3