Lee Miller (footballer)

Lee Adamson Miller (born 18 May 1983) is a Scottish football player and coach who last played as a striker for East Kilbride.

Lee Miller
Miller while at Aberdeen
Personal information
Full name Lee Adamson Miller[1]
Date of birth (1983-05-18) 18 May 1983
Place of birth Lanark, Scotland
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Falkirk 61 (27)
2003–2005 Bristol City 49 (8)
2005 → Heart of Midlothian (loan) 18 (8)
2005–2006 Dundee United 37 (8)
2006–2010 Aberdeen 120 (29)
2010–2011 Middlesbrough 11 (0)
2010 → Notts County (loan) 6 (2)
2011 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 18 (1)
2011–2014 Carlisle United 90 (28)
2014–2015 Kilmarnock 19 (1)
2015–2018 Falkirk 72 (15)
2018–2019 Livingston 28 (3)
2020–2021 Falkirk 9 (1)
2021–2022 East Kilbride
International career
2005–2006 Scotland B[2] 3 (2)
2006–2009 Scotland 3 (0)
Managerial career
2019–2021 Falkirk (co-manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Miller played at club level for Falkirk (three spells), Bristol City, Hearts, Dundee United, Aberdeen, Middlesbrough, Notts County, Scunthorpe, Carlisle, Kilmarnock and Livingston; he represented Scotland in three international matches during the late 2000s.

Club career

Miller began his professional career with Falkirk, who were playing in the Scottish First Division at the time. He made his debut on 29 September 2001, in a 4–2 victory against Ross County.[3] In March 2002, he was awarded the Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month award.[4] At the end of the 2002–03 season, with Falkirk having won the First Division title, Miller was named as Scottish Football League Young Player of the Year.[5] In July 2003, Aberdeen had a bid for Miller turned down.[6] His agent then confirmed that he had handed in a transfer request.[7]

His form with Falkirk attracted the attention of English side Bristol City, who paid £300,000 to secure his services in July 2003.[8] Miller scored on his debut for Bristol City on 8 August 2003, as they beat Notts County 5–0.[9] However, he failed to make a major impact and scored only eight goals in 42 games during the 2003–04 season. After playing in seven games with no goals during the 2004–05 season, Miller was transfer listed with an asking price of £50,000.

Miller went on loan to Scottish Premier League side Hearts in January 2005 and stayed with the Edinburgh club until the end of the season.[10] He scored on his debut as Hearts beat Dundee United 3–2.[11] He proved to be worth the £50,000 asking price, putting in several eye-catching performances for Hearts, scoring eight goals in 18 league appearances, including the opener in a memorable 2–0 away win over Celtic at Celtic Park. His form also won him the SPL Young Player of the Month award for February 2005.[12] Hearts then attempted to secure Miller on a permanent deal, but his good form while on loan caused Bristol City to up their initial asking price.

In June 2005, Aberdeen and Hearts both had offers accepted by City, but Miller decided to join Dundee United for £225,000.[13] As he had done at both Bristol City and Hearts, Miller scored on his debut for Dundee United in a 1–1 draw against Aberdeen.[14]

At the start of the 2006–07 season, after refusing to play in a reserve match, United allowed Miller to join Aberdeen on a free transfer in August 2006.[15] Miller was the subject of a police report in April 2007 after baring his backside in front of Dundee United supporters during a 4–2 defeat.[16] Miller scored 13 goals in the 2007–08 season finishing as Aberdeen's top scorer and in May 2008, signed a two-year contract extension with the Pittodrie side. He scored his first goal of the season against Hearts at Pittodrie, and went on to score the only goal in a 1–0 win against Rangers. In March 2008, Miller was charged with driving dangerously at speeds of up to 120 mph.[17][18] In September 2009, Miller was stripped of his licence, banned from driving for a year and fined £600. He was also ordered to sit an extended driving test before being allowed to regain his licence.[19]

Miller was signed by Middlesbrough on 1 February 2010 for a fee of around £600,000.[20] His time at Middlesbrough was short-lived however, as he only made 11 first-team league appearances for the club, scoring no goals. He spent most of the 2010–11 season out on loan. Firstly on 19 November 2010, he signed for Notts County on loan until 4 January 2011.[21] On 28 January 2011, Miller joined Championship rivals Scunthorpe United in a loan deal until the end of the season.[22] At Scunthorpe his only goal was the winner in a 3–2 win over Sheffield United.[23]

Lee Miller playing for Carlisle United

On 23 August 2011, Miller signed a two-year contract with Carlisle United for an undisclosed fee.[24] He scored two goals on his debut against Leyton Orient, which gave Carlisle a 2–1 victory.[25] This was followed up with another goal in his first game at Brunton Park, a header against MK Dons. In January 2013 he was named Carlisle on the field captain.[26] On 27 June 2013 Miller signed a new 12-month contract with Carlisle United, with the option of a further year.[27] In May 2014 Miller, along with 10 other first team players, was released by Carlisle after the club's relegation to Football League Two.[28]

Miller signed a two-year contract with Kilmarnock in July 2014.[29] He made his debut on 26 August 2014, coming on as a substitute as Kilmarnock beat Ayrshire derby rivals Ayr United 1–0 in the Scottish League Cup.[30] He scored his first goal for Kilmarnock on 14 March 2015, in a 1–0 win against St Mirren.[31] At the end of the 2014–15 season, Miller was released by Kilmarnock.[32]

On 17 August 2015, Miller signed for Falkirk for a second time, joining the club on a six-month contract.[33] He was released by the club on 17 January 2018.[34] One of his teammates during his return spell was Mark Kerr, with whom he had also played in his early years with the club (2000–03), as well as at Dundee United (2005–06) and Aberdeen (2008–10).

Two days after leaving Falkirk in January 2018, Miller signed for fellow Scottish Championship club Livingston.[35] Miller left Livingston in November 2019 to take a coaching position at Falkirk.[36]

Miller signed with East Kilbride as a player on 9 June 2021.[37]

International career

Miller has three caps for Scotland, the first came in May 2006, during his time at Dundee United, against Japan in the 2006 Kirin Cup[38] and the others whilst with Aberdeen. He came on as a substitute against Argentina in a friendly in November 2008.[39]

In September 2009, he was due to join up with the Scotland squad for the World Cup Qualifier against the Netherlands, but a hamstring injury ruled him out. He started the friendly match on 10 October against Japan in Yokohama.[40]

Coaching career

Miller left a playing contract with Livingston in November 2019 to take a coaching position with Falkirk, working with David McCracken.[36] After a few games in interim charge of the team, McCracken and Miller were given control until the end of the 2019–20 season.[41] Miller and McCracken were sacked by Falkirk in April 2021.[42]

Personal life

Miller has four sons. As of 2023, the second oldest, Lennon, plays for Motherwell and the Scotland under-17 side.[43][44]

Lee Miller attended the Scottish Barbering School and retrained as a barber after the COVID-19 pandemic.[45]

Career statistics

Club
As of 19 October 2019[46]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Falkirk 2001–02[47] Scottish First Division 27112000002911
2002–03[48] Scottish First Division 341640313[lower-alpha 1]24419
Total 61276031327330
Bristol City 2003–04[49] Second Division 42820311[lower-alpha 2]0488
2004–05[50] League One 70102000100
Total 498305110588
Heart of Midlothian (loan) 2004–05[50] Scottish Premier League 1884310002311
Dundee United 2005–06[51] Scottish Premier League 34810102[lower-alpha 3]0388
2006–07[52] Scottish Premier League 3000100040
Total 378102020428
Aberdeen 2006–07[52] Scottish Premier League 324200000344
2007–08[53] Scottish Premier League 361260317[lower-alpha 4]05213
2008–09[54] Scottish Premier League 34102111003812
2009–10[55] Scottish Premier League 18311102[lower-alpha 5]0224
Total 12029112529014533
Middlesbrough 2009–10[55] Championship 100000000100
2010–11[56] Championship 1000100020
2011–12[57] Championship 00001000110
Total 110002000130
Notts County (loan) 2010–11[56] League One 6210000072
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2010–11[56] Championship 181000000181
Carlisle United 2011–12[57] League One 331421001[lower-alpha 6]03615
2012–13[58] League One 239001000249
2013–14[59] League One 345331000388
Total 90285420109832
Kilmarnock 2014–15[60] Scottish Premiership 191102000221
Falkirk 2015–16[61] Scottish Championship 29613104[lower-alpha 7]13510
2016–17[62] Scottish Championship 30910313[lower-alpha 8]03710
2017–18[63] Scottish Championship 130005100181
Total 72152392719021
Livingston 2017–18[63] Scottish Championship 16210004[lower-alpha 9]0212
2018–19[64] Scottish Premiership 90003100121
2019–20[65] Scottish Premiership 3100200051
Total 283105140384
Career total 5291303512347273593144
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. 2004 Football League Second Division play-off final (wrongly listed as a League appearance on soccerbase"Bristol City 0-1 Brighton". BBC Sport. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2014.)
  3. Appearances in the UEFA Cup (One match not listed on Soccerbase: "Dundee United 2-2- Mypa 47". BBC Sport. 25 August 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2014.)
  4. Appearances in the UEFA Cup
  5. Appearances in the Europa League
  6. Appearance in the Football League Trophy
  7. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup; three appearances and a goal in the Premiership play-offs
  8. Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and one in the Premiership play-offs
  9. Appearances in the Premiership play-offs

Managerial record
As of match played 20 April 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Falkirk (co-manager) 19 November 2019 21 April 2021 42 22 12 8 052.38
  • initially caretaker. Made permanent on 13 December 2019.
  • statistics includes the 3-0 forfeit win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup on Tuesday 6 October 2020.

Honours

Falkirk

Scotland

Individual

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Miller, Lee (B)". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. "Falkirk find their form with a stirring comeback". The Scotsman. 30 September 2001. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  4. "Miller scoops up award, but fears for Falkirk". The Scotsman. 9 April 2002. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. "Top boss award is tied". BBC Sport. 20 May 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  6. "Falkirk not selling on cheap". BBC Sport. 6 July 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  7. "Bairns snubbed as Miller asks to leave". The Scotsman. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  8. "Miller joins Bristol City". BBC Sport. 25 July 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  9. "Bristol City 5-0 Notts County". BBC Sport. 8 August 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  10. "Miller makes loan move to Hearts". BBC Sport. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  11. "Hearts 3–2 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  12. "Miller takes young player award". BBC Sport. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  13. "Dundee United clinch Miller deal". BBC Sport. 3 June 2005.
  14. "Dundee United 1-1 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 30 July 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  15. "Dons take Miller from Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  16. "Dons striker may face punishment". BBC Sport. 9 April 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  17. "Footballer on 120mph speed charge". BBC Sport. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  18. "Footballer set for trial over speeding charges". Edinburgh: The Scotsman. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  19. MacLarty, Leanna (24 September 2009). "Dons player stripped of licence after five-mile police chase". Press and Journal.
  20. "Aberdeen striker Lee Miller moves to Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  21. "Miller Arrives in Time For Tranmere". Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Notts County FC
  22. "Miller – It's a new start". Sky Sports. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  23. "Scunthorpe 3 – 2 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  24. "Carlisle United sign Middlesbrough striker Lee Miller". BBC Sport. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  25. "Leyton Orient 1-2 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  26. "Lee delighted with new role". Sky Sports. 15 January 2013.
  27. "Family key to new Carlisle United deal – Lee Miller". BBC Sport. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  28. "BREAKING: Retained and released list". Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  29. Kilmarnock: Striker Lee Miller signs two-year deal, BBC Sport.
  30. Wilson, Richard (26 August 2014). "Kilmarnock 1-0 Ayr". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  31. Lamont, Alasdair (14 March 2015). "Kilmarnock 1-0 St Mirren". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  32. "CLUB STATEMENT". Kilmarnock F.C. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  33. Oliver, David (17 August 2015). "Lee Miller is a Bairn again". The Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  34. "Falkirk: James Craigen and Lee Miller exit as clear-out continues". BBC Sport. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  35. "Lee Miller signs on the dotted line". Livingston F.C. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  36. "LEE MILLER & DAVID McCRACKEN APPOINTED INTERIM COACHING TEAM". Falkirk FC. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  37. "Triple swoop sees Manager bolster the squad with experienced trio". East Kilbride FC. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  38. "Japan 0-0 Scotland". BBC Sport. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  39. Campbell, Andy (19 November 2008). "Scotland 0-1 Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  40. "Japan 2–0 Scotland". BBC Sport. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  41. "Falkirk confirm Lee Miller & David McCracken until end of season". BBC Sport. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  42. "CLUB STATEMENT". falkirkfc.co.uk. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  43. "Motherwell kid Lennon Miller's dream Scotland debut with England halfway goal". Daily Record. 25 August 2021.
  44. "Tournament Preview: Scotland Under-17s ready for elite round". www.scottishfa.co.uk. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  45. "Former Scotland striker cuts Sportscene presenter's hair". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  46. Lee Miller at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  47. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
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  52. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  53. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  54. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
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  57. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  58. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  59. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  60. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  61. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  62. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  63. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  64. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  65. "Games played by Lee Miller in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  66. "Dons' Miller wins December award". BBC News. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
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