Mark Millar (footballer)

Mark Millar (born 23 February 1988) is a Scottish footballer who last played mainly as a central defender for Kilwinning Rangers.

Mark Millar
Millar playing for Falkirk in 2013
Personal information
Full name Mark Millar
Date of birth (1988-02-23) 23 February 1988
Place of birth Greenock, Scotland
Position(s) Midfielder / Defender
Youth career
2008–2009 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Celtic 0 (0)
2009–2010 → Újpest (loan) 13 (1)
2010–2012 Falkirk 63 (11)
2012–2014 Dundee United 18 (0)
2013–2014 → Falkirk (loan) 25 (6)
2014–2015 Peterhead 10 (0)
2015–2017 Queen of the South 58 (3)
2017 Livingston 13 (0)
2017–2018 Forfar Athletic 27 (6)
2018–2019 Largs Thistle 34 (12)
2019–2020 East Stirlingshire 14 (5)
2020-2022 St Cadoc's ? (?)
2022-2023 Kilwinning Rangers 19 (2)
International career‡
2007 Scotland U19 3 (0)
2008 Scotland U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:45, 31 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 February 2011

He is primarily known as a central midfielder.

Millar started his career with Scottish Premier League club Celtic, spending a six-month spell on loan at Újpest in Hungary. Millar then moved to Scottish First Division club Falkirk. In June 2012 Millar signed a three-year deal with Dundee United. Millar returned to Falkirk on loan for the majority of the 2013–14 season before being released from his contract at Tannadice in May 2014. Millar has since had spells with Peterhead and Queen of the South, before moving to the West Lothian club, Livingston.

After leaving Forfar in 2018, he dropped down the leagues to play for Largs Thistle, East Stirlingshire[1] and St Cadoc's.

Millar has been capped at both under-19 and under-21 level for Scotland.

Career

Millar started his career with Celtic.[2] In 2009, Millar moved on a six-month loan to Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Újpest.[3]

Millar signed for First Division side Falkirk in June 2010, he signed on a two-year contract and Falkirk said that two SPL clubs were interested in him.[4] On 21 September 2011, he scored a 90th minute freekick in the League Cup to give Falkirk a 3–2 win over Rangers.[5] The 2011–12 season was very successful for Millar as he was one of Falkirk's best players. With his contract expiring at the end of the season he attracted interest from several clubs, including Premier League team Swansea City.[6] On 1 April 2012, he played for Falkirk in their 1–0 win over Hamilton in the 2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.[7]

Millar agreed to sign for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United for the 2012–13 season. Manager Peter Houston said that he thought United had signed the two best players in the First Division in Millar and Michael Gardyne of Ross County. He also said that he thought Millar was a different type of player to what United already had and that he would become a fans' favourite due to his style of play.[8]

After only making one appearance for United in the opening quarter of the 2013–14 season, on 31 October 2013, Millar returned to former club Falkirk on a short-term loan deal until January 2014.[9] He scored his first goals since his return to the Falkirk Stadium on 23 November 2013, with a brace in a 4–0 win over Cowdenbeath.[10] On 6 January 2014, the deal was extended until the end of the season.[11] Millar played a pivotal role in helping The Bairns reach the play-offs, putting in many fantastic performances in the centre of the park. He was the scorer of a last minute penalty against Queen of the South on 23 February 2014, that put Falkirk clear in third place. His last appearance in his second spell at Falkirk came in a 1–0 (2–1 on aggregate) defeat to Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd leg.

After making 30 appearances in all competitions and scoring 6 goals, Millar returned to his parent club Dundee United. On 4 June 2014, Millar was released from his contract by Dundee United.[12] On 16 August 2014, Millar signed for Peterhead on a short-term contract until January 2015. He made his debut on the same day in a 2–0 win against Airdrieonians.[13]

Millar signed for Dumfries club Queen of the South on 8 January 2015.[14][15] Millar's first Queens goal was scored on 18 April 2015 against Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park in a league match which had given Queens a 2–1 lead. Millar left Palmerston Park on 6 January 2017,[16] signing for Scottish League One side Livingston on the same day.[17] Millar signed for Forfar Athletic in July 2017.[18] After a season with the club he moved into Junior football, signing for Largs Thistle.[19] In June 2019, East Stirlingshire agreed a fee with Largs for the transfer of Millar.[1]

Millar signed with Kilwinning Rangers in 2022, and was released one season at the Buffs, along with his namesake Chris Millar and five others.[20]

International career

Millar played three times in friendlies for Scotland under-19s. His debut came on 23 March 2007 against Netherlands. He played twice the following month against Norway and Austria.[21] He has also played once for Scotland under-21s. His debut came on 18 November 2008 in a friendly match against Northern Ireland in a match played at Hamilton.[22]

Style of play

Millar is a central midfielder. Although he is small he is an aggressive tackler. During his time in Hungary he noted how the players there were skilful but didn't like being closed down and he used this to his advantage by putting in many tough tackles.[3] Millar is also a good player technically and has been described as a "playmaker".[6]

Career statistics
As of match played 14 October 2017 [23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2009–10[24] Scottish Premier League 0000000000
Újpest (loan) 2009–10[23] Nemzeti Bajnokság I 131100000141
Falkirk 2010–11[25] First Division 30521301[lower-alpha 1]0366
2011–12[26] 33620415[lower-alpha 1]2449
Total 63114171628015
Dundee United 2012–13[27] Scottish Premier League 180101000200
2013–14[28] Scottish Premiership 0000100010
Total 180002000210
Falkirk (loan) 2013–14[28] Scottish Championship 24610004[lower-alpha 2]0296
Peterhead 2014–15[29] Scottish League One 10010001[lower-alpha 1]0120
Queen of the South 2014–15[29] Scottish Championship 13100002[lower-alpha 3]0151
2015–16[30] 27110202[lower-alpha 1]0321
2016–17[31] 18110403[lower-alpha 1]0261
Total 583206070733
Livingston 2016–17[31] Scottish League One 130000000130
Forfar Athletic 2017–18[32] Scottish League One 27600411[lower-alpha 1]1326
Career total 2262710119219327431
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearances in the Premiership play-offs
  3. Appearances in the Premiership play-offs

Honours
Falkirk
Livingston

References
  1. FC, East Stirlingshire (18 June 2019). "Transfer - Shire have agreed a fee for the transfer of Mark Millar". @TheShireFC. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  2. "Scottish Communities League Cup: Falkirk playmaker Mark Millar desperate to dump boyhood heroes Celtic". Daily Record. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. "Hearts should go in hard, says Millar". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  4. "Falkirk sign midfielder Mark Millar from Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  5. "Falkirk 3–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  6. "Swansea eye up move for Falkirk ace Mark Millar". Daily Record. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  7. "Falkirk 1–0 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  8. "Mark Millar to join Dundee United after leaving Falkirk". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  9. "MILLAR BACK AT FALKIRK". Falkirk F.C.
  10. "Falkirk 4-0 Cowdenbeath". BBC Sport. 23 November 2013.
  11. Oliver, David (6 January 2014). "Millar time as Mark extends Bairns". Falkirk Herald.
  12. "Dundee Utd: Gavin Gunning, Mark Millar and Morgaro Gomis exit". BBC Sport. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  13. Paterson, Colin (16 August 2014). "Airdrieonians 0 Peterhead 2: Red card floors Diamonds". Daily Record. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  14. "QosFC: Mark Millar Signs On". qosfc.com.
  15. "Queen of the South sign up midfielder Mark Millar". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  16. "Mark Millar Departs". Queen of the South FC. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  17. "Mark Millar signs up". Livingston FC. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  18. "Forfar complete double signing". SPFL. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  19. O'Donnell, Jim (10 August 2018). "Juniors: Ex-Celtic and Dundee United star Mark Millar joins Largs Thistle". Evening Times.
  20. "SQUAD UPDATE: END OF SEASON 22/23". Kilwinning Rangers F.C. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  21. "Profile – Mark Millar – U19 Squad Matches". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  22. "Profile – Mark Millar – U21 Squad Matches". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  23. Mark Millar at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  24. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  25. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  26. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  27. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  28. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  29. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  30. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  31. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  32. "Games played by Mark Millar in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  33. "Livingston 2–1 Alloa Athletic". Livingston F.C. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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