Calvin Miller

Calvin Miller
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-01-09) 9 January 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Full-back/Winger
Team information
Current team
Falkirk
Number 29
Youth career
2010–2018 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2020 Celtic 4 (0)
2018Dundee (loan) 16 (1)
2019Ayr United (loan) 13 (1)
2020–2021 Harrogate Town 10 (1)
2021Notts County (loan) 17 (0)
2021–2022 Chesterfield 40 (1)
2023 Greenock Morton 15 (1)
2023– Falkirk 43 (13)
International career
2012 Scotland U15 1 (0)
2012–2013 Scotland U16 12 (2)
2013–2015 Scotland U17 13 (1)
2018 Scotland U20 1 (0)
2019 Scotland U21 1 (0)
Medal record
 Scotland
UEFA European U-17 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Malta Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:34, 2 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:31, 23 March 2019 (UTC)

Calvin Miller (born 9 January 1998) is a Scottish footballer who can play as a left-back or winger for Scottish Championship club Falkirk. Miller has previously played for Celtic, Dundee, Ayr United, Harrogate Town, Notts County, Chesterfield and Greenock Morton.

Club career

Celtic

Having attended training sessions at Rangers,[1] Miller signed for Celtic in 2010, aged 12.[2]

In addition to domestic tournaments (he was in the squad which won the Scottish Youth Cup in 2015,[3] and started and scored in the competition's 2017 final),[4][5] Miller featured in several international youth tournaments during his Celtic youth career such as the NextGen Series and the UEFA Youth League.[6][7] In May 2016 he was named in a matchday squad for the first time and also signed a new contract running until 2019.[2] Earlier that year he had been marked by the Scottish press as one of the 'three to watch' from the youth team.[8]

Miller made his league and competitive debut against Partick Thistle on 20 December 2016.[9] He received praise for his performance in the match, which Celtic won.[10] It was at this point that his manager Brendan Rodgers revealed that Miller, who had previously been considered a winger or forward in his youth career with the club, was retraining in a more defensive position. Rodgers also expressed his hope that Miller could flourish in his new role in a similar manner to his previous trainee Ryan Bertrand.[11]

He did not feature for the senior team again until 8 August 2017, when he played the full 90 minutes in a 5–0 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup, with regular left-back Kieran Tierney filling in as a central defender.[12]

Miller started at left-back on 19 August 2017 in the Scottish Premiership, again against Kilmarnock, and was given man of the match by Sky Sports.[13] His side won 2–0 with goals from James Forrest and Callum McGregor.[14] He was selected in further home fixtures against St Johnstone in February 2018[15] and Kilmarnock again in May, being replaced in the second half by Tierney in both matches, which ended in 0–0 draws after Celtic made several other changes which appeared to affect their rhythm as a unit.[16]

Miller signed a new contract with Celtic in August 2018, tying him to the club until summer 2020 with the possibility of extension. Speaking on his future, he stated that his short-term aim was to secure a loan move to gain further experience.[17]

Dundee loan

On 31 August 2018, Miller moved to fellow Premiership club Dundee on loan.[18][19] He made his debut from the bench on 1 September in a 3–1 home defeat to Motherwell.[20] On 23 October, he missed an opportunity to score his first senior goal when he sent a penalty kick wide of the post in an eventual 3–0 defeat to Heart of Midlothian.[21] On 18 December he did score, netting Dundee's consolation goal in a 5–1 loss away to Aberdeen.[22] His loan, intended originally to be for the full season, was curtailed at the end of December 2018.[23]

Ayr United loan

On 31 January 2019, Miller joined Scottish Championship club Ayr United on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[24]

Return, injury and release

Having returned to Celtic in summer 2019 Miller spoke of his hope of being in the plans of Neil Lennon, Celtic's new manager who had used Miller in friendly matches in his previous spell in charge of the club.[25] However, when Kieran Tierney was sold in August 2019, Miller was overlooked at left back for a UEFA Champions League qualifier against CFR Cluj, the position instead being taken by midfielder Callum McGregor – who put in an uncertain performance as Celtic lost at home and were eliminated from the competition.[26][27] Miller then turned down a move to Kilmarnock as part of a deal to bring Greg Taylor (also a left back) to Celtic, a signing which, along with improvement in the form of Boli Bolingoli, another new signing in the same position, further diminished the chances of Miller being selected.[28] The slight prospect then disappeared entirely after Miller was injured in a reserve match on 17 September, requiring surgery the following week which would rule him out until the end of the season (and the end of his Celtic contract) with no opportunity to impress the manager within the club or out on loan.[28][29] His departure was confirmed in May 2020.[30]

Harrogate Town

English club Harrogate Town signed Miller on 3 October 2020.[31]

Notts County loan

On 11 January 2021, Miller joined National League side Notts County on loan for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.[32]

Chesterfield

On 25 June 2021, Miller agreed to return to the National League to join Chesterfield upon the expiration of his contract with Harrogate.[33] On 13 October 2022, Miller had his contract terminated by mutual consent.[34]

Greenock Morton

On 2 January 2023, Miller signed with Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton until the end of the season.[35] He scored his first and only goal for the club in a 2-2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle,[36] before leaving in June 2023.

Falkirk

After leaving Morton, Miller signed for Scottish League One club Falkirk.[37] In March 2024, Miller won the League One title with the Bairns on the same night they defeated Montrose 7–1 at Links Park.[38] Miller would be named to the PFA Scottish League One Team of the Year in April 2024.[39]

On 2 August 2024, Miller scored in Falkirk's first game back in the Scottish Championship in a win over Queen's Park.[40]

International career

Miller was selected for Scotland at various youth levels.[41] He made his debut for the under-21 team in March 2019.[42]

Personal life

Miller was born in Glasgow and grew up in the city's Castlemilk district.[2] He is the father of one daughter, Olivia, born in 2015.[43]

Career statistics

As of 16 June 2021[44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2018–19 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Celtic Under-20s[a] 2016–17 SPFL Development League 3 0 3 0
2019–20 SPFL Development League 2 0 2 0
Dundee (loan) 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 1
Ayr United (loan) 2018–19 Scottish Championship 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 14 1
Harrogate Town 2020–21 League Two 10 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 13 2
Notts County (loan) 2020–21 National League 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4[d] 0 23 0
Chesterfield 2021–22 National League
Greenock Morton 2022–23 Scottish Championship
Falkirk 2023–24 Scottish League One
2024–25 Scottish Championship
Career total 62 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 11 0 76 4
  1. ^ Refers to matches in the Scottish Challenge Cup, in which teams from the SPFL Development League compete against senior clubs
  2. ^ Appearance in the SPFL Premiership/Championship promotion playoffs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy

Honours

Falkirk

Individual

References

  1. ^ "When Celtic's Calvin Miller was named best young player in the world". Celtic Quick News. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Calvin Miller signs new three-year deal". Celtic FC. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  3. ^ Hooper, Alasdair (21 May 2015). "Nesbitt the hat-trick hero as emphatic Celtic claim the Little Big Shot Youth Cup". Youth Football Scotland. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  4. ^ Young, Chick (26 April 2017). "Scottish Youth Cup final: Celtic 3-0 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. ^ McConnell, Alison (26 April 2017). "Celtic 3 Rangers 0: Young Hoops claim Scottish Youth Cup glory". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  6. ^ Walton, David (11 August 2017). "SPFL Hot Prospects: Celtic". Youth Football Scotland. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Calvin Miller player profile - 2016/17 UEFA Youth League". UEFA. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  8. ^ McAllion, Kevin (9 February 2016). "Three to watch: Celtic academy kids hoping to make big breakthrough". Daily Record. Media Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  9. ^ Wilson, Richard (20 December 2016). "Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle: Scott Sinclair strike edges brave visitors". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  10. ^ Berry, Gavin (21 December 2016). "Brendan Rodgers hails Celtic debut boy Calvin Miller and compares him to Ryan Bertrand". Irish Mirror Online. MGN. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  11. ^ Brannan, Laura (21 December 2016). "Celtic boss compares Calvin Miller to England international". STV Sport. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  12. ^ Crawford, Kenny (8 August 2017). "Celtic 5–0 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  13. ^ John, Craig (19 June 2018). "Sunderland transfer gossip: Celtic defender compared to Ryan Bertrand linked with loan move". ChronicleLive. Reach.
  14. ^ "Kilmarnock 0-2 Celtic". Sky Sports. PA Sport. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  15. ^ Campbell, Andy (18 February 2018). "Celtic 0–0 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  16. ^ Dowden, Martin (9 May 2018). "Celtic 0–0 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  17. ^ Henderson, Mark (21 August 2018). "Delight as Calvin Miller signs new deal with Celtic". Celtic FC. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  18. ^ Lorimer, Scott (31 August 2018). "Dundee announce deadline day signing of Celtic left back Calvin Miller". Evening Telegraph. DC Thomson Media. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Calvin joins". Dundee FC. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  20. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (1 September 2018). "Dundee 1-3 Motherwell: Neil McCann's men remain pointless as Well claim first win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Dundee 3-0 Hearts: League leaders extend advantage on Jim McIntyre's bow". Sky Sports. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  22. ^ Roache, Ian (18 December 2018). "Aberdeen 5 Dundee 1: Dark Blues return to bottom of table after poor performance at Pittodrie". The Courier. DC Thomson Media. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  23. ^ "Dundee: Andy Boyle, Calvin Miller & Adil Nabi leave Dens Park". BBC Sport. 30 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  24. ^ Mullen, Scott (31 January 2019). "Celtic sign Jeremy Toljan from Borussia Dortmund on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  25. ^ McConnell, Alison (4 June 2019). "Calvin Miller eager for another chance at Celtic under Neil Lennon". The Times. Times Newspapers. Retrieved 1 June 2022.(subscription required)
  26. ^ McGarry, Graeme (13 August 2019). "Celtic 3 Cluj 4: Five talking points as Celtic crash out of Champions League". Evening Times. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  27. ^ Owen, Danny (14 August 2019). "Cluj snub is the final straw for Calvin Miller at Celtic". HITC. GRV Media. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  28. ^ a b Hendry, Mark (27 September 2019). "Celtic's Calvin Miller ruled out for rest of season after op and may have played final Hoops game". Evening Times. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  29. ^ McKay, Gabriel (26 September 2019). "Calvin Miller dealt fresh Celtic blow as outcast defender shares post-op selfie". Daily Record. Reach Scotland. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  30. ^ Temple, Alan (27 May 2020). "Celtic starlet Calvin Miller says emotional farewell to Hoops as he announces his departure". Glasgow Times. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Calvin Miller: Harrogate Town sign versatile former Celtic player". BBC Sport. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  32. ^ "Two join on loan". Notts County FC. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Winger Miller agrees contract". Chesterfield FC. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Miller's departure announced". chesterfield-fc.co.uk. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Calvin Miller signs for the Ton". Greenock Morton FC. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  36. ^ "Inverness CT come back twice to draw with Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  37. ^ "CALVIN MILLER JOINS THE BAIRNS!". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  38. ^ a b "Falkirk crowned champions prior to rampant victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  39. ^ Kearney, Ben (19 April 2024). "Falkirk dominate PFA Scotland League One team of the year as TEN stars selected". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Winning start for Falkirk | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Calvin Miller". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  42. ^ Haggerty, Tony (22 March 2019). "Scotland U21s 0 Mexico U22s 0 as Mikey Johnston misses last-gasp penalty - 3 talking points". Daily Record. Reach Scotland. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  43. ^ Temple, Alan (8 November 2017). "Doting dad Calvin Miller on how young family is driving him on to star for Celtic & Scotland". Deadline News. Capital City Press. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  44. ^ "C. Miller". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  45. ^ @PFAScotland (19 April 2024). "PFA Scotland on X: "🏆 PFA Scotland League 1 Team of the Year. As voted for by the players, congratulations to… Nicky Hogarth Finn Yeats Coll Donaldson Tom Lang Leon McCann Brad Spencer Liam Henderson Aidan Nesbitt Callumn Morrison Rumarn Burrell Calvin Miller #PFASAwards" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 April 2024 – via Twitter.