Alec Milne (footballer, born 1889)

Alec Milne
Personal information
Full name	Alexander James Milne
Date of birth	29 September 1889
Place of birth	Hebburn, England
Date of death	1970 (aged 81)
Place of death	Doncaster, England
Position(s)	Left-back
Senior career*
Years	Team
–	West Stanley
–	Hebburn Argyle
1912–1926	Stoke
1926–1929	Doncaster Rovers
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander James "Alec" Milne (29 September 1889 – 1970) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers and Stoke.^[1]

Career

Milne was born in Hebburn and joined Stoke at the age of 23 after playing amateur football with West Stanley and Hebburn Argyle.^[1] He made his debut in a Southern League match against West Ham United which Stoke lost 5–0.^[1] He became known for his no-nonsense tackling and solid performances at left back and helped the club to gain a return to the Football League in 1914–15.^[1] However it was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I during which time Milne returned to his home of Hebburn.^[1]

The league returned in 1919 and Milne established himself in the starting eleven and played in every match during the 1920–21 season and helped the side gain promotion to the First Division in 1921–22.^[1] Stoke were relegated however and injury caused Milne to miss all of the 1923–24 campaign.^[1] He remained at the Victoria Ground for two more seasons before leaving for Doncaster Rovers after making 276 appearances in all competitions for the "Potters".^[1] He remained at Doncaster until he was 41.^[1]

Career statistics

Sourced from Alec Milne at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke	1912–13	Southern Division One	16	0	0	0	16	0
	1913–14	Southern Division Two	25	0	3	0	28	0
	1914–15	Southern Division Two	24	0	4	0	28	0
	1919–20	Second Division	30	0	1	0	31	0
	1920–21	Second Division	42	0	1	0	43	0
	1921–22	Second Division	41	0	5	0	46	0
	1922–23	First Division	36	0	2	0	38	0
	1923–24	Second Division	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1924–25	Second Division	18	0	1	0	19	0
	1925–26	Second Division	25	0	2	0	27	0
	Total		257	0	19	0	276	0
Doncaster Rovers	1926–27	Third Division North	40	0	2	0	42	0
	1927–28	Third Division North	27	0	1	0	28	0
	1928–29	Third Division North	2	0	0	0	2	0
	1929–30	Third Division North	5	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		74	0	3	0	77	0
Career Total			331	0	22	0	353	0

Honours

Stoke

Southern Football League Division Two champion: 1914–15
Football League Second Division runner-up: 1921–22

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.

[The_Encyclopaedia_of_Stoke_City-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.

[1]