Grenville Millington

Grenville Rodney Millington (born 10 December 1951, Queensferry, Flintshire) was a professional footballer who played in The Football League as a goalkeeper. He enjoyed a long career with Chester City and was voted the club's BBC Cult Hero in 2005. Millington is now an established goalkeeping coach. He is the younger brother of Tony Millington, who played in goal for Wales.

Playing career

Chester

Millington made his Chester debut as a 17-year old in April 1969 in the final home game of the season against Lincoln City, in a match which also provided the first Chester appearance for Nigel Edwards (who would go on to be a long–serving colleague for Millington) and the last for the prolific Gary Talbot.^[1] However, this was to be Millington's only appearance for Chester before being released and he returned to Rhyl, where he had been as a youngster. While with the Lilywhites he came up against Tony for the only time, when Rhyl met Swansea City in January 1971 in the FA Cup. He also had a spell with Witton Albion and played on trial for Brighton & Hove Albion, before returning to Chester in November 1973. His first game back ended in an FA Cup win over Telford United and he replaced John Taylor as first-choice goalkeeper at the club.

The 1974–75 season was one of Chester's finest, as they reached the Football League Cup semi–finals and won promotion from Division Four. Millington was vital to both successes as he played in every game, memorably making an outstanding save from Malcolm MacDonald in a quarter-finals giant killing win over Newcastle United.^[2] The season also saw him set the club record for the longest run without conceding a goal.^[3]

Millington remained first choice goalkeeper ahead of Mike Craven until early in 1977–78, when fellow Welshman Brian Lloyd was signed from Wrexham and Millington was to barely play for the next two years. However, he regained his place early in 1979–80 and helped Chester reach the FA Cup fifth round. He was an ever-present in 1980–81 and the following season retained his club player of the season award despite Chester being relegated. This season saw Millington involved in a bizarre incident when a Football League Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle was abandoned after he collided with a goalpost – which snapped in the process.^[4]

Later career

The 1982–83 season saw Millington begin as regular goalkeeper for Chester, but an arm injury in a home defeat by Mansfield Town in October 1982^[5] marked the beginning of the end of his playing days with the club. Millington was released two months later but rejoined the club on non-contract terms in March 1983, combining being cover for Phil Harrington with a coaching role at the club.^[6] He played in the final game of the season, a 2–1 loss to Scunthorpe United, before joining non–league side Oswestry Town in the summer of 1983.^[7]

Millington returned to Football League circles the following season, when he made 13 league appearances for Wrexham. This brought the curtain down on his league career.

In the late 1990s, Millington became goalkeeping coach with both Wrexham and Chester and worked off and on for the latter until leaving in February 2006. He is now goalkeeping coach at Connah's Quay Nomads and president of the Chester City Supporters Trust.^[8]

Honours

• Football League Division Four promotion as fourth placed team: 1974–75, Chester.
• Football League Cup semi-finalists: 1974–75, Chester.
• Player of the Season: 1974–75, 1980–81 and 1981–82, Chester.^[9]
• Voted Chester City cult hero in December 2004 by viewers of the BBC show Football Focus.^[10]
• Became the first ever Hall of Fame inductee for the phoenix club Chester FC, formerly Chester City FC, and their supporter group owners City Fans United.

Bibliography

• Sumner, Chas (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City F.C. 1885–1997. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 

References