James "Jimmy" Milner

By Ray Simpson

James "Jimmy" Milner

[caption id="attachment_36746" align="alignnone" width="599"] 1957-58 squad. Front row:- Furphy, Mor...

[caption id="attachment_36746" align="alignnone" width="599"]Front row:- Furphy, Morton, Milner, Harbertson, Bell, Carr, Henderson. Willie Rutherford is behind Keith Morton. Back row Moran, Simpson, Rutherford, Storey,Tennent,Forster, Greener, Neale,Tulip,Watson, Stewart 1957-58 squad. Front row:- Furphy, Morton, Milner, Harbertson, Bell, Carr, Henderson. Back row Moran, Simpson, Rutherford, Storey,Tennent,Forster, Greener, Neale,Tulip,Watson, Stewart[/caption]

 

The club is sad to learn of the death of James Milner, one of the heroes of our 1957-58 FA Cup run.

“Jimmy”, who was born in Newcastle, was signed from Burnley and made his debut in the away game at Wrexham on 21st December 1957.

He was a regular over the rest of that season, and was part of that glorious team that won at Norwich City in the third round of the FA Cup, and then dramatically beat First Division giants Chelsea in a replay in the fourth round – one of the greatest moments in the club’s history -- before going out at another giant, Wolves, in the fifth round.

In his fourth season he was a part of the team that beat Crystal Palace and West Ham in the Football League Cup, before losing at home to First Division Bolton Wanderers in front of a mammoth 21,023 crowd at Feethams. He also played in the long running FA Cup second round tie against Hull City that went to four replays.

Jimmy made 167 appearances for us, scoring 28 goals, before moving to Accrington Stanley at the end of the 1960-61 season.

Jimmy is on the front row of this pic, third from the left

We would like to pass on our condolences to his family.