Does anyone know if it is correct that ex-Tiger Mike Milner - stalwart ever-present centre half of the 1965/66 title winning side - went on to own fish and chip shops in Hull?
I’ve known Mike Milner for years and had no idea he played for City. His son Daryl continued to run the chippy in Cottingham until he flogged it quite recently. Unfortunately Mike has severe dementia now and is in a home, he doesn’t recognise anyone.
I watch Mick when he was playing a lot, a good centre half and also played a lot of golf with him. I saw him at City just before I came out here and had a good chat with him. Sorry to hear he also is suffering with Dementia.
He had a wet fish shop called Polar fisheries during the 70 's to the 90 's . I think it was down either Newland avenue or on Cottingham road .
Today, 31st of August, marks the 75th Anniversary of the opening of Boothferry Park when Hull City played Lincoln City back in 1946 ending 0-0. My husband was there the day before his 8th Birthday with his Tigers gloves and scarf together with a painted wooden rattle having been taken to the match by his dad and grandad. He has recounted the days events on here before so suffice to say he was so excited he did not sleep the night before and spent the whole game behind the goal squashed on the rail at the Bunkers Hill end. He was never able to use his rattle and it rained continuously. He watched matches at BP for a further 20 years before leaving the UK .
I was told a while back that Chris Chilton was in the same home as Mick Milner - seems like quite a few of that great 60s team have had similar problems. The percentage of footballers who played in the 50s, 60s and 70s who have suffered dementia must be incredibly high.
I heard a story told by a couple of ex City players who visited this nursing home to see Mick Milner. The talk soon got around to dementia and those heavy leather footballs used back in the day. To which one of the ex City players pointed to a group of old ladies sat a couple of tables away in the same room, also suffering from dementia and said 'who did they play for then' ? I remember Mick Milner playing centre half for City. He was never a favourite of the fans probably because he was a Hull lad, but I always thought he was a steady eddy type of player, decent in the air but limited on the ground as most centre halves were in those days. Cannot recall him ever scoring a goal for us but he never let us down and held his own in the fabulous record breaking 3rd division title winning team of 1965/66. I often used the chippy in Cottingham his son ran up to a couple of years ago but did not know it was owned by Mick's lad until someone told me. I immediately could see the resemblance as both were well over 6' in height. I last saw the pair of them walking together through Cottingham a few months back and thought it was a bit sad to see Mick Milner in such a poor state of health and no-one recognising him for the player he was.
I started watching City in 1957, and saw most of Mick's games certainly at home and some away. As you say he was a good centre half, nothing outstanding but reliable. I know Mick quite well as I played golf with him many times and last saw him as a City game about 6 years ago to talk to. Sorry to hear he has dementia, a really nice guy, and a great servant to City.
