Paddy_Mills

Paddy Mills

Paddy Mills

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For the Australian rules footballer, see Paddy Mills (Australian footballer). For the speedway rider, see Paddy Mills (speedway rider).

Bertie Reginald Mills (23 February 1900 – 22 January 1994), known as Paddy Mills, was a professional footballer who scored 139 goals in 358 appearances in the Football League playing for Hull City (in two spells), Notts County and Birmingham.[3] He played as a forward, though in the later part of his career he moved to wing half.

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Career

Mills was born in Multan, India, but raised in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire.[2] He began his football career with local club Barton Town before joining Hull City of the Second Division in 1920.[1] For three consecutive seasons, from 1923–24 to 1925–26, Mills was Hull's leading scorer;[4] in the second of those three seasons, he scored 29 goals in all competitions when no other Hull player reached double figures.[2]

In March 1926, Notts County paid a fee of £3,750 for his services,[1] but he was unable to prevent their relegation from the First Division.[5] In 1927 he was joined by his younger brother Percy, who would go on to play more than 400 games for the club.[3] After three years with County, in which he scored at a rate approaching a goal every other game,[3] Mills moved back to the First Division with Birmingham, but failed to settle, and returned to Hull in December 1929.[1]

Mills contributed two goals in Hull's 1929–30 FA Cup run which took them to the semi-final for the first time in their history, only to lose to eventual Cup-winners Arsenal, following which their form slumped and they were relegated to the Third Division North.[6] New manager Haydn Green converted Mills to play at wing half, though he still scored goals:[7] 12 in 30 games in the 1930–31 season and 11 in 37 the next season.[2] In 1932–33, Hull City won the championship of the Third Division North, winning promotion for the first time in their history.[7] Mills played in nearly half the games, but failed to score,[2] and was released at the end of the season.[7] As of December 2008, his league goal return of 101 in 269 games places him third in Hull City's all-time league goalscorers, and his 110 from 291 appearances puts him fourth when all competitions are counted.[8]

On leaving Hull, Mills moved into non-League football with Scunthorpe & Lindsey United and Gainsborough Trinity before finishing his career at his first club, Barton Town.[2]

After football Mills was employed as a security man at a steelworks in Scunthorpe.[1] He died in 1994 at the age of 93.[2]

Personal life

Mills was great-uncle to football player and manager Nigel Pearson, the grandson of his brother Percy.[9]

Honours

Hull City

References

  1. [1]
    Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  2. [2]
    "Bertie 'Paddy' Mills". Hull City Mad. FootyMad. 2 November 2000. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  3. [3]
    Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 185. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  4. [4]
    Bell, Andy (10 May 2010). "Top Scorers". Hull City Mad. FootyMad. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  5. [5]
    "Notts County". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  6. [6]
    "Cup semi – and then relegated". Hull Daily Mail. 7 August 1999. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2009 – via NewsBank.
  7. [7]
    "It is not just a well-worn cliche to describe Hull City's loyal fans as long-suffering. They quite simply have been – too often for too long". Hull Daily Mail. 11 March 2000. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2009 – via NewsBank.
  8. [8]
    Bell, Andy (26 December 2008). "All-Time Top Scorers". Hull City Mad. FootyMad. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  9. [9]
    "Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson's Forest connection". This is Leicestershire. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
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