The Longside Reference

Burnley Manager form Oct 1979 till Jan 1983

Brian George Miller.

Born Hapton on the 19th January 1937 (Died Burnley 7 April 2007)

Played for Burnley 1954-67, capped once by England 1961;

Managed Burnley 1979-83, 1986-89. .

"If the spirit of Turf Moor ever assumed human form, it might appear as a strapping claret-and-blue dreadnought, dispensing inspiration and good cheer in the broad, earthy tones of north-east Lancashire, and answering to the name of Brian Miller." (Ivan Ponting, The Independent).

That is the best description of the man who was Burnley Football Club personified. He was a Claret since birth, being born just outside Burnley in a village called Hapton. a 15 year old Miller excelled for nearby Blackburn Schoolboys, but it was Burnley which he joined as a 15-year-old in 1952 after being spotted in a local cup final, he signed professional forms in February 1954

1956 and the five-match marathon against Chelsea is where he made his senior debut at Stamford Bridge, stepping in for the injured Les Shannon in a drawn FA Cup replay against Chelsea, the second of the five games, this was a time before the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Jimmy Adamson,Bobby Seith and Les Shannon were the players in possession of the defensive shirts, along with Tommy Cummings, Miller had his work cut out to oust any of these legends, but with ability to play both central and left half, oust them he did! During the next three campaigns, Miller became a key player, for Potts' side. He played every minute of the 59/60 Championship season.

As strong a player Miller was, his only England recognition was just three England under-23 caps and one solitary full cap in a 3-1 defeat by Austria in Vienna in May 1961.

The following season Miller was selected twice to represent the Football League but was behind Wolves defender Ron Flowers in the pecking order to claim a regular berth for his country.

Back at club level Miller continued to shine none more so than the 1961/62 season as Burnley sought to emulate the great Spurs side, who a year earlier had become the first club to lift the League and FA Cup double that century. Burnley and Brian agonisingly missed out on both fronts, finishing as First Division runners-up to unfancied Ipswich Town and losing 3-1 to Spurs in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Miller remained a Turf Moor throughout the sixties helping the Clarets to achieve third-place in 1962/63 and in 1965/66.

During the European adventures Brian Miller etched himself into another page of Claret folk-lore for being the only man to feature in all 12 of Burnley's European matches. Miller even managed to net in both legs of the fairs cup quarter-final with Eintracht Frankfurt in April 1967, unfortunately Burnley lost 3-2 on aggregate.

Miller, now 30 years old, twisted his knee horribly at Villa Park just days after his European exploits and never made another senior appearance again, Millers Burnley playing career lasted 12 season's, playing 455 first team games, scoring 37 goals.

In time honored tradition, Burnley offed Miller a position on the coaching staff, first working with the reserves before stepping up to first-team duties.

Management came 12 years after Miller first joined the coaching staff when he replaced Potts at the helm in 1979, but with Burnley in disarray on the field Miller couldn't reverse the slide, Burnley were relegated at the end of Brian's first season in charge, relegated to the third level of the professional game for the first time in their history.

If anyone could change the fortunes of Burnley, it was Brian Miller, and he did, out with the old and in with the youth, Brian took Burnley back to the future, when he invested in the youth players, in 1981-82 he steered Burnley to the Third Division Championship, with a youthful side that included Brian Laws, Trevor Steven, Micky Phelan, Billy Hamilton, with players of the pedigree of Alan Stevenson, Martin Dobson and Bryan Flynn. Miller rejuvenated Burnley.

Enter John Jackson, Burnleys new chairman who had taken over from the late Bob Lord, who decided Burnley slide in 1982/83 merited the sacking of Brian Miller, the timing could have been better, not only was it Brian's 46th Birthday, not only was it just as Brian was about to board the coach to Spurs, the same game Burnley tore apart the London giants 4-1 at White Heart Lane, bad timing, bad decision? but Jackson would make worse decisions. Miller a Claret since 1952, was sacked 31 years later.

Jackson hired Bond, then sacked Bond, he then hired his assistant Benson then he went, Buchan and Cavanagh were next to manage this joke club that Burnley had become! When the worst times upon us, Burnley turned to the man who bleed Claret'n'Blue, Brian Miller, a man who was sacked just three years previous. It was July 1986 with Burnley in the worst state they had ever been in, no players, no cash, dwindling crowds. But when we thought all hope had gone! enter the man described so elegantly by Ivan Ponting at the start of this review, came to Burnley's much needed aid.

He played with youth(he had no other choice) and signed players who had Burnley in their blood, Leighton James and Billy Rodaway. 1986-87, Orient, the game which  still to this day send shivers down all Burnley fan's spines, how Miller kept calm is anyone's guess, how he kept his players minds on the job in hand, is anyone's guess, how he motivated players who were used to playing in front of an empty Longside terrace, play in front of an over capacity stadium, (18000? not a chance), Miller only knows. But Brian Miller not only guided the players to a 2-1 victory he not only saved Burnley form oblivion, but rejuvenated the town.

80,000 Fans descended on Wembley for a lower league cup final, Wolves and Burnley had made it through to a final, the Sherpa van final! a year after that fateful day, Miller saved Burnley in 87, in 88 he led them out at Wembley for only the third time in our famous history. No one likes to lose, but Millers and Burnley's day amounted to a celebration of our very existence.

In January 1989, Miller was replaced as manager by Frank Casper for the second time, but he remained in Burnley's employ as chief scout, a post he held until his retirement in 1996.

First Division Champions in 59/60 Miller was an ever-present player, Champions of the Second division in 1972/73 Miller was coach, Third Division Champions in 1981/82, Miller was Manager, Division Four Champions in 1991/92 Miller was chief Scout. Wembley 62, Miller was a player, in 88 Miller was our manager, and in 94 he held the position of chief scout.

Miller lived and breathed Burnley, and until his death in 2007, he will be forever known as the man who saved Burnley.