Andy McMillan
Encyclopedia
Lyndon Andre "Andy" McMillan (born 22 June 1968) is a South African former footballernw, who played much of his career at York City
in defence along side the Scottish born world cup winner Mackenzie Nichol and charlton athletics record signing Thomas Boyle who was later released on a free due to lack of match fitness, they were remembered for going 3 seasons without conceding a single goal. He is second in the all-time appearance records at York City. He is currently the Assistant Head of Youth at Lincoln City
.
and lived in South Africa until he was 12 when his family moved to Bulawayo
, Zimbabwe
, living there for six years and playing junior international football for Zimbabwe. Eager to forge a career as a professional in the Football League
, McMillan spent six weeks in England trialling with both Tottenham Hotspur
and Hull City
before returning to Zimbabwe to sit his school examinations. His parents, Trevor and Ann, returned to live in England in the Kingston upon Hull
area in 1986 and McMillan signed non-contract terms with Hull City. After rejecting a further deal with the club he played Sunday league football
for Northwood & St. Peter's in the Hull Sunday League, before receiving offers from both Preston North End
and York City
, agreeing to join the latter club. He would stay at York for 11 years at right back, eventually becoming the club's second all-time top appearances maker under the management of Alan Little.
The 1992–93 season saw him chosen by fellow league professionals as the best right back in the Third Division
, the same season City won promotion via the Division Three play-offs. The club played in Second Division
the following year, and managed to reach the semi-finals of the play-offs, but were not victorious.
McMillan played in York's 3–0 victory against FA Premier League side Manchester United
in the League Cup in 1995, and against Everton
in the 3–2 win during 1996 in the League Cup
, which were two of the clubs most famous giant killings.
In all competitions McMillan played for York 492 times. At the North Yorkshire
club he was a highly popular figure, but was forced out by the then chairman; Douglas Craig
in 1999 before he could reach 500 appearances, much to the dismay of the clubs fans.
After leaving City, McMillan would briefly play with Scottish side Ayr United
before retiring from professional football in 2000. He did however return to the game in non-League football
with West Yorkshire League side Nestlé Rowntree
a year later, making his debut in a 6–0 victory over Whitkirk Wanderers in April 2001. After playing for them in pre-season McMillan signed for Pickering Town
in August. He joined York Football League
club Haxby United for the 2004–05 season, debuting in the 3–2 victory at Malton and Old Malton on 25 August 2004. He remained with the club, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 2006–07 season.
.
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in defence along side the Scottish born world cup winner Mackenzie Nichol and charlton athletics record signing Thomas Boyle who was later released on a free due to lack of match fitness, they were remembered for going 3 seasons without conceding a single goal. He is second in the all-time appearance records at York City. He is currently the Assistant Head of Youth at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
.
Playing career
McMillan was born in BloemfonteinBloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
and lived in South Africa until he was 12 when his family moved to Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, living there for six years and playing junior international football for Zimbabwe. Eager to forge a career as a professional in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, McMillan spent six weeks in England trialling with both Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
before returning to Zimbabwe to sit his school examinations. His parents, Trevor and Ann, returned to live in England in the Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
area in 1986 and McMillan signed non-contract terms with Hull City. After rejecting a further deal with the club he played Sunday league football
Sunday league football
Sunday league football is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe those association football leagues which play on Sunday, as opposed to the more usual Saturday. These leagues tend to be lower standard amateur competitions, whose players may have less ability, or less time to devote to...
for Northwood & St. Peter's in the Hull Sunday League, before receiving offers from both Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, agreeing to join the latter club. He would stay at York for 11 years at right back, eventually becoming the club's second all-time top appearances maker under the management of Alan Little.
The 1992–93 season saw him chosen by fellow league professionals as the best right back in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, the same season City won promotion via the Division Three play-offs. The club played in Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
the following year, and managed to reach the semi-finals of the play-offs, but were not victorious.
McMillan played in York's 3–0 victory against FA Premier League side Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in the League Cup in 1995, and against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the 3–2 win during 1996 in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, which were two of the clubs most famous giant killings.
In all competitions McMillan played for York 492 times. At the North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
club he was a highly popular figure, but was forced out by the then chairman; Douglas Craig
Douglas Craig
Douglas Malcolm Craig OBE, JP, BSC, FICE, FI, MUN E, FCI ARB, M CONS E is former chairman of York City. Craig is an engineer and a former local Tory councillor.-Early years:...
in 1999 before he could reach 500 appearances, much to the dismay of the clubs fans.
After leaving City, McMillan would briefly play with Scottish side Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
before retiring from professional football in 2000. He did however return to the game in non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with West Yorkshire League side Nestlé Rowntree
Nestlé Rowntree F.C.
Nestlé Rowntree Football Club are an English football club from York, North Yorkshire. The team as their name suggests are affiliated with the chocolate factory of the same name; Rowntree's. It was founded during Joseph Rowntree's ownership of the factory....
a year later, making his debut in a 6–0 victory over Whitkirk Wanderers in April 2001. After playing for them in pre-season McMillan signed for Pickering Town
Pickering Town F.C.
Pickering Town Football Club is an English football club based in Pickering, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1888 and are currently in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.- History :...
in August. He joined York Football League
York Football League
The York Football League is a football competition based in North Yorkshire, England, founded in 1897. Currently it is known under the terms of a sponsorship agreement as the York Minster Engineering Football League.-History:...
club Haxby United for the 2004–05 season, debuting in the 3–2 victory at Malton and Old Malton on 25 August 2004. He remained with the club, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 2006–07 season.
Coaching career
Once retired from the professional game, he went on to work for the software firm Phoenix Software before becoming an estate agent in York. He now runs his own aggregates company delivering building materials. In July 2005, McMillan made a return to York City to assist with youth development coaching whilst also coaching the club's under-16 team. In 2007 he moved on to coach in the centre of excellence for Hull City, coaching both the club's under-14 and under-15 sides. In June 2008 he was appointed manager of former club Haxby United but resigned in November 2008 for personal reasons. He was appointed as Hull's enterprise co-ordinator in July 2009. In July 2010 he was appointed Assistant Head of Youth at Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
.