Jimmy Mills
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Mills was a Scottish-American soccer wing half
and coach. He gained his greatest fame as a coach, taking his teams to five league, three league cup titles and two McGuire Cup titles In 1956, he coached the U.S. Olympic soccer team
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
, Mills moved first to Paisley
then to Bridgeton, Glasgow
as a young boy. He began his career with St. Clemens in the Churches League. In 1909, he began playing in the Scottish Junior Football Association
with Shettleston F.C.
, Vale of Clyde F.C.
and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. He then moved to Bathgate F.C.
when he was seventeen. He also spent time with Clyde F.C.
before transferring to Canada in 1920 where he joined the Toronto Caledonians of the National League. In 1923, he moved to the United States, but does not show up on a professional roster until the 1924-1925 season when he played twenty-two games for the Philadelphia Field Club
of the American Soccer League
. He saw time in only four games at the start of the1925-1926 season before moving to Fairhill F.C. of the Allied League of Philadelphia. Mills would continue to play for Fairhill until 1935.
as the head coach at the University of Pennsylvania
in 1938. He spent only one season at Penn before becoming the head coach of the boy’s team at The Episcopal Academy
. He coached the boys for the next twelve years. In 1942, Fairhill F.C. purchased the professional Philadelphia Nationals
of the American Soccer League
and elevated Mills to head coach. A traditionally poorly performing team, the Nationals suffered under several poor seasons before Mills slowly built them into the league’s dominant team. Beginning in 1948, Mills’ led the Nationals to a string of league (1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953 ) and Lewis Cup (1949, 1951 and 1952) titles. In 1953, Brookhattan
hired Mills. He spent two seasons with the team before returning to Philadelphia in 1956 when Uhrik Truckers
hired Mills. He promptly took them to the league championship. By that time, Mills had established himself at the collegiate level. His year at Penn and his work at the Episcopal Academy brought him to the attention of Haverford College
which hired him in 1949. He remained in that position until 1970, coaching every season except 1956 when he headed the U.S. Olympic soccer team. Mills compiled a 126-94-21 record in his twenty seasons with Haverford which continues to host an annual Jimmy Mills Soccer Tournament. During many of his years with Haverford, Mills held practice only after working all day repairing looms at a Philadelphia carpet mill. In 1974, he became an assistant coach at Girard College
before moving up to the head coach position in 1981. In 1983, a heart attack ended his coaching career at the age of 88. Mills also spent twenty years as the coach of the Lighthouse Boys Club
, taking the team to twenty consecutive city championships as well as the 1957 and 1967 U.S. U-19 championships (McGuire Cup).
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. While the team lost to Yugoslavia, 9-1, in the first round, it had a successful pre-tournament tour of Asia. Playing a mix of national and club teams, the U.S. went 5-3 on the tour.
in 1954 and the NSCAA Hall of Fame in 1991. In 1981, he was also honored with the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association’s Service to Youth Award.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and coach. He gained his greatest fame as a coach, taking his teams to five league, three league cup titles and two McGuire Cup titles In 1956, he coached the U.S. Olympic soccer team
United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 297 competitors, 251 men and 46 women, took part in 139 events in 18 sports.- Gold:*Bobby Morrow — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Olympic Games football tournament with just 11 competing nations suffered from cancellations. It was an undistinguished tournament that featured mis-matches and walkovers.-Background:...
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Player
Born in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Mills moved first to Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
then to Bridgeton, Glasgow
Bridgeton, Glasgow
Bridgeton is a district to the east side of Glasgow city centre. It is bounded by Glasgow Green to the west, Dalmarnock to the east and south and Calton to the north-west at Abercromby Street/ London Road...
as a young boy. He began his career with St. Clemens in the Churches League. In 1909, he began playing in the Scottish Junior Football Association
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
with Shettleston F.C.
Shettleston F.C.
Shettleston Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Shettleston, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Town, they were formed in 1903 and are based at Greenfield Park...
, Vale of Clyde F.C.
Vale of Clyde F.C.
Vale of Clyde Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Tollcross, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed Tin Pail, they were formed in 1873 and are based at Fullarton Park...
and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. He then moved to Bathgate F.C.
Bathgate F.C.
Bathgate F.C. was a Scottish football club based at Mill Park in Bathgate. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League from 1921 to 1929.-History:The club was formed in 1893 and played in the Central Football League and other minor leagues...
when he was seventeen. He also spent time with Clyde F.C.
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
before transferring to Canada in 1920 where he joined the Toronto Caledonians of the National League. In 1923, he moved to the United States, but does not show up on a professional roster until the 1924-1925 season when he played twenty-two games for the Philadelphia Field Club
Philadelphia Field Club
Philadelphia Field Club is a name used by four soccer teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All four versions of Philadelphia F.C. competed in the first American Soccer League, but none were in any way related to the other three teams which shared its name.-Philadelphia F.C.:The Philadelphia...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He saw time in only four games at the start of the1925-1926 season before moving to Fairhill F.C. of the Allied League of Philadelphia. Mills would continue to play for Fairhill until 1935.
Coach
When Mills joined Fairhill F.C. in 1925, he became the team’s coach as well as a player. Over the next sixty years, Mills forged a legendary coaching reputation as he led multiple teams at the collegiate, amateur, professional and national levels. While Mills continued to coach and play for Fairhill until 1953, he also became a college coach when he replaced David GouldDavid Gould
David L. Gould was a Scottish American soccer player, coach and referee. He coached the U.S. national team at the 1934 FIFA World Cup and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He was born in Galston, Scotland-Player:Gould grew up playing soccer in Scotland before moving to the United...
as the head coach at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1938. He spent only one season at Penn before becoming the head coach of the boy’s team at The Episcopal Academy
The Episcopal Academy
The Episcopal Academy, founded in 1785, is a private, co-educational school for grades Pre-K through 12. In 2008, it relocated from its Merion, Pennsylvania campus and Devon, Pennsylvania satellite campus to its new campus in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania...
. He coached the boys for the next twelve years. In 1942, Fairhill F.C. purchased the professional Philadelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Passon was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was a member of the professional American Soccer League.Before the 1941/42 season, the club became the Philadelphia Nationals...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and elevated Mills to head coach. A traditionally poorly performing team, the Nationals suffered under several poor seasons before Mills slowly built them into the league’s dominant team. Beginning in 1948, Mills’ led the Nationals to a string of league (1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953 ) and Lewis Cup (1949, 1951 and 1952) titles. In 1953, Brookhattan
Brookhattan
New York Brookhattan was an American soccer club based in New York, New York that was a member of the professional American Soccer League. The club joined the ASL for its final season....
hired Mills. He spent two seasons with the team before returning to Philadelphia in 1956 when Uhrik Truckers
Uhrik Truckers
Philadelphia German-American was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was an inaugural member of the professional American Soccer League.Before the 1941/42 season the club became known as the Philadelphia Americans...
hired Mills. He promptly took them to the league championship. By that time, Mills had established himself at the collegiate level. His year at Penn and his work at the Episcopal Academy brought him to the attention of Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
which hired him in 1949. He remained in that position until 1970, coaching every season except 1956 when he headed the U.S. Olympic soccer team. Mills compiled a 126-94-21 record in his twenty seasons with Haverford which continues to host an annual Jimmy Mills Soccer Tournament. During many of his years with Haverford, Mills held practice only after working all day repairing looms at a Philadelphia carpet mill. In 1974, he became an assistant coach at Girard College
Girard College
Girard College is an independent boarding school on a 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Girard is for academically capable students, grades one through 12, and awards a full scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $42,000 to every child admitted to the...
before moving up to the head coach position in 1981. In 1983, a heart attack ended his coaching career at the age of 88. Mills also spent twenty years as the coach of the Lighthouse Boys Club
Lighthouse Boys Club
The Lighthouse Boys Club is an American soccer established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1897. The team was the dominant U.S. youth soccer club of the early twentieth century. While other youth teams grew in prominence by mid-century, The Lighthouse was still winning national championships in...
, taking the team to twenty consecutive city championships as well as the 1957 and 1967 U.S. U-19 championships (McGuire Cup).
Olympic team
In 1956, Mills coached the U.S. Olympic soccer teamUnited States at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 297 competitors, 251 men and 46 women, took part in 139 events in 18 sports.- Gold:*Bobby Morrow — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Olympic Games football tournament with just 11 competing nations suffered from cancellations. It was an undistinguished tournament that featured mis-matches and walkovers.-Background:...
. While the team lost to Yugoslavia, 9-1, in the first round, it had a successful pre-tournament tour of Asia. Playing a mix of national and club teams, the U.S. went 5-3 on the tour.
Honors
Mills was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of FameNational Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1954 and the NSCAA Hall of Fame in 1991. In 1981, he was also honored with the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association’s Service to Youth Award.