| Report Index--> 2005-06--> All for 20060513 | ||||
| <-Page | <-Team | Sat 13 May 2006 Hearts 1 Gretna 1 | Team-> | Page-> |
| <-Srce | <-Type | dafc.co.uk ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
| Valdas Ivanauskas | <-auth | None | auth-> | Douglas McDonald |
| Hartley Paul | [R McGuffie 76] | |||
| 156 | of 429 | Rudi Skacel 39 | SC | N |
Hearts Cup Final CaptainWith all the focus on Scottish Cup winners, Hearts former Pars player and Manager George Miller recently reflected on his role as the Jambos captain in the 1968 Cup Final. That day he was up against former Hearts player Roy Barry. The two captains met up before that Cup Final for a photocall and they were re-united at the last Dunfermline Athletic Hall of Fame night in November 2005. George recalled:- "Captaining Hearts at Hampden in 1968 was a tremendous honour but it was a huge disappointment when we lost to my old club, Dunfermline. "Just like now there was a great expectation at Tynecastle. Dunfermline had a very good side but there was a feeling that Hearts should be winning trophies more often than they did. On the day, they deserved their 3-1 win. We probably didn't do ourselves justice."When I played for Hearts, I'd already been in a cup-winning side but it was a new experience for most of the lads. "Dunfermline was a great club and I thoroughly enjoyed my five and a half years there. It was obvious that Jock Stein was destined to be a great manager. Fortunately I got on really well with him and used to drive him through to Fife from his home in Hamilton. "Winning the Cup is an experience I'll never forget. George signed for Dunfermline Athletic from Larkall Royal Albert in 1959. He was a strong half back for Dunfermline, scoring a famous goal as Dunfermline knocked Everton out of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup before Wolves paid £25,000 in 1965 to take him south. "I thoroughly enjoyed English football and liked the club. The only reason I stayed just a year was that my wife hated the place. She was a bit of a home bird and was desperate to come back to Scotland. So when Hearts made their offer, I jumped at the chance." When George signed for Hearts he became their record signing at £20,000 and was soon to become their captain. He recalls the 1967-68 season:- "The season we reached the Cup Final was probably my best. I plyed in every competitive game and it was just a shame to not end the season with a medal." George was unlucky not to feature at international level but at that time the competition was fierce. "I was competing with Jim Baxter for a Scotland shirt so that wasn't easy.. At times I felt I was playing as well as him and was getting rave notices in papers but I was never selected. Still, if you are going to lose out, it's as well to be to such a brilliant player." George Miller played with Falkirk when he left Hearts, retiring in 1972. While at Brockville George's manager was his old team mate Pars Willie Cunningham. George said:- "I enjoyed that, he'd say 'George go out and organise it. Then I went on to manage Dunfermline for four years and Falkirk for two. They were tough jobs and there never any money to spend." George Miller went on to be the Commercial Manager at Hamilton Accies and at Falkirk. He nows lives in his hometown of Larkhall. dafc.co.uk |
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| <-Page | <-Team | Sat 13 May 2006 Hearts 1 Gretna 1 | Team-> | Page-> |
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