Grenville Millington
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Grenville Rodney Millington (10 December 1951 – May 2025) was a Welsh professional footballer who played in
The Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from ...
as a
goalkeeper In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...
. He enjoyed a long career with
Chester Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
and was voted the club's
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
Cult Hero in 2005. Millington was an established goalkeeping coach. He was the younger brother of Tony Millington, who played in goal for
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
.


Career


Chester

Millington made his Chester debut as a 17-year-old in April 1969 in the final home game of the season against Lincoln City, in a match which also provided the first Chester appearance for Nigel Edwards (who would go on to be a long–serving colleague for Millington) and the last for the prolific
Gary Talbot Gary Talbot (15 December 1937 – 22 December 2019) was a professional footballer in the 1960s with Chester, where he set a record as the second highest Football League goalscorer, and Crewe Alexandra. He also worked as a photographer. Playing ...
. However, this was to be Millington's only appearance for Chester before being released and he returned to
Rhyl Rhyl (; , ) is a seaside town and community in Denbighshire in Wales. The town lies on the coast of North Wales, at the mouth of the River Clwyd. To the west is Kinmel Bay and Towyn, to the east Prestatyn, and to the south-east Rhuddlan ...
, where he had been as a youngster. While with the Lilywhites he came up against Tony for the only time, when Rhyl met Swansea City in January 1971 in the
FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...
. He also had a spell with Witton Albion and played on trial for
Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, commonly referred to as Brighton, is a professional football club based in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their home gr ...
, before returning to Chester in November 1973. His first game back ended in an FA Cup win over Telford United and he replaced John Taylor as first-choice goalkeeper at the club. The 1974–75 season was one of Chester's finest, as they reached the
Football League Cup The English Football League Cup, often referred to as the League Cup and currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout competition in men's domestic football in England. Orga ...
semi–finals and won promotion from Division Four. Millington was vital to both successes as he played in every game, memorably making an outstanding save from
Malcolm MacDonald Malcolm John MacDonald (17 August 1901 – 11 January 1981) was a British politician and diplomat. He was initially a Labour Party (UK), Labour Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP), but in 1931 followed his father ...
in a quarter-finals giant killing win over
Newcastle United Newcastle United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Since th ...
. The season also saw him set the club record for the longest run without conceding a goal. Millington remained first choice goalkeeper ahead of Mike Craven until early in 1977–78, when fellow Welshman Brian Lloyd was signed from
Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
and Millington was to barely play for the next two years. However, he regained his place early in 1979–80 and helped Chester reach the FA Cup fifth round. He was an ever-present in 1980–81 and the following season retained his club player of the season award despite Chester being relegated. This season saw Millington involved in a bizarre incident when a
Football League Cup The English Football League Cup, often referred to as the League Cup and currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout competition in men's domestic football in England. Orga ...
tie with Plymouth Argyle was abandoned after he collided with a goalpost – which snapped in the process.


Later career

The 1982–83 season saw Millington begin as regular goalkeeper for Chester, but an arm injury in a home defeat by
Mansfield Town Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the third level of the English football league system. The club was formed in 1897 as Mans ...
in October 1982 marked the beginning of the end of his playing days with the club. Millington was released two months later but rejoined the club on non-contract terms in March 1983, combining being cover for Phil Harrington with a coaching role at the club. He played in the final game of the season, a 2–1 loss to Scunthorpe United, before joining non–league side Oswestry Town in the summer of 1983. Millington returned to
Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...
circles the following season, when he made 13 league appearances for
Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
. This brought the curtain down on his league career. In the late 1990s, Millington became goalkeeping coach with both Wrexham and Chester and worked off and on for the latter until leaving in February 2006. He was until his death goalkeeping coach at Connah's Quay Nomads and president of the Chester City Supporters Trust.


Death

Millington died in May 2025, at the age of 73.


Honours

Chester *
Football League Division Four The Football League Fourth Division was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season. Following the creation of the Premier L ...
promotion as fourth placed team: 1974–75 *
Football League Cup The English Football League Cup, often referred to as the League Cup and currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout competition in men's domestic football in England. Orga ...
semi-finalists: 1974–75 Individual * Chester Player of the Season: 1974–75, 1980–81, 1981–82 * Voted Chester City ''cult hero'' in December 2004 by viewers of the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
show
Football Focus ''Football Focus'' is a BBC television magazine programme launched in 1974, broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday lunchtimes during the football season. The programme, along with '' Final Score'', is a remnant from the former flagship sports show ...


Bibliography

*


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Millington, Grenville 1951 births 2025 deaths English Football League players Chester City F.C. players Wrexham A.F.C. players Welsh men's footballers Rhyl F.C. players Witton Albion F.C. players Oswestry Town F.C. players Men's association football goalkeepers People from Queensferry, Flintshire Footballers from Flintshire Chester City F.C. non-playing staff Association football goalkeeping coaches