Ralph Milne facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ralph Milne | ||
| Date of birth | 13 May 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Dundee, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 6 September 2015 (aged 54) | ||
| Place of death | Dundee, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1970–1976 | Dundee Celtic Boys Club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1976–1987 | Dundee United | 179 | (45) |
| 1987–1988 | Charlton Athletic | 22 | (0) |
| 1988 | Bristol City | 30 | (6) |
| 1988–1991 | Manchester United | 23 | (3) |
| 1990 | → West Ham United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Sing Tao | ||
| Total | 254 | (54) | |
| National team | |||
| 1981–1983 | Scotland U21 | 3 | (0) |
|
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Ralph Milne (born May 13, 1961 – died September 6, 2015) was a Scottish professional footballer. He played for several clubs, including Dundee United and Manchester United. Ralph usually played as an attacking midfielder or a winger.
He started his career at Dundee United. He helped the club win the Premier Division championship in the 1982–83 season. He also played in the finals of the Scottish Cup and League Cup. Ralph Milne is a member of the Dundee United Hall of Fame. This honors his important role during the club's most successful time.
He played 285 games for Dundee United in major competitions. He is also the club's top scorer in European games. He scored 15 goals in the UEFA Cup and European Cup. Many people think Ralph Milne was one of the best Scottish footballers who never played for the senior national team.
Ralph Milne was at his best when he was young. After playing for Charlton Athletic and Bristol City, he joined Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 1988. He later played briefly in Hong Kong for Sing Tao. Ralph Milne played his last professional game at age 28.
Contents
Football Career
Ralph Milne was born in Dundee, Scotland, on May 13, 1961. He was the youngest of four children. He started playing football as a youth for Dundee Celtic Boys Club. There, he was a striker and scored many goals.
Dundee United
Early Success
Milne joined Dundee United in January 1976. After playing for the reserve team, he started playing for the first team in the 1979–80 season. He scored his first goal at 18 years old on July 28, 1979. This was in a 3–0 win against Dunfermline Athletic.
He scored his first Premier Division goal on September 8. It was a long-range shot that tied the game 2–2 against Celtic. In his first season, Milne played 20 games and scored three goals. He was named the club's Reserve Player of the Year. He also received a medal for winning the 1979 Scottish League Cup Final.
In the 1980–81 season, Milne became a regular player for Dundee United. He scored 10 goals in 33 games. United won the League Cup again, but Milne did not play in the final. He did play in the 1981 Scottish Cup Final, where United lost to Rangers. His manager, Jim McLean, called Milne "potentially... the most exciting player in Scotland."
Dundee United reached another final in the 1981–82 season. Milne scored the first goal in the 1981 Scottish League Cup Final against Rangers. However, Rangers won the game 2–1. Milne also played well in European games that season. He scored goals against teams like AS Monaco and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the UEFA Cup.
League Title and European Cup
The 1982–83 season was very important for Dundee United and for 21-year-old Milne. The club won the league title for the first time ever. They finished just one point ahead of Celtic and Aberdeen. Milne scored 16 goals in the league, playing on the right wing. These goals helped United win the title.
One famous goal was on April 20 against Celtic. He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory. On May 14, 1983, the last day of the season, Dundee United needed a win to secure the league title. The day after his 22nd birthday, Milne scored the first goal against local rivals Dundee. It was a skillful, long-distance shot. United won 2–1. That season, Milne scored 21 goals in total, his highest career tally.
Dundee United's league win meant they played in the European Cup in 1983–84. Milne scored two goals in games against Hamrun Spartans and Standard Liège. United reached the semi-finals, but lost to Roma. United also finished third in the league that season. Milne's goal count dropped to 12 goals in all competitions.
Later Years at Dundee United
Milne stayed with Dundee United for three more seasons. He was still a regular player but scored fewer goals. His relationship with manager Jim McLean became difficult. In December 1983, McLean publicly said that Milne needed to work harder when he wasn't playing well.
In August 1984, Milne scored two goals in a friendly match against Nottingham Forest. However, after the game, he and McLean had another disagreement. Milne was also often fined for breaking minor club rules.
Milne played in two more Cup finals for United. They lost to Rangers in the Scottish League Cup Final in October 1984. They also lost to Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final in May 1985. Milne got a hamstring injury in the final against Rangers and was out for three months.
In 1986–87, he played in the early rounds of the UEFA Cup. He scored one goal against RC Lens. The team went on to beat Barcelona and Borussia Mönchengladbach to reach the final. However, Milne had already left the club in January 1987. He was sold to Charlton Athletic because he had lost his place in the team to Kevin Gallacher. Milne played 285 games for Dundee United and scored 15 goals in European competitions.
Charlton Athletic
In January 1987, Ralph Milne moved to the English First Division club Charlton Athletic. The transfer fee was £125,000. He played at Wembley Stadium in the Full Members Cup final on March 29, which Charlton lost 1–0 to Blackburn Rovers.
Charlton finished the 1986–87 season in a relegation play-off spot. They managed to stay in the top league by beating Leeds United in the play-off final. Milne played as a substitute in the first game and suffered a broken jaw. He played less in the 1987–88 season and left the club.
Bristol City
Milne then joined Bristol City in January 1988 for £50,000. This meant he moved down two divisions. City reached the play-offs at the end of the 1987–88 season but did not get promoted.
After a full pre-season, Milne started to play very well. He scored six goals in 30 Third Division games. His good form attracted attention from other clubs, including Aberdeen. Milne wanted to move closer to his family in Scotland. However, his manager, Joe Jordan, said he would only let Milne leave for Manchester United.
Manchester United
Milne's performance at Bristol City convinced Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to sign him. In November 1988, he moved to Old Trafford in a £170,000 deal. Ferguson was trying to build a team that could win the league title.
Milne scored three goals in 22 league games in 1988–89. His first goal was a 20-yard shot on December 3, 1988, in a 3–0 win against his old club Charlton Athletic. This win ended United's nine-game winless streak. He also scored on Boxing Day against Nottingham Forest. Milne felt his best game for Manchester United was a 3–1 win against Liverpool. However, United finished 11th in the league. Milne scored his third and final goal for United on March 25, 1989, in a 2–0 win against Luton Town.
In September 1989, Ferguson signed another left-winger, Danny Wallace. Also, Lee Sharpe was improving quickly. This meant Milne played less for Manchester United in the 1989–90 season. He made only one substitute appearance in the league. During that season, Milne was loaned to West Ham United. He played his last professional game there on January 24, 1990, at the age of 28. He then got an injury that needed surgery.
Milne stayed with United until June 30, 1991, when he was released. Some people have called Milne one of Ferguson's least successful signings. However, Ferguson said that Milne helped Lee Sharpe develop as a player. Milne would drop back to help Sharpe and give him advice on his position.
Sing Tao
After leaving Manchester United, Milne had trials with clubs in Turkey and Denmark in 1991, but they were not successful. Later that year, he went to Hong Kong to play for Sing Tao SC. He played there for a year, helping the club finish fourth in the First Division in 1991–92. He turned down a new contract and returned to Britain. He had a trial with Derry City before he stopped playing football at age 32.
International Career
Milne played for the Scotland under-21 team. His first game was on September 8, 1981, when he was 20 years old. He came on as a substitute in a 4–0 win against Sweden. He played two more games for the under-21 team in 1983. He played against Belgium and East Germany.
He never played for the senior Scotland national team. Many people believe he was one of the best Scottish footballers not to get a full senior cap. Milne himself said that the Scotland manager Jock Stein wanted him for a tour to the United States. However, Milne claimed that his club manager, Jim McLean, told Stein not to pick him.
Playing Style
Milne was naturally right-footed. However, he practiced hard with his left foot as a boy so he could use both feet well. His former Dundee United teammate, Paul Hegarty, said that Milne was very fast and brave. He also worked hard and could score important goals. Another teammate, Davie Dodds, said Milne was one of the best finishers in Scottish football during the 1980s.
Personal Life
Ralph Milne was married to Kim from 1985 to 1988, and they had a son named Bradley. He later had another son, Robert, with his partner Lee in 1990. Their relationship ended after ten years. In 2005, he started a relationship with Fiona Spence, which lasted over eight years.
Ralph Milne passed away on September 6, 2015, at 54 years old. He died due to health problems related to his liver.
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dundee United | 1979–80 | Scottish Premier Division | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| 1980–81 | Scottish Premier Division | 21 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 10 | |
| 1981–82 | Scottish Premier Division | 35 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 55 | 14 | |
| 1982–83 | Scottish Premier Division | 34 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 49 | 21 | |
| 1983–84 | Scottish Premier Division | 25 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 47 | 12 | |
| 1984–85 | Scottish Premier Division | 19 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 8 | |
| 1985–86 | Scottish Premier Division | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 5 | |
| 1986–87 | Scottish Premier Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 2 | |
| Total | 179 | 45 | 22 | 0 | 43 | 14 | 41 | 15 | 285 | 74 | ||
| Charlton Athletic | 1986–87 | First Division | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 1987–88 | First Division | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||||
| Bristol City | 1987–88 | Third Division | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | 19 | 4 | |||
| 1988–89 | Third Division | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 6 | — | — | — | 30 | 6 | |||||
| Manchester United | 1988–89 | First Division | 22 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | |
| 1989–90 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1990–91 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 23 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| West Ham United (loan) | 1989–90 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 254 | 54 | 29 | 0 | 44 | 14 | 41 | 15 | 368 | 83 | ||
Honours
Dundee United
- Scottish League Cup: 1979
- Scottish Football League Premier Division: 1982–83
- Dundee United Hall of Fame (inducted 2009)
Charlton Athletic
- Football League Second Division play-offs: 1987
See also
In Spanish: Ralph Milne para niños
