RHYL FC HEROES - No1:SCOTT MILLINGTON (TINY)
RHYL FC HEROES - SCOTT MILLINGTON
Born in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, on January 7, 1974, Scott Millington, affectionately known as "Tiny", moved to Rhyl as a youngster and attended the town's High School.
Certainly not the biggest of players in height or bulk, Millington more than makes up for it with his skills and determination. Generally specialising on the left side, he is a utility player who can be equally effective in defence or midfield.
Tiny is brilliant in dead-ball situations. His crosses, corners and free-kicks produce so many goals.
He broke into Rhyl's first team in the early 1990s and was a member of the 1993/94 Cymru Alliance League title winning squad.
Tiny was then part of the first ever Rhyl squad which competed in the League of Wales in 1994/95.
He played for the Lilywhites for the next five seasons in the LoW, making 72 full appearances and 51 as substitute, netting 12 goals.
At the end of the 1997/98 campaign, Tiny played a few games for Rhyl Delta who landed the Clwyd League treble that season and he scooped a President's Cup winners' medal with the team.
In 1998/99, Millington joined Total Network Solutions, playing in six games and scoring one goal, before returning to Rhyl, featuring in 24 matches before the end of the campaign - 13 full and 11 as sub - bagging three goals.
The following season, he went back to TNS during their Welsh Premier title-winning campaign and picked up a championship medal, making 22 appearances - 13 starts, nine as sub.
Tiny then joined Caernarfon Town, winning the Cymru Alliance League championship with the Canaries in 2000/01 and returned to the League of Wales with the Cofis in 2001/02, playing in 32 fixtures - 25 full and seven as sub - scoring seven times.
He came back to Rhyl briefly in 2002/03 - 11 appearances (9+2), 1 goal; then went back to The Oval, 24 apps (4 as sub).
His complete Welsh Premier record reads (1994-2003):
RHYL: 106 appearances (plus 66 as substitute) - 16 goals (ninth in club all-time list).
TNS: 19 apps (plus 9 as substitute) - 1 goals.
CAERNARFON TOWN: 45 apps (plus 11 as substitute) - 7 goals.
TOTAL WPL APPEARANCES: 170 (86); GOALS: 24.
Over the past five seasons, Millington has played a key role with Rhyl Reserves, winning the Welsh Alliance League title in 2003/04 and Barritt Cup in 2004/05 and 2006/07 with the team.
Tiny remains a vital member of the Rhyl Reserves squad this season and just last night (Sep 16) scored a wonder goal in a 5-2 defeat of Nantlle Vale.
His record with Rhyl Reserves is (up to September 16, 2008):
PLAYED: 119.
GOALS: 25
Therefore, Tiny has made probably around 350 appearances for Rhyl as a club in total with over 50 goals scored.
Although he shares the same surname as former Rhyl goalkeeper, the great Grenville Millington, the pair are not related.
SCOTT MILLINGTON - HONOURS:
Welsh Premier League championship medal - 1999/2000
Cymru Alliance League championship medal - 1993/94; 2000/01
Welsh Alliance League championship medal - 2003/04
North Wales Coast Challenge Cup winners medal - 2003/04
Cymru Alliance League Cup winners medal - 1992/93
Barritt Cup winners medal - 2004/05 & 2006/07
Clwyd League President's Cup winners medal - 1997/98.
TRIBUTE FROM RHYL RESERVES MANAGER JON STAZICKER:
"From my point of view Tiny is a pleasure to have on board as a team player; a player that always gives 100%.
"Tiny has proved himself as a player who has played a high level football for many years. His wealth of experience is good for the younger players in the squad and he always shows great support for the club. He is a player that could go on for another few years yet andÃÂ I hope he does - great lad with a great attitude who always plays with pride and passion in the Rhyl shirt."
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* LEAVE your tributes here to Scott Millington. Are there any facts we've missed out in this article? What are your favourite memories of Tiny? Please post your comments on Lilywhites Online.
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Dave Jones - For all the latest news from Rhyl Football Club, including match reports, news, views and features log on to Lilywhites On-Line hosted by Visitor sports editor Dave Jones.
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Tiny is a shining example to his team mates in the reserves,last night against Nantle Vale he was outstanding,he has always given 100 per cent and doesn't even look 24,let alone play like a 34 year old.When he first came to Rhyl in the early 90's he had a positive attitude to the game and nothing has changed in the way he plays today.
Tiny has been a great player for Rhyl over the years and is a real character. There's nothing of him but he's strong as the next man, a real battler with a tremendous left foot. I remember him playing at Wrexham in the 2002/03 FAW Premier Cup semi-final and having a good game even though Rhyl lost 4-0. The season after he became a leader on the park for the Reserves. Interesting that he has won championships all the way from Welsh Alliance up to Welsh Premier and did he win a Clwyd League medal with Delta or didn't he play enough games? Over the years Rhyl have brought in a lot of outsiders but Tiny has always been the "local boy done good". It's great to see him recognised like this and I hope you do more articles on Rhyl FC heroes.
They don't come much more genuine than Tiny. Most players when they know their first team days are over sulk and join another club but Tiny has stayed with Rhyl and become a hero all over again with the Reserves. Over 250 Welsh Premier games played in and surely one of the most decorated footballers in this area. Who else has won a Welsh Prem, Cymru Alliance and Welsh Alliance championship medal? Anyone? Not many I bet. Hats off to Tiny - a true Rhyl FC legend.
no doubt Tiny is the tops, he is 34, looks about 24 and plays like he's 18! star man Scotty
I'd like to do more features on Rhyl legends but don't know enough about them. Names like Don Spendlove, John Evans, Jimmy Cardno and Laurie Davies are well known to me but I wouldn't know where to search for career details etc. I've only lived in Rhyl for 10 years so am not really steeped in the tradition of the club. Because of the hours I work finding the time to interview these greats would be difficult. I'd need help really, if I was to make a proper legends series.
So far this season i`ve managed to get too two Rhyl reserves games, although the team have performed excellently throughout Tiny stood above the other lads in the performance stakes. He was a breath of fresh air, beating his man with pace and skill leaving everyone in his wake, the crosses for others to score, the deadly through balls and just his sheer determination to get the ball and to win is a credit to him, John and the rest of the team. Well Done Tiny, Keep it going.
A nice piece that Dave. I don't know anybody with a bad word to say about Tiny, on or off the pitch. A genuinely nice guy who will always help and encourage. Still a quality player today.
I think the same could be said about you Jon as you said about Tiny. It's when you read back what Tiny has achieved that you realise what a gem he is. Your own career would make a nice feature too Jon for the PTFC website if Mark Jones was able to use it. Do you have any career stats etc? Contact dave.jones@northwalesnews.co.uk if you could help. All the best.
Maybe when i'm thirty-something & there's something worth writing about!
I don't know any career stats etc, i'm just happy to get a game when i'm fit, which hasn't been that often recently!