Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
92	92	0	2	245	0	496

It is perhaps difficult to envisage, with the passage of time, how one single player could have made such an impact in such a comparatively short time, but for those of us who were privileged to witness Freddie Miller's feats for Featherstone, he deserved all the accolades and respect he received. He was transferred from Hull in January 1950. His career with Hull had spanned 17 years, during which he had amassed 577 goals and 25 tries, but here was a player at the age of thirty-five who had been troubled with injury over the past 18 months and was unable to regain his place in the senior team. What could he do for Featherstone?

The answer was immediate. He transformed a young struggling ream. In his debut match v Whitehaven (at home) on 21 January 1950, he inspired the team to a 19-5 victory – their first win in 12 matches. He kicked 25 goals in 10 matches to end that season and then really burst forth in 1950/51.  Appointed captain, his goal-kicking dominated as he initially broke Lockwood's club goal-scoring record of 57 in January 1951 and went on to set up a new record of 97. His legendary kicking was now resurrected at Featherstone!

The arrival of Eric Batten as player-coach in June 1951 provided more experience and, together with a strong emphasis on physical conditioning and fitness, he blended the team into a formidable unit which excelled itself in the 1952 RL Cup. It was often said that if the team could prevent the opposition from scoring, then the Rovers would win because the opposition were unlikely to prevent Batten and Miller from doing so. Miller certainly kicked the goals and five against Rochdale and four against Batley saw Featherstone through to the third round for the first time since 1925. Mighty Wigan were routed in an epic 14-11 win with two towering drop goals and two conversions from Miller which sent the fans delirious. Against Leigh in the semi-final, Miller gave the finest kicking display I have ever witnessed. Faced with a gale-force wind in the first half, he completely out-manoeuvred his international full-back opponent, Jimmy Ledgard, and then stepped up to kick those three golden goals in the second half which took Featherstone to their first RL Cup Final. Although disappointed by the result, he came home to finish the season in glory when he reached 101 goals in the last game of the season at Whitehaven - not a bad return for a thirty-seven year old, and there was even a try to savour as he gave an outrageous dummy at York in January 1952, to slip past Mclennie to total 11 points in a 14-3 win.

Featherstone was buzzing and eagerly awaiting the 1952/53 season, and the opportunity to build upon the Wembley visit.  Miller was not, however, able to make his first appearance until 24 September, when his four-goal return gave Rovers a 14-4 victory over the Hull Rovers, and a semi-final place in the Yorkshire Cup. However, Batley secured a surprise 8-4 win at Post Office Road to dash the expectations, but Miller was back and kicking goals and there was much to look forward to... However, after 8 appearances and 22 goals, Miller announced that his increased business commitments were taking their toll and after playing at home to Dewsbury on 22 November 1952 and kicking two goals in a 10-0 win, he effectively retired.

He was guest of honour for the match with Hull on 25 August 1956, when the reception he received in a ceremonial kick-off to the match confirmed the tremendous affection he had gained. It was known that he was in poor health and in July 1960 he passed away at the age of forty-five. In another endorsement of what he meant to Featherstone, his memory was preserved in the Freddie Miller Memorial Gate, which still stands as a fitting tribute to a great player and gentleman. 

Contemporary eulogies from both the club and the local press at that time conveyed why he holds that special place. 'The way his records were achieved is the main reason why his name will live forever at Featherstone. He was the perfect answer to the Rover's prayers at the time for his goal-kicking, general guidance and experience from the full-back position were the right ingredients to transform a struggling Rovers side into a more successful one.'

It was not Miller's wonderful kicking which did the most for Rovers. It was his presence. A handsome man, big and strong, yet with a quiet personality, he was a gentleman on and off the field. He exuded confidence and it was confidence which the young Rovers team required then. The memory of Miller, imperiously marshalling his forces as the Featherstone line was under pressure from the best attackers in the game, clearing the line with ponderous touch finders and kicking difficult goals with the ease of the perfect stylist, will remain clear for a lifetime to those whose good fortune it was to see the born artist at work.'

Well over fifty years on, those memories have not dimmed. And for those without any memories of Freddie Miller, one simple statistic will suffice: in the 92 games he played for Featherstone he scored 48.3 per cent of Featherstone's total of 1,027 points!

 

Biography by Ron Bailey