From Ely to Carlisle United - Tom Miller’s journey to the Football League
Ely-born defender Tom Miller in action for Carlisle United against Preston North End. Picture: Carlisle FC. - Credit: Archant
Ely-born footballer Tom Miller is determined to make his mark in the Football League with Carlisle United this season.
Ely-born defender Tom Miller in action for Carlisle United against Preston North End. Picture: Carlisle FC. - Credit: Archant
The 25-year-old right back had a scholarship at Norwich City. From there, his career has taken him to Glasgow Rangers, Irish side Dundalk and non-league clubs Newport County and Lincoln City.
Miller is relishing the chance to make the step up to league football and has already made an impact at his new club.
In pre-season he scored twice, nailing down a role in Keith Curle’s defence. He played the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s first League Two outing of the season, a 1-1 draw at Mansfield.
He said: “I did my scholarship at Norwich, then went to Rangers. I went up there and started off doing well, but then I got some bad injuries which affected me. I did my cruciate ligament and broke my feet.
“From there I went to Ireland, to Dundalk, to try and get games and get fit again. I did well there and was going to go to Charlton.
“It’s a summer league out there, March to October, so I couldn’t join until the January. In December Phil Parkinson, the Charlton manager, got sacked along with all his backroom staff, which threw it up in the air.
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“I had a mate at Newport who said ‘Come and play with us til the end of the season’.
“I did that, and that was when I realised how difficult it can be to get out of non-league, which is quite a physical kind of level.
“There are some decent players in there but [the National League, formerly the Conference] it is a more of a results league and can be very scrappy.
“I’ve been in there ever since. I went to Lincoln, enjoyed my time there, and now I’ve got the opportunity in the football league.
“I feel I’ve done well in the last couple of years, come on leaps and bounds. And for the first time in a while I feel really fit. I haven’t had any injury problems, which is nice...I think it’s a good time for me.”
