PILGRIMS IN PROFILE: Ricky Miller

This week’s Pilgrim in Profile had two spells at United, and through both maintained a goal-every-other-game ratio on his way to a total of 34 in just 58 games.

Two months at the end of 2008-09, before a full season in 2013-14 saw him become one of the club’s best finishers of recent years. It's hot-shot centre forward Ricky Miller.

Miller joined for the first time as a 19-year-old on non-contract terms from Spalding United. Brought in to help Steve Welsh’s side in their relegation fight, his arrival was somewhat overshadowed by the return of Paul Ellender that same week.

A baptism of Unibond-Legaue-mediocrity awaited him: debuting off the bench in front of 93 at Stainton Park (Radcliffe) against Leigh Genesis on a Tuesday night; his first start in a 3-0 defeat at Kendal Town’s mudbath with 162 in the Parkside Road stands.

Surprisingly undeterred by the hideous nature of his first appearances in amber and black, Ricky brought a youthful enthusiasm and firepower to a side that had scored only twice in 13 league games since mid-December. That record was soon changed- Miller’s first home start against Prescot Cables saw him bag a 22-minute hat-trick after Jon Rowan’s brace had put United clear in the first half of the first half.

With long-term injuries having finished Ollie Ryan and Kieran Leabon’s season, Jon Froggatt and Micky Nuttell struggling to hold a starting place and Jon Rowan unsure whether his place was up top or out wide, United’s goalscoring hopes quickly became centred around Miller. The Pilgrims still sat in relegation-zone 19th through much of March.

Miller scored a free-kick to equalise at Bradford Park Avenue the following week, before scoring his fourth home goal in two York Street games as the Pilgrims came from behind to beat Marine. That result, coupled with a win at North Ferriby the following weekend, pulled United out of a relegation place they would never return to.

Miller continued to hold down a starting place through April, adding a seventh goal for a late 1-0 win at Hednesford, missing only the final-day win-to-survive clash with Cammell Laird through suspension. A sixth minute Jon Froggatt penalty was enough for the three points, although the Shipyarders were subsequently demoted for ground issues.

Having played on non-contract terms in his first spell, accruing seven goals in 12 games, new managers Paul Hurst and Rob Scott looked elsewhere (mainly Ilkeston) for their forward line and Miller moved on. Originally joining Stamford, Miller migrated throughout England’s south-east, representing eight clubs between 2009 and 2013, including brief stints at Cambridge City and Wealdstone. Fifteen goals in 34 games for Aylesbury saw United’s 1985 FA Trophy opponents attracted to the forward.

Miller returned to the attention of Boston supporters in pre-season 2012-13, leading the line for a Stamford side United overcame on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the Lincolnshire Cup.

Alongside Miller were fellow future Pilgrims Paul Mayo, Tom Batchelor, Richard Jones, Gregg Smith and Jordan Smith in a side managed by Graham Drury.

Stamford were promoted that season, Miller scoring the winner in their play-off final win over Chasetown. Dennis Greene brought in Miller - one of eight summer signings, alongside Scott Garner and Carl Piergianni - and the Pilgrims were transformed from flirting with relegation to play-off candidates. Miller was at the centre of United’s resurgence, especially after Christmas. It was Greene who dubbed the energetic Miller 'the Rash' due to his ability to be all over the place in a game.

He re-opened his United account by scoring the fourth in the opening-day 4-1 mauling of relegated Stockport County at Edgeley Park, and added a quick second the following weekend with the opener against Leamington.

Miller instantly established himself as Boston’s number nine for the season (missing just two games all season), although the goals didn’t come at Miller’s usual high pace through the Autumn. A brace at Stafford Rangers in the FA Cup ended a seven-game goalless drought and the following week Miller scored the only goal against Barrow before another five-game barren spell.

Capable of pulling the Pilgrims brough games with his dynamism, Miller again made the difference in a 1-0 league win, this time at Gainsborough in mid-November. An FA Trophy double against Redditch increased his tally to eight; Miller not out-of-form but by his standard out-of-the-goals.

After 25 straight starts (all wearing nine), Miller missed a game for the first time that season as Ben Fairclough took over his starting place for the post-Christmas games against Histon and Telford as the forward took a week to recharge the batteries. Miller himself recently wrote on twitter 'when I became confident in the changing room after a week with my family at Xmas, I come (sic) back and smashed it'. Smash it he did.

With the January first trip to Histon postponed, Miller returned for a home game with Vauxhall Motors. His opportunistic nature proved perfect - Motors keeper Zac Jones elected to roll the ball out to his defence at every opportunity and Miller picked their pockets all too often. He scored one as strike partner Marc Newsham struck twice in a 5-2 win - and Miller’s January was only getting going.

Three days later Workington were in town. Bottom of the league, winless away all season and without both of their first-choice centre backs as the squad struggled for a day off work for a Tuesday night trip to Lincolnshire. Greene lined up with Newsham, Garner and Miller up front.

By half-time, Miller had already secured his second United hat-trick. He’d put United ahead (1-0), equalised (2-2) and restored the lead (3-2) as the sides traded six first half goals. The game ended 5-3, Miller took home the matchball but still his goalscoring exploits for the month were yet to reach their half-way stage.

Hednesford away was up next, and with injury, unavailability and suspensions the Pilgrims were in for a tough afternoon. Miller scored twice in a 2-4 defeat.

Miller's seventh, eighth and ninth goals that January were just a week away as Solihull Moors arrived at York Street; the Pilgrims’ bogey team at the time, United, winless in sixth against the West Midlanders. Another hat-trick from the number nine was more than enough as Boston ran-out 4-1 winners.

Having doubled-and-more his goals tally for the season in 2014’s first three weeks, Miller’s form continued as the Pilgrims reached as high as third. His next goal arrived in the 6-0 demolition derby against Gainsborough, a month later he opened the scoring against play-off rivals Hednesford in an impressive 4-0 victory.

Miller then opened the scoring in the next home game (a 2-1 win over Oxford City). Up next was Barrow away. Inspiring a remarkable comeback, Miller had opened the scoring but, entering added time, United were 4-2 down. A crazy five-minutes followed as Miller scored a ‘late consolation’ before winning and scoring a late, late penalty for an unlikely draw and his third hat-trick of 2014. A sixth March goal the following week, a last-minute spot-kick against Gloucester, completed another remarkable month of goal scoring.

Miller's final month with the Pilgrims saw him score another four times, stretching his Boston tally to 34 goals in just 58 games. After sinking Solihull with an away brace, Miller then scored United’s first of two late equalisers in a 3-3 draw at Colwyn Bay. As the play-offs drifted out of reach following a 0-0 draw at Leamington, Boston enjoyed one final hurrah as the Pilgrims beat North Ferriby at home to virtually hand Telford the title at the Villagers’ expense.

Miller’s final Boston goal perfectly encapsulates the nuisance he made himself to opposing centre-backs. After going down too easily under a challenge from Danny Hone, the forward’s appeals for a penalty were turned down... until the Ferriby man leant over and pushed Miller’s head into the turf.

With the ball on the half-way line, United were awarded a penalty, Hone is sent off and Miller dusts himself down to dispatch the penalty, finishing off Ferriby and giving Boston something to play for on the final day.

The Pilgrims needed a win against Worcester and Guiseley to slip up - they didn’t - for a play-off spot. Boston fell to a 3-0 defeat anyway.

Luton Town came calling soon after and Miller went professional at the age of 25. He then joined Dover on loan, then permanently, and remains a club legend at the Crabble after scoring 45 goals as the National League’s Player of the Year in 2016-17. He joined Peterborough United the following summer, before playing for Mansfield and Port Vale in Leagues One and Two.