Tributes paid to former Accies defender Arthur McMillan.

Jan 7 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

FORMER Hamilton Accies defender Arthur McMillan has died aged 61.

McMillan collapsed at work in Melbourne, Australia, on December 29.

An autopsy will be held to determine the exact cause of death.

A former joiner from Stonehouse, McMillan began his career with Larkhall’s Royal Albert before joining Stonehouse Thistle and moving on to Stranraer as a striker in 1967.

He was signed for Hamilton by Tommy Ewing in 1969 and eventually settled as a left-back.

A fans’ favourite, McMillan was named Player of the Year in 1971, 73 and 76 – a unique treble.

He remained at Douglas Park until 1977, making 252 appearances over seven seasons, the majority as captain, before joining Heidelberg United (then known as Fitzroy Alexander) in Australia.

After just over six seasons with Heidelberg, McMillan joined North Dandenong at the Lois Twohig Reserve in the Victorian Metropolitan League Division Two in 1983.

McMillan was extremely versatile and played in every possible position – including goalkeeper – during his career.

Former Hamilton secretary Alan Dick said: “Arthur was a great ambassador for the club during very difficult times, and he was certainly a very important player at the club for a number of years.

“He was instrumental in the club’s revival in the mid-70s, alongside guys like Paul Hegarty, Neil Hood and Andy Lawless, under manager Eric Smith.

“He was a top-class defender and a very popular man. I remember he married a lovely girl called Janice and emigrated to Australia in 1977, where he lived until he died.”

Club historian Peter McLeish said of the defender: “Arthur was a player who did a good job in whatever position he was asked to take up and this was one of the reasons why he was brought to Douglas Park.

“His versatility was particularly apparent in his early days at the club, as he was used in varying roles.

“When his namesake, goalkeeper Les McMillan, was taken off with a bad injury in a match against East Fife at Methil, Arthur took over the yellow jersey without hesitation.

“He was a totally committed and wholehearted player while in Hamilton’s colours.”

Jim O’Reilly, a team-mate of McMillan’s at both Hamilton and Heidelberg, and who also remained in Australia, said: “Arthur was a great friend.

“We were in business together, in the building industry, for 34 years and we never argued once. He’ll be sorely missed.

“He was a workaholic, and he ended up dying at work.”

Former Socceroo and Heidelberg team-mate Jamie Paton commented: “Arthur was one of the toughest, most uncompromising players I have ever seen.

“Sometimes you’d shut your eyes when he was about to tackle someone!”

McMillan is survived by wife Janice, daughter Christie, grand-daughter Ella and grandson Tate, and still has relatives in the Lanarkshire area.