Raith Rovers v Arbroath: Saturday’s Guests

The guests for Raith Rovers’ Championship match against Arbroath on Saturday 12^thof September 2026 are former player Alan Miller and former Youth Development Coach, John Brownlie. 

Alan Miller was born and brought up in Falkirk. His older brother Brian played for East Stirlingshire. Both boys had been supporters of the Shire as youngsters. Alan played for the primary school Victoria, before going on to play for local juvenile side, Woodburn Athletic. He played alongside Frank Kopel who signed for Manchester United before having successful spells with Blackburn Rovers and then Dundee United.

While on trip to Blackpool with Woodburn, the team went to play against Burnley’s youth team. After the game, in which Alan played well, he was asked to go down to Burnley for a month’s trial. 

The star player for Burnley at the time was Scottish winger Willie Morgan, Willie took an interest in this young fellow Scot and went out of his way to look after him. Willie was transferred to Manchester United the following season and went on to play 26 times for Scotland.

Alan enjoyed training with the full time players such as Ralph Coates, who would move for £190,000 to Tottenham.

During his trial period, Alan played against the youth teams of Liverpool and both Manchester teams. He hurt his ankle in the game against City. He returned home with a mixture of loneliness and a slight belief he wasn’t good enough.

Back home, Alan signed for Camelon Juniors. A move by the team to play at Stenhousemuir’s ground Ochilview for a season was a great move for Alan and he loved playing on the pitch that was one of the best surfaces in Scotland. Scouts started to come along to their games and one was from Raith Rovers.

He was asked to play for Raith Rovers’ Reserves v Spartans in Edinburgh. Alan played well and was asked to come back for a second game, this time with the manager George Farm in attendance. Farm liked what he saw and Alan Miller signed for Raith Rovers on the 22^nd of December 1966. 

He made his debut two days later in 3-1 win away to Hamilton Accies. Alan played 20 games between signing and the end of the season. On the final day of the season, the Rovers needed to beat Queen of the South to beat them to promotionback into the top flight of Scottish Football.

The Rovers won 7-2, with Alan setting up two goals for Bobby Stein by beating the Queen’s full-back and cutting the ball for Bobby hammer home unstoppable shots. Alan still talks about the pitch invasion at the end of the game and a great night of celebration.

Another personal highlight of that season was a 6-1 hammering of East Stirlingshire, the one and only time Alan played against his brother Brian.

In the Scottish First Division, there were many memorable games, but the best of all was a 2-1 win over Glasgow Rangers at Stark’s Park, to this day the last League win over Rangers. 

Alan opened the scoring with a great left foot shot from the edge of the box before Brian Cooper made it 2-0. Alan also scored against Celtic and he repeated his scoring against Rangers in a league cup tie. This time latching on to a through ball and rounding German goalkeeper Gerry Neef and scoring from a tight angle.

One of Alan’s most treasured moments with Raith Rovers was when the Rovers went to Brockville and won 2-0 to save the Rovers and relegate the Bairns.

After his time at Stark’s Park, Alan Miller signed for East Stirling on the 22^nd April 1970.

Alan Miller 67 appearances 10 goals