Ex Arsenal goalkeeper Alan Miller has died at the age of 51.
He began his career as an Arsenal apprentice in 1984, and helped them win the 1988 FA Youth Cup alongside teammates like Kevin Campbell, David Hillier and former Republic of Ireland international Pat Scully.
However, Miller found his path to first-team football blocked by John Lukic, and latterly David Seaman.
As a substitute, Miller won FA Cup and Coca-Cola Cup medals in 1993, and a European Cup Winners' Cup the following season before leaving for Middlesbrough.
Devastated to hear the news that our team mate Alan Miller has passed away. He was one of life’s good guys. What a man. Heart of gold. RIP my friend @Arsenal
— Lee Dixon 💙🇺🇦 (@LeeDixon2) June 3, 2021
Under Bryan Robson, Miller helped Boro win the First Division title in 1995 and, with it, promotion back to the Premier League. He'd trade first choice duties with Gary Walsh in the top flight before a loan move to West Brom was made permanent in 1997.
Miller was a popular figure at the Hawthorns, making almost 100 league appearances before a move to Blackburn that earned him another League Cup medal as a substitute.
"Devastated to hear the news that our team mate Alan Miller has passed away," former Gunners teammate Lee Dixon tweeted, "He was one of life’s good guys. What a man. Heart of gold. RIP my friend."
We are desperately saddened to learn of the passing of former goalkeeper Alan Miller.
Our thoughts are with Alan's family and friends at this terribly sad time. pic.twitter.com/mz40gAIG3w— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) June 3, 2021
After he hung up his gloves, Miller moved first to Spain and then Norfolk where he ran a pub and restaurant with his partner Nerida.
He told the Arsenal website in 2014, "I could have gone into coaching, but it’s so insecure.
"As a player I’d been from London to the North East, to the Midlands, to Lancashire. I felt I needed a stable base. I’ve now found that on the north Norfolk coastline – it’s the perfect place for me and I’m doing something I really do enjoy."
