Soccer

Personal awards nice but it's all about the team for Larne's Leroy Millar

Leroy Millar celebrates Larne's title win
Leroy Millar celebrates Larne's title win Leroy Millar celebrates Larne's title win

EVERYONE will agree, football is a team sport, no doubt about it. But at certain times of a player’s career, personal accolades must be acknowledged for what they are. 

Walking to the stage last Saturday night in the Belfast City Hall, Larne’s midfield dynamo Leroy Millar was named the Danske Bank Irish Premiership player of the season, the Cullybackey man now harvesting trophies from the seeds planted at home some 20 years ago.

“After collecting the league trophy last week for the people of Larne, it is of course nice to get some personal recognition, but this award would not have come about if it wasn’t for the efforts of the whole squad this season. For me this awards come after many years of hard work,” Millar said.

That ambition and effort began early in the Millar household. As a pupil of Buick Memorial PS, the young Millar threw himself into many sports. His father was a keen advocate of kick-boxing and this was an early love for the Cullybackey man and his siblings. He was also a handy rugby player, turning out at Ballymena’s Eaton Park most Saturdays.

“I loved all those sports and was decent at them,” said Millar.

“I also played football for Carniny Youth. I think I got to about 13 and my parents were tired of driving me all around the country, so made me decide on one. I choose football and it hasn’t went too bad for me.”

After enjoying spells at Ballymena United Youth either side of a seasons spell at Chimney Corner, Millar almost gave up the sport whilst struggling to make his mark at Ballymena as a 16-year-old.

“I wasn’t really making an impact at the thirds side. I was in and out of the side,” said the 27-year-old.

I was also very quiet as a kid and in need of a growth spurt, but luckily the reserves coach saw something in me, so I got called up there and within a year I was in the first team under ‘Spike’ (Glenn Ferguson).”

Millar credits a summer rise, not only in fortune but also in height and weight, as a key contributor to his success.

“The Irish League is no joke from a physicality point of view. I think that helped me get out of my comfort zone and throw myself into it,” he said.

Soon Millar would go on to take over the captaincy at the Sky Blues, leading by example under David Jeffrey and being part of the side that won the League Cup in 2017. However, Ballymena struggled to turn cup finals into trophies, losing six, including last year’s extra-time Irish Cup final defeat to Crusaders, something that was particularly tough for Millar, knowing it would be his final appearance for his hometown club.

“Look, it was heartbreaking, I was captain of my boyhood club and a win that day would have meant the world,” he said.

“I have lots of great memories from the Showgrounds but I think you’re often judged on medals and I have a  few gold.

“I have no silver either as every losers medal I got I handed to the fans as a nod to the effort they have made over the years to follow us.”

Millar made the difficult decision to move to Larne for the chance to go full-time, for the chance of trophies, and for the picture that was painted by manager Tiernan Lynch and owner Kenny Bruce.

“They excited me, Kenny told me last year we would win the league and we have achieved that,” said Millar.

“There’s a real belief at the club that anything’s possible, even the group stages of Europe.”

Only missing one league game all year shows the robustness of Millar, who has played a key role in both scoring and providing goals for the champions. Few would argue with his choice as player of the year despite some stern opposition.

Although he will miss the final game of the season against Coleraine tomorrow, Millar hopes to travel with the squad and support some fringe squad players who may get a chance. So what can top a season such as this? The Cullybackey man has ideas.

“We want to win it again, no doubt. It felt that the league win was for the town, the fans that showed up when only 40 others did six years ago, the men and women in the canteen serving us lunch, the volunteers,” he said.

“Now we want to win it again to show we aren’t a flash in the pan and we belong at the top table.”