A member of the remarkable Geordie footballing dynasty of Milburn’s and Charlton’s, being the uncle of Bobby and Jack Charlton and brother of Newcastle legend Jack Milburn.
Stan followed three of his brothers in exhibiting an affinity for the full back position, and took little time at Saltergate in impressing the various selection panels who honoured him with one England ‘B’ Cap, two Football League appearances and a place in the FA X1 tour of Canada, all in 1950.
Norman Bullock paid £10,000 to Chesterfield in bringing him to Leicester, where his sterling defensive work was a feature for seven seasons, including the promotion campaign of 1954 and 1957. Stan was an ever-present in the latter championship season, scoring his only City goal in a 5-4 win at Bury, and keeping, Irish international Willie Cunningham sidelined.
Stan Milburn’s time at Filbert Street is also remembered as much for a unique occurrence when he and defensive partner Jack Froggat both mishit a clearance simultaneously, thus registering the Football League’s only occurrence of an own goal credited to two different players.
Then, after bowing out of the First Division fray at an age when many players would be contemplating retirement, he took his boundless enthusiasm to little Rochdale, playing on for seven more seasons, skippering his side to the 1962 League Cup Final, and completing his first class career with an aggregate of 589 League games. Characteristically, though, Stan was still turning out in local football in Rochdale in the early 80’s.
Following his retirement he settled in Rochdale where he worked as a warehouseman.
He died on 30 July 2010 at the age of 83. His funeral took place at Rochdale Crematorium three weeks later, with his one England B cap placed on his coffin.[
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Stanley Milburn
- Position: Defender
- Date of Birth: 22.10.1926
- Birthplace: Ashington
- Nation: England
- Caps / Goals: – / –
- Major League Career:
- 1947-52, Chesterfield (179/0)
- 1952-59, Leicester City (171/1)
- 1959-65, Rochdale (237/26)
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